Have you ever considered doing something really crazy? Like running the length of Connecticut? But, instead of doing it at sea level, you throw in a few thousand feet of elevation and also do it in the middle a hot California summer? Oh, yeah, and you have to do it in under 16 hours. Piece of cake, right? Well, that's what it's like when the contenders run the Western States 100, the United States' oldest ultra marathon.

This year proved to be one of the most exciting editions in

A few weeks back Team Clif Bar triathlete Meredith Kessler sent an email asking for some bars and BLOKS to help her prep for Ironman Coeur d'Alene. Knowing that both she and fellow TCB pro Linsey Corbin would be racing in Idaho, I issued a challenge: "You guys will have to finish 1-2 or we will be forced cut you both from the program." We play hardball here in the TCB pod.

Many of you may have been introduced to Southern California's Conejo Valley by way of the Tour of California. As you may recall, the area provided the hilly landscape that produced the most epic and action-packed stage of the race. Well, the fellas from the Agoura Hills-based racing team Fast Friday have been riding that same loop on Friday afternoons for years - it's where the team got its name. Well following last Friday's ride, Gary, the team's notorious leader, was invited by some friends to eat at Leila's http://www.leilasrestaurant.com/ , one of the region's most popular and well-regarded restaurants. The establishment is one of the Valley's true insider's secrets, known for its creative menu, extensive wine list and regular one-off dishes created by experienced, open-minded cooks. The kitchen folks are so open to new ideas that they didn't even balk when Gary presented them with a request inspired, no doubt, by at least a couple glasses of vintage central coast Pinot: "Would you guys mind deep-frying this CLIF BAR and serving it up à la mode?"

After a taking an impressive 3rd place on the rain-soaked streets of Lisbon last week, Santa Cruz Syndicate's Greg Minnaar is out to prove he can win on any terrain and in any conditions that the World Cup downhill circuit can throw at him. Not normally know for his ability on muddy, technical tracks, Greg was nonetheless fired up about his chances for a podium this past weekend on the flooded course in Maribor, Slovenia. And although Greg described the track as "The hardest course

The Santa Cruz Syndicate's Greg Minnaar finished with a solid third place this past weekend on the rain-soaked streets of Lisbon, Portugal, as the city put on the 12th edition of its famed urban downhill race. Minnaar's teammate, reigning downhill world champion Steve Peat, came into the race as the favorite, having won the event for eight straight years. Unfortunately for Peaty, the slippery conditions got the best of him and he crashed hard into a rock wall, ending his chances for a