Two-Time National Champion Lauren Fleshman Uses ElliptiGO in Return to Top Form

Eugene, OR (PRWEB) November 30, 2011

Lauren Fleshman, two-time U.S. National Champion in the 5,000 meters, reached a turning point in 2010 when recurring injuries threatened to drive her away from competitive running. Unwilling to let dreams of running in the 2012 Olympics slip away, she added workouts on the ElliptiGO and radically changed up her training regimen to outsmart chronic injuries. After a year of using the ElliptiGO in place of 2-3 hours of running per week, Fleshman returned to top form in the 5,000 meters and matched the highest finish ever by an American woman at the 2011 IAAF World Championships.

Injuries have been Fleshman?s nemesis since graduating from Stanford in 2003 as a 15-time All-American. ?After college I broke my left foot four times during training. I realized that I had to get smart and do something different or I would never compete again,? Fleshman recalls. ?I had to face the fact that I had limitations and that I couldn?t train like everyone else with high-mileage weeks.? When she found the ElliptiGO in 2010, Fleshman knew that she had the solution to her problem. She could continue to build cardiovascular endurance as she ran on the ElliptiGO, but she could do it without the jarring impact associated with her regular runs.

Designed by runners, the ElliptiGO is the first outdoor, low-impact, fitness device specifically designed to emulate the running motion. It allows athletes of all levels to get a high-intensity workout without experiencing the repetitive impact of running. Healthy athletes and injured athletes alike have found it the most effective way to get an outdoor running experience without the usual pounding on their bodies.

?I knew my body couldn?t tolerate running more than 80 miles per week, so I filled in gaps with the ElliptiGO,? Lauren explained. ?Instead of going out and putting the additional volume on my legs and joints, I rode it for the equivalent amount of time that I would be running, replacing some of my key training and recovery workouts.?

As a relatively new product, there were no established ElliptiGO training regimens for professional track athletes like Fleshman to follow. She had to use her years of experience as a runner to guide her in her new training strategy. ?When I run on the ElliptiGO, I try to mimic the same heart-rate zones I would have done in the runs I?m replacing. It?s been an effective way to incorporate more training and recovery workouts into my regimen,? Fleshman added. ?I?m able to keep my fitness level on par with my competitors while putting in fewer miles, which greatly reduces the likelihood of injury.?

?We are thrilled that Lauren found ElliptiGO to be the perfect addition to her training regimen,? said Bryan Pate, Co-Founder and Co-President of ElliptiGO. ?We?ve recognized from the start that the ElliptiGO provides a high-performance, high-intensity workout that more closely mimics running than any other machine on the road or elliptical trainer inside a gym. Now, professional runners from Lauren Fleshman to Josh Cox and Adam Goucher have realized its potential and are using it to run without impact as a supplement to their training.?

Running faster by running less seems counterintuitive, but by letting go of the constraints of traditional training, Fleshman created a whole new way to compete on the world stage. She proved this by being the top American finisher in the 5,000 meter event at the IAAF World Championships in September and the second American woman to cross the finish line at the 2011 New York Marathon in November. ?It?s been my best year ever and I?ve been able to stay healthy enough to race in my debut marathon in New York City.? Fleshman said.

Fleshman?s performance in these events is evidence that her new strategy of running less and cross-training on ElliptiGO is paying off on her journey to a podium finish in London next summer. ?We wish Lauren the best in her training and are excited to be a part of her Olympic dream,? said Pate. ?In the future, we expect many more professional runners to use the ElliptiGO as Lauren has to both extend their running lives and make themselves faster, stronger athletes.?

The ElliptiGO is available for sale at http://www.ElliptiGO.com and at specialty bike or fitness stores in ElliptiGO?s national dealer network.

For more information about the company and its products visit the ElliptiGO website or follow them on Twitter @elliptigo and Facebook.

About ElliptiGO

ElliptiGO, Inc. is a San Diego-based company that created the world?s first elliptical bicycle. By modifying the elliptical trainer motion and combining it with the functionality of a bicycle, the ElliptiGO? line of bikes delivers a high-performance workout experience that closely mimics running outdoors while eliminating the impact. It provides the most comfortable, fun and efficient way to get out and stay active. The full line of ElliptiGO? bikes is available for purchase at select retailers nationwide and through the company?s website: http://www.ElliptiGO.com.

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2011 US National Masters Track Champion Credits ElliptiGO for Strong Return to Running and Attempts Record-Setting Marathon

Ross, CA (PRWEB) December 14, 2011

2011 was a banner year for Brian Pilcher. After earning three medals at the World Masters Athletics Track and Field Championships, he won the U.S. National Masters Track Championship in both the 5,000 and 10,000-meters for men 55 - 59 and then clocked a record-setting 1:12:52 half marathon last month. Now his eyes are set on the Houston Marathon in January where he will make his first attempt to break the American record in the marathon for men 55 and older.

Pilcher exploded onto the Masters running scene just a few years ago and was named USATF and Running Times 2009 Runner of the Year for Men 50-54. His meteoric rise came to a screeching halt in March of 2010 when pain in his hips stopped him from running at all. Doctors determined that Brian had lost the cartilage in his hip and his pain was coming from the bones rubbing together. He underwent surgery to shave down the bones in both hips and anchor the labrum back in place. It was a success, but knee issues soon followed and Brian found himself unable to run for even five minutes. Frustrated with this new reality, Brian searched for alternatives and discovered the ElliptiGO.

Designed by runners, the ElliptiGO is the first outdoor fitness device specifically designed to emulate the running motion. It allows athletes of all levels to get a high-intensity workout without experiencing the repetitive impact of running. Healthy athletes and injured athletes alike have found it the most effective way to get an outdoor running experience without the usual pounding on their bodies, and it has quickly become the tool of choice for a number of 2012 Olympic hopefuls and competitive Masters runners.

For Brian, the key was that he didn?t feel his hip or knee pain when he rode the ElliptiGO, so he could get his training done even while injured. ?I refused to sit and wait for fate to heal my knee; to run again,? he explains. ?I enjoyed riding the ElliptiGO and it kept me healthy psychologically because I was able to get in a solid workout. That?s key for any athlete suffering from an injury.?

After several months of riding, it became clear that the benefits for Pilcher weren?t only psychological. His bodywork therapist, Anita Acevedo, began to notice significant changes in his body. ?What truly amazed me was that his rib cage and upper torso became more upright and in alignment, and his core strength and posture dramatically improved,? Acevedo explained. ?Structurally, the ElliptiGO helped Brian become stronger in both his legs and his lungs.?

?Brian Pilcher?s story really exemplifies what we hear from both recreational users and elite athletes every day,? said Bryan Pate, Co-Founder and Co-President of ElliptiGO. ?The ElliptiGO allows them to get in a high-quality workout, but without the pain they?re accustomed to experiencing in high-impact activities. It?s particularly powerful as a unique way for former runners and injured athletes to exercise again with real intensity, which makes a profound impact on their quality of life.?

After thousands of miles on the ElliptiGO, Brian began to work running back into his life and the results were remarkable. Only nine weeks after being cleared to run again, he finished third overall in the Dipsea Race, one the nation?s most grueling trail races. The following month, Brian went on to earn three medals at the World Masters Athletics Track and Field Championships and became the 2011 U.S. National Track Champion in the 5K and 10K for men 55 - 59. ?I had a huge base of miles on the ElliptiGO, which really helped maintain my fitness until I could heal enough to run competitively again,? Pilcher explained. ?I?m eager to see how much more I can improve my times now that I?ve integrated the ElliptiGO into my training program.?

As if to prove his point, in November of 2011, Brian took 1st in his age group and 5th overall at the World Championships of Elliptical Biking, posting the fastest time ever for someone over 50. He followed that performance up with a 1:12:52 half-marathon, entering the record books with the 10th fastest half-marathon ever run by a 55-year old.????

?We are so pleased to be an integral, ongoing part of Brian?s story and look forward to seeing what he will do at the Houston Marathon in January,? said Pate. ?It looks like he?s got a really good shot at setting an American record in the marathon for his age group and I?m planning to be there to see him do it.?

The ElliptiGO is available for sale at http://www.elliptigo.com and at specialty bike or fitness stores in ElliptiGO?s national dealer network.

For more information about the company and its products visit the ElliptiGO website or follow them on Twitter @elliptigo and Facebook.

About ElliptiGO

ElliptiGO, Inc. is a San Diego-based company that created the world?s first elliptical bicycle. By modifying the elliptical trainer motion and combining it with the functionality of a bicycle, the ElliptiGO? line of bikes delivers a high-performance workout experience that closely mimics running outdoors while eliminating the impact. For everyone from the weekend warrior to the elite athlete, the ElliptiGO provides the most comfortable, fun and efficient way to get outside and be active. The full line of ElliptiGO? bikes is available for purchase at select retailers nationwide and through the company?s website: http://www.elliptigo.com .

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