Clif Bar Blog

CLIFCast Podcast - Vitamins & Minerals

2012-05-24T23:12:00-07:00

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.

Three Clif Bar Employees Tackle Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim

2012-05-11T20:19:00-07:00

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 the base of the canyon was not visible. Just a dark sliver of rock above it that the Colorado had cut through over time.

The Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim (R2R2R) run, or Double Crossing, is a quintessential trail runner’s adventure. A rite of passage. Starting from the South Rim on the Bright Angel trail, we would run some of the most beautiful and treacherous 46 miles of trails on the planet to the North Rim and then back again. Along the way we’d experience close to 2 billion years of geological history, barely registering a blip in its life.

We began our descent into the blackness at 3am. The cloud cover kept any natural light to a minimum. We could see the headlamps of another group of runners ahead and below us. But that was about it. The temperature in our rental car had read 41 degrees but felt much warmer as we descended. Within a couple hours we had made it all the way to the Colorado River some 8 or so miles down. At this point it was just starting to get light and we were ready to stash our headlamps as we had been getting buzzed by bats attracted to the light.

We ran alongside the Colorado river for what seemed like just a few minutes before crossing the Silver bridge into Phantom Ranch - one of only two places left in the U.S. whose mail is still delivered by mule. From there we stashed some of our gear (jackets, hats, gloves) and began the long climb up (14 miles & 5,500’) to the North Rim along the North Kaibab trail, passing through every ecosystem to be found between Canada and Mexico. We ran through The Box, a massive canyon carved out by the Bright Angel Creek with steep, 1,500 canyon walls on either side. The canyon was as wide as 50 feet at times.

As we continued the climb, the trail began to get very rocky, steep and technical, leaving very little room for errors. At this point we began to marvel at the engineering feat of a trail in this environment and location. Sections of the trail are literally carved into the side of the rock along with the Sutai tunnel.

The climb to the North Rim can be described simply as relentless. Unending switchbacks take you back and forth across the cliff faces, all while gaining enough altitude to make us sea level dwellers feel a little light headed and short of breath. But of course, with the elevation, the larger views of the Grand Canyon became spectacular once again and motivated us to the top.

After a short rest and few photos we hit the impossibly long descent back to the canyon floor. While it was great to be losing altitude and ticking off miles much more quickly, we all knew that this is where our legs would take a major beating. Plus, in a few short hours our legs would be called upon to climb 5,000 feet back up to the south rim. We all started to realize that that final climb home, while shorter, was going to be much harder.

Once off the steep descent, we had a fun and very run-able 5-6 mile section down to Phantom Ranch. The trail was gently downhill and meandered along the river, which created a breeze that made the 90 degree temperatures tolerable. Our only mishap of the day happened when we got separated upon entering Phantom Ranch. Although we knew that we were very likely all fine, we still spent both mental and physical energy tracking each other down. But once reunited, we enjoyed a couple of the famous lemonades served up by the Ranch’s canteen.

We pushed out of Phantom Ranch with the final climbs imminently before us. We motored through the gentle uphills to the 4.5 mile to go point, then took a few minutes to eat, drink and contemplate the final climb up to the south rim. Summiting the north rim had been tough, but we were relatively fresh. With 41 miles already covered, the heat, and 2 crushing downhills in our legs, this one was easily going to be the toughest climb any of us had ever done.

The climb called on all coping skills and tactics to get to the top - counting steps, picking a point to run to, catching the hiker in front of you, dreaming of salty french fries, whatever. The pace was tortoise-like and the distance turned over so slowly. Seeing my watch add a tenth of a mile was a small, but important victory.

Finally, we started to see landmarks on the rim and knew the end was near. One more tenth of a mile and we topped out, giving each other a round of well deserved high fives and congratulations. Immediately we agreed that running the rim to rim to rim was one of the coolest experiences ever. And unlike some trail races where you swear off the sport upon crossing the finish line, with this one, we all agreed that we had to do it again in the future.

CLIF Kit: Jeremy Jones’ Further Unplugged

2012-05-03T17:19:00-07:00

With the constant physical demands of bottom-up approaches, Jeremy Jones (Team CLIF Bar) knows that reliable fuel is just as important as reliable equipment. When Jeremy sets off on another challenging ascent, CLIF SHOT Bloks and SHOT Gels are his go-to source for the full-force nutrition needed to top out, drop in, and get back to camp in one piece. Check out this episode of Further Unplugged and get a better sense for what's going into Jeremy's pack (and body) on his epicly long days deep in the backcountry.

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Further Unplugged takes you behind the scenes of Jeremy Jones' two-year snowboarding film, Further. Get an inside glimpse of what goes on between the lines as Jones and other top riders including Terje Haakonsen, Xavier De Le Rue, Josh Dirksen and Forrest Shearer (Team CLIF Bar) travel to exotic locations such as Japan, the Arctic Circle and the Wrangell-St. Elias Wilderness. Challenges arise around every corner as this crew attempts to push their minds and bodies further.

In addition to supporting Jeremy and Protect Out Winters, CLIF Bar is a proud supporter of Further. No doubt we are as stoked as you to catch a glimpse of the final product coming this fall. We look forward to seeing you out there.

Levi & CLIF – a little history

2012-05-02T16:38:00-07:00

Hello and welcome to my first ever blog here at CLIF Bar. I'm proud to have CLIF Bar as a major supporter of my charity ride, Levi’s King Ridge Gran Fondo. CLIF represents the same philosophy as Levi's Gran Fondo, especially our focus on community and philanthropy. I've always loved CLIF products and what the company represents and stands for. CLIF Bar has been lauded as one of the best companies to work for, and has been eco-conscience long before it was the popular way to do business, like it is today.

My history with CLIF Bar and Gary & Kit Erickson goes back to my days on the US Postal Service Cycling Team in 2000-2001. I remember riding with them on the first Epiphany Ride in the Bay Area in August of 2000. Gary and I have kept in touch over the years and we often run into each other back in Northern California, since we are practically neighbors. In training I often ride the climb that goes right by Gary’s house. Gary and Kit are very active; I receive text messages and photos of them cycling, skiing and hiking to name a few of the activities at which they excel. If you ever find yourself in St Helena in the Napa Valley stop by Velo Vino and you might even find Gary serving some of their family wine or coffee. Of course they also serve all your favorite CLIF products like Citrus SHOT Bloks or Crunch Peanut Butter granola bars - which happen to be my favorite.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to check out all the content here on my CLIF Bar page!

Levi Leipheimer

Thank you Sea Otter, thank you bicycle

2012-04-27T16:32:01-07:00

Thank you Sea Otter attendees and Clif Bar fans… thank you all who crossed our path at the Sea Otter Classic last weekend in Monterey, California. Man, was it a hoot! And another sunny reminder that the bicycling life is the good life.

We pedaled hard, we worked hard, and we partied… very responsibly. And we were constantly filled with laughter, camaraderie and stoke, thanks to all of you. That’s the cool thing about Sea Otter, everyone there is on common ground and you can feel it. You can see it, hear it and even smell it. Sweet bike-elixir of life. It’s part camping/part hotel, part mountain/part road, part gnar-gnar/part flow, part race/part recreation… part of the greatest weekend of the entire year, and all because of the humble bicycle.

But it’s also because of you, Clif Campfire Jam attendees… Thanks for the down home hang time; nothing like a sunset bbq after an epic day on the bike. We shared some great stories with everyone on that hilltop.

And also because of you, who rooted us on during our daily bike-commute from the hotel… Thanks for the hoots and toots!

And to all of you at Clif Bar’s 20th Anniversary celebration on Saturday, cutting rug – or shall I say cutting sod – and supporting IMBA, even raising a toast with Gary in between songs. There was a lot of love out there, a lot of good times.

Hooray for all of you who brought us your energy bar wrappers to be recycled, and especially to the guy who hand delivered a year’s worth of Clif Bar wrappers… again! OMG. You are now affectionately known as ‘the wrapper guy’ at the Clif Bar booth. 3 years and running?! You are incredible. You are inspiring. You are wrapper guy! Next time, lunch is on us.

And to all of you who threw a tip in the jar during our shindig – we made a quick $500 straight to trail access efforts at IMBA. Not bad for an afternoon get-together!

No matter who you are or where you crossed paths with the Clif Bar gang at Sea Otter, thank you for being part of the experience. High fives, fist pumps, hugs and hoots and hollers to y’all. Thank you for 20 years of adventure, thank you for another memorable year at Sea Otter.

We can’t wait to do it all again.

- The Clif Bar gang

Headed for the High Point: Team CLIF Bar to the Top of the World

2012-04-25T21:29:00-07:00

A couple of months back I got a call from Team CLIF Bar's Hilaree O'neill. Though we were set to talk about a couple of trips she had put in for with the North Face, that would be no small feats in themselves, our conversation quickly turned to something else that had come up and was quickly taking precedent. Everest!

As the conversation unfolded, Hilaree shared with me the plan. 6 North Face athletes (Cory Richards and Hilarre O'Neill both being CLIF BAR Team members) were set to embark on the experience of a lifetime. Seeking to repeat the historic climb of 1963 Nat Geo sponsored American Mount Everest Expedition, 3 teams of 2 have set out for 2 months to celebrate the historic 50 year anniversary of the original American expedition. Cory and Conrad Anker will be attempting the burly (and historic) West Ridge route and Hilaree and Kris Erickson plan to climb and ski the Southeast Ridge. The 3rd party consists of renowned rock climbers Emily Harrington and Sam Elias who will also take on the Southeast Ridge with Nat Geo writer and climber Mark Jenkins.

To date there has already been a ton of incredible content coming out of the journey and we thought it would be sweet to give you a taste below.

Starting first with a look at the gear and food that Hilaree will be using as compared to the expedition 50 years ago,

....to saying goodbye to loved ones that made their way to basecamp in support of the adventure ahead,

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... to keeping it clean as Cory recounts their mission up to Camp 2, while making sure that his handle bars can hold their own along the way.

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For the freshest updates, follow along in real time at National Geographic, Facebook, or the TNF Website!

Catching Up with TCB FreeSport Athletes

2012-04-04T15:36:00-07:00

It's been a busy time around these parts, and while you all have been getting out and getting after it, so too have a number of members of Team CLIF Bar's Free Sports roster. In this post you’ll find some of the latest happenings across all four of our Free Sports from a handful of our fine athlete ambassadors in the field.

Get stoked and then get back out there!

Han’s “No Way” Rey Rides India - VIDEO

Hans Rey (Team CLIF Bar), Richie Schley, and Joscha Forstreuter travelled to the Indian Himalayas. Their goal: to reach the mysterious Roopkund Lake, a glacial lake in the Uttarakhand region, famous for hundreds of ancient human skeletons at its bottom, and to ride down a sheer endless technical downhill over 3,500m/ 11'000ft on trails that had previously never been ridden.

*for another great Hans Rey adventure check out this article on Hansy from a trip to the Czech singletrack paradise Pod Smerkm

Timmy O’Neill Gives the Gift of Sight

Legendary Team CLIF Climber, comedian, drummer and human extraordinaire Timmy O’Neill checks in from the craziness of Kathmandu. Timmy is currently attending eye tech and Nepali language school in order to continue his work with Dr Geoff Tabin, a leading international ophthalmologist, who has dedicated his life to reversing world blindness through the organization he co-founded, the Himalayan Cataract Project (HCP).

Timmy’s email below paints the picture of his daily life and the recent article (from Elevation Outdoors) shares a bit more of the incredible work that Timmy has been doing to give back to the people of our planet in a truly unique fashion.

From T.O.:

I am up late for me, 10PM, emailing after getting back from rehearsing with a jazz band - three Norwegians and an Australian. I went to rehearsal right after eye tech school from 7am to 4pm. And now it's time to study a bit more before hitting the sack.

This town is wild for sure Kathmandu instructs me to walk don't run, move don't stop, live don't die, spirit not body, heart not mind, now not later, love not war.

As I mentioned I am also playing music here and trying to stay sharp for my music gigs when I return to the States. I am planning on playing with my band at the Telluride Mountain Film at the end of May.

I just emerged from the Kathmandu Jazz Conservancy and into the polluted dusty streets and the deliberate merciless merge of man and machine, namely motorcycle taxi and micro bus.

As I stepped over trash, across a fetid sewer and into the blitz, blare and blast of the continuous near miss, I realized immediately that I had left the musical sanctuary, one that exists primarily in the pocket, mindfully creating a complex and interconnected mood of melody and rhythm. Music is my language and the world is my stage.

The streets of Kathmandu are beyond indifferent, they border on malevolence through my western eyes, ears and viscera.

I make a living through work and a life through giving and I give until I have enough.

Hope you are crushing and loving life.

BEST

TO

Jenn Berg- PBR’s and Lots of Mustard - VIDEO

We have no doubt about what Jenn eats during a full day on the mountain, but this savory little vid (that has been making it's way back around after last season) gives you a healthy taste of what that looks like from her perspective. After a couple pockets full of CLIF Shot Bloks and Gels, Jenn takes to the Main Chute at Alta and enjoys the rewards of an all-star après ….and lots of mustard!

Kyle Thiermann- Surfing For Change

Team CLIF Bar member Kyle Theirmann is a 21 year old pro surfer who has created some serious waves around the world. He is the creator and host of the hit YouTube series, Surfing For Change.

Combining surfing great waves with making a series of short films about current issues, Thiermann focuses on the power you have to create a better world through everyday decisions.

His first YouTube movie in the series, Claim Your Change, details how money kept in multinational banks is used to finance destructive projects all over the world. One such project, a proposed coal-fired power plant in Constitucion, Chile, home of a world-class surf spot and fishing village, is the subject of the movie. This video inspired people to move hundreds of millions of dollars out of centralized banks into local banks and credit unions, and reached people throughout North America, South America, Africa and much of Europe.

Since then, he has made movies ranging from the importance of shopping locally, to following a plastic bag to Hawaii.

Kyle has surfed his way across Indonesia, Chile, Peru, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Australia, Hawaii and throughout the US.

For the latest on Kyle, check out this link to a recent interview and be sure to drop in to Surfing for Change to get your inspirational video stoke on!

CLIFCast Podcast - Organic Food and Drink

2012-03-27T22:02:00-07:00

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.

An LA Marathon Course Preview from the Clif Bar Pace Team

2012-03-14T18:43:01-07:00

If you’re running the Honda 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 course, but the trickiest and nastiest of your hills will be served up while you’re still fresh.

THE START
On race morning the energy will be electric at Dodger Stadium – and you want to be able to enjoy it. As with any race, allow ample time to arrive, drop your bag at gear check, use the porta-potties and make your way to the actual starting line. Once you’ve calculated how much time you’ll need, add another half hour to it. The last thing you want on race morning is added stress.

You MUST be at the start, in place and ready to go at the scheduled 7:24am time – but don’t be thrown off your game if it takes a few extra minutes to get moving! Cool your heels, sit down on the pavement to rest your legs, and make some conversation with the runners around you. Stay calm and save your energy for the race.

Leaving Dodger Stadium can be a bit tricky. Prepare yourself for some winding, some weaving and some crowds – and watch out for narrow lanes and traffic cones. Your first mile out of Dodger Stadium is uphill and it’s important stay relaxed. It’s all too easy to get stressed out by the environment and the crowds. A relaxed and slower first mile is much easier to fix later in the race than a fast, stress-driven mile that sends your heart and your adrenaline skyrocketing before you’ve even seen the first mile marker. Something else to think about: your next mile and a half are a long, gradual downhill, giving you plenty of time to relax while gradually picking up the pace.

LEAVING DODGER STADIUM
The first six miles of the course take you through LA’s Chinatown section (including the Chinatown Dragon Gate) and El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Park. Tuck in behind your pace leader and relax into your race through these early miles – your first big challenge is right ahead.

During mile 3, you’ll begin heading up a very long, steep hill to the Disney Concert Hall. Once you finish the climb, you’ll be treated to an amazing view of LA, as well as the gorgeous architecture of the Hall itself. But be warned: the climb, topping out right around mile 4, is serious business. Our fastest pace groups will remain pretty steadily. The 4:15 through 5:30 groups will reduce their pace to keep you comfortable and still mobile after the climb. If you need to handle this hill differently than your pace group, by all means, do! We’ll all reconnect soon after at a water stop or on the more forgiving portions of the course; the most important thing is that you run your race according to how YOUR body needs to.

After the Disney Concert Hall, you’ll head through some more of downtown LA and past Los Angeles City Hall, then head into Little Tokyo just a mile later. Mile six will find you heading into Echo Park, a gorgeous area with a beautiful lake off to your right. Take a look and enjoy the view; the next four miles will wind through some older LA neighborhoods. The course will flatten out a bit here after the early hills, but the scenery won’t be quite as exciting again until...

MILE 10
Mile 10! Not only are you in double digits now, but you’ll be able to see the famous “Hollywood” sign straight ahead (weather permitting), and you’ll be heading into Hollywood itself! From miles 10 through 12, keep your eyes wide open as you run past an assortment of Hollywood icons: the Pantages Theater, the Capital Records Tower, Grauman’s Chinese Theater, the Kodak Theater and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. If you’re stopping to take pictures, remember to move to the left or right side of the street!

From Hollywood itself, you’ll head into West Hollywood, passing the half marathon mark and the famed Chateau Marmont. Mile 14 will drop you off on the Sunset Strip, where you’ll get up close and personal with old and new celebrity hangouts like Whiskey A Go Go, the Troubador and the House of Blues. Remember, the course is relatively tame through here, with no serious climbs to be concerned with. Just hang tight with your pace group and keep an eye out for the palm trees … and the palm tree lined streets of Beverly Hills.

MILE 15
By mile 15, you’re in Beverly Hills, taking a one mile tour of the gorgeous wide streets leading you to what might be the most magical mile of the course: Rodeo Drive! Make sure you’re watching out for runners around you even as you gawk at the windows as you run by – Cartier! Versace! Chanel!
Miles 17 and 18 present the last couple of up-hills on the course, as you cruise through some of the trendy areas surrounding Beverly Hills. From there, miles 19 and 20 are a bit difficult, with not as much scenery as the previous miles. Remember to store up the energy you get from Beverly Hills to carry you through, and lean on your pace leader and the runners around you to stay strong until that milestone mile 20.

MILE 20
Just before the Mile 20 water station will be your opportunity to grab a Clif Shot Energy Gel. Miles 20 and 21 are just a bit uphill, but offer beautiful scenery as a distraction. As you pass the VA Medical Center, you’ll go under a bridge with some gorgeous and creative murals; you’ll pass through a lush park setting as you head to mile 22 and the upscale, pretty neighborhoods that line San Vincente Boulevard. You’ll be struggling here for sure, so take a few moments to take in the beautiful architecture of the homes. Soon enough you’ll be at mile 23 (only 5K to go!), entering Brentwood and slowly picking up speed as you head downhill. As the palm trees reappear, you’ll be able to start seeing the ocean to your right as you run through Palisades Park.

The last three miles are all downhill and, while you don’t want to pound on your quads at this point, you CAN relax just a little bit and let the road carry you down to the ocean. Absorb the beauty of the park and the day, try to seek out the sounds of the ocean, and congratulate yourself on all you’ve done to get here.

MILE 25
It’s mile 25! You’re now running along the ocean towards the finish line at the Santa Monica Pier! It seems so far away – it always does – but the closer you get, the more your pace picks up, and before you know it, you’ve arrived! At last, you’re at the FINISH LINE at Ocean Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard! With the famous Ferris wheel in the background and the cheers of spectators all around you, it’s a finish – and an experience – that you’ll never forget.

Now get that medal around your neck and wear it proudly – you’ve just FINISHED the Honda LA Marathon!

Ever Wonder What it’s like to Ski as a Giant, Foam CLIF BAR?

2012-03-07T20:16:00-07:00

The Clif Bar Field Marketing team has a reputation for containing some pretty enthusiastic folks, like Erik Winkler for example. Not one to shy away from a challenge, he donned a giant foam CLIF BAR costume and went backcountry skiing, UPHILL, no joke! Read on and watch to download the full adventure.

I’m Erik Winkler, the sign-up-for-anything man. A friend asks, “Hey, want to ride from Seattle to Portland this weekend?” “Yep, I respond”. “Hey, want to be in a 7 person multiport relay” “Yep”. I’m up for anything and usually happy to be so.

Well, this weekend was no exception. As a proud and loyal member of the NW Clif Bar Crew, when my boss asked me if I’d be willing to participate in a backcountry ski race wearing a giant foam Clif Bar, I naturally agreed without hesitation.

Welcome to Vertfest ’12 at Alpental, a backcountry ski race that starts at the base of the hill and ascends 2400 feet to the top and back down. However, this is just the recreational division…for the crazies out there, you could do a second lap, break out the Lycra!

Being that I am a mere mortal and covered in a giant foam CLIF BAR, I chose to go Rec. From the get go, my super-sized CLIF BAR brought smiles to my fellow racers and chairlift onlookers.

Though trudging uphill proved to be a little more difficult than I anticipated, it was worth the adventure.My biggest adversary in this endeavor proved to be the heat and restricted movement from the suit. The trickiest part of the climb was during a section where you took your skis off and climbed because the suit extends to the ankles. Needless to say, climbing is difficult when you can’t see your feet!

I couldn’t have asked for a better route during my ascent, it was right under the chair. I could hear people talking on the lift “Is that a giant CLIF BAR?” followed by “Yeah CLIF, wooohooo!” Ironically, it was the other skiers love for CLIF BARs that fueled me up the mountain and when I was finished I gladly reciprocated with an actual CLIF BAR to fuel them.

Finally reaching the top, I could take a short break while taking off my skins and locking down my bindings. Now comes the part I’ve been waiting for, charging down a double black with jello legs, embrace the burn! This was a lot of fun and I would gladly do it again…maybe next time I’ll just wear a CLIF cape though.