The Fitness Buff Show

The recent passing of Apple chairman Steve Jobs was a reminder that pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of the disease, with only a 6 percent survival rate. November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and in this episode we discuss Purple Stride, a national series of 5K races, including a Nov. 5 race in the Tampa Bay area, that draws attention to this horrible disease. Race director Tracy Connolly joins us to preview this race and pancreatic cancer awareness month.

Laser hair removal has become a mainstream procedure in recent years, with thousands of men and women undergoing procedures. Whether it's for aesthetics, sports performance, or other reasons, it's never been easier. In this episode, Fitness Buff host Pete Williams undergoes laser hair removal during the show. Join him and co-host Whit Lasseter as they broadcast live from The LaBrecque Center for Aesthetics in Clearwater, Fla., as owner Terri LaBrecque works her magic on Pete.

Most people think they couldn't possibly follow a raw foods diet, which advocates argue is the best way to stay healthy, avoid illness, and have limitless energy. Alissa Cohen, author of the new book: Raw Food for Everyone: Essential Techniques and 300 Simple-to-Sophisticated Recipes, says it's a lot easier to follow than you might think. She joins us in today's episode.

September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. It's a delicate topic, to be sure, but one that hit home for us this month when Fitness Buff host Pete Williams received an unusually high PSA reading compared to his PSA a year ago. He's fine, thankfully, but Dr. Aaron Katz, author of the best-selling Dr. Katz' Guide to Prostate Health joins us this week to discuss his new book: The Definitive Guide to Prostate Cancer. If you or a loved one is dealing with prostate cancer, you'll want to get some insight from Dr. Katz.

We welcome back to the program Michele Rauter, a former pro beach volleyball player who we met two years ago when she was  part of a team assembled by ESPN the Magazine to compete in the "Super Bowl of Volleyball," a nude volleyball tournament at the White Thorn Lodge nudist resort in Western Pennsylvania that's been held for more than 40 years. Michele so enjoyed the experience that she's heading back this year to compete in the buff once again. She gives us her insight on one of the most unique events in sports.

The Nature Coast Twilight Triathlon on Saturday, July 23 is one of the more unique events in the endurance world. With a 7:30 p.m. start at Fort Island Gulf Beach in Crystal River, Florida, it's in the heart of manatee country. And while the big cuddly sea cows have for the most part moved on this time of year, you might encounter one during the swim. There's also a moonlight ride - headlamps and tail lights required - and a run as darkness sets over the water. Race director Chris Moling joins us to preview the race.

We're excited to be involved in the second-annual clothing-optional Caliente Bare Dare 5K at the Caliente Resort in Land O'Lakes, Florida on Sunday, Oct. 9. We'll preview the race with a live broadcast poolside from Caliente with Sabrina Vizzari and Whit Lasseter, two of the top five female finishers in last year's race. This race attracted 200 runners last year and is projected to more than double in 2011. Will you take the Bare Dare?

Elaine Feldman has set numerous world records for round-the-clock training, including jump-roping and strength training. The longtime fitness guru will set a few more records on July 15-16 at the Anytime Fitness in Dunedin, Florida. As always, the effort benefits a number of charities: FARA, the Challenged Athletes Foundation, Lifelink, and Missin 4:13.

When Megan Mays and Rebecca Hansen joined us in March to talk about competing in "The Death Race," we had no idea they'd be among the event's 35 finishers - and just two of the four women. They lugged heavy logs for hours, completed thousands of squats with heavy rocks, braved frigid 45-degree waters and dealt with 45 HOURS of mental and physical exhaustion from June 24-26. Megan and Rebecca join us in this episode to chronicle how they survived.

No sport has experienced more meteoric growth in 2011 than stand-up paddle boarding and that's reflected in the increasing number of race events that have sprouted up on the calendar. We talk about the SUP race scene in this episode with Karen Mirlenbrink, one of the race directors for the upcoming SUP Splash St. Pete Beach Race, which takes place on Saturday, July 16 in front of the Postcard Inn in St. Pete Beach.

Pro endurance athlete and movement specialist Jessi Stensland joins us to talk proper movement, something many endurance athletes lack. Jessi knows firsthand how a triathlete's body can be worn down to the point of giving up the sport. She reached that point eight years ago before Mark Verstegen and the folks at Athletes' Performance showed her how to train to move efficiently and powerfully while becoming more resistant to injury. Now she shares this knowledge in a series of active seminars around the county, including one in Melbourne, Florida on June 25-26.

We're joined in this episode by Lynn Gray, one of the top running coaches in Florida, and one of the race directors for the Spring into Summer 5K, which takes place on Saturday, June 4 at Al Lopez Park in Tampa. We'll talk to Lynn about the race and also some tips to help you train better and lower your times in your next 5K, 10K, half or full marathon.

Best-selling author Martin Dugard is best known for books such as Chasing Lance and Into Africa. He's also a high school cross-country and track coach in California and a lifelong runner. In his new book To Be a Runner, just released this week, he takes a journey through the world of running to illustrate how the sport helps us fulfill the universal desire to be the best possible version of ourselves each and every time we lace up our shoes.

Sarasota's Siesta Key Beach is one of the most picturesque venues for a triathlon and that's where the Florida International (FIT) Triathlon takes place on Saturday, May 14. We preview the event with Jackie Miller, who is one of the organizers and a USAT-certified coach.

We preview the Innisbrook Green Day 5K, a terrific race on the north course of the Innisbrook Golf & Spa Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida, on Saturday, May 7 at 8 a.m. This event is ideal for minimalist footwear. If you've ever wanted to run on one of Florida's most beautiful courses, this is your opportunity. We speak with Innisbrook's Cami Ragin in this episode.