Inside My Gear Bag With Jan Frodeno

Published July 7, 2015 04:28PM

We awarded the 2008 Olympic gold medalist the “Best Transition to Long Course” in our Triathlete.com Best of 2014 awards thanks to his on-fire first season of long-course racing. The highlight of last season was a podium finish at his Kona debut (even with a flat tire), but the German had been turning heads all year with high-profile Ironman 70.3 victories (U.S. Pro Championship in St. George, Asia-Pacific Championship in Auckland, and Oceanside), a silver medal at the 70.3 world championship and a podium finish in his Ironman debut at the European Championship. He started 2015 off with a victory at Ironman 70.3 California in Oceanside and then turned in his most impressive performance to date by setting a new course record in tough conditions at Sunday’s Ironman European Championship. He’s married to fellow 2008 Olympic gold medalist Emma Snowsill of Australia, who announced her retirement from racing last summer. Frodeno (aka “Frodissimo”), who’s in the air much of the tri season, shared a glimpse into his race travel bag.

1 Asics Track Suit (Spry Jacket, $54, and PR Pant, $50, Asicsamerica.com) “I love being comfy on a plane, and the best thing is wearing something familiar, especially since I don’t care too much about how I look on a plane.”

2 Bose QuietComfort 25 headphones ($300, Bose.com) “Noise canceling—so great for learning a language, watching a movie and switching off.”

3 Oakley Frogskins LX with tortoise frame ($150, Oakley.com) “I generally don’t leave the house without sunnies.”

4 Handpresso Espresso machine and a bag of Frodissimo coffee beans “Because the look on the flight attendant’s face is priceless. I’ve made coffee for as many as eight people sitting around me—it’s a social thing.”

5 An emergency kit “With aspirin, Umckaloabo (a German plant extract that works wonders for a sore throat) and Nasic (nose spray), just in case.”

7 Lunch box “Preferably a quinoa salad, nuts, veggies, cheese [in an attempt] to avoid crap airport food. And let’s be honest—who’s not constantly hungry when traveling?”

8 Asics run outfit (GEL-Super J33s, $100, Asicsamerica.com; 5” Short, $60; Speed Singlet, $45; Kayano Single Tab Socks, $14) “On long stopovers, I try to find a gym to stretch the legs out and break into a bit of a sweat. I actually try to plan that if it’s long enough to squeeze in a quick session. Plus, this way I’m sure to at least have some race shoes if my luggage is lost.”

9 Asics headband ($7, Asicsamerica.com) “The headband has become a bit of a [superstitious] thing for me to know I come home uninjured (sad but true).”

10 A present for my wife “Whoever goes away for a trip has to bring back a present.”