Team ZIP Beefs Up the Boilermaker

More than 100 members of Team ZIP gathered in Utica, NY, on July 11-13 to participate in one of the country's premier running events -- the Boilermaker 15K Road Race. More than 11,000 runners competed in the Boilermaker, including New York Governor David Paterson. Team ZIP had participants in every event during the three-day weekend, including the 15K, 5K, 3-mile walk, mile race and youth run.

Team ZIP 15K runners pose for a group picture before the start of the race early Sunday morning. A light drizzle dampened the pre-race festivities but ended before the race began.

Several of the Team ZIP 5K runners, including NY beef producer Charlie Davis (holding the "Team ZIP is Powered by Beef" sign), gather near the starting line Sunday morning.

The Team ZIP walkers (and strollers!) enjoyed sunny skies for the 3-mile walk on Saturday afternoon during the Health and Fitness Expo.

Team ZIP co-captains Jean O'Toole, New York Beef Industry Council, and Daren Williams, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, talk to fellow runners about the importance of beef protein for athletes.

Janel Fisher, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, hands out healthy roast beef and veggie wraps to Boilermaker participants and their families at the Health and Fitness Expo.

Kids (of all ages) lines up to "build their own burger" (and then try to take a bite) at the New York Beef Industry Council booth at the two-day Health and Fitness Expo.

A member of Team ZIP runs the 15K carrying an American and United States Marine Corp flag to honor his brother in Iraq.

Bucky Gwartney, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, looks strong as he approaches the finish line of the 15K -- demonstrating that beef provides "fuel for the finish"!

Kim Molinaro, twin sister of 2007 National Beef Ambassador Christie Molinaro, flies through the 15K course. Sister Christie ran the 5K and plans to join Kim in the 15K next year!

Team ZIP co-captain Jean O'Toole (right), New York Beef Industry Council, poses with Chris Marcocci of Streetmarc Advertising and Marketing (center).

The New York Beef Industry Council's multi-talented registered dietitian Kara Behlke, served as the official nutritionist of the Boilermaker, ran in the 5K race, worked for two days in the Health and Fitness Expo booth AND helped clean up afterwards. It's a dirty job...

Team ZIP Rides the Rockies!

Above (from left): Amy Becker, Daren Williams and Patty Kravitz show off their Team ZIP cycling jerseys. Below: Show me the beef!!

Three members of Team ZIP completed Ride the Rockies 2008, a six-day, 435-mile bicycle tour of the Rocky Mountains on June 15-21, 2008. The epic ride traveled from Durango to Breckenridge, Colorado, featuring climbs over Lizard Head Pass (elev. 10,222 ft.), Dallas Divide (elev. 8,970 ft.), Cerro Summit (elev. 7,950 ft.), Blue Mesa Summit (elev. 9,288 ft.), Trout Creek Pass (elev. 9,346 ft.), Cottonwood Pass (elev. 12,126 ft.), and Hoosier Pass (elev. 11,542 ft.).

According to Team ZIP captain Daren Williams, the 2008 ride was the toughest of the four he has completed, averaging 72.5 miles per day. Williams recorded the entire ride using his Garmin Edge 705 cycling computer and says he totaled 30:01:43 hrs/mins/secs in the "saddle" and burned 21,668 calories (3,611/day average) during the ride.

Above: Williams at the start of Cottonwood Pass, a 39-mile long, 4,000+ foot climb (from 8,018 ft. to 12,126 ft. above sea level). Due to heavy spring snowfall, the pass opened on June 12, just three days before the start of the ride!

Above: Williams does his best Vanna White impersonation, displaying his makeshift "Beef It's What's for Dinner" ad in a seven-foot tall snowbank near the summit of Cottonwood Pass.

Above: Williams is interviewed for the evening news on the ABC affiliate in Grand Junction, Colorado, discussing the importance of beef protein in helping repair and rebuild muscle tissue during the week-long ride. Click on the following link to watch the entire segment...

Ride the Rockies Rolls into Montrose

Beef. It's what's for dinner on Ride the Rockies!