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
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Spring 2022 من 220 Triathlon.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Spring 2022 من 220 Triathlon.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
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.
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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.
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