Schwarzenegger and many more gathered around crowded booth, as MRI and PROLAB Athletes revealed exciting new products and discussed latest workout routines

MRI Performance and PROLAB, the leader of innovative sports nutrition products, returned this weekend to the 2013 Arnold Sports Festival, the largest multi-sport event in the country, located in Columbus, Ohio.  As a first-time major title sponsor for the Festival's 25th Anniversary, MRI and PROLAB athletes shared fitness tips and advice, and distributed exciting new products to over 175,000 professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts.  Athletes live sampled popular new supplements - crowd favorites included MRI’s popular new NO2 Black Full Cycle, Black Powder Ultra, as well as E02 Edge, the breakthrough new non-stimulant pre-training formula. Each day, one lucky booth attendee was awarded a $500 prize pack of products.

Bodybuilding legend and the event co-producer,  Arnold Schwarzenegger, was spotted hanging out at the always popular MRI/PROLAB/Natrol booth, chatting with the MRI and PROLAB athletes about the amazing products their brands have to offer, as well as taking some fun photos. MRI and PROLAB Athletes who attended this year's Arnold included  Kyle Clarke,  Charles Fuller,  Nick Bolton,  Maribel Burgos,  Emily Nicholson,  Sue Knott,  Jessica Clay,  Jeremy Scott,  Thanh Le,  Malcolm Marshall,  Moji Oluwa and  Kayla Deuley.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, the  MRI Endurance Cycling Team shared another victory as they competed in the Merco Credit Union Cycling Classic in Merced, California where team members Randall Coxworth won the Stage 4 Almond Blossom Road Race, Chris Dimarchi placed 2nd in the Merced Irrigation District Road Race, and Kayle LeoGrande took home the overall win. In addition, this weekend at the Surf City Cyclery Criterium in Costa Mesa, California team member Philip Tinstman came in 1 st for both the 35+ masters and the pro-race back to back. 

The MRI Endurance powered by Monster Media race team is owned and operated by MMR Sports Group, LLC. The primary focus has been to help grow the sport of cycling by building an all-encompassing program where young riders can begin their careers, evolve, and ride throughout their later years.

MRI Performance is the subsidiary sports nutrition brand of the  Natrol, Inc, a global leader in the nutrition industry and trusted manufacturer and marketer of superior quality supplements. Natrol’s Family of Brands also includes: Natrol, PROLAB, NuHair, Shen Min, Promensil, Trinovin and Laci Le Beau. 

For more information on MRI, please visit www.mri-performance.com

For more information on PROLAB, please visit www.prolab.com

For more information on Natrol, please visit www.natrol.com

from Roger Lockridge via MRI

MRI Performance – the leader in innovative sports nutrition products – will be surrounded by more than 175,000 fitness enthusiasts and professional athletes at the Arnold Sports Festival this March, the largest multi-sport event in the country.  Having attended for over 11 years, this year marks MRI's first as a major title sponsor.

MRI is a subsidiary-brand of Natrol, Inc., a global leader in the nutrition industry and trusted manufacturer and marketer of superior quality supplements. Natrol, Inc.’s family of brands also includes: Natrol, PROLAB, NuHair, Shen Min, Promensil, Trinovin, and Laci Le Beau. MRI will share a booth (#545-549 and #644-648) with PROLAB and Natrol inside the Greater Columbus Convention Center’s Main Hall in Columbus, Ohio.

“This year, we will have our most prominent presence at the Arnold Sports Festival, one of our favorites to attend as we love educating and being surrounded and inspired by people who are truly passionate about sports fitness,” said Grace Manzano, Director of Marketing, Sports Nutrition. “We will be live sampling MRI’s popular new NO2 Black Full Cycle, Black Powder Ultra, as well as EO2 Edge, our new non-stimulant pre-training formula.  Those three products comprise a significant trio of new best sellers engineered to enhance workout proficiency, endurance, and drive peak performance.”

The team of MRI athletes will also be available to meet their fans and share tips and advice. Expected to attend are: Kyle Clarke, Charles Fuller, Nick Bolton, Maribel Burgos, Emily Nicholson, Sue Knott, Jessica Clay, Jeremy Scott, Thanh Le, Malcolm Marshall, Moji Oluwa, and Kayla Deuley.   In addition to free samples, there will be a $500 prize pack of Natrol, MRI, and PROLAB products awarded.  A lucky winner will be randomly chosen at the end of each day, and other surprises will occur throughout the weekend.

The Arnold Sports Festival, co-produced by former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, will be held from March 1-3.  Each year, 18,000 athletes compete in more than 45 sports and events, including 12 Olympic sports. At the heart of the festival is the Arnold Fitness EXPO, which features 700 booths and the EXPO stage hosts the Arnold Strongman Classic and prejudging for the Ms. International, Fitness International and Figure International competitions.

For more information on MRI, please visit http://www.mri-performance.com/.

For more information on PROLAB, please visit http://www.prolab.com/.

For more information on Natrol, please visit http://www.natrol.com/.

About MRI

Medical Research Institute (MRI) was founded in 1997 to develop nutraceuticals that combine novel active ingredients with cutting edge delivery technology, to create the safest and most advanced performance products on the planet. MRI continues to push the limits of nutraceutical technology by providing exciting technology advancements in a growing number of product categories. MRI products only make it to the shelf if they have been shown to help alter human metabolism and affect positive transformations in body composition and athletic performance.

Most importantly, all MRI products hold high industry leading standards for quality and safety. Products are manufactured at audited facilities that adhere to the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices guidelines. All products pass tests for ingredient purity and integrity.

from Roger Lockridge via Kurt Angle

Active teens from around the nation are invited to compete at the Ultimate Teen Challenge on March 1 and 2 as a part of the 25th Anniversary of the Arnold Sports Festival.  Events include tire flip, bench press, pull ups, CrossFit events, and more!

Plus TNA Wrestling Superstars Kurt Angle, Rob Terry, and Brooke Tessmacher along with other celebrities will be in the house meeting fans and cheering competitors on. There will be giveaways and other surprises as well.

For more information, go to http://anglesteenchallenge.com/eventinfo/.  

From Roger Lockridge via Rock Star Bikinig

Shonda Lewis of Rock Star Bikini has announced that her panel of judges has narrowed the vast field of contenders for the 2013 Rock Star Bikini Title down to the Top 12 and they are as follows.

1.  Paola Terry- Anchorage, AK

2.  Eve Freeman- Salisbury, NC

3.  Kelsey Byers-Magnolia, TX

4.  Elspeth Dana- Dayton, OH

5.  Rita Catolino- London Ontario

6.  Tracy Gramer- Atlanta, GA

7.  Tiffany Mast- Warren, OH

8.  Caryn Paolini-Aurora, IL

9.  Andrea Gordon-Denver, CO

10.  Midori Rutledge- London Ontario

11.  Jessica Valencia- Chelsea, AL

12.  Samantha Leete- Farr West, UT

The Top 12 will now battle at the finals at the 25th Anniversary of the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, OH to see who will be crowned 2013 Rock Star Bikini Champion. To see photos of the Top 12 and for more information about Rock Star Bikini, go to www.rockstarbikini.com.  

In case you missed the big announcement, Bodybuilding.com will once again be bringing you the live webcast of the 25th Anniversary of the Arnold Classic. The best part is once again it is FREE for you to to watch. For full details, check out the link below.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bodybuilding.com-free-exclusive-2013-arnold-classic-webcast.html 

From Roger Lockridge via Rock Star Bikini

Make sure you go to The Vault on Feb. 28 to be a part of the Rock Star Bikini Finals. Tickets are available by going to www.rockstarbikini.com or at the door. 

The 2013 Arnold Party With The Pros will be held at the new Hollywood Casino in Columbus on Saturday night immediately following the 25th Anniversary edition of the Arnold Classic.

Arnold Main Page

From Roger Lockridge via Arnold Sports Festival

The 2013 Arnold Strongman Classic will feature two former champions as previous winners Brian Shaw and Derek Poundstone headline a a field of ten of the world’s greatest strength athletes who will battle in four events over two days to determine the world’s strongest man.

The event will have a new champion as 2012 winner Mike Jenkins had surgery in late December and will not compete. In mid-January, six-time champion Zydrunas Savickas announced he would not compete in 2013 due to overtraining but plans to return to Columbus in 2014.

Poundstone will be aiming for his first title since winning in 2009 and 2010. He did not compete in 2011 and finished one point behind Jenkins last March.

Brian Shaw won the Arnold Strongman Classic in 2011 and would go on to win the World's Strongest Man later that year.

The 2013 Arnold Strongman Classic, set for March 1-2 at the Arnold Sports Festival, will be contested over four events: The Austrian Oak, Manhood Stones, Tire Deadlift and Circus Dumbbell. 

2013 Arnold Strongman Classic Competitors

Michael Burke of Aurora, Colo. -- Winner of the 2012 All American Strongman Challenge at L.A. Fit Expo

Haftor Bjornsson of Iceland – A 6-foot-9, 430-pound former basketball player who won Iceland Strongest Man in 2011 and was runner-up to Shaw at the Jon Pall Sigmarsson Classic

Mark Felix of England -- Finished second at the 2013 All-American Strongman in January at L.A. FitExpo

Mikhail Koklyaev of Russia – Arnold Classic Strongman veteran who is four-time winner in Strongman Champions League

Vytautas Lalas of Lithuania -- Finished third at the inaugural Arnold Strongman Europe in 2012

Derek Poundstone of Waterbury, Conn. – Arnold Strongman champion in 2009 and 2010

Jerry Pritchett of Buckeye, Arizona -- Won the 2013 All-American Strongman in January at L.A. FitExpo

Krzystof Radzikowski of Poland -- Finished sixth at the 2012 World's Strongest Man

Adam Scherr of North Carolina - Winner 2012 Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships

Brian Shaw of Fort Lupton, Colo. – Arnold Strongman and World’s Strongest Man winner in 2011.

From Roger Lockridge via Int. Sports Hall of Fame

The International Sports Hall of Fame proudly announced their second class to be inducted as members in 2013. Each member of the class made a global impact on sports and culture.

Dr. Franco Columbu - 2 Time Mr. Olympia (1976 and 1981)

Archie Griffin - Only 2 Time Heisman Trophy Winner in College Football history.

Bruno Sammartino - 2 Time World Wide Wrestling Federation World Heavyweight Champion with title reigns totaling over 11 years.

Earl Monroe - Basketball Hall of Famer and One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History

Blaine Carew Wilson - Olympic silver medalist and world champion gymnast.

For more information, go to www.sportshof.org 

from Roger Lockridge via Bodybuilding.com

Two things are certain at the Arnold every year...

1. There will be tons of free samples for you to take home with you.

2. The Bodybuilding.com Booth will be rocking!

From the opening minutes until they lock the doors, the Bodybuilding.com booth is always busy and fun is being had by all. 2013 will be no different as Bodybuilding.com has a stacked lineup of fitness personalities ready to meet, greet, and inspire. Check out the entire list at the link below.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2013-arnold-expo-booth.html#.UQb_VQZzhxA.twitter