Preseason - Hammer Nutrition

FROM OUR ATHLETES
Tri’d
and
true
love
Adrienne Hengels finishes her Ironman World
Championships race to a proposal from her coach and
boyfriend Jason Smith. Photos : Jeff Clark Photography
BY VANESSA GAILEY
F
or triathlete
Adrienne
Hengels, the road to 2012
Ironman Worlds in Kona was
paved with endless training, a season
of both successful and dissatisfying
race results, and reflection on her 2009
Kona experience about what she could
improve upon. After more than a year of
preparation, she completed IM Worlds
by leaping across the finish with a
35-minute PR time, in 14th place in her
age group and in the top 15% of all female
finishers—and seeing a banner that read,
“Will you marry me, Adrienne?"
Her now-fiancé and coach Jason Smith
welcomed her into the finish area on one
knee. “Since I coach Adrienne, I knew
she would do great during the race. Yes,
I was putting a lot of ‘chips’ on the table
by proposing after an Ironman (and
hoping she would be coherent after she
crossed the finish line),” Jason confessed.
“But based on her attitude and training
leading up to Kona, I knew she would
finish the race jumping across the line—
which she did! Adrienne crossed the
finish line jumping for joy, and I am the
luckiest guy because she said yes and
we'll spend the rest of our lives together!
It was an awesome day all around. Kona
will always have a special place in our
hearts.”
Hammer
Nutrition’s
sponsorship team
recently welcomed
this couple into the
Hammer Nutrition
family by awarding
both Jason and
Adrienne a 2013
sponsorship slot. They
are both accomplished
athletes and avid Hammer Nutrition
users. Jason, a cancer survivor, uses his
past experiences to inspire other athletes
through his role as a USAT Level 1 coach
and a professional triathlete. Adrienne
won Hammerbuck$ and an IM medal
in 2012 after finishing 1st place overall
amateur female at Ironman 70.3 Hawaii,
and also scored a Hammerbuck$ award
after her 2nd place AG and 3rd overall
at IM Vineman 70.3. “When I proposed
to Adrienne at the finish line at Kona,
she got a lot of props for wearing her
Hammer Nutrition kit. We've been
training and racing with Hammer
Nutrition products all year and have had
no Gi issues. We love your products,”
Jason said.
Adrienne and Jason met on a triathlon
team based in Adrienne’s hometown
of Chicago in 2009. “The sport of triathlon
has always played an important role in
both of our lives,“ Jason said. “Every day,
from the moment we met, we've talked
about everything that had to do with
triathlons: training, music, nutrition, bike
wheels, running shoes, the logistics of
race day . . . you know, the usual tri-dork
conversations. So, why not propose on the
biggest triathlon stage in the world?”
“What greeted me at the finish line? My
friends there to catch me, and Jason . . .
on bended knee with a ring and the
biggest smile on his face. It was an epic
ending to an epic racing season, and it
is also the beginning of completely new
chapter,” Adrienne said. “I had no idea
that this would happen, but if I could
write my own story, this is exactly what
would have happened!” HN
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