Posted: November 3, 2004

Multisport: Carmichael Makes Fast Company’s Fast Forward List

101 Ideas, People & Trends Changing The Way We Work & Live In 2005

Fast Company magazine is a trendy and respected publication covering a variety of untold stories, especially focusing on new ideas while addressing business news and current events. The November 2004 issue of Fast Company featured the annual “Fast Forward” list, which offers insight into the top 101 ideas, people, and trends that will affect the way we work and live in 2005. In formulating an elite list of top ideas, Fast Forward emphasized their intent to capture those ideas that are currently changing the business frontier and to inform readers of thrilling innovations and exciting developments in even the most stagnant business climate.

The question Fast Company asks when determining their list is “what’s next”. When the topic of conversation came to trends in health consciousness among Americans, Fast Company saw Chris Carmichael as the forerunner and an influential authority working to transform the offerings of the health industry as well as the individual attitudes and preconceptions of health-oriented individuals. Carmichael’s ambition as described by Fast Company is to to break away from the fallacies and even dangers associated with the low-carb diet, focusing on the concept of energy usage related to food. In a society where products and fitness is influenced by on-and-off fads, Fast Company recognizes that long-term health is most consistently stressed. And Carmichael’s philosophy emphasizing the balanced diet lends towards this very goal.

Ranked at #66 on Fast Company’s 101 Ideas, People and Trends Changing the Way We Work & Live in 2005, is listed Chris Carmichael and Carmichael Training Systems, introduced by the revealing caption: “The Return of the Balanced Diet.”

“Ask around in the food business and the message is clear: Low carb is over. So who’s next to build a business off of our get thin-quick desires? Our bet is on Chris Carmichael. Chris who? He’s Lance Armstrong’s trainer. He believes in a balanced diet. There are no bad foods, only bad times where particular foods don’t give you the energy you need to perform at your best. Not only does it sound like a winning formula, but it’s kind of a business philosophy too. Carmichael’s already got the company, the clinics, the book, the gear, and the deal with PowerBar consulting on a line of energy beverages. As long as some rival fad doesn’t race into vogue, look for Carmichael to wear the yellow jersey of health.” (refer to Fast Company’s November 2004 issue, page 80)

As has been observed over and over again, the balanced diet is a concept that never fades and is occasionally eclipsed by over-trendy diet fads. With top leadership, Carmichael intends his methodologies to be recognized as a divergence from the momentary diet and fitness trends. And if he has his way, the resounding mantra will be “eat right to train right” and “don’t just train…train right,” in a society spiritually disillusioned by every form of failing and erroneous dietary/fitness philosophy. The world community is no longer looking for the temporary solution for their bodies and are beginning to see they’re in it for the long haul. Now all they need is the source that will give them answers.

Carmichael will be that source. Fast Company asked, “Chris who?” Chris and his team at Carmichael Training Systems say, “We’ll change that.”

Founded by former Olympian, US Olympic Committee Coach of the Year, and bestselling author, Chris Carmichael in 1999, Carmichael Training Systems (CTS) is a community of athletes and coaches dedicated to improving the lives of active individuals though enhanced fitness and nutrition coaching programs. Providing guidance, education, and programs for individuals of all abilities, CTS has also paved the way for some of the world’s greatest athletes including six-time Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong, 2000 Olympic Time Trial Silver Medalist and World Champion Mari Holden, Montreal Canadiens Captain Saku Koivu, 2001 Mountain Bike World Champion Alison Dunlap, and Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer Ed Moses. CTS is also the official coaching authority of the US Postal Service Cycling Team and the official coaching service for the US Paralympic cycling team.

The Trainright website is at: TrainRight.com.