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Fiona Molloy was just another newly qualified optometrist three years ago. She had always had an interest in sport and was a keen hockey player. However, she found that in her new career Saturday working made getting to matches a problem so decided to look for something a little less team-orientated.
It just so happened that at that time Transitions and Oakley were on the look out for optometrists and opticians to join a team to take part in an Ironman 70.3 triathlon.
An Ironman 70.3 requires the competitors to swim 1.2 miles, cycle 55 miles and then run a half marathon -70.3 miles in all, hence the name.
Molloy applied for, and won, the only UK place on the eight-strong team. The rest, as they say, is history.
Rigorous schedule
To readers of Optician, Molloy has become the familiar face of the Transitions Ironwoman. Training for the Monaco Ironman 70.3 spanned most of 2007, with the event in September, but Molloy didn't stop. She competed in Florida later last year and continued competing in events during 2008. She also played a leading role in the Optician Ironman Team that competed in this year's UK Ironman 70.3 raising £7,500 for Vision Aid Overseas.
Molloy says she applied to do the Oakley Transitions Ironman 70.3 as a way of losing weight and controlling her Cadburys' chocolate addiction. 'I also wanted to re-direct my sporting life from team sport (hockey) into triathlon, mainly because I worked Saturdays and that was when hockey was played.'
'The Oakley Transitions Ironman project helped me turn my original idea of just finishing an Ironman event into actually racing an Ironman 70.3. The project laid on by Transitions gave me a once in a lifetime opportunity to compete in Ironman 70.3 events, including the Florida world championships and then UK 703 - two out of the three hardest in world. It also included expenses-paid travel to various places for training by some of the best athletes in the world.' These included the four-time Ironman world champion Peter Reid, Olympic swimming gold medallist Vladimir Salnikov and Double Ironman champion Mario Huys.
'I learnt so much from the whole experience to swim in open water, to ride a bike, techniques for all disciplines, how to get to grips with the equipment, race techniques, how to ride in a peleton, what to wear and what not to wear.'
Reaching for the burn
'The training and race preparation involved controlling my food, my mental state and reaching fitness levels I didn't know I could reach, and beyond. Through this project I was able to meet opticians from six other countries and we compared our practice runs and discussed Transitions, as well as bikes and kit. The experience bought us together in a unique way and we were really grateful to be among famous and brilliant athletes and trainers.'
Molloy is keen to thank Roland Allen and Lindsay Brown from Transitions who were the prime movers behind the Ironman project and without whom none of this would have been possible. 'I think you could truly say the experience helped make a unique transition into my new sport, one that has been quite life changing. I find a healthy body equals a healthy mind, just like Mario taught us. But I still love my chocolate bars.'
She is also keen to point out that she is not obsessed with triathlon. 'Just in case you think I don't do other stuff, I do. Painting and decorating, ironing, cleaning, washing, electrics, gardening, but not because I like it.' She also admits going out for the,' odd cheeky glass of red or two,' out to dinner and the theatre.
The original Oakley Transitions project was supposed to finish with the Monaco Ironman 70.3 in September 2007, but Molloy was so successful she won a place at the world championship for Ironman 70.3 in Florida last November.
Transitions continued to finance the cost of online training advice from Huys and Molloy travelled to Florida to compete in the world championships later in the year. Transitions provided yet more help for Molloy again this year. 'Transitions sponsored my participation in yet another huge event, the world age group championship for an Olympic distance triathlon in Vancouver, in June which was fantastic,' she says. 'Other events on the way included the New Forest triathlon last year and I also joined Farnham tri club. The female 35-year age group finished 16th in the national relay champs in Nottingham this July.'
'None of this would have been possible without my Oakley Activated by Transitions sports specs. I particularly remember a friend saying after riding for three to four hours - "its so annoying riding in and out of the trees and shade - I need to take my sunnies on and off all the time". I hadn't even noticed as I was wearing my Oakley Transitions, my friends now use them too. The first hand experience I have allows me to give confident recommendations not only for sports but in everyday life. 'The experience also helps me make patients aspire to more healthy lifestyles.'
The fame game
'People often recognise me now from the Optician coverage which can be very flattering but also I find it a little uncomfortable being pointed out as the 'Transitions Ironwoman.'
It can also be inspiring. At Johnson & Johnson's True Eyes launch in Southampton recently, I saw Rebecca Ward, a J&J rep, who came running up to me to say that she was so pleased to have done her first triathlon and she had really enjoyed it.'
Molloy also believes the Ironman experience has added to her confidence which has had its effect on her professional life.
'I have taken the plunge in my career and I am now working as a locum. I hope this will give me increased flexibility in work and allow me to train even harder.
'Being in the triathlon world I have met so many people and felt influences that really make you want to go one step further.'
Apparently, the only way forward is to compete in a full Ironman - anyone interested?'