IRONMAN and Quest Diagnostics have announced that Blueprint for Athletes by Quest Diagnostics, a leading provider of diagnostic information services, is the new title sponsor for IRONMAN 70.3 Austin for the 2015-2017 seasons. The 2015 IRONMAN 70.3 Austin event in Texas takes place on 8 November.
Quest Diagnostics spearheads services based on medical-grade lab testing to help professional and amateur athletes improve their performance through its Sports and Human Performance Diagnostics clinical franchise business.
In select US markets, the company is currently piloting its flagship Blueprint for Athletes service, which offers customized test packages that evaluate blood-based health markers to provide insights for improving athletic performance.
The new sponsorship at IRONMAN 70.3 Austin continues activation for the Blueprint for Athletes service at other M-Dot events. Blueprint for Athletes is also the title sponsor of IRONMAN Boulder and was an official sponsor of this year’s IRONMAN World Championship presented by GoPro.
“Quest’s innovative Blueprint for Athletes service empowers athletes to take actions to improve not only their health but also their performance, a goal that we share as an industry leader working to constantly improve the athlete experience,” said Andrew Messick, Chief Executive Officer for IRONMAN.
“We are pleased to be able to continue to provide our athletes one of the few pilot forums in the Unites States where they can learn more about the services provided by Quest’s innovative Blueprint for Athletes.
Kristen Heath, a Blueprint for Athletes beta athlete, will be competing in this year’s Blueprint for Athletes IRONMAN 70.3 Austin triathlon presented by Zappos. Alongside nearly 3,000 other triathletes, Heath will take on the Texas heat on 8 November 2015 for a 1.2-mile swim in Decker Lake, a 56-mile bike ride passing through rolling Texas farmlands, and a 13.1-mile half-marathon that finishes in the Luedecke Arena in the Travis County Expo Center.
Heath explains that Blueprint for Athletes will help her manage her chronically low iron levels and hypothyroidism – two conditions that zap energy and can negatively impact her performance. Her test results can help her to improve her overall health and achieve a higher level of performance in endurance competitions.
“As a competitive amateur endurance athlete, having regular and thorough insights into my own unique biology brings an incredible sense of self-empowerment,” said Heath. “The data from my test results provides me with the ability to make better decisions about my diet, training and access my full potential as an athlete.”
Quest Diagnostics notes that its Blueprint for Athletes health and performance marker analysis is based on insights from top scientists, physicians and exercise physiologists from top professional athletic organizations and research institutions. The tool incorporates performance factors such as fuelling and hydration.
Quest Diagnostics is currently piloting Blueprint for Athletes at athletic performance events in select regions, including Boulder, Denver, Austin, San Francisco, and North New Jersey and expects to make the service available nationally across the US by early 2016.
“Kristen [Heath]’s story is a common one among athletes. While highly attuned to her body and aware of her conditions, she was still in a position of self-diagnosing training and performance shortcomings, wondering why her legs felt heavy or why she was feeling particularly tired on a given day,” said Richard Schwabacher, MPH, Executive Director, Quest Diagnostics Sports and Human Performance.
He continued, “Kristen, like all IRONMAN athletes, trains extremely hard, and with Blueprint for Athletes, we’re able to provide her and other dedicated athletes with insights to help them take action, make the necessary modifications and gain a competitive edge.”
www.ironman.com/austin70.3
www.blueprintforathletes.com
