Ariel Aboody

“None of this would have been possible without the coaching and support from the Fortius Family.  Racing an Ironman in another country, knowing your entire team is tracking you from their phones and computers back home, knowing that each time you crossed that timing mat they were there with you cheering you on, knowing that each one of them played a role in helping you train for an all-day event, knowing your Facebook wall is going to be filled with messages of congratulations…THAT is what it means to be a part of the Fortius family.”

2011 was Ariel’s first year with Fortius after 2 years of training on his own.  The decision came after only bettering his Malibu Olympic Distance time by 1 minute from the previous year.  It started with a bike ride and a swim, gasp, ON THE SAME DAY, with Gerardo and Christina.  Wanting to improve his bike fitness, he hesitantly signed up for Death Ride, having never biked more than 40 miles in his life.

Full of questions ranging from: what to eat and when to eat it, to what shoes to wear and whether to wear socks or not.  Eager to improve, he dove in head first taking on some of the hardest events California has to offer: Bandit 30K Trail Run (longest run at the time), Mulholland Challenge (112 miles, 12,000 ft. of climbing), Wildflower Long Course (first Half IM distance race), Heartbreak 100, Ojai Double Metric Century (130 miles), Death Ride (129 miles, 15,000 ft. of climbing), Valley Crest Trail Half Marathon, Santa Barbara Long Course (top 10 in AG), Malibu Olympic (top 10 in AG), Miami Half IM, Ironman Cozumel.

He finished off his 2011 season with an impressive finish in his first full-distance Ironman event.  Battling the humidity and the winds on the Island of Cozumel, Mexico, he crossed the finish line in 11:46:43.

He is fondly referred to by his teammates as The Genius, due to his quick-witted and spot-on answers to any technological questions they may have.  A naturally gifted athlete, with a calming personality, he plans to keep getting better in 2012

2012 Event Schedule:

• Bandit Trail Run (30K)

• LA Marathon

• Desert Tri International Distance

• Mulholland Challenge

• Ragnar Relay So Cal

• L’Etape du California

• Breathless Agony

• ITU World Championships

• Heartbreak 100

• Rev3 Portland Half IM

• Ironman Canada