Vegetables are loaded with water, fiber, and nutrients, so not only will they fill you up with fewer calories, they are packed with vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants which are particularly important for athletes.

CNN: How can I maintain my energy level for sports while on a diet?

No one doubts that diet plays a role in the physical well-being of all student athletes and particularly those with acute physical issues.

FORBES: The NCAA Fails Nutritional Needs of Student Athletes

One is burning out ( physically and mentally) elite athletes, particularly those from well-heeled families that afford the time and money spent, through year-round travel programs and private sessions in a single sport.

FORBES: The Big Thinkers of the Aspen Institute Are Thinking About Youth Sports

It is particularly attractive for sports enthusiasts and athletes who want to track their performance.

FORBES: Apple's Rumored iWatch And Why It Matters

Despite the professional aura that surrounds the NCAA basketball tournament, sports fans prefer to maintain some semblance of amateurism, particularly when it comes to compensating the athletes that play big-time college sports.

WSJ: Poll: fans not in favor of paying college athletes

Dr. VINT: What we have tried to identify in track and field and some of our more explosive sports are ways in which we can help our athletes be more powerful and more explosive, particularly in the first several meters of the performance.

NPR: Technology Used To Boost Olympic Performance

Chairman Bruce Robertson said he was "particularly impressed" with the completed velodrome complex and the developing athletes' village.

BBC: Glasgow 2014 Games preparations 'best in 20 years'

For example, those few extra pounds will provide fuel for Lagat to burn once he resumes training. (Lagat's racing weight is 130 pounds.) But five-week vacations aren't particularly common, Thompson said, at least not among American athletes.

WSJ: The Secret to Running: Not Running