The Fitness Buff Show

In this episode of The Fitness Buff Show we preview the upcoming Kiwanis 5-mile Adventure Run, to be held Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011 at beautiful Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin, Florida. Race director Joe Garrison joins us to preview the race.

In his new book, I Am: The Power of Discovering Who You Really Are, author Howard Falco examines the larger-than-life questions we all feel such as "Why do I feel this way?" "How can I kick this bad habit?" and "When will I feel complete?" His program of self-definition and self-understanding has multiple implications across performance and sports.

We celebrate the fifth-anniversary of The Fitness Buff Show, which began on an AM radio station in Tampa Bay in 2005, with a discussion with Joe DeSena, creator of The Death Race, a punishing Vermont event that few manage to complete.

The Siesta Key Triathlon has it all: a terrific location on Siesta Beach in Sarasota, a huge volunteer support staff from the Sarasota Sharks youth swimming program, and a legendary post-race food spread. We preview this Oct. 3 race with race director Kyle Davis.

One of our favorite races on the triathlon calendar is rapidly approaching. The Sand Key Triathlon combines the beauty of the Clearwater beaches with a surprisingly hilly (by Florida standards) bike course. Race director Bev Buysse joins us to preview the race.

Boxers have known the secret of jumping rope for years. But few athletes in other disciplines ever take advantage of improving their athletic performance through jump rope training. Buddy Lee, president of Jump Rope Tech Technology Inc. and author of the new book Jump Rope Training, explains how anyone can take their performance up a notch by jumping rope.

Most of us never experience the thrill of going really fast on a bike. Robert Panzera, who owns Cycling Camp San Diego, explains how anyone can take their cycling up a notch - even to race level - in his new book Cycling Fast: Winning Essentials for Cycling Competition.

We have a special fondness for the Tarpon Springs Triathlon. Fitness Buff host Pete Williams completed his first triathlon in 2007 at "Tarpon," the Greek fishing village that ranks among the larger Greek settlements outside of Greece. After a one-year hiatus for repairs at Fred Howard Park, the race returns this year on Sept. 11 and race director Jerry Coleman joins us for a preview.

Lyle Jacon is the head of "All Out Running," a Tampa based running group that is putting on the All Out Run, Walk, or Crawl Out II 5K at Lake Park in Lutz on Aug. 28. Lyle will help us preview the race and provide some tips on how to train and thrive even during the summer heat.

Alyssa Bubeck is a whirling bundle of energy. She holds a doctorate in physical therapy and when she's not bringing athletes and others back from injuries she's inflicting pain on those who venture into her 6 a.m. spin classes. She joins us for a lively discussion live from the Caliente Resort & Spa.

Author Blane Bachelor has lived up to her name...at least until recently. The thirtysomething Atlanta resident has written about the joys of single life for years and has revisited many of those topics, which include fitness and running a clothing-optional 5K, in her new book "On Being a Bachelor." The newlywed joins us for a lively discussion.

Ultramarathons? Double Ironmans? They have nothing on the Ultimate Florida Challenge, an all-out, 1,200-mile kayak race around the Sunshine State where competitors face sharks, exotic snakes, storms, drunken powerboaters, hallucinations, and extreme mental and physical fatigue. Journalist Warren Richey, fresh from a divorce, entered the 2006 race. The result is an amazing tale of how he sorts out his life alone in a kayak for three weeks, surprising even himself as he becomes a contender to win the race. His new book WITHOUT A PADDLE chronicles his incredible journey.

Crystal River, Florida is famous for attracting manatees to its warm waters in the winter months. It's the only place in the world where you can swim legally with the friendly sea cows. It's also a great place to do a triathlon. Chris Mohling of DRC Sports joins us this week to talk about two of his upcoming events: the Twilight Triathlon on July 24 and the Crystal River Sprint on Sept. 4.

By now you've seen the brightly colored tape worn by the likes of volleyball player Kerri Walsh. It's been used for some time by medical professionals to treat muscle and joint injuries but only recently has been available for consumer use. Michelle Thompson of KT Tape joins us on this week's show to explain the secrets behind the tape.

Fitness guru Karen Jashinsky joins us this week to talk about childhood obesity and how families can live healthier lifestyles together. Karen is the owner and creator of 02 Max Fitness in Santa Monica, Ca.