Posted: October 23, 2005

Triathlon: Karbe and Myers are Fittest CEOs in the World®

BOULDER, CO – Frank Karbe of Exelixis in San Francisco and Leslie Myers of Foodsense in Burlington, Vermont won the CEO Ironman Challenge World Championship on October 15 to become the Fittest CEOs in the World.

The CEO Ironman Challenge is a program designed as a 'race within the race' for CEOs and high ranking corporate officers who compete in Ironman triathlons (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile marathon). It recognizes that corporate leaders don’t necessarily have the time available to properly train for an Ironman given the high demand on their time and extensive travel. It also recognizes that they have achieved a certain level of success, and are looking for the ultimate Ironman experience that includes meeting Pro athletes, the best help available, removal of all hassles, and guests that are fully catered to while the CEO prepares for, and races in, the Ironman.

There were three qualifying events held this year, with a total of 45 executives competing in CEO Challenge events at Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene, Karnten Ironman Austria, and Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid. A total of 18 CEOs were fast enough to earn slots to race at the Ford Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, and compete for the title of Fittest CEO in the World.

Frank Karbe combined the second fastest swim of all CEOs (1:05) with the fastest bike (5:06) and run times (3:25) to finish in 9:43, 30 minutes ahead of Peter Scharer of Images in Foil in Laguna, CA, and 35 minutes ahead of Alex May of Citigroup in New York.

Leslie Myers combined the fastest swim time of the three female CEOs (1:09) with the fastest bike (6:01) and fastest run (4:07) to finish in 11:27. This was over an hour ahead of the second place female finisher, Anja Daechert of Daechert & Partner in Germany. Linda Rahal of Trow & Rahal in Washington, DC finished in third place.

The over 50 division was won by Larry Smith of Smith Chevrolet Cadillac in Turlock, CA in 11:30. Peter Scharer won the 40 – 49 division in 10:14.

“The times from this year’s CEO Ironman Challenge World Championship were incredibly fast,” stated Ted Kennedy, President of CEO Challenge LLC. “The normally brutal winds were relatively calm this year, and the fast bike times reflected this. Plus, the CEO Ironman Challenge participants are just getting faster each year. The CEOs that make it to Hawaii have shown an uncanny ability to combine the rigors of running a business with the training necessary to complete something as daunting as the Ironman. They redefine the term ‘overachievers’.”

Demand has been so great for CEO Ironman Challenge events that the program is being expanded around the world. In 2006 there will be CEO Challenge events run in conjunction with Ironman Australia in April, Ironman France in Nice in June, Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene in June, and Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid in July. Each of these races will have up to five slots to the Ford Ironman World Championship in Hawaii in October to the fastest CEOs in each age group.

New for 2006 will be the first ever CEO Triathlon Challenge that will be held in conjunction with the Monaco Half Ironman in September. This race will include Ironman World Championship slots plus slots to the 70.3 World Championship.

More information on CEO Challenge events, including the newly released CEO Golf Challenge, can be found at www.ceochallenges.com, or by contacting Ted Kennedy at Ted@ceochallenges.com, or 720-222-3043.

Results

Fittest CEO in the World – Male: Frank Karbe, Exelixis, San Francisco, CA – 9:43

Fittest CEO in the World – Female - Leslie Myers, Foodsense Inc, Burlington, VT – 11:27

39 & Under
Frank Karbe	Exelixis	9:43
Alex May	Citigroup	10:19
Peter Lazar	Bank Austria	10:29
Gary Holt	Comfort Dental	10:32
Female
Leslie Myers	Foodsense Inc	11:27
Anja Daechert	Daechert & Partner	12:34
Linda Rahal	Rahal & Rahal	14:01
40 – 49
Peter Scharer	Images In Foil	10:14
John McConville	Dexpharm	10:29
Mike Dannelley	American Interbanc	10:49
John Schlagenhauf	Badger Truck	10:57
Ted Philip	Decision Matrix Group	11:05
Max Hoes	CFR Line	11:13
Gunter Liska	Xerox Austria	11:50
50 & Over
Larry Smith	Smith Chevrolet Cadillac	11:30
Ernie Parr	Parr Insurance	12:06
Whitney Lynn	RWBC Inc	15:44