Hi, I'm Oskar, Head of Apparel and Gear here at FOOSTER.
Since I can remember, I've always said that cycling is in my blood. My dad is into cycling, my brothers are into cycling, and we even have our family "cycling challenge." This is how I grew up. Day and night, rain or shine, cycling is what I loved, what I did, and I was good at it; so much so that I decided to spice things up and compete in a triathlon. Pedaling wasn't enough. I needed a "real challenge." Little did I know that goal was just the beginning… of sore muscles, early mornings, and a steep learning curve in training and nutrition.
My first triathlon race was humbling. I lined up with 2,000 other athletes, thinking, "How hard could it be? I can swim, I can run, and of course, I can ride a bike." — I thought that was enough, until it wasn't. The swimming went OK, and the long open water training along Delray Beach (Florida) made me a decent swimmer. The miles on the bike, well, that was all I did growing up, but the run? Well... halfway through the run, my legs felt like heavy stones, my stomach was in knots, and to make matters worse, a guy twice my age who looked like he was out for a Sunday stroll, passed me twice. That's when it hit me, finishing a triathlon isn't just about knowing how to swim, bike, and run. It's about training smart, fueling right, and showing up prepared. Nutrition never played a role during my training, or at least I don't remember it did. My problem was that finding the right nutrition and gear felt like a scavenger hunt. One store for fuel and hydration (gels, drink mixes, snacks, etc.), another for gear, and about 43 open tabs on my laptop — and still no clear answers to what path I should take. Little education and lots of guessing. That's not a strategy, but it was my strategy. Today, I'm a bit older and wiser. I'm still trying to catch up with the guy who passed me twice, stomping on my athlete's ego, and chances are, I'm now that guy — cool as a cucumber on a Sunday stroll.
It is because of stories like this, like mine, that FOOSTER exists today. We wanted a place where you and I can get everything we need to crush our goals — the fuel, the gear, and the guidance — without the headache. Bars, gels, drinks, or advice: we've tested it, we've tried it, and we've made it easy for you.
At the end of the day, it's not about finishing first. It's about showing up, moving forward, and having the proper support along the way.
See you out there,
Oskar
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