Welcome 2011 !

      Happy New Year!

      I was raised with the belief that everything you do on the last day of the year will be repeated throughout the next year. And as an endurance athlete, I live by the motto that happiness requires sacrifice.

      I wish I could run a race today, but with the bad shape I am right now I probably would bring a very frustrating 2011. Right after ten days in Brazil, eating delicious home-cooked meals and killing my homesickness, my current weight is about 5 pounds higher, and my muscles are stiff of many hours of airplane trips. But my spirit is the same, and over the last week I have spent hours on planning the next season, and pondering the near-misses of 2010.

      I cannot complain; I was able to finish my first Ironman distance triathlon (Full Vineman), and did not have any major injuries. I have discovered Yoga, low-carb diet and Total Immersion, successfully started a new and promising job, and I live in a beautiful place, with blessed weather. Oh, and I was able to register to Ironman Arizona this time!

      Still savoring the bitter taste of my first DNF, I am carefully planning the new season, now taking into account the new job. Of course, the goals are to improve my personal records, and for that probably I will not be able to race as often.

       Right now I am cleaning my desk, catching up on the Yoga routines, and tuning up my bike. Just bought my first formula at Infinit, and renewed my contract with Sugoi Brand Champions. Finally had time to post in my blog and check my racing plans. Yeah, 2011 will be an awesome year...

Long Time No See...

I have been very busy at work, so many things happened, so few hours in the day...

Let me start reporting that I had a real Catholic Lent: for about six weeks I worked hard, almost completely keeping myself away from serious training, eating badly, and sleeping 4 to 6 hours a night. And as a real resurrection, I had my birthday on Easter, finally (but late) resuming my training for Wildflower Long Course.

Not that I had some fun and endurance challenges during the last months... On March 1st 2009 I took part in the Gran Fondo, a challenging ride at San Diego, my first Century. Let's say a century hurts more than any marathon. And it was a good lesson: I did not take enough fluids for a Tmax of 75F, and started cramping at mile 35, and had to walk my bike for many points of elevation. But I really wanted to finish, and did it, in 10 hours and 15 minutes, right when the finish line was being disassembled. Result: I earned unforgettable memories and experience, and up to today I did not receive my medal (promised to be sent by mail) and my jersey (also promised to be sent by mail by the organizers).

All that effort brought unexpected results: on 03/21/09 I ran the Stand for Hope 5K race around the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (see the first picture) and got a new PR, 21:10. On the very next day I ran the Pasadena Marathon and also got a new PR, 4:13:32. Better than that, I was able to run the first half few seconds less than 2hours, in a hilly course, in a happy preparation for Wildflower.

Aware of my urgent need to increase my hours on the bike, on 03/28/09 I took part in the Spring Metric Century organized by the Orange County Wheelmen, on the Santiago Canyon, happily finishing 66 miles in 4:18, less hurt, without cramps or dehydration.

Still in the same spirit, I went for a ride with experienced LaTri athletes on the Santa Monica Mountains, and of course got left behind in a 50+ hilly course, but got home sure that I was able to tackle a harder course than the real Wildflower Long Course.

Joining LA Tri Club and USAT meant the beginning of my mature age as a triathlete (not to mention all the perks and discounts). Last weekend I had another beautiful bike ride on Palos Verdes, at a very mellow pace, followed by a short run at the beach and a barbecue.

Of course, with maturity comes accountability and hard reality; I could be "more ready" for Wildflower. An unrealistic goal of 6hours and 30minutes came down to a threatening attempt to at least beat 7 hours and 30minutes. But I am really having fun, achieving new PRs and exciting experiences. Considering Wildflower will be my first 70.3 distance, I am going to enjoy the most.

And still have time to prepare my redemption at Vineman 70.3.

Experience is not what happens to a man.

It is what a man does with what happens to him.

Aldous Leonard Huxley

Honored to be part of SUGOI Brand Champions Team

It is an honor to have been selected as SUGOI Brand Champion; I have to say, one of the reasons I became interested in Triathlon was because of the looks of the SUGOI apparel.

You can follow my blog posts at Sugoi website at http://brandchampions.sugoi.com/.

The word SUGOI is a Japanese term for “Incredible”.

With my new apparel I will certainly be faster and look prettier in the pictures.