Hey Reader,
Happy Friday, Vitalizers⚡️
The weeks are getting busier! More races are on the schedule, HYROX competitions are growing, and the VTLZR calendar is full of chances to train, test, and connect with the community.
This week we’re talking mindset, hydration strategy, community highlights, upcoming events, and more!
Let’s dive in 👇
Here’s what to expect this week:
🧠 Mindset
🏆 VTLZR of the Week (New)
📅 Community
🔥 Training
🎧 Must Listen
📰 The Industry
🧠 Quote of the Week
“Run often. Run long. But never outrun your joy of running.” — Julie Isphording
Running, lifting, training for races...it’s easy to get caught chasing splits, times, and results.
But the athletes who stay in the sport the longest usually remember something simple:
They enjoy it.
The early mornings.
The quiet miles.
The feeling of getting a little stronger every week.
Progress happens when you show up consistently, and consistency comes much easier when you actually enjoy the process.
🏆 Vitalizer of the Week: Dr. Tyler Van
This week, we’re celebrating Dr. Tyler Van on the opening of his new gym and physical therapy center, Top Notch Performance Club.
Tyler has been a core part of the VTLZR community since the early days. What many people don’t know is that Tyler’s journey hasn’t been easy.
At 28 years old, he experienced a cardiac event, which reshaped his perspective on life and performance. That experience inspired him to write his book Grateful for the Opportunity, where he shares lessons on resilience, growth, and finding purpose through adversity.
Opening Top Notch Performance Club is a natural extension of that mindset, a space dedicated to helping athletes move better, recover properly, and perform at their best.
Tyler continues to lead, inspire, and serve the community around him, and we’re proud to have him as part of the VTLZR family.
Congrats Tyler! We're excited to see the impact you make.
👉 Follow Top Notch Performance Club
👉 Follow Dr. Tyler Van
📅 VTLZR Events
Here’s what’s happening across the VTLZR community:
📍 Sat, March 14 • Vitalizer Run Club (Hoboken + Miami)
Conversational pace, 3–4 miles. All speeds welcome. Coffee, community, and a great way to kick off the weekend.
Hoboken will wrap up at Shaka Kitchen for smoothies and bowls, while Miami will finish at Studio 24 Coffee.
👉 RSVP Here for Hoboken
👉 RSVP Here for Miami
📍 Thu, March 19 • VO2 Testing Night • Paramus, NJ
Join us for a night with ASICS and DexaFit North Jersey at RoadRunner Sports, a night focused on understanding your endurance engine.
🧪 VO₂ Max treadmill testing
👟 ASICS & other brand trials + sizing
📊 Performance education & data breakdown
🎁 Giveaways & in-store purchase discounts
*must RSVP & attend to win*
Even if you’re not testing, come through. Plenty is happening all night.
👉 Reply “VO2” to secure your testing spot (2 left!)
👉 RSVP for the event
📍 Sat, March 21 • VTLZR x Union City CrossFit HYROX Workout
A community HYROX workout built for hybrid athletes. Expect race-style stations, team competition, and a serious sweat. We're down to 15 spots remaining!
👉 RSVP for the event
(Remember - once you buy your drop-in, apply it to the VTLZR HYROX Workout on
ZenPlanner)
📍 Sun, April 12 • VTLZR Run Club Hoboken x adidas
Join us for a special community run with adidas! Try on adidas gear while we log a few conversational miles together. Giveaways, coffee, and Sunday morning vibes.
👉 RSVP coming soon
📍 Sat, April 18 • Jersey City Marathon Shakeout Run • Pier A, Hoboken (Save the Date)
We’ll be hosting a shakeout run the morning before the Jersey City Marathon. 3 shakeout miles, BIG community energy, and a chance to connect with brands and other runners before race day.
👉 RSVP coming soon
🔥 Fitness Tip of the Week: The “Salty” Math of Endurance Performance
With the Boston Marathon, Jersey City Marathon, and our Maurten fueling clinic around the corner, it’s time to talk about one of the most overlooked pieces of hydration:
Sodium.
Most athletes focus only on water, but without enough sodium, your body struggles to retain and absorb it.
That’s when runners get the classic “sloshing stomach,” cramps, or late-race fade.
The Numbers
Athletes can lose anywhere from 200 mg to 2,000+ mg of sodium per liter of sweat, with the average around 900–1,000 mg/L.
If you see white salt stains on your hat, shirt, or skin after runs, you’re likely on the higher end of that range.
A Simple Strategy
Pre-Load: 1–2 hours before a long effort, drink 16–20 oz of fluid with ~500–700 mg sodium.
This helps expand plasma volume and improve fluid absorption.
During Long Efforts: Aim for ~400–800 mg sodium per hour, adjusting for heat, sweat rate, and race duration.
Watch the “Clear Pee” Trap: Crystal-clear urine during heavy training can sometimes signal overhydration and electrolyte dilution.
Some experts prefer a light straw color instead.
Pro Tip: Use your long runs this month to practice your hydration strategy, not just pace. What works at mile 8 might not work at mile 22.
Your gut, muscles, and brain will thank you later.
🎧 This Week's Must-Listen: Mindset Secrets From The World's Best Ultrarunner
In this conversation with Rich Roll, ultrarunning legend Courtney Dauwalter breaks down the mindset behind becoming one of the most dominant endurance athletes on the planet.
The episode touches on training consistency, mental resilience, and why the athletes who last the longest in endurance sports are usually the ones who genuinely enjoy the process.
🔑 Key Takeaways
1️⃣ Curiosity Beats Fear
Courtney approaches difficult moments in races with curiosity rather than panic. When the “pain cave” arrives, she treats it like a puzzle to solve instead of a signal to stop.
2️⃣ Joy Creates Longevity
Athletes who enjoy training, not just racing, stay consistent for years. That long-term consistency is often the biggest performance advantage.
3️⃣ Stay Present
Whether it’s mile 5 or mile 85, Courtney focuses on the moment she’s in instead of the miles ahead.
Bottom Line: The goal isn’t to avoid suffering in endurance sports. It’s to build a mindset that can move through it.
Listen on Spotify:
📰 In Other News (this week in fitness)
🔹 HYROX Expands North Am. Race Calendar for Fall 2026
HYROX today announced a significantly expanded North American schedule from Labor Day through December. It includes Washington D.C., Toronto, Boston, Dallas, Anaheim, and Mexico City, along with new markets: Salt Lake City, Tampa, Denver, and Nashville. HYROX continues to grow!
👉 View the full HYROX race schedule
🔹 David Protein Bars Face Lawsuit Over Nutrition Labels
Popular protein bar brand David Protein is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging its bars contain more calories and fat than advertised. Independent lab tests cited that the bars may have up to 83% more calories and 400% more fat than listed on the label. The company is disputing the claim across the media.
👉 Read more on the lawsuit
🔹 Eliud Kipchoge Announces Cape Town Marathon Appearance
Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge will race the Cape Town Marathon on May 24, marking the first time he’ll run a marathon on African soil. The race is part of his mission to complete marathons on all seven continents, bringing global attention to Cape Town as it pushes for World Marathon Major status.
👉 Read more
🔹 Budget Carbon “Supershoes” Are Entering the Market
Retailer Lidl is launching a $40 carbon-plated running shoe, bringing supershoe-style tech to a much lower price point. The move shows how innovations once limited to elite racing models are starting to reach everyday runners. 
👉 See the Supershoe release
🔔 What's Happening in VTLZR+
Next Wednesday, we welcome Rachel Hannah, Toronto Marathon Champion, elite marathoner, registered dietitian, and sports performance consultant for Maurten.
On this call, she'll cover:
• Fueling for HYROX vs. marathon vs. ultras and Ironman
• Carb loading done correctly
• In-race fueling execution
• Maurten Sports Fuel & Hydrogel technology
• Mistakes to avoid & getting the basics right
Plus, she'll answer any questions you might have!
We’ll also be raffling off a $50 RoadRunner e-gift card as this month’s member giveaway.
Plus, check out our member perks, which let you save $50–75 a month at stores you already shop for running gear, food, fuel, and more.
As always, thanks for being part of this.
Keep showing up and conquering hard things.
Speak soon!
Derek
Founder & Coach, VTLZR
Lift for your mind. Run for your soul.
📩 Forward this to someone who needs a little extra motivation this week.
Questions, ideas, feedback?
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