What would you give to live the life of a professional triathlete? That was the tempting carrot dangled in front of UK triathletes last summer when online behemoths Wiggle and run-shoe brand HOKA One One teamed up to offer four winners a prize package not seen since the heady days of Bullseye. By completing a fitness proving challenge on Strava, followed by a video stating why they were deserving of victory, a lucky quartet would win a dhb swim, bike, and run bundle; HOKA trainers including the new carbon-plated Bondi X; a Garmin watch; High5 nutrition bundle; Osprey bag; 220 subscription; and full coaching support toward the goal event of Ironman Wales in September.
“We whittled down the winners from around 500 applicants," explains Gavin Thompson, HOKA's UK trade marketing manager. "There were some inspirational stories. But we feel we chose the most inspiring four."
And inspiring they are. On the women's side, we have Pauline Green, a retired obstetrician for whom triathlon's provided a sure footing after her husband passed away in 2015; Lisa Stockdale, immunologist, former ballet dancer, and all-round high-achiever; Sim Gill, a team-sporter-cum-runner who's making his triathlon debut; and Geraint Jones, whose fitness shot up in lockdown as his wife kicked him out the house on a daily basis. Wiggle's Kaylee Hawkins and Gabs Burden would complete the Wiggle XHOKA Flyers.
220 first met up with the Flyers at the tail-end of 2021 at Wiggle HQ in Portsmouth for the team's dhb clothing fitting, an impromptu visit from the legend that is Joe Skipper, and to meet (remotely) their coaches Susie and Rob Cheetham. "I'm overawed, to be honest," Geraint commented, reflecting the thoughts of the group. "I didn't realize it was such a big prize." Well Jones, that was just the starters...
MEET THE FLYERS HOKA
1 KAYLEE HAWKINS
Denne historien er fra Spring 2022-utgaven av 220 Triathlon.
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Denne historien er fra Spring 2022-utgaven av 220 Triathlon.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
How to Carb Load - Packing your working cells with carbohydrates in the build-up to your big race is a proven strategy to race stronger and faster...
Whichever distance triathlon you're racing, the intensity and duration of your activity will see your body tap into its stores of carbohydrates (in the form of glycogen) to power your effort. While it's possible to top up your tank on the go, it's better to start your event with your stores full to the brim.
The Olympic Champion - On 31 July, Great Britain's Alex Yee put together arguably the greatest one-day performance we have ever seen at an Olympic Games to win gold. And we were there at the finish line to speak to tri's new poster boy...
The opening line of the race report read how 20 years on from New Zealand’s first and only Olympic triathlon gold medal, Hayden Wilde had put in a careerbest performance to regain the title for his nation. Then Alex Yee comes around the corner.Yee’s charge, seemingly from nowhere on the final lap of the 10km run in Paris, didn’t just help him become the most decorated Olympic male triathlete of all time, and didn’t just cap a rivalry that has been building for six years, it left seasoned watchers of swim, bike, run in awe. It will go down as one of the greatest triathlon races; Yee, still just 26, as one of the greatest triathletes. His medals from Paris added to the two from Tokyo, leaving his haul at two gold, a silver and a bronze, and counting.
"I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE THE GROWTH OF TRIATHLON"
British Triathlon CEO Ruth Daniels talks Paris, her plans to grow tri and her own personal goals... knees allowing
ZWIFT RIDE
£1,199.99 Zwift's new Ride is an indoor bike that might help you break your PB... but won't break the bank
PARIS SHOWED THE VALUE OF OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE
With the spotlight on triathlon like never before at these Games, debutant athletes talked about being overwhelmed by the unique environment
GAMES AT THE GAMES
After watching and enjoying the Olympic triathlon events, Brunt amused himself by playing the 'guess how far into each event I would die' game...
WHERE EAGLES DARE
With little heat prep, the wrong gear choice and a course-recce mistake, would experienced extreme triathlete Sean McFarlane soar like an eagle or drop like a stone in Italy?
HOW TO INCREASE RUN PACE WHEN FATIGUED
The ability to dig deep in the latter stages of a race helped Alex Yee achieve Olympic gold. Here Ben, a member of Team GB's coaching staff in Paris, explains how you too can find that extra gear...
BUYER'S GUIDE: BIKE COMPUTERS
Log your rides, find your way and monitor your multisport training with a quartet of impressive bike computers...
POLAR GRIT X2 PRO
\"You can't be anything other than impressed with the GPS, whose design is one of the significant changes to the V3\"
