Get your (Uplace) shop on!

We know, you really, really want the one-of-a-kind Kona 2013 Uplace shirt and shorts. Or maybe our regular season 2013 Uplace race outfit is looking like a great gift for yourself or someone else. Now you can go online shopping for Uplace goodies from the comfort of your own home in our pop-up store. Check it out at http://uplace-pro-triathlon-store.myshopify.com!

Ironman Hawaii, where legends are made (part 3)

It's the age group athletes who write the true tales of heroism in the Ironman Hawaii...

We have Adidas Eyewear Palermo winners!

Five lucky people will soon be sporting some very stylish shades indeed. Ruben Vandevoorde, Heidi Machiels, Peter Laureyns, Cedric Cludts and Markus Flade are the lucky winners of a pair of Adidas Eyewear Palermo sunglasses.

They sent us an e-mail with "Adidas Eyewear Originals" as the correct answer to the question which collection the Palermo is part of. Enjoy!

Aprons?

We're trying to decide what is most disturbing about this picture: Sofie cooking in her race outfit (why?) or Sofie about to have an entire spoonful of fried onions.

Last long run

Another productive day.Last long run b4 Kona with quite a bit of race pace at Coronado,with #superfrogtriathlon in the background #road2kona
— Bart Aernouts (@bartaernouts) September 30, 2013

Axel's Lanzarote interview

Ladi Demko talked to Axel about his Ironman Hawaii goals (top-10!) and preparation before Axel's return to Belgium.

29/9: Where are the Uplace athletes?

Nutrition Q&A

Participating in Ironman Hawaii or another fall Ironman? Here's your chance to get your nutrition questions answered by the man who knows the science behind the best practices:

.@PeterHespel will do a Q&A on twitter monday Sept 30th 6pm. Questions in English-> @BakalaAc_eng, Dutch-> @BakalaAc_nl. Plz retweet.
— Bakala Academy (@BakalaAc_eng) September 28, 2013

Meanwhile at Bioracer...

Belgians going to Kona, the Bioracer machines are hard at work for you...

Quality time

Bert hangs out with son Stan in Lanzarote before catching his flight to Brussels...

Couch potato

All the hard work is done! Time to leave for Hawaii. But first things first: crashing in the couch and watching the WC cycling in Firenze!
— Sofie Goos (@sofiegoos) September 29, 2013

Hawaii wil be muggy, but I guess Firenze wins the humidity contest! poor guys...
— Sofie Goos (@sofiegoos) September 29, 2013

Meanwile in California...

Last hard days before #IMKona Did some good bike rides in the mountains here! Long run coming up tomorrow #Road2Kona pic.twitter.com/7swNYcN7nE
— Bart Aernouts (@bartaernouts) September 29, 2013

Reporting from Lanzarote

Before heading off for Kona (via Belgium), Bert talked to Ladi Demko about his #road2kona and his ambitions for the 2013 Ironman Hawaii:

Flying lessons

Back in Antwerp, the Kona 2013 race outfit makes Sofie fly :)

Goodbye Lanzarote

Goodbye Sands Beach! Last day, last run in Lanzarote for Axel...

Win the Adidas Eyewear Palermo!

The Uplace-athletes wear Adidas Eyewear sunglasses during races and training. But they also got to pick out a stylish leisure set. Thanks to the generous people at Adidas, we have five Palermo sunglasses to give away.

Available in a range of colors, the Palermo effortlessly combines the sixties and eighties for comfort and style (see picture on the left).

Want the Palermo? Simply send the answer to the question below to contact@uplacetriathlon.eu before Monday September 30 at 10am Brussels time.

What Adidas Eyewear collection is the Palermo part of? 

Please mention 'Adidas Eyewear Palermo' in the subject line. One submission per person, please. Good luck!

View from the top

Last long ride for me @bertjammaer is in the sea for an open water swim...nice view from Mirador del Rio @Road2Kona pic.twitter.com/CWQQKPbXxU
— Axel Zeebroek (@axelzeebroek) September 28, 2013

Rinse

Bert enjoys a well-earned rinse after completing the 'Travesía a nado EL RÍO' swim between La Graciosa and Lanzarote: ...

We have a Bioracer winner!

It's a green and pink flowered outfit we will be giving away in our special Bioracer contest.   

Because it's Ines Van Troyen who wins a custom-made outfit in the Kona 2013 design. Many gave use the correct asnwer: the race tops shown by Bioracer's Sam Ratajczak are made out of the Coolmax Mesh fabric that is especially suitable for races in hot temperatures. Congratulations, Ines! Send us a picture of your outfit.

Somewhere between Lanzarote and La Graciosa...

Bert gets ready for the annual 'Travesía a nado EL RÍO' swim between the two islands #Konaswimpractice

On the catwalk

A better look at the Bioracer Kona 2013 women's outfits with Sofie. Check the video.

Bart Aernouts in Triathlete Europe

Interview in Triathlete Europe on the #road2kona: the man with the fastest run split at Kona 2012. Here.

Hanging around with Bert

Bert likes hanging aroud at Sands Beach, Lanzarote. Nice new gym, boys!

Background reading

October 12th is getting closer, so the interest in Kona 2013 gradually increases. Some background reading on Ironman Hawaï, thanks to Triathlete Europe and Triathlon Business.

Training buddies

Bert and Axel still have a smile on their face after a 200k ride in Lanzarote. Then again, we would be smiling too if we were in Lanzarote...

Win your own Bioracer Kona 2013 race outfit!

Want your own, tailor-made Uplace Pro Triathlon Team Kona 2013 outfit? Here's your chance! Sam Ratajczak of Bioracer explains the contest in the video below. All you need to do is send the right answer to contact@uplacetriathlon.eu before 10 am Brussels time on Saturday, September 28th. Please mention "Bioracer Kona outfit" in the subject line. Good luck!

We have a Sportoase winner!

Congratulations, Frederik Sleutel! Lots of correct submissions in our second Sportoase contest, but Frederik enjoyed the luck of the draw.

The question was: in which two Sportoase centers did we have our team training days this year. The answer: Sportoase Brasschaat and Sportoase Leuven. Frederik wins a free one year membership to Sportoase. Congratulations, Frederik. Your work-outs start now!

More Uplace athletes in Kona

Sofie, Bart, Bert and Axel won't be the only Uplace athletes in Kona. Uplace also supports Belgian age group triathlon and more specifically the Machels Triathlon Team. The partnership (along with the support for the Koninklijk Diegem Sport football team) was announced yesterday. Three MTT athletes will be competing in Kona as well. We look forward to seeing you there, Seppe, Flor and Marc!

A comfortable fit

Bioracer Sam explains why the Kona 2013 t-shirts of the Uplace Pro Triathlon Team athletes provide extra comfort.

Triathlon nutrition, part 4: Ironman raceday breakfast

Starting an Ironman with the right breakfast is key to a good race. Your goal: between 3 and 5 grams of carbs per kilogram body weight, says Professor Hespel of the Bakala Academy in part 4 of our series on tri nutrition. How? Practice! Professor Hespel also gives tips on what you should eat and what to avoid.

And in Antwerp...

... Sofie does a pre-Kona interview and gets photobombed in the process :)

Meanwhile in Triathlete Europe...

...a cool picture of Bart during the rainy World Championships half Ironman in Las Vegas in September. The latest issue of Triathlete Europe is available now.

Encouragement

Sofie, Bart, Bert and Axel get encouragement from teammate Bruno...

To those who have started their last tough training days for #Kona2013: Kick butt. Paradise awaits! I will be watching.
— Bruno Clerbout (@brunoclerbout) September 26, 2013

Reminder: winter training clinic

Here's one event Belgian triathletes and tri coaches won't want to miss. As the triathlon season comes to a close, we're already looking forward to 2014. A good winter will lay the foundation of a great year. That is why on October 19, we are organizing a winter training clinic in partnership with BMW Le Couter Tielt, Bakala Academy and VTDL.  

Professor Hespel will talk about the most effective combination of bike training and nutrition. Maarten Thysen will demonstrate the importance of strength and stabilization during the winter months. Of course the Uplace athletes, back from Kona, will be there too for a Q&A.

Place to be: BMW Le Couter Tielt.  To enroll, a simple e-mail to contact@uplacetriathlon.eu will do. See you there!

Customized suits for Bert and Bart

Bert and Bart don't just get outfits with the special Kona 2013 design. They each get a customized outfit. Bioracer Sam explains the suits' special features...

A closer look: IM Hawaii men's outfit

Here is a closer look at the special edition Kona 2013 outfit the Uplace men will be wearing, including tribal shark tattoo and waves...

Meanwhile in Antwerp

Sofie makes quite an impression while on the run :)

Mijne dag is goed begonnen 2x @sofiegoos zien lopen :)
— Koen Duym (@KoenDuym) September 25, 2013

Bert's #road2kona

... is in Lanzarote today. Here's Bert during a training session with friends. Thank you, James Mitchell, for the photos.

The return of the Bioracer Kona outfits

So will the Uplace-athletes have a special Kona outfit like they did last year? If you have been following this blog, you will have seen enough sneak previews to know the answer to this question. Because the lovely folks at Bioracer said "absolutely" and came up with a cool new Kona-inspired design with waves, tribal shark tattoos (for the men) and flowers (for Sofie). Sam Ratajczak of Bioracer introduces the tailor-made outfits.

 .

Win a one-year Sportoase membership!

Bummed you didn't win one of our Sportoase passes last week? Here's another chance to get fit for free! In our next contest, we are offering no less than a one-year Sportoase membership.

Again, participating is easy. Send us the answer to the question below at contact@uplacetriathlon.eu by Thursday, September 26 at 10am Brussels time.  Please mention '1 year Sportoase' in the subject line. As always, one submission per person, please.

"The Uplace Pro Triathlon Team has held its team training days in Sportoase this year. We alternated between two Sportoase locations. Which two?"

Good luck!

We have a BMW Yachtsport flip flop winner!

Only one could be the fastest and this time Benjamin Schmetz is our man! He was the very first to e-mail us that the Uplace-athletes get to drive around in a BMW 1-series. The BMW Yachtsport flip flops are all yours, Benjamin. Enjoy!

Oops!

Did Axel just send a text message to his coach that was intended for someone else? :)

Sorry coach @bdecru, i'm not tired ! But, that's what happend when you write en SMS while riding at 45km/h ;-)) My love is to someone else!
— Axel Zeebroek (@axelzeebroek) September 23, 2013

Meanwhile in California...

Long run today, last one before #Superfrog Joined by @bartaernouts for a mile. That guy makes it look easy!
— Daniel Williams (@ironmandanw) September 22, 2013

Win a pair of BMW flip flops!

This one is for the fast ones! 

BMW Le Couter has been an enthusiastic partner of the Uplace Pro Triathlon Team since day one. Much to their delight, all six Uplace-athletes get to drive around in a personalized BMW (watch the video - in Dutch).

We're giving away one pair of BMW Yachtsport flip flops to the first person who to send the correct answer to this question to contact@uplacetriathlon.eu:

What type of BMW do the Uplace Pro Triathlon Team athletes drive this year?

Good luck and... go!

Triathlon nutrition, part 3: about food & supplements

Part 3 of our series on triathlon nutrition covers the dual topic of food and supplements. We asked Professor Hespel of the Bakala Academy about the ideal diet for triathletes and whether you really need supplements....

 

A shark tale

So we're thinking sharks. And waves.

Child labor?

Nicolas&Stan at the finish after running 500m @ActiveLanzarote. Within three weeks it's daddy's time. @axelzeebroek pic.twitter.com/EytX8Pn9K8
— Bert Jammaer (@bertjammaer) September 22, 2013

We have Adidas Sport Performance winners!

In the picture at the top of this blog, Bart Aernouts is wearing the Adidas Eyewear Evil Eye Halfrim Pro sunglasses. That is exactly what Brecht Busselen, Stijn Lankers, Dieter Janssens, Yannick Jeronne and Glen Laurens e-mailed us as part of the Adidas Eyewear Sport Performance contest.

They each win a pair of supercool Adidas Adizero Tempo Pro  sunglasses. Congrats, guys!

Sofie about Kona in Mechelen

On September 15, Sofie Goos competed close to home in the Mechelen Olympic distance triathlon. We caught up with her after the race (she finished second), to discuss her Ironman Hawaii preparation.

 

Meanwhile in Lanzarote...

Axel tackles a bike session...

While Bert tackles a water bottle, Hugh Hefner style :)

Sneak peek

... with a hint of flowers...

Ironman Hawaii, where legends are made (part 2)

In the 1997 Ironman Hawaii, Sian Welch and Wendy Ingraham went the distance and beyond. All for a fourth place finish in the Championships...
 

Swim training at Sands Beach

Axel and Bert start the day with a swim session in the Sands Beach Olympic distance pool.

A little sneak preview...

But of what? Any guesses?

Win an Adidas Sport Performance Adizero Tempo Pro

It is not surprising the Uplace athletes are big fans of their Adidas Eyewear sunglasses. Take the Adizero Tempo Pro. Specifically designed for endurance sports, the Adizero Tempo Pro is extremely light and has the highest quality lenses.

The lovely folks at Adidas Eyewear have made five Adizero Tempo Pros available for our contest. All you have to do is send the correct answer to this question to contact@uplacetriathlon.eu before Sunday, 22 September at 10am Brussels time:

A large close-up of Bart Aernouts is shown in the 'Uplace takes on Kona' banner above. What is the name of the Adidas Sport Performance sunglasses he is shown wearing?




Please mention "Adidas Sport Performance" in the subject line of your e-mail. We will draw five winners from the correct answers. One submission (and one e-mail address) per person please.

We have a sailfish attack winner!

Seems like just about everyone wanted a sailfish attack wetsuit. Lots of submissions and correct answers to the question which sailfish wetsuit the Uplace athletes use in races. Yes, that would be the sailfish g-range. Too bad there can only be one winner. Today that is Lea Vermeiren. Congratulations, Lea!

Stay tuned for a new contest later today!

And somewhere along the A12 highway...

@sofiegoos gespot langs de A12! Looking fast!
— Tom Van Assche (@Sliderman1) September 20, 2013

Meanwhile in Lanzarote...

Axel after a run training under the blue skues of Lanzarote (at Sands Beach) .

Special delivery

Could it be the Bioracer Kona 2013 special edition race outfits?

Shout-out to Rob

And last but not least, damn I have the fittest coach in the world! @rwoestenborghs won gold in #PowermanZofingen. Double World Champ 2013!
— Bart Aernouts (@bartaernouts) September 19, 2013

Triathlon nutrition, part 2: expert help & the weight issue

In part 2 of our series on triathlon nutrition with Bakala Academy, professor Hespel talks about the three experts you should consult before taking up triathlon training. He also discusses the issue of (losing) weight as part of your triathlon training.

Meanwhile in California...

Yesterday I ran around Otay Lake & did an easy ride on the coast frm La Jolla to Carlsbad & back,finished at sunset pic.twitter.com/iQwk29E8qF
— Bart Aernouts (@bartaernouts) September 19, 2013

Today a swim at Coronado pool and a part of the great western loop on the bike. #discoveringSanDiego #Road2Kona

— Bart Aernouts (@bartaernouts) September 19, 2013

Win a sailfish attack wetsuit!

Triathletes, here is your chance to start racing in a state-of-the-art sailfish wetsuit.

Whether you are just starting out or are an Ironman veteran, the sailfish attack offers the best combination of flexibility, durability and buoyancy. Check out the sailfish web site for more information.

Now that you really, really want this wetsuit, all you have to do is send us the correct answer to the following question:

"Which sailfish wetsuit did the Uplace-athletes use in 2013?"

Send your answer to contact@uplacetriathlon.eu before Friday, September 20th at 10 am Brussels time. As always, one submission per person please. Good luck!

Ironman Hawaii, where legends are made (part 1)

There is a reason Ironman Hawaii is the race of all races. We take a look back at some legendary moments in Ironman history. Part 1: Ironman Hawaii 1982, Julie Moss and Kathleen McCartney.

We have Sportoase winners!

It's a wrap for our second Uplace takes on Kona contest. Here are the lucky Sportoase winners:

3-month Sportoase pass:
Brent Patteeuw
Frank Matheyssen
Timothy Van Houtem

1-month Sportoase pass:
Tom Vanderoost
Cédric Leneau
Maarten Joris

Sportoase introduction passes:
Sven Prims
Pieter Nicolaï
Steven Delombaerde
Bram Janssens
Sabine Boodts



Congrats to all! If you didn't win, don't despair. We have a new contest coming up in just a few hours.

17/9: Where are the Uplace athletes?