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"I am excited to be a part of the First Endurance team of athletes. I am impressed with First Endurance as a company because of their commitment to excellence and their innovative approach to developing the best products for endurance athletes. First Endurance shares my desire to have safe, high-quality and effective products based on scientifically proven results. I look forward to working with First Endurance as they develop additional products in their never-ending pursuit of excellence. As a professional triathlete, I occasionally make adjustments based on the latest research available. I usually don't make changes, though, unless I'm confident in the product and the company behind it. When I heard about Optygen, I was somewhat skeptical because I had heard similar claims by other companies. I have to give credit to First Endurance though. Their research is solid, and more importantly, their product works."

"I started taking Optygen about three weeks before the Vineman triathlon. I noticed a drop in my heart rate without a drop in the intensity of my workouts. In fact, I was actually able to maintain the same or higher intensity for extended periods of time . At the Vineman Triathlon (full distance), I won the race and still felt fresh afterwards. Only two weeks later, I had a top ten finish at Ironman Wisconsin. Optygen deserves full credit for my performance improvement because it was the only change I had made to my nutrition plan."

"Based on my experience with Optygen, I was excited to try a new First Endurance recovery product, Ultragen. With Ultragen, I recover much more quickly than I ever have before. The combined use of Optygen and Ultragen has allowed me to take my training and racing to a higher level. With Optygen, I can increase the duration and effort of my intense workouts; and with Ultragen I can recover quickly and increase the frequency of my workouts."

Peter Kotland
4X Ironman Distance Champion
2003 Vineman Ironman Champion

"Since my first contact with First Endurance, I have been impressed with all aspects of the business, from their commitment to quality and research, to their follow through. I am excited to have the opportunity to be a part of a company dedicated to offering the best endurance supplements on the market. I've been using Optygen for three months and have had consistently good workouts. The age groupers that I work with have noticed higher max heart rates, and the ability to sustain them longer. I feel no stimulant effect , or any other side effects when taking the product. It appears to be a safe and legal way to consistently improve my performance."

Steve Larsen
IRONMAN USA: 2001
NORBA National Cross-Country Champion: 1998, 2000
NORBA National Short-Track Champion: 1999
Pan American Games Champion: 1999
Career NORBA wins: 9

"As a Professional Athlete it is important that I fuel my body with the best nutrition available. First Endurance has a passion for making the best endurance supplements on the market and it shows in their products. It is obvious that First Endurance puts the athlete first by assuring that all their products use only the highest quality ingredients. They don't cut corners. First Endurance goes out of their way to make sure only the best, purest ingredients are used in the Ultragen and Optygen and back it up with a Certificate of Analysis. In my preparation, its reassuring to know I am getting the highest quality, best performing nutritional products on the market. I am really excited to use Ultragen and Optygen this year to help me race at my best."

"I am impressed with the product and the ingredients. My resting heart rate is lower and my recovery is much better now! On my standard weekly test ride, I feel stronger while using Optygen than without. I held a lower heart rate and went faster while on Optygen. I have won five of six races since starting Optygen and with each additional race I feel stronger. Since using Optygen, I have been able to sustain a greater intensity for longer time as I climb through some of the steepest roughest terrain. I don't worry about pushing my limit during races. Racing at 11,000ft I felt like I was racing at sea level, during the swim, I felt comfortable and never went hypoxic. I felt strong all day. Optygen really helps me prepare for races at altitude and gives me confidence that I won't be oxygen deprived."

"I did a 4-5 hour ride a couple days in a row and was getting very sore and tired each day. On the third day, I used Ultragen after my ride and felt great the day after. I didn't feel sore and my energy level was up. Because Ultragen is easily digested and tastes great, I now look forward to using it after long workouts."

"Using Optygen and Ultragen, the quality of my workouts have noticeably improved allowing me to go faster and recover better."

Jamie Whitmore
2003 USA Xterra National Champion
2003 European Xterra Champion
2003 Xterra Points Champion
7x Xterra Winner in 2003

"My experience with Optygen was just for a couple of months before the 2003 Ironman Florida race. It was to be my 3rd Ironman of the year in only 4.5 half months, and I was going to need all the help I could get. Within the 2nd week of using Optygen, I could feel a difference in the quality of my training, and this in turn started making me a lot more confident for the race. In the end, I finished 3rd at Florida, but even on tired legs, managed to ride a full 14minutes quicker that the previous year when I finished 5th, and improved my finishing time from 8h49 to 8h38.

Races have been few and far between, but those that I've done have been devastating to all my fellow competitors. Apart from being ill just before half Ironman SA, and having to settle for 2nd spot, my other 2 races I've won by huge margins, over the same people I was having close races a year ago. Obviously they all think I'm taking something illegal, as it's not possible to win races by over 30mins, but the fact of the matter is, I just feel like I'm on a totally different level.

My training has been really good, I don't have any trouble doing a week of training now that I thought was a big week a year ago. Everything seems to fall into place so easily. In fact, this weekends race was an ultra, 3.2k swim, 120k bike, 32k run, and I did that at the end of a normally "hard week", as I hadn't intended to do the race at first. I only decided the morning before to go give it a bash. I won the race by thirty minutes, then I was up at 5am this morning for a cycle a weight session, no problem. It's as if the race didn't even affect me. Are you sure there's nothing illegal in these products?..:-)”

Raynard Tissink
2003 Ironman Canada Champion
2nd 2003 Coure D'Alene Ironman
3rd 2003 Ironman Florida

"When First Endurance first approached me about Opytgen at the Yuba, UT Xterra I must admit that I was very skeptical. I have never used supplementation other than iron or a multi-vitamin, definitely not a performance supplement, and I believe most products are utterly useless. However, Optygen interested me, First Endurance seemed like a first rate organization, and after a bit of research I found that all Optygen's claims were based in fact."

"The Xterra West Regional Championships in Half Moon Bay, CA was my first race after using Optygen. I was expecting absolutely nothing and was totally surprised to find that I felt incredibly fast from the bike to run transition. The usual mile or so it takes to settle into race pace off the bike was not needed and I got the fastest run split by over a minute with about 3/4 the effort. I noticed the same effect though the rest of my season as well as more rapid recovery after hard training, and improvement in my LT workouts particularly."

"I first used Ultragen in December of 2003 after a long (4hour) training day. I was pretty tanked afterward and due to the early period of my training year, was sure that I would not feel too hot the next day. However, after a serving of Optygen I felt recovered within a few hours and absolutely zero fatigue the following day. I have never focused on my nutrition as much as I should, partly because other products have never shown noticeable results. However, I am very excited to use Ultragen on a regular basis. I am already noticing that my recovery is quicker and my energy level higher. No more of the mid afternoon comaI used to feel. I actually look forward to my post workout Ultragen, rather than dreading trying to choke down a glass of what reminds me of the remnants of cleaning my sixth grade teachers erasers after school."

Jimmy Archer
Xterra Elite Pro

"When I first learned about Optygen and took the time to read the available research on the product, I immediately knew I had to start using it if I wanted to keep doing what I do best: win."

I have been using it for only 2 weeks now, but the difference in my training is obvious. And now I also take Ultragen as part of my recovery system, and it has made me feel so much better after back to back weeks when I am logging over 28 hours of training. I don't think I could be doing this without 1st Endurance's help and support.

I want to be associated with 1st Endurance's line of products for as long as I am racing!"

Felipe Bastos
2004 Athens project Team Member
Junior Elite Pro Champion

"As an exercise physiologist, coach, and professional athlete I've been extremely pleased with First Endurance's use of scientific research to develop their products. For 2003, I've made a conscious effort to train not only harder, but smarter. Adding Optygen to my daily routine has been a big part of training smarter, and Optygen has allowed me to in turn train harder. We are committed at First Endurance to using scientific information to develop our endurance supplements, and for producing quality products."

Neal Henderson
Pro Xterra Triathlete
Endurance Research Board member

As an exercise physiologist, sports nutritionist, and triathlete, my interest in Optygen is safety of use and its ability to enhance performance. After taking Optygen, I feel comfortable recommending this product to other athletes due its safety. It is very difficult to tease out what exactly enhances performance because there are so many variables that enter into the equation (adequate energy stores, optimal recovery, fluid intake, proper training, fatigue etc). Optygen, I believe, has the potential to alter this equation in a positive direction and enhance performance by increasing endurance and decreasing recovery time.

Shawn Dolan Ph.D.
Ph.D. Exercise Physiology
Triathlete
Registered Dietician

"After using Optygen for only one month, I feel more energized for my daily workouts. I'm getting in 20-25 hours of training weekly with a full-time time job and busy family. Optygen is helping me meet my goals.

Ultragen tastes great and speeds my recovery after long workouts. It enables me to ride long on a Saturday morning and still get in a productive swim workout that afternoon."

Arthur Mathisen
First Endurance 1/2 Ironman Overall winner

"It is quite amazing the amount of energy that I have when I take it. Not to mention the recovery and the lowered heart rate. In fact I forgot to take it one day and I really noticed a big drop in energy."

Erik Burgan
Professional Triathlete

"I met the First Endurance staff in May of this year at a race in Utah. I read through the info and was impressed. I have a degree in Biology and the information and the science made sense. However, I have seen many a product in my years as a coach and pro athlete that did not deliver what they promised. Optygen delivers on its science. Since starting on the product I have seen a dramatic change in my racing. I can go at my high end for longer and in triathlons my transitions form swim to bike and bike to run are smoother and stronger. My triathlon season has been my best ever and I am a better all around athlete experiencing my best results in cycling, running and cyclocross races. I truly beleive that this is in part to Optygen. Thanks guys."

Grant Holicky
Professional Triathlete
Professional Swim and Triathlete Coach

"Since I started using Optygen I’ve been able to take my training to a new level."

Natasha Filliol
2002 Canadian Commonwealth Games Team Member
U23 Canadian National Champion

"After using Optygen for 3 weeks I have felt positive changes on my training especially on my long rides and runs. I don't get as tired as I used to get and I feel a lot stronger. I really think that Optygen can help me to reach my goals for the upcoming season and hopefully I'll earn enough points in the ITU circuit and make it to the Olympic trials as well as winning the triathlon and duathlon junior world championships this year."

Manny Huerta
USAT Junior Triathlete of the year
2002 USAT All American team-Triathlon

"Well after only a week of using Optygen, I can already see a difference in my training and racing. Just this past weekend at the Mather Feild Criterium, I was able to attack and recover better than ever! Just wait until I have been able to train like this for two more months, look out Clermont ITU race!"

Chad K DeMasi
Marin Sprint Triathlon (M Open) - 1st

OPTYGEN:
"Since I've been taking Optygen now for several months I have seen improvements in my swimming and cycling. For swimming, my recovery between intervals of 300 meters and greater has improved tremendously . In the past I was rarely motivated to swim workouts over 2000 meters. Swimming was the least favorite leg of the triathlon for me. I think one reason for this is because I would get frustrated as I tired in a workout and my stroke would deteriorate. Since taking the suggested serving size of Optygen, I have enjoyed long interval pool workouts with less recovery time, and no form break. As a result, my swim times have dropped.

All of my cycling disciplines have improved this year, especially mountain biking, criterium racing, hill climbing, and time trialing. I can attribute this to increased mileage. I feared long century rides and the long recovery the week afterwards. I have no problem riding for 5 hours now and feel fresh the next day. My mountain biking and criterium bike skills have also improved since I recover faster after steep climbs and sporadic sprints.

Optygen by itself will not make an athlete faster. The athlete must still put in the pool yardage and road/trail mileage. If Optygen helps an athlete recover, then an athlete can train harder and smarter, thus racing faster. This is what I've experienced since taking Optygen."

ULTRAGEN:
"Ultragen is the best recovery drink to date! Ultragen is the first drink that has the complete package needed for recovering: high quality proteins with branched chain amino acids, dextrose, vitamins and minerals. It’s nice to see that First Endurance put in high quality ingredients backed by research. Having studied whey proteins for my graduate work in the early 90’s, I am impressed with how far protein technology has come in 10 years. And now First Endurance has formulated a drink mix with whey protein isolates (WPI) and whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) that is spoon mixable AND tastes good. Previous drinks I have tried with WPI may have been palatable, but foamed like dishwashing soap. This was great for belching, but rough on my stomach. And the old WPH drinks, I had to plug my nose trying to gulp them down.

I’m glad the carbohydrates in Ultragen are all from dextrose. I can’t believe some recovery drinks contain fructose. Fructose does not sit well in my stomach. I understand that the companies add fructose to increase sweetness to mask the flavors for poor quality whey protein concentrates. But fructose should be used in soda pop, not recovery drinks.

Most importantly, Ultragen works. My early season base training is on target. I’m having no problems bouncing back after 5 hour training rides. I can’t wait for race season."

Tom Knopp
5th Men 35-39 2002 Ironman Utah (Hawaii Ironman Qualifier)

This is my first year as a pro-triathlete and have been pleasantly surprised with the advantage that Optygen has given me in both racing and training. I have been taking Optygen for a couple of months and started to really feel the effects after the first month. Where I felt the benefits most while training on the bike climbing hills. I could really feel a difference in my heart rate, which stayed lower than ever before. The other advantage was that my legs weren't burning nearly as bad as they used to once I crested hills. Even my training partner noticed a difference because I wasn't breathing nearly as hard as he was on hard sets. As far a recovery goes, I believe I have not really had a bad training day yet. I have gone through all the stages of training thus far. Not to mention I have been very pleased with my racing results. "

Karen Holloway
Professional Triathlete

I have been taking Optygen for about 4 weeks. Let me say first, I am the world's biggest skeptic when it comes to supplements. With that being said... this stuff works! Especially during high intensity workouts or races. For example, my recovery time and heart rate have both decreased during intervals on the track. I used to jog 200 meters between 800 meter intervals to get my heart rate back down to where it needs to be to start the next interval. Recently, I have only been jogging 100 meters to reach this value.

Ryan Dolan
Certified Triathlon Coach
Ironman Triathlete
1st Men 30-34, 2002 Yuba Olympic Distance Triathlon

"A couple weeks ago I did a 5 hour brick (4hr. ride 1 hr. run). I ended up throwing in some 20 minute cruise intervals on the ride. I couldn't believe how good I felt running after I got off my bike. I was able to sustain a fast pace without losing control of my heart rate. I typically swim an hour every morning, run at lunch and ride for 2 hours in the evenings. Before I took optygen I was so much more tired as a result of this training schedule. Since I have been on the supplement I feel much more fresh. I roll out of bed each day feeling GREAT and recovered. I try to pay attention to my body and resting heart rate so that I can ensure that I recover adequately and don't over train. Since I have been taking Optygen my heart rate recovers much faster that I feel like I can do more then I have ever done before. I have a hill near my house where I do intervals on the bike. My times are dropping about .30 secs a week on Optygen with the same heart rate output."

Jared Allen
Ironman Triathlete

"I felt as though my aerobic/anaerobic threshold is elevated. During Ironman Utah, I kept waiting for the bonk to come and it never did. I have been taking Optygen approximately 6 weeks now, and my perception is that if an athlete trains intensely and wisely Optygen will enhance both performance and recovery."

Dave Ference
2001 Inside Triathlon All American
2nd Overall 2002 Ironman Utah (non-pro)

After coming back from an IT Band injury early this season (which resulted in 12 weeks of no running); I was able to still run a sub 19 minute 5k at the 2nd annual 2002 Cinco de Triathlon. My legs were a little sore, but my lungs felt great...I attribute that to Optygen!"

Eddie Hill, M.S. Ed.
18th 2002 Ironman Utah

Optygen's benefits were a steady progression for me; taking about 10-14 days before I noticed the significant performance enhancements. Now I wouldn't train without it. I am training at a much higher training volume, but the largest change for me is seen in my heart rate. Within seconds of cresting climbs my HR drops into the 90's. I am very enthusiastic about the upcoming Triathlon season with Optygen!

Anthony Johnson
1st 2002 Xterra Richmond (World Championships Qualifier)