home > Cheating wife > Will Koshkin “recapture” O2? How the head of a construction holding Viktor Osokin is preparing from scratch for Ironman Viktor Osokin o2.


Will Koshkin “recapture” O2? How the head of a construction holding Viktor Osokin is preparing from scratch for Ironman Viktor Osokin o2.




The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the O2 Group, an avid athlete in spirit, told Chief Time about why he doesn’t get stuck in either business or sports, doesn’t call himself a builder, and what he compares the successful work of his team with.

It was not easy to get the owner of the “young and daring” company, as he described it, for an interview. We managed to make an appointment with him at the golf course just a few hours before the plane. The noble sport is a recent hobby, but the analogies between sports and business for Victor are an old and constant value.

Victor, what attracted you to golf?

I really like his philosophy. Because you go from goal to goal. In addition, you can apply the golf matrix to my relationships with my partners and the team. We are moving towards a common goal, we are trying not to create opposition within the team. And what I like about golf is that you and your partner don’t go against each other: you’re a goal for him, he’s a goal for you. You are turned together towards the holes, and together, discussing this goal, you move towards it without any tense opposition. Although, of course, everyone must achieve their own result.

Which sport's philosophy best suits your business?

It's probably hockey. As someone said, hockey is chess at incredible speed. This is true. Our business is similar to hockey, because we play as one team, we have ambitious goals, we want to make it to the playoffs and take a certain place there.

The philosophy of my business is the desire to do what I love. I don't do anything I don't like.

What main ideas does your business convey?

At this stage of the company’s development, it is youth, creativity, and audacity. But daring is not from the point of view of unreasonable ambitions, but from the point of view of attempts to throw, jump, overcome. Someone looks from the outside and thinks: “Maybe it’s not worth it?” And we do. Such audacity. Some kind of freshness, focus, naturalness. These qualities are present in our brand. All areas are subordinate to them: from production and design to sales and service.

And I also like the parallel: business is sport. Since early childhood, I have been involved in various sports, but I have not settled on any one. There always came a stage when I realized that these are the limits, now I need to get up and improve my performance in fractions of a percent. In any process there is a hyper-leap in development, and then some kind of “detail” begins.

Do you think that sports provide hyper leaps in development?

No. I don't think so. There are phases in sports. When you start, you are a beginner. There is a phase when you learn the basics of the sport, what it is about, its philosophy, technique and so on. From the phase when you are a beginner to the phase of an “experienced user” - this is a hyperleap. And from an experienced user to a very experienced one - this is a journey the size of a lifetime. Someone gets stuck in a specific sport, for example, badminton. And he trains three times a week in order to move from seventh place in the ranking to sixth. This phase is not interesting to me, because it is probably monotonous. You can list what I did: hockey, swimming, boxing, wrestling, martial arts, road racing, motocross, windsurfing, snowboarding, cart surfing, skiing... I think there are about twenty sports in which I can show pretty good results .


Viktor Osokin was born in 1979 in Leningrad, has a higher legal education. In 2012 he received an MBA degree from the Higher School of Management of St. Petersburg State University. Since 2000, he has been engaged in entrepreneurial activities in the construction sector; co-founder and head of O2 Group. Leads an active lifestyle and enjoys extreme sports. Married, two children.

There is a similar scenario in entrepreneurship. I never considered myself a lawyer, despite going to law school and having a network of legal advice. Then he moved to another industry. And every time I was interested in the power reserve, the growth potential of a new business. If you reach, for example, market capacity - great, we’ve sorted that out - let’s deal with something else.

When transitioning from one sport to another, the experience of learning and training is very useful. Is it the same in business?

Yes, absolutely true. But there are two factors here. There are positives that you endure, but there are also negatives. Let's take motocross and motorcycle trials. In motocross you are geared towards one stance on the bike and using only one muscle. You come to a motorcycle trial and learn something completely different. You have to get out of the habit. Because muscle memory always pushes you towards what you have learned. That is, some factors help, but some need to be adapted.

It is difficult to imagine that legal developments would somehow interfere with the construction business.

Let me emphasize that I do not feel like the head of a construction company. We have now formed into a company that manages several areas at once. We have a construction, manufacturing, and sales business. Another issue is that they all serve the same product line. Legal education is a huge plus, on the one hand. Because during your training and work in jurisprudence, your legal consciousness is formed, your thinking apparatus is built in a certain way. But at the same time there is an excessive desire to rummage through the papers. And in business, you often need ease, the ability to fly through it instantly, by feeling.

Why don’t you like the name “construction company”?

First of all, I don’t consider myself a builder, just as I never considered myself a lawyer. I see myself as the one who creates the product as a whole. Yes, our meaning-forming activity is construction. But this is just one of the processes that we manage. Construction takes up one of, say, ten shares in this process. With the same success I can call myself a designer, surveyor, seller, production worker... These are the components of my activity.

For many people who have nothing to do with construction and are buyers or occupants, the word “builder” means everything: it is the one who selects, designs and builds, and accepts, and maintains .

Agree. If we talk about clients and partners, then let them call it whatever it is convenient for them. I’m ready to even write on a business card: builder Victor.

Why do you think entrepreneurship is needed?

Because it is the engine of society. No one has yet come up with a better development mechanism than directing a person to build something of his own. Blind faith in a great, great future, as history has shown, has not worked. There must be people in society who create all the products.

The history of the company began in 2007 with the reconstruction of buildings and the construction of social infrastructure; in 2011, a new direction was opened under the O2 Development brand - housing construction and territory development. To sell its own properties, the real estate agency O2 Real Estate was founded in the summer of 2013; at the end of 2013, the O2 Design project group was created; The EUROCUBE plant was opened in 2014. In June 2014, five independent divisions were merged into a single holding company, O2 Group. The company's portfolio includes four objects with a total residential area of ​​about 500 thousand square meters. m. The flagship project is the residential eco-quarter “Forces of Nature” in Murino.

Where does the basis come from that allows a person to achieve something significant?

I am now in a phase of my life where I am raising children. I have two of them. On this basis, many new thoughts arise, a deeper understanding of what is built from what and what grows into. I think there are natural genetic qualities that are given to a person from the beginning. And then this totality is polished by life circumstances, society, family. And the environment probably determines a person’s desire: to move or not. My own story was simple and clear. At a certain period, I realized that I wanted more than I would have had in the case of a passive position. I realized that no salary would suit me. And I started looking for options.

Who influenced your development?

My independent life began early. But there was no specific ideologist. At that time I didn’t know any idols at all. It’s trite: I borrowed money, believed that I could earn money, and opened my own office.

Yes. A week later I repaid the debt, and everything started moving. From that moment I realized that I had to move myself.

At what point should parents allow their child to be independent?

A parent's talent is to find the right boundary. The child must understand where he has freedom in play, and where he has freedom in stopping and listening. I think parents should establish clear rules of the game, clear boundaries between “dos and don’ts,” which are then transformed into laws or business ethics.

What was it like in your childhood?

It so happened that there was complete freedom, which was never limited by anyone. I wanted to take up wrestling - my mother took me to the section. I wanted to go swimming and went to the pool. Then I got tired of it and quit.

Your parents didn’t even force you to finish it?

Until the end of life?

Before the competition.

I made it to the competition. I even took up space, but then I lost interest. But this was not the child’s tyranny. I've never been moody at all. Rather, he was a hooligan.

And no one led you by the hand in first grade?

On September 1, they took me to the line, took photographs, and I returned back myself. We only went when the director called. This happened often (smiles). I had a huge amount of energy, and it had to be released somewhere.

That is, the parents were harsh but fair judges?

Yes. And not only parents. I remember I was afraid of one guy at the dacha, and my grandmother said: “What are you afraid of? Hit him in the forehead once normally.” I was about six years old, and I couldn’t imagine hitting someone. And I couldn’t believe my ears: my grandmother says that too. But literally the next day this boy blocks my path. I remember my grandmother’s words and hit him on the forehead with all my might. While he was falling and getting up from the bike, I managed to run home. And then something completely incomprehensible happened. Grandmother, having learned that I had hit that boy, ran after me with nettles. And I shouted to her: “Grandma, you told me so yourself!”

How did the story with that guy end?

I didn't have any more problems with him. I walked down the street calmly, the situation was resolved. Grandma turned out to be right.

And then you started boxing?

I started boxing when I was about twelve years old for the first time. I worked out a little, but it was difficult to go to training. And he returned to boxing at the age of sixteen. I think this is a great sport. I still go to the gym and hire a personal trainer. Now everything is comfortable: gloves are not like they used to be made of horsehair, smelling of sweat and inherited. Now there is an opportunity to come, work out, and have fun.

And yet, which sport best suits you, your inner feelings?

It's more like surfing. When you have to spend a long time on the wave simply in contemplation. Don't run after every wave, but wait and catch your own. How well you catch it, the better you go. This is a dialogue with yourself. As an entrepreneur, as a company founder, as a shareholder, as a person who manages a strategic business, I track my ideas - waves. I find it, get up and try to get the most out of it.

If you have a great goal in front of you, but your capabilities are limited, act anyway, because only through action can your capabilities increase.

If you search for the words “motivation” and “goal achievement” on Google, you are already motivated enough to start working on yourself.

Goals are set in order to achieve them, and our project will show how to do this.

Osokin Victor — @osokinvictor

Biography - Osokin Victor

Viktor Arkadyevich Osokin was born in Leningrad and has a higher legal education. In 2012 he received an MBA degree from the Higher School of Management of St. Petersburg State University.

Since 2000, he has been engaged in entrepreneurial activities in the construction sector. In 2011 he founded the O2 Development company. In 2014, the O2 Real Estate company was formed, a brokerage division of the O2 group of companies, which implements O2 Development projects and conducts brokerage activities.

Currently, Viktor Osokin holds the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the O2 Group. He is also quite successfully involved in Triathlon and promotes this sport in our country.

The video below presents the “Goal” project in which Victor himself participates. The essence of the project is Victor’s preparation and participation in the most difficult type of Triathlon - IRONMAN.


On October 4, he overcame the most difficult distance in triathlon: at the Ironman competition in Barcelona, ​​in 10 hours 35 minutes, he swam 3.8 kilometers without stopping, cycled 180 kilometers and then ran a marathon - 42.2 kilometers. At the same time, businessman Viktor Osokin became interested in triathlon only a year ago, and over time, the hobby led to the appearance of a series of A1 Triathlon starts in St. Petersburg: last summer three A1 starts were held in Sestroretsk, and six are planned for the next season. Victor told Sport Day by Day about how starting a triathlon became a goal that inspired him to hold competitions in his hometown.

Instead of mountains

- How did triathlon appear in your life and what attracted you to it?
- There just came a moment in life when he had to appear. About 10-15 years ago I was interested in mountaineering and received great satisfaction from every climb. Each new peak is an ambition and a test of one’s strength. When I had a family and children, I decided to put off this unsafe hobby until better times. At the same time, I began to feel a lack of adrenaline, the need to undergo some kind of tests remained, and when I became acquainted with the topic of triathlon, I immediately plunged into it headlong, because it is very similar to mountaineering, especially if we talk about a long triathlon. Overcoming myself, conquering peaks - this is exactly what I lacked.

Do you think your personal and business qualities have helped in triathlon? What do you think triathlon teaches you?
- Where, if not in triathlon, do a person’s personal qualities manifest themselves? Both in the process of preparation and during the distance, the entire spectrum of your character and personality is revealed. Why I personally love long triathlon is that it gives you the opportunity to learn everything about yourself. Under serious loads, you have no chance to hide, put on a mask, like an actor. You won't be able to play, but triathlon will show you the real you. You will have to work on yourself - after all, qualities such as perseverance, perseverance, dedication are revealed and developed in triathlon. And for myself personally, I know for sure - in triathlon I reveal myself to the fullest.

I believe that there is no fundamental difference between sports, business and family. Yes, you can talk about social roles - husband, son, boss or subordinate - but I am sure that they all should lie on the same plane, be held together by one rod. If you are ready to move forward and prove yourself in difficult situations, this will be realized at work, in sports, and in the family. And triathlon, from this point of view, can become another fulcrum for your personality, in which you can express yourself.

Have your expectations from the main competition - Ironman in Barcelona changed over the year? What emotions did you experience after finishing?
- The greatest anticipation was when I first decided to register for the start. It was a leap into the unknown, everything that lay ahead of me couldn’t fit into my head, I didn’t have the feeling that it was possible in principle. I understood: when a professional thinks about such a goal, a clear preparation plan appears in his head, he knows what and how to do. And for me it was an unattainable, at first glance, peak - but this was all the adrenaline!

As time passed, this expectation of something unknown and of this incredible gradually dissolved. Firstly, triathlon very quickly became a part of my life - not just a hobby, but a truly favorite activity, and therefore not only the goal itself, but also the process became a pleasure. Once an activity becomes your favorite, you don’t limit it in time. If a year ago, at the very beginning of the journey, I thought that the start in Barcelona could be the end point, then later I realized that this was not so: after this start there would definitely be others.

In addition, I relied on preparation. And as I became more and more confident in my readiness for the start, there was less and less uncertainty and excitement. When you clearly understand that all you need is to complete the race according to a certain plan, you know your speed indicators, strengths and weaknesses - you are already absolutely confident in yourself. I talked about my preparation throughout the year in episodes of the “Goal” project - and now you can see how my attitude towards the competition changed every month.

- What were your first thoughts after you crossed the finish line?
- Of course, the last stage is the most difficult - while running you already feel exhausted, the load is very serious. Therefore, after finishing, you feel a rush of joy that the distance is behind you. 10 days have passed - and I understand that I still feel absolutely incredible emotions about how cool it was!

- Are you satisfied with the sporting results of this season?
- Satisfied 100 percent - but not 200 (Laughs). Of course, you should always be happy about what you have achieved in life. But I always raise the bar a little. Yes, I passed the competition, did what I wanted and I know that I showed a good time. But at the same time, I know for sure that I could have done even better. Internal competition is the main driver for me.

Make plans for the summer!

- When did you realize that triathlon could become not only a personal hobby, but also a business project?
- There was a desire to do something good. In my understanding, holding events such as the A1 Triathlon is closer to social entrepreneurship than to business. Our goal is not to obtain financial gain; on the contrary, there is a need to fill an empty space. When I first started on my triathlon journey, I very quickly realized that there was nothing happening in my hometown that could meet the needs of people who were joining this growing sport. On the one hand there was demand, on the other hand there was my desire to do something in this direction.

In addition, when I went to my first foreign competition, I immediately saw how correctly and clearly everything could be organized so that the participants experienced amazing emotions! This is what we started from: the A1 Triathlon starts are aimed specifically at getting people to feel emotions, so that the participants feel happy, successful, and have achieved something high. What is important is not so much the sporting result, but the emotional component: so that there are spectators, fans, so that every athlete, and not just the leaders, is given attention, so that after the race everyone receives a medal and a finisher’s T-shirt, can recover in the recovery zone and share this moment with their family and loved ones. In other words, the race should be a significant event for absolutely every participant in the competition. This is a sport that is developing mainly due to amateurs, and on our strata up to 90% of participants are amateurs. They have an ordinary life, family, work, and they do triathlon only because they like it. Therefore, for such participants, competitions should be a large-scale event, a real holiday, and not just a formal test of speed and endurance.

- What became the main guideline when preparing the starts of the A1 series - Russian or foreign examples?
- It so happened that I have not been to a single Russian triathlon competition. I took part in my first competitions abroad and realized that in St. Petersburg there is a lack of decent competitions of this level, in which amateurs and complete beginners could take part.

But, of course, foreign starts are only an example that we adapt to our reality. The place chosen for the start is very important, because it is impossible to create an infrastructure for triathlon from scratch. Therefore, when preparing, the specifics of the place where the race will take place must be taken into account. In our case, it was Sestroretsk, and next year we plan to hold two starts in the very heart of the city - with the start and finish in the Peter and Paul Fortress.

At the same time, some main points - start and finish zones, food on the track and volunteer assistance, refereeing, recovery zone - these are already generally accepted norms, and there is no point in trying to reinvent the wheel. It is only important to prepare everything well.

- Is there an average portrait of an A1 Triathlon participant?
- That's a very difficult question. Whatever parameter you take, there is a very large coverage everywhere. If we talk about age - from 18 to 60-70 years. I know that last year there was a participant who completed Ironman who was 86. If we talk about the level of income, which many people pay attention to when it comes to triathlon - there are people who are very budget-conscious when starting out, but they get absolutely the same pleasure , as well as those participants who can afford the top new items. The most important thing that unites them is the feeling of happiness that you see on their faces. It doesn’t matter what industry you come from, how old you are, what your income is - the feeling of overcoming, the feeling of self-worth and achieving success pleases everyone absolutely equally. Businessmen, doctors, lawyers, drivers, bankers and housewives take part in our starts - there are absolutely no restrictions. If we take the same mountaineering, when I came to mountaineering camps, for some reason the vast majority of participants were builders. But in triathlon you can’t make such a generalization - this sport definitely attracts completely different people.

Triathlon is a fairly young sport in Russia, and often those who are just excited about the idea of ​​completing their first distance do not know where to start. What advice can you give to those who are just starting their journey towards their goal?
- I think triathlon can hardly be called a new sport. Of course, its history does not go back as many years as football or boxing, but still it has existed in our country for several decades. And, by the way, it was St. Petersburg that was the place where triathlon began to develop in the USSR, and then in Russia - the first major tournaments were held here in the 90s, representatives of the St. Petersburg school were the first to reach the international level, and then a period of decline began - times were difficult for the entire economy as a whole.

But today, interest in triathlon has grown greatly not only in Russia, but throughout the world, this sport is gaining great popularity, and I encourage everyone to at least try to find themselves in triathlon. There are two ways to do this. The first is to simply register for the start, and then everything will work out by itself. If you have a clear motivation - a specific date when you will start, everything will be much easier. As a bonus, you will achieve other goals in the process - seriously improve your health by doing three disciplines at once, quietly get rid of excess weight if you have such a problem, gain confidence in your abilities and satisfaction in what you do. The second way is to start from afar, simply join some club that prepares for triathlon, and then decide for yourself whether this sport is right for you. Today, there are already quite a large number of schools, clubs, and private trainers who will provide you with a sufficient amount of training input. There is a lot of information on the Internet - for example, on our website and in groups on social networks; other portals are also being developed.

But I am still a supporter of immediately registering for a specific start - this is the best motivation. You can no longer take a step back - you can only move forward, prepare for a specific date. And on the second path you can lose a lot of time on research.

Now is the perfect time to set the most ambitious plans. I started training right at this time - and 11 months later I completed the hardest distance. Therefore, choose your starts and register now to begin the path to your own goal this year.

- What A1 starts are planned for the next year?
- In 2016, there will be 4 triathlon starts of the A1 series: on June 18 in Sestroretsk there will be a sprint (0.75 km swimming, 20 km cycling and 5 km running), on June 19 there will be a start at the half-iron distance A1 Triathlon 113 (1.9 km swimming, 90 km cycling and 21.1 km running), the Russian long-distance triathlon championship for professionals will be held simultaneously with this start.

And on August 21, there will be the first start in the history of St. Petersburg at the full iron distance of the A1 Triathlon 226 (3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling and 42.2 km running) with routes in the city center. There are currently over 50 people registered, so there is already a great group of people coming together. And on the same course on the same day, the A1 Triathlon Olympic (1.5 km swimming, 40 km cycling and 10 km running) for those who are not yet ready for the longest distance. In addition, the A1 series will be replenished with starts in running and swimming in open water - competitions are scheduled for April 17 and July 17.

Best team building

I heard from amateurs that it is very difficult to find an experienced and qualified trainer. In your opinion, what should one rely on when choosing a coach and is one needed at all?
- Choosing a coach, like choosing any teacher, is a very difficult matter. It's important to understand what you need. Simply learning basic information about a sport is much easier than finding a person who will lead you forward, whom you will completely trust. Therefore, I can advise you not to get hung up on one person, but to look for “your” person with whom you feel comfortable. Each coach has his own set of techniques and tools, everyone has completely different approaches, some may be stronger in one discipline, and others in another. But it is very important to have a choice, and there is such a choice in St. Petersburg.

In some sports there is a clear line between professionals and amateurs, but in triathlon such a distinction is felt? Is there any support from the Triathlon Federation for A1 starts?
- I can say from my personal experience that triathlon requires even amateurs to have such serious preparation that there is no fundamental difference with professionals. It also happens that amateurs train even more than professionals, and at mixed starts, trained amateurs can finish even earlier than some pro-athletes. Therefore, at our series of starts, we do not draw lines between professionals and amateurs - absolutely the same conditions are created for everyone, from timing to nutrition during the distance and after the finish. Of course, professional sport is a sport of high achievements, and it is very important for amateurs to have the opportunity to compete together with professional triathletes, to be charged with their energy and determination. And for professionals, the mass support and interest in triathlon that amateur participation provides is important. That is why such interaction is very important.

As for the support of the Triathlon Federation of Russia and St. Petersburg, we have the closest cooperation, because from them we receive support in the methodology of holding high-level competitions - such as the finals of the Russian Cup and FTR, which took place on August 29-30, or the Russian long-distance championship, which is planned for 2016. After all, starts of this status must meet the highest standards of the ITU - the International Triathlon Union. It is the FTR that is the authority responsible for the development of triathlon in Russia, and we are glad that a tradition of joint work has already developed in preparing the starts.

- In your opinion, is triathlon developing as a corporate sport?
- Of course, because in triathlon there is the opportunity not only for personal participation, but also for team participation, when each participant goes through only one stage and passes the baton to his friend - this is a ready-made version of team building! Representatives of such companies as Rostelecom (at the last start their team took first place), Megafon, O2 Team, A-Media, Jensen Group, World Class, have already taken part in our starts. "Alex Fitness" and others. We expect even greater activity from Russian and even foreign companies next year; we are open to cooperation and will be glad to see business representatives both as participants and as partners in the A1 start-up series.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the O2 Group construction holding Viktor Osokin, who had not previously been involved in professional sports, decided to prepare for Ironman from scratch in a year. Victor talks about the difficult process of training, changes in physical fitness and emotional state, progress and problems in monthly episodes of the video project “Goal: Ironman”. Today he will share the secret of how to move towards a goal - and not just a sports one.

Victor Osokin was born in 1979 in Leningrad, received a law degree, and in 2012 received an MBA degree from the Higher School of Management of St. Petersburg State University.

When did you become interested in sports? Where does this craving for an active lifestyle come from?

From early childhood, because living actively is much more interesting. It wasn’t like something suddenly switched in me - and I fell in love with sports.

How did triathlon appear in your life - it is such a difficult sport?

I wanted to try myself in something new. Before that, I was involved in motocross, but last August I broke my collarbone, and the doctor said: “Boy, you won’t be able to ride a motorcycle for six months.” I started running and one day I heard about Ironman - the longest distance in triathlon. And I really wanted to go through it. After all, there are short distances in triathlon, but I wasn’t interested in that, I wanted to challenge myself.

To learn how Victor decided to participate in Ironman, see the first episode of the project “Goal”: Ironman:

Back then, swimming 3.8 kilometers, then cycling 180 kilometers, and then immediately running 42.2 kilometers seemed impossible - there was a lot to work on! If you show your training plan to an ordinary person, he will say that you are crazy - how can you train every day for 3-4 hours?

You can learn how to properly draw up a training plan from the second issue of the project:

And how have sports performance changed since then?

They have grown very well! 10 months ago, at the beginning of preparation, running 5 kilometers was heroic for me, I could swim breaststroke 300-400 meters, and I didn’t really know how to swim crawl, I was only able to swim 25 meters. Well, I was only familiar with a mountain bike. . Once I drove 100 kilometers, drove for five hours, erased everything I could.

I've now completed two half Ironman distances - a 1.9km open water swim, a 90km bike ride and a 21.1km run. I also ran a dozen half marathons. And my physical condition has now become such that waking up in the morning and running a half marathon is a normal story.

For example, yesterday I got up at six in the morning, was already on the suburban highway at seven, cycled 90 km and immediately after that ran another 10 km. Swimming 4-5 km during a workout is the norm; I swim this distance a couple of times a week. Last summer I only heard about such distances from trained triathletes, but now I can overcome them in reality. Progress is obvious, although last summer it seemed unattainable.

Victor spoke about his first starts in the third episode of the “Target” project:

Running performance has increased significantly. When I first started training, it took me about 6 minutes per kilometer. At the beginning of May, at a race as part of the Sestroretsk Half Marathon, I ran 5 kilometers in 20 minutes. Of course, this is not an Olympic record, but I have never run at such a speed before, and my running efficiency has increased by 50%. It's the same with swimming, although it doesn't progress as quickly.

I used to swim 100 meters in 2 minutes, now it takes 1 minute 40 seconds. For me this is just a phenomenal indicator, now I can swim longer and faster. But, of course, this is not the limit - I plan to further improve these indicators.

If we talk about the psychological state, what changes have occurred during this time?

I am convinced that playing sports trains our physical shell, which contains the psycho-emotional system, and they are interconnected. It’s not for nothing that they say: a healthy mind in a healthy body. When you purposefully develop your body, it will be grateful and in return provide psychological and emotional comfort.

This happens somehow unnoticed by oneself. For example, I clearly realized that I need good sleep. If previously I could go to bed at two and get up at eight, now I understand that during my training cycle I need eight hours of sleep. As they say, war is war, but sleep is on schedule. I was also able to clearly identify those foods that my body now does not accept - fast food, alcohol, sweets. I stopped using all this not because I want to lose weight, but because it is an extra product for providing energy. It’s like if you fill the tank of a car that runs on 98-grade gasoline with 76-grade gasoline or diesel fuel, you won’t get far.

About what results can be achieved after 193 days of preparation - the fourth issue of the “Goal” project:

You cover huge distances, the load on your heart and joints is very high. Do you have to pay close attention to your health?

Any path is not without mistakes. Even when you go into the forest to pick mushrooms, there is a risk of tripping. It's the same on the way to a goal like Ironman. In order not to take unnecessary risks, it is necessary to consult with specialists - trainers, doctors. I am 36 years old, and I adequately understand that today I cannot do what I could at 18 years old.

I underwent medical examinations twice to understand how the load affects the heart, and did a clinical blood test. When running, I use a heart rate monitor and a sports watch to measure my heart rate, pace, and other indicators.

It is important to listen to the body's reaction. It happens that sometimes during running stages pain in the ligaments and joints suddenly appeared, and I realized that I needed to work on my technique. To do this, I signed up for seminars on the correct running and swimming technique - to learn how to breathe correctly, place the foot, and so on. I can’t say that I have absolutely gotten rid of pain and discomfort - they show “sketches” of the ideal using the example of professionals. But you can think about how this is done in principle, understand the basic principles - and try to find your own technique.

When I tried to run exactly as they showed me in the seminar, I quickly realized that I couldn’t. Either I'm developing too much of a pace, or I'm just not comfortable. Therefore, it is important to adapt these techniques to suit yourself - then it will be beneficial. As a result, today I managed to get rid of problems with ligaments and knees, I can easily walk long distances and see that my running has become more economical and efficient.

You can learn how to overcome general fatigue and pain when preparing for a triathlon in the fifth episode of the Goal project:

Is there a fundamental difference between training and competition?

Every competition is a moment of truth, when you can evaluate what you have achieved, how effective your training has been all this time, all your problems come to light. At the moment, I have had three serious starts - one Olympic distance and two “halves”. And it happened on them that during the cycling stage something went wrong, as usual, and during the run it happened. And then you begin to analyze where the gap is - either a problem with nutrition, or the wrong pace. Competitions are a real litmus test.

Do you have any secrets in preparation - sports nutrition, music?

There are no special secrets. Music, of course, helps - during long training sessions I use it as additional motivation. I just listen to a selection from my phone that puts me in a positive mood. If we talk about nutrition, I definitely use vitamin complexes, especially during trips and flights, and, of course, after winter. I will tell you more about nutrition in the next episode of the “Goal” project - subscribe to the channel YouTube so you don't miss out!

What else motivates you during training?

Having a goal - Ironman. Working out just to look good is not motivation for me at all. Over the course of a year, I quietly lost 17 kilograms, but that was not the goal. Running, sweating and imagining how the kilos are burning off is too easy, there is no challenge in it. For me, the real motivation is the competition and my results. When I go for a run in the morning, I realize that I am taking another step towards conquering an Ironman, and this is what helps me move forward.

Are triathlon equipment costs high?

Triathlon, of course, will cost more than regular running, if only because it requires a bicycle. Costs are always relative, but I can say for sure that there are people who set a goal for themselves, but they don’t care about everything else, and money doesn’t play any role here. I know many examples of people training on the simplest bikes - borrowing from friends, buying used or renting - and giving it their all. And there are those who do nothing, but only complain that the equipment is expensive and stands still.

I have seen this situation more than once: two cyclists are riding on the beach, one has a bike for 15 thousand rubles, and the other has a bike for 15 thousand dollars. But at the same time, they receive the same happiness, this can be seen from their smiles - because both put their souls into training. So it cannot be said that in triathlon there is some kind of “passing score” - the amount that is needed in order to start. But you will definitely have to spend certain resources, first of all time.

Speaking of time, how do you manage to combine training and business? Do you manage to find a balance, or does something come first?

I can't give priority to anything. In general, if you build a pyramid of needs - not according to Maslow, but my personal one - then, of course, family will come first. And then – my goals. My business, my work are exactly the same goals as sports. I try not to let them compete, so I have to combine them in one thread so that they don’t interfere with each other. Effective time management is important for this. I gave up a number of things. Any person, if he analyzes 14 hours of his active day, can easily find activities that can be abandoned in favor of training. Be it the Internet, tea parties, TV, cinema.

Now I wake up earlier and for this I go to bed earlier. I manage to do one workout before the start of the working day and the second after. The attitude towards vacation has also changed: now I spend this time with my family and combine it with the training cycle, doing 2-3 workouts a day.

As for competitions, I try to choose weekend cycles so that I can leave on Friday and return on Sunday. This all encourages us to effectively combine different types of activities, and over time we manage to do this better and better. And this skill is useful not only in sports, but also in life in general.

How did you get the idea to make videos about your training?

When I began to be interested in this sport, I began to look for videos on the Internet. After all, you can find video instructions on any topic - for a computer, a vibrating massager, how to make banana puree. But I didn’t see anything that would help me see the process of preparing for a triathlon competition from the inside. There were only short videos - reports from professionals from the world championships who have been training for 30 years. And then the idea came to me that since I didn’t find anything, I should fill this gap myself.

There was another reason, no longer sports. I realized that my goal of finishing an Ironman in a year was no different from any other ambitious goal. I am 36 years old, and given my marital status, social status and relatively little sports experience, this was a very high bar. When I discussed this with friends, 9 out of 10 said that this was something unreal. And for me it was an even greater challenge, I realized that my decision contained something more - not only sport, but also a general desire for a goal. And so I thought it would be great to make not just a report or instructions, but to show movement, progress: how to get from point A to point B, how you change along this path in terms of goal achievement. Now we have already released the fifth episode, people are watching, writing, asking questions - which means everything is not being done in vain. The plans are to make a finished product that would motivate people to take actions without regard to the opinions of others.

What is the main discovery you have made since the beginning of the Goal project?

I once again confirmed for myself that there are no unattainable goals. At all. Any goal you set for yourself can be achieved if you start right here and now. It doesn’t matter your status, age, country in which you live - I tested this formula on myself.

I am convinced that all the goals that you do not achieve have either become indifferent to you, or uninteresting, or some minor factors put pressure on you that convinced you to retreat: an expensive bicycle, or you live too far from Moscow, or bad weather - I'll wait another year, maybe it will change.

I didn’t look for such excuses - and after 7 months I see the result. First of all, in changing my physical form. Before, I never thought that I would be able to swim, drive and run so much. And I believe that the more people act according to this formula, the more positive the world around will be.

How does your family feel about your sports hobbies?

Very good, and I can say that this is the main factor in my success. For a man, family is like a charger; it gives an additional incentive to move forward. And if there is no such support and you have to do something despite your family, then you will have nowhere to get the necessary energy. For me, the feeling of unity and cohesion is very important - when your goal becomes common, when children are rooting for dad, when your spouse provides support. Without this there would be no results.

What will be your next goal once you reach your current one – Ironman Spain?

Firstly, it's worth noting that I currently have many other goals in my life besides Ironman. But if we talk specifically about triathlon, then, of course, I won’t put an end to it after the competition in Spain. I’m already planning the training cycle for next year, choosing new starts. But so far these goals have not been specified, and it is important to move towards one thing - but very specific and precise. Know the date, the length of the distance, plan the travel time - then you definitely won’t get lost on the way to your goal.

So triathlon is not only about sports?

Yes, this is a sport in which you can discover your true self. It's a challenge, it's not easy, and it will definitely help you get to know yourself better.

When you're in your comfort zone, when everything is warm, soft, fluffy and you're going with the flow, you have no chance of finding out what you're all about. And most modern people live this way. But when a challenge like Ironman appears in life, you have to figure out what difficulties you are ready for and what you are not, what you are capable of and what is too difficult for you. At a distance, you must be honest with you - only then can you reach the end. Triathlon reveals the real you, you begin to feel Yourself - with a capital letter. And this is the main pleasure.

That is, the psychological overcoming in triathlon is stronger than the physical one?

When you walk a distance that lasts 6, 10 or 15 hours, physics fades into the background. The main factor is you yourself, your inner “I”. Muscles alone, even trained ones, will not carry you to the finish line. After a few hours of racing, fatigue starts knocking on everyone’s door: “Why do you need this? Let’s get down, let’s go have some tea and coffee, and sleep.”

Even during training, when you wake up at 6 o’clock in the morning, the thought “let’s not do it today” always appears in your head. But in life everything is absolutely the same. The same things happen in business, in a career - you can feel sorry for yourself, quit the race halfway. The essence is the same, everywhere you need to be able to manage yourself. Therefore, I 100% recommend triathlon to those people who are ready to work on themselves and want to achieve success not only in sports, but also in life.

You need to love the goal and have a clear idea of ​​how to achieve it. Step by step. You need to start this path right now, and constantly analyze - are you doing everything to achieve it? Are you moving in the right direction?

If you have set a goal for yourself, but continue to do completely unrelated things, perhaps this is not your goal. When you really want to achieve something specific, everything will line up by itself, I believe that this is the law of the Universe.

Do you have a motto that helps you move forward?

Take it and do it! Right here and now.

Text: Oksana Olshevskaya

Hello. First, tell us briefly about yourself: where you were born, what your education is, what your job is.
I was born in 1979 in Leningrad, received a law degree, and in 2012 received an MBA degree from the Higher School of Management of St. Petersburg State University. I am the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the O2 Group holding.

When did you become interested in sports? Where does this craving for an active lifestyle come from?
From early childhood, because living actively is much more interesting. It wasn’t like something suddenly switched in me - and I fell in love with sports.

How did triathlon appear in your life - it is such a difficult sport?
I wanted to try myself in something new. Before that, I was involved in motocross, but last August I broke my collarbone, and the doctor said: “Boy, you won’t be able to ride a motorcycle for six months.” I started running and one day I heard about Ironman - the longest distance in triathlon. And I really wanted to go through it. After all, there are short distances in triathlon, but I wasn’t interested in that, I wanted to challenge myself.

Then swimming 3.8 kilometers, then cycling 180 kilometers, and then immediately running 42.2 kilometers seemed impossible - there was a lot to work on! If you show your training plan to an ordinary person, he will say that you are crazy - how can you train every day for 3-4 hours?


And how have sports performance changed since then?
They have grown very well! 10 months ago, at the beginning of preparation, running 5 kilometers was heroic for me, I could swim breaststroke 300-400 meters, and I didn’t really know how to swim crawl, I was only able to swim 25 meters. Well, I was only familiar with a mountain bike. . Once I drove 100 kilometers, drove for five hours, erased everything I could.
I've now completed two half Ironman distances - a 1.9km open water swim, a 90km bike ride and a 21.1km run. I also ran a dozen half marathons. And my physical condition has now become such that waking up in the morning and running a half marathon is a normal story.
For example, yesterday I got up at six in the morning, was already on the suburban highway at seven, cycled 90 km and immediately after that ran another 10 km. Swimming 4-5 km during a workout is the norm; I swim this distance a couple of times a week. Last summer I only heard about such distances from trained triathletes, but now I can overcome them in reality. Progress is obvious, although last summer it seemed unattainable.

Running performance has increased significantly. When I first started training, it took me about 6 minutes per kilometer. At the beginning of May, at a race as part of the Sestroretsk Half Marathon, I ran 5 kilometers in 20 minutes. Of course, this is not an Olympic record, but I have never run at such a speed before, and my running efficiency has increased by 50%. It's the same with swimming, although it doesn't progress as quickly. I used to swim 100 meters in 2 minutes, now it takes 1 minute 40 seconds. For me this is just a phenomenal indicator, now I can swim longer and faster. But, of course, this is not the limit - I plan to further improve these indicators.

If we talk about the psychological state, what changes have occurred during this time?
I am convinced that playing sports trains our physical shell, which contains the psycho-emotional system, and they are interconnected. It’s not for nothing that they say: a healthy mind in a healthy body. When you purposefully develop your body, it will be grateful and in return provide psychological and emotional comfort.
This happens somehow unnoticed by oneself. For example, I clearly realized that I need good sleep. If previously I could go to bed at two and get up at eight, now I understand that during my training cycle I need eight hours of sleep. As they say, war is war, but sleep is on schedule. I was also able to clearly identify those foods that my body now does not accept - fast food, alcohol, sweets. I stopped using all this not because I want to lose weight, but because it is an extra product for providing energy. It’s like if you fill the tank of a car that runs on 98-grade gasoline with 76-grade gasoline or diesel fuel, you won’t get far.

You cover huge distances, the load on your heart and joints is very high. Do you have to pay close attention to your health?
Any path is not without mistakes. Even when you go into the forest to pick mushrooms, there is a risk of tripping. It's the same on the way to a goal like Ironman. In order not to take unnecessary risks, it is necessary to consult with specialists - trainers, doctors. I am 36 years old, and I adequately understand that today I cannot do what I could at 18 years old.
I underwent medical examinations twice to understand how the load affects the heart, and did a clinical blood test. When running, I use a heart rate monitor and a sports watch to measure my heart rate, pace, and other indicators.
It is important to listen to the body's reaction. It happens that sometimes during running stages pain in the ligaments and joints suddenly appeared, and I realized that I needed to work on my technique. To do this, I signed up for seminars on the correct running and swimming technique - to learn how to breathe correctly, place the foot, and so on. I can’t say that I have absolutely gotten rid of pain and discomfort - they show “sketches” of the ideal using the example of professionals. But you can think about how this is done in principle, understand the basic principles - and try to find your own technique. When I tried to run exactly as they showed me in the seminar, I quickly realized that I couldn’t. Either I'm developing too much of a pace, or I'm just not comfortable. Therefore, it is important to adapt these techniques to suit yourself - then it will be beneficial. As a result, today I managed to get rid of problems with ligaments and knees, I can easily walk long distances and see that my running has become more economical and efficient.

Is there a fundamental difference between training and competition?
Every competition is a moment of truth, when you can evaluate what you have achieved, how effective your training has been all this time, all your problems come to light. At the moment, I have had three serious starts - one Olympic distance and two “halves”. And it happened on them that during the cycling stage something went wrong, as usual, and during the run it happened. And then you begin to analyze where the gap is - either a problem with nutrition, or the wrong pace. Competitions are a real litmus test.

Are there any secrets in preparation - sports nutrition, music?
There are no special secrets. Music, of course, helps - during long training sessions I use it as additional motivation. I just listen to a selection from my phone that puts me in a positive mood. If we talk about nutrition, I definitely use vitamin complexes, especially during trips and flights, and, of course, after winter. I'll tell you more about nutrition in the next episode of the Goal project - subscribe to the YouTube channel so you don't miss it!

What else motivates you during training?
Having a goal - Ironman. Working out just to look good is not motivation for me at all. Over the course of a year, I quietly lost 17 kilograms, but that was not the goal. Running, sweating and imagining how the kilos are burning off is too easy, there is no challenge in it. For me, the real motivation is the competition and my results. When I go for a run in the morning, I realize that I am taking another step towards conquering an Ironman, and this is what helps me move forward.

Are triathlon equipment costs high?
Triathlon, of course, will cost more than regular running, if only because it requires a bicycle. Costs are always relative, but I can say for sure that there are people who set a goal for themselves, but they don’t care about everything else, and money doesn’t play any role here. I know many examples where people train on the simplest bicycles - they borrow from friends, buy used ones or rent them in installments - and give it their all. And there are those who do nothing, but only complain that the equipment is expensive and stands still.
I have observed this situation more than once: two cyclists are riding on the beach, one has a bicycle for 15 thousand rubles, and the other for 15 thousand dollars. But at the same time, they receive the same happiness, this can be seen from their smiles - because both put their souls into training. So it cannot be said that in triathlon there is some kind of “passing score” - the amount that is needed in order to start. But you will definitely have to spend certain resources, first of all time.

Speaking of time, how do you manage to combine training and business? Do you manage to find a balance, or does something come first?
I can't give priority to anything. In general, if you build a pyramid of needs - not according to Maslow, but my personal one - then, of course, family will come first. And then – my goals. My business, my work are exactly the same goals as sports. I try not to let them compete, so I have to combine them in one thread so that they don’t interfere with each other. Effective time management is important for this. I gave up a number of things. Any person, if he analyzes 14 hours of his active day, can easily find activities that can be abandoned in favor of training. Be it the Internet, tea parties, TV, cinema.
Now I wake up earlier and for this I go to bed earlier. I manage to do one workout before the start of the working day and the second after. The attitude towards vacation has also changed: now I spend this time with my family and combine it with the training cycle, doing 2-3 workouts a day.
As for competitions, I try to choose weekend cycles so that I can leave on Friday and return on Sunday. This all encourages us to effectively combine different types of activities, and over time we manage to do this better and better. And this skill is useful not only in sports, but also in life in general.

How did you get the idea to make videos about your training?
When I began to be interested in this sport, I began to look for videos on the Internet. After all, you can find video instructions on any topic - for a computer, a vibrating massager, how to make banana puree. But I didn’t see anything that would help me see the process of preparing for a triathlon competition from the inside. There were only short videos - reports from professionals from the world championships who have been training for 30 years. And then the idea came to me that since I didn’t find anything, I should fill this gap myself.

There was another reason, no longer sports. I realized that my goal of finishing an Ironman in a year was no different from any other ambitious goal. I am 36 years old, and given my marital status, social status and relatively little sports experience, this was a very high bar. When I discussed this with friends, 9 out of 10 said that this was something unreal. And for me it was an even greater challenge, I realized that my decision contained something more - not only sport, but also a general desire for a goal. And so I thought it would be great to make not just a report or instructions, but to show movement, progress: how to get from point A to point B, how you change along this path in terms of goal achievement. Now we have already released the fifth episode, people are watching, writing, asking questions - it means that everything is not being done in vain. The plan is to make a finished product that would motivate people to take actions without regard to the opinions of others.

What is the main discovery you have made since the beginning of the Goal project?
I once again confirmed for myself that there are no unattainable goals. At all. Any goal you set for yourself can be achieved if you start right here and now. It doesn’t matter your status, age, country in which you live - I tested this formula on myself.
I am convinced that all the goals that you do not achieve have either become indifferent to you, or uninteresting, or you were put under pressure by some minor factors that convinced you to retreat: an expensive bicycle, or you live too far from Moscow, or bad weather - I'll wait another year, maybe it will change.
I didn’t look for such excuses - and after seven months I see the result. First of all, in changing my physical form. Before, I never thought that I would be able to swim, drive and run so much. And I believe that the more people act according to this formula, the more positive the world around will be.

How does your family feel about your sports hobbies?
Very good, and I can say that this is the main factor in my success. For a man, family is like a charger; it gives an additional incentive to move forward. And if there is no such support and you have to do something despite your family, then you will have nowhere to get the necessary energy. For me, the feeling of unity and cohesion is very important - when your goal becomes common, when children are rooting for dad, when your spouse provides support. Without this there would be no results.

What will be your next goal once you reach your current one – Ironman Spain?
Firstly, it's worth noting that I currently have many other goals in my life besides Ironman. But if we talk specifically about triathlon, then, of course, I won’t put an end to it after the competition in Spain. I’m already planning the training cycle for next year, choosing new starts. But so far these goals have not been specified, and it is important to move towards one thing - but very specific and precise. Know the date, the length of the distance, plan the travel time - then you definitely won’t get lost on the way to your goal.

So triathlon is not only about sports?
Yes, this is a sport in which you can discover your true self. It's a challenge, it's not easy, and it will definitely help you get to know yourself better.
When you're in your comfort zone, when everything is warm, soft, fluffy and you're going with the flow, you have no chance of finding out what you're all about. And most modern people live this way. But when a challenge like Ironman appears in life, you have to figure out what difficulties you are ready for and what you are not, what you are capable of and what is too difficult for you. At a distance, you must be honest with you - only then can you reach the end. Triathlon reveals the real you, you begin to feel yourself - with a capital letter. And this is the main pleasure.

That is, the psychological overcoming in triathlon is stronger than the physical one?
When you walk a distance that lasts 6, 10 or 15 hours, physics fades into the background. The main factor is you yourself, your inner “I”. Muscles alone, even trained ones, will not carry you to the finish line. After a few hours of racing, fatigue starts knocking on everyone’s door: “Why do you need this? Let’s get down, let’s go have some tea and coffee, and sleep.”
Even during training, when you wake up at 6 o’clock in the morning, the thought “let’s not do it today” always appears in your head. But in life everything is absolutely the same. The same things happen in business, in a career - you can feel sorry for yourself, quit the race midway. The essence is the same, everywhere you need to be able to manage yourself. Therefore, I 100% recommend triathlon to those people who are ready to work on themselves and want to achieve success not only in sports, but also in life.

What would you recommend to those who have set goals for themselves?
You need to love the goal and have a clear idea of ​​how to achieve it. Step by step. You need to start this path right now, and constantly analyze - are you doing everything to achieve it? Are you moving in the right direction?
If you have set a goal for yourself, but continue to do completely unrelated things, perhaps this is not your goal. When you really want to achieve something specific, everything will line up by itself, I believe that this is the law of the Universe.

Do you have a motto that helps you move forward?
Take it and do it! Right here and now.