MAURTEN

”It’s probably hard or maybe too soon to say if there’s some sort of, like, legacy left or growing from winning in Tokyo. But I think it’s definitely given athletes in Bermuda the belief that they can do it, that you can be from a small little island and win a medal at the Olympic Games or win medals at the Commonwealth Games” — Flora Duffy.   Flora’s triathlon foundations were built in Bermuda, and the fondness with which she talks about a childhood spent there — being nurtured into the sport — is palpable. Fast-forward — as the nations first Olympic gold medalist — that same spark of pride is evident with her appreciation for how participation in sport and the mindset to chase more medals continues to grow there.   ’The power of winning’ is an intimate short film at home with Flora Duffy, talking about the races and the experiences that created a path for her Olympic moment to be realised.

“What has been pretty amazing, and something I never thought about, is other people’s reaction to the gold medal. I’ve traveled with that medal around the world and back again, and it feels like, everywhere I go, people want to see it. And their physical reaction to seeing it is incredible to witness.” — Flora Duffy, Olympic triathlon champion.   Only Flora knows what the crescendo of emotion felt like. The relief and the elation. The moment it was guaranteed — finish line in sight — is her memory. The textures, the atmosphere, the feeling of having the Bermuda flag wrapped around her shoulders can be triggered on-demand in high-definition to elicit the fullest joy.

While Flora owns that golden moment, it’s significance goes far beyond her own satisfaction. It reached and inspired people. A win so powerful that it left a memento in the minds of a nation.
 ’The power of winning’ is an intimate short film at home with Flora, talking about the foundations — the races and the experiences — that her Olympic moment was built upon. Link in bio.

“When you’re top-20 in the Kenyan cross country, you must be a very good athlete. That was the moment I realised I could focus on longer events.” —  Hellen Obiri   There tends to be a prerequisite quality among those who succeed in sport — drive. To be driven is more than determination. An unrelenting need to keep moving forward. To resist stagnation through evolution. Experiencing a sensation of discomfort in the present because of a desire to be better in the future, or to win at something else. An internal voice that champions a restlessness to achieve more. 
  It’s not that Hellen Obiri reinvents herself, it’s that her athletic gift has furnished her with the ability to believe in her own potential. To question — what if I try another distance? While many athletes possess drive, few have the genetic dexterity that could enable them to be competitive at almost every distance from 200 meters up to the marathon.   A Maurten Story with Hellen Obiri — the power of what if.   Link in bio.

Here is the unseen. Here — it could be said — is where the medals are won.   Here — in this place we all know, no matter the level — there is no flashing of cameras, no spotlights, and no post-race interviews. Here, there is no glitz or glamor. Here, there are no fans, no flags, and no anthems. Here, there is no nerves or adrenaline. Here, there is no competition — except with ourselves. Here, there is no glory.   At times, training can feel like a monotonous existence — devoid of colour and triumph. Gratification reduced down to the straightforward simplicity of another session done. And yet, if we permit ourselves a moment of reflection, the truth is often the reverse. That the richness of this B-roll — not just the victories but also the times we fell short — is the substance that defines us all uniquely as athletes in our own right. Often out of sight — never out of mind.   “Looking back, I think I use both the good and the bad for different things. So my memories of a bad race, I would hopefully learn from it and know what not to do in moments when I may have panicked. But the good memories you can also use to motivate yourself by wanting to repeat those scenarios again.” — Keely Hodgkinson.   This is a Maurten Insight.

A backstory — understanding the path to now — can say a lot about the tales yet to be told.   ”I started running in school. I went for school competitions and sometimes I was running barefoot, actually, and without food. Because even when you don’t have any food in the house, you just go to the competition anyway.” — Agnes Jebet Ngetich   We are all a story — the sum of our experiences. Reading the stories of other people provides an opportunity to reflect on our own situation. A moment of external observation — acknowledging what someone else has been through — enabling us to place ourselves. To recognize value in what is easily taken for granted. All stories are remarkable in their own unique way. But some stories penetrate deeper because they reveal the uncomfortable truth that we are often more fortunate than we realise. Some stories are more — the inspirational stories. This is the story of Agnes Jebet Ngetich. @jebet.agnes Link in bio.

“I still don’t think the menstrual cycle is a big topic between riders and teams. It’s probably an awkwardness, but maybe it could also be seen as an excuse, in a way. ‘I didn’t do well today because of this.’ I don’t know if people feel comfortable with that, even when it’s a very natural thing.” — Hannah Barnes, SYNRGY.  Recently, SYNRGY held an all-female training camp in Girona. It gave us the opportunity to chat with riders on their terms — openly — about the pressures and complexities that they encounter as female athletes. It has provided a start line for opening up about the impact of the menstrual cycle, about premeditated under-fueling, pressure to keep weight unduly low, and the impact of unsolicited (often male) advice.   This article doesn’t have the answers — it’s a starting point. A way to identify topics and conversations specific to female athletes that can foster development of knowledge and improve athletic performance. Separate and unique conversations that enable female athletes to have better access to information.   Thank you to SYNRGY and to all the riders for giving us their time to chat about their experiences. We hope that this continues to open doors.   Link in bio.

How does it feel to run on a treadmill on top of a mountain?   The concept was hard to comprehend. But by probing the unknown — attempting the seemingly unfathomable — we found a new way to approach a familiar situation. A place we know well enough to move through with eyes closed. And by doing it that way we experienced different — positive — sensations.   What may seem futile can be a pathway to doing it better. That’s the emergence of a paradigm shift.   ”We know that bicarb works for speed and high intensity but when we try for ultras, I think this too is the benefit that I feel. So it’s very interesting that it’s working on those levels and I think it’s opening new paths to investigate.” — Kilian Jornet.

A research article.
Narrated by Kilian Jornet. It was poetry in motion. But who reads without being heard? Who runs without gaining distance? Bringing a treadmill to the mountains — to Kilian’s mountains — he told us, gave him a new perspective on the paths he’d run a trillion times. It made him feel the wind, look at the ridges and the valleys — all these familiar views — in a new light. Made him discover all that he usually overlooks. Blinkered by the status quo, we all overlook alternatives. Daring to be bold and to challenge acceptance of established practice is the essence of innovation. Only when you step back and see the wider landscape do you give yourself space to ask questions. Solutions are harder to see when you’re close to the problem. Even in places where many feet have already walked, it’s possible to find a new path — to do things differently and reveal new potential. This is a new perspective on familiar.

“I’m a nervous person, I think. You don’t see it and people always think that I’m completely relaxed. But that’s just my shell.”
— Caro Schiff, professional gravel racer.   2024 is the tricky second album — the sequel after the blockbuster. Predictably, the season that follows a breakthrough of standout victories comes with expectation — an Unbound 200 winner can’t hide in the shadows. But the effects of pressure are up to us to define — not dictated by others — because ultimately we know ourselves. Caro is matter-of-fact about herself and her capabilities. It’s a skill. One that doesn’t dull the desire — won’t subdue the nerves we all feel before a start line — it simply shields from the hype. What will be, will be.

A race is what you make it — you get out what you put in. But some races light a spark. They make a connection that demands we go back again. And again. Maybe it’s unfinished business. Maybe it’s the place. That intangible affection for the experience is a warmth that we don’t get elsewhere. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For Freddy Ovett, the race — the one — is SBT GRVL, Colorado. The speed, the altitude, the singletrack, the climbs, the atmosphere — an irresistible blend of ingredients. Some races, we just want it more.  
In 2024, Freddy will be on-course and so will Maurten — fueling all riders.

“I feel freer when I only train with women and it has nothing to do with the fact that I don’t like training with men too, but I find that a lot of things fall away for me. I don’t have to worry as much about whether I’m being sexualized or being scrutinized.” — Anna Hankings, Berlin Braves. Empowerment is nothing without action. Without feet-on-the-ground purpose. The greatest barrier is to be passive — to know what’s right, but still do nothing. To feed the unconscious bias. But there’s also a fine line between behavior that fosters progress — legitimate equality — and that which is simply a veil. A sticking plaster. 
There are pockets of change. We like to call them change-makers, trailblazers, or leaders. But simply, they are just doing what we all should — enabling participation through inclusivity, support, and friendship — across the generations. When a group comes together, setting aside talent to focus on the fundamentals of security and making connections, that’s when we see growth. Building towards a race like the Berlin Half Marathon offers an opportunity to align the values of the Berlin Braves with a goal that everyone can work towards — without judgement.

Introducing Solid 160 — your go-to fuel. Solid is still fast. Still light. Still low-fiber. Now split into two equal portions. An evolution — a direct result of athlete collaboration. You spoke, we listened. Solid 225 raised the bar — Solid 160 refines it. Solid serves you right. Link in bio.