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A year ago the optical world was asked to get fit and get moving. After a casting call and 8 months of training with the world’s best athletes, 7 optical dispensers from seven countries will race their first Ironman this Sunday.
On the 2nd of September, seven athletes, who just a year ago never dreamt of doing an Ironman before, will be on the starting line for this year’s Monaco Ironman 70.3. The two women and five men come from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and South Africa. The Oakley Transitions Ironman Team members have all completely changed their lives since the beginning of their training programmes. None of them have previously competed in an Ironman event and each team member had to adopt a training routine that would fit into their daily schedules: they go to work on their bicycles, go for a run instead of having lunch with their colleagues, and swim laps in the evenings after work.
Their team of trainers consist of three times Ironman World Champion Peter Reid, who gave the rookies advice on running and nutrition, four times Olympic Gold Medal winner Vladimir Salnikov, who taught them how to swim like a fish, and finally double-Ironman champion Mario Huys managed the whole team during the 3 training camps in Monaco and Fuerte Ventura and also during the online-coaching program.
“We wanted to present the new ’Oakley Activated by Transition’ sunglasses with the changing shades in a different way, so we decided to promote them through sports,” says Roland Allen, Marketing Director of Transitions Optical. The whole program is connected to heavy logistics as the seven team members plus their trainers, had to be flown in from several countries to several destinations to attend the three training camps. This was also the opportunity to get great feedback on Oakley Activated by Transitions lenses specifically for the triathlon sport. “We are proud to link up with the Monaco Ironman 70.3 to prove not only that people can adapt to a new lifestyle, just like our lenses change tint with changing light conditions, but also that anything is possible.”
Of course, having the experience of being trained by some of the world’s best coaches is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and as Vladimir Salnikov explains, they all have one thing in common: “The team members are participating in this contest because they want to prove to themselves and others that they are capable of participating in such a challenging race. Once you have accomplished such an achievement, it is something you can be proud of for the rest of your life.”
The seven Oakley Transitons Ironman Team members will start the Monaco Ironman 70.3 at 07h00 along with 800 athletes from 42 countries. All of the athletes will compete in what is commonly dubbed the Formula 1 of Triathlons in the hopes of grabbing one of the 100 slots for the Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater Florida 2007. The Monaco Ironman 70.3 also offers an additional 30 slots for the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii 2008.
The seven Oakley Transitions Ironman Team members
StNr 258 Pablo GALVEZ MARTIN, ESP
StNr 274 Andrea STRADA, ITA
StNr 521 Marna PIETERSE, RSA
StNr 553 Fiona MOLLOY, GBR
StNr 627 Kees SATON, NED
StNr 686 André CLAUSS, FRA
StNr 735 Uwe STEINBORN, GER
Photo Oakley Transitions Ironman Team © MiKu - Fiona, Pablo, Andrea, Kees, André, Uwe and Marna are ready for their first ever Ironman race
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