Whether you’ve chosen the Zion’s Bank Ogden Marathon for the lush scenery or the screamingly fast course, you’re in for a truly memorable run through an idyllic part of Utah. The CLIF Bar Pace Team is excited to be returning to Ogden for our third consecutive year, and we’re here today to guide you through your upcoming run. The Ogden Marathon starts at an elevation of 5,400 feet. Depending upon where you live and train, this shouldn’t be high enough to present a problem to your race, especially since the course drops throughout the race. At the same time, don’t…

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Aid Stations are made to give you the nourishment you need when you need it. However, at larger races they can be hectic and hard to get through while still maintaining your pace and, in some cases, peace of mind In this episode of CLIFCast, you’ll find out the best ways to navigate aid stations and hear a few funny and strange stories, including some from the Clif Bar Pace Team.

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Most runners are familiar with Carbo Loading. Like dining on a big bowl of Pasta the night before a big race. The idea is to get enough carbs into your body so that those carbs can turn into energy the next day. But what is the best way to carbo load? And is it actually necessary? Find out in the newest episode of CLIFCast.

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Last December we had the chance to sit down with Team CLIF Bar runner Dakota Jones, who is not only one of the most talented ultra distance runners in the world but also one of the youngest. In this episode, you’ll hear our conversation as we explore his earliest days as a runner, his favorite places to run, his approach to training and eating, and lots more in the newest episode of CLIFCast.

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The MetroPCS Dallas Marathon is debuting a new name and a new course this year. Yet one thing will remain unchanged: you don’t mess with Texas! The new course incorporates more hills than the most recent two courses have, which means that smart, strategic running will be the name of the game this coming Sunday. Your Clif Bar Pace Team leaders are ready to guide you on race day, but until then, here’s a chance to study up – and get psyched up! The brand new starting line is located on Main and Market Streets, by the JFK Memorial.…

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The Marine Corps Marathon holds a special place in our hearts and it’s one you’ll never forget. While it’s by no means an easy course, it is steeped in history, lined with spectators, and the best place to be on the fourth Sunday in October. Boasting nearly 21,000 marathon finishers in 2011, Marine Corps is a crowded affair. Your race doesn’t just start when the gun goes off, but much earlier in the morning. Although training will always be key to a solid running performance, being prompt – and even early – for subway rides, bag drops and corrals will…

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Yeah, it's true: almost every runner has experienced some kind of stomach issue on a run or in a race. So we're here to help you learn how to avoid and manage gastrointestinal, or GI, issues on a run. Learn all about it in the newest episode of CLIFCast.

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Are you ready for some sun, ocean and surf? The Long Beach International Marathon doesn’t disappoint, taking you on a sunshine and blue sky filled tour of this gorgeous California area. Boasting one of the least technical courses the CLIF Bar Pace Team tackles, Long Beach is a great place (weather permitting) for a fast time with fantastic views. Settle in to learn a bit more about the course, a couple of tricks to keep you focused, and a bit more about the sights and sounds you’ll see and hear. Long Beach begins with a long series of “waves,” staged…

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Named one of Runner’s World’s Top 10 Most Scenic and Fastest courses, this stunning marathon begins in the (chilly) Pine Valley Mountains, then takes you on a wild ride back down to the town of St. George. Though beautiful, the St. George Marathon is one of the most difficult runs on the Clif Bar Pace Team’s schedule, and leaves the pacers’ quads beat up for days! The good news is that St. George is a fast course, but only when run properly. Running St. George requires equal parts strategy, patience and determination – and we’re here to explain how to…

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The Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, appropriately billed as “The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America,” is one of the scenic highlights of the year for the CLIF Bar Pace Team. Beginning in downtown Minneapolis, it takes runners past four gorgeous lakes; through stunning neighborhoods dotted with opulent homes; along the Mississippi River and past the St. Paul Cathedral to a screamingly fast and stunning finish at the state capitol building. With more than 300,000 enthusiastic fans and 10 official Cheer Zones, it’s a fall marathon made in heaven. Except for one little challenge – the course consists of a fast…

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Labor Day and the cooling fall temperatures don’t just bring new backpacks and the sounds of school bells ringing, but one of the most ‘magical’ races on earth – the Disneyland Half Marathon! One of the highlights of the year for the Clif Bar Pace Team, the Disneyland Half Marathon is a beautiful and FUN run that’s sure to be one of your favorite running memories. The mostly flat course begins just outside the Lilo Parking Lot in Downtown Disney, adjacent to the three on-property hotels. The corrals are crowded and the field is large, so make sure you arrive…

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Runners and other active people do their best when eating good food and maintaining a healthy diet. But sometimes it’s hard to know if what you’re putting in your body is actually helping your performance. And what’s even harder is to remember exactly what you ate on a day to day basis. That’s where food logs come in. By maintaining a food log, you can track what you eat every day and get a better understanding of how your nutrition is affecting your athletic performance. Learn all about it in the newest episode of CLIFCast.

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In this brand new episode of CLIFCast we speak with Team CLIF Bar runner Ian Sharman and explore how he first got into running, what keeps him going and what he eats and drinks to stay healthy and strong.

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Another helpful marathon course preview from Star Blackford from the CLIF Bar Pace Team! The CLIF Bar Pace Team loves running the Grandma’s Marathon every year! It is a phenomenal event, marked by first-class volunteers, a unique and fast course, and a host city that manages to make every runner feel like a hero. For the past two years, we’ve also paced the Gary Bjorklund Half Marathon and wanted to share our insider tips on the course, the weather and the town. Wherever you stay in Duluth (or the Lake Superior area), get ready to be treated like royalty. Whether…

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Vitamins and minerals are vital to our health and well being. While supplements may sometimes be helpful, it’s our daily, colorful diet that ensures we’re getting exactly what we need to run strong, recover well and stay active for a long time. In this episode of CLIFCast we speak about the importance of vitamins and minerals in our daily diets, the various roles they play, which ones are best for runners, and in which foods they can be found.

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Standing atop the south rim of the Grand Canyon for the first time, staring across at the north rim, overwhelms the senses. Your brain struggles to process the scale and beauty of it all. It looks fake as if it had been drawn by hand, the red hues exaggerated for our viewing pleasure. We could see the route we were about to run and it seemed so unbelievably far. Indeed it was far. 23 miles from the Bright Angel trail head to the top of the North Rim. But it appeared more like 230 miles away. The Colorado River, at…

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One of the main reasons we run and stay active is to be healthy. While organic food and drink may not have an immediate effect on your performance as a runner, the long term effects of organic food on your overall health, as well as that of our planet, are important. After all, you are what you eat. Listen in on the latest latest episode of the CLIFCast podcast: Organic Food and Drink.

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If you’re running the ASICS LA Marathon this coming weekend, you’re in for an amazing tour of this city. However, a race of this magnitude – 20,000 people – requires that you be prepared for the challenges of a large, marquee event. Read on to learn about what you’ll see and how to handle this beautiful course. The new “Stadium to the Sea” course does a lot of things right including placing the majority of its hills during the first six miles. However, don’t be deceived; this is not a flat course. You’ll encounter rolling hills and “undulations” throughout the…

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What can the rest of us learn from how ultra runners fuel themselves on runs of 50 miles, 100 miles or longer? Special guests include Team Clif Bar athletes Scott Jurek and Geoff Roes in this latest episode of the CLIFCast podcast: Insights from Afar - Ultra Runner Perspectives on Sports Nutrition.

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Anyone who has ever bonked on a run can tell you how terrible an experience it is. Running out of energy is something that can happen to even the most seasoned runners. However, it’s also something that can be avoided with the right nutrition. In this latest episode of the CLIFCast podcast, you’ll learn what bonking is, how best to avoid it and ways you can un-bonk.

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Like most things, how to carry food and drink on a run is all about finding the best way that works best for you. We all know there are so many options, but we're out to find the best solution for each specific style of runner. Special guests Darris and Star Blackford of the Clif Bar Pace Team join us to share how they like to carry their sports nutrition in the latest episode of the CLIFCast podcast.

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Running relays are one of the most memorable experiences a runner can have. They are fun and you’re pushing yourself in ways you rarely do. In this brand new episode of the CLIFCast Podcast, we’ll discuss what and when to eat and the importance of recovering after each of your legs.

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Planning for a run isn't always easy. And it can get even more complicated on a vegetarian or vegan diet. In this brand new episode of the CLIFCast Podcast, we look specifically at vegetarian/vegan running diets to find out exactly what you should be eating to get the nutrition your body needs. Plus, legendary ultra runner Scott Jurek — vegan for over a decade — drops by to share some valuable tips from his career as a professional runner.

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The CLIFCast Podcast returns with another brand new episode! This time we talk all about running 5K and 10K races. The 5K and 10K are a great way to enter the sport of running. Plus, these races are a lot of fun. But even though these distances are relatively short, thinking about your nutrition is still important. In this episode you’ll learn about the differences, nutritionally, in preparing for and completing a 5K and 10K.

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The CLIFCast Podcast is back with another brand new episode! This time we talk all about sweat rate. Proper hydration may be one of the most important components of a good run, and knowing your sweat rate can help you stay hydrated. In the newest episode of CLIFCast, you’ll learn all about the science of sweat, how to gauge your sweat rate and what to do to replenish your body with the hydration it needs.. So head over to iTunes to download the latest episode, and subscribe to CLIFCast to stay up to date on the latest podcasts from Clif…

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It was a busy weekend for us here at Clif Bar. Aside from the Sea Otter Classic, a bunch of us headed over to Boston for the Boston Marathon. Although the Clif Bar Pace Team was not actually pacing the marathon, many of our pace leaders were there to run the race and reconnect with old friends from marathons past. To help celebrate the momentous feat of running the Boston Marathon, we thought it would be fun to throw a little pre-race celebration for those that the Pace Team has helped qualify over the years. On Saturday night, about 200…

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