Life is beautiful but sometimes it hits you hard, so hard that you can hardly keep going. I was walking through a tunnel so dark that it was impossible to see any light on it. I was hitting a wall every time I tried to move on. People say: “Time heals all wound” and sometimes you need time to go fast.
I spent too much time the last two months finding explanations and living on the past… Now, it is enough and I set up new challenges in my life to live the present and think on the future.
People also say: “Things Happen for a reason”. I always have a hard time believing that but lets believe it ones.
I think there is nothing to be sad of if something does not work as you wanted if you give everything you have for it. Now, I’m ready to move on; I gave it all and it just didn’t work.
I dreamed of doing an amazing and never ending trip with the person I loved but things didn’t work.. It is hard to let it go but I had to and now I set up new challenges and crazy adventures for the coming future. I’m so excited for, it needs lots of preparation and courage but I will go for it. Is simple… just NEVER GIVE UP!!
I just love this song, reminds me about my favorite place on earth: HAWAII!! Check it out
I wrote this post almost 3 months ago but I could not post it because of a computer virus. Anyway here it comes…
It’s amazing how great people make a wonderful place, a paradise.
I have such good memories from one of my favorite place on earth: Kailua-kona, Hawaii. I first came to Kona back in 2002, it was the third time I qualified but it was the first year I took the slot. Crossing the finish line in 2002 was all emotions, it was a dream of mine for so many years and all those sacrifices I did came across my mind and made me the happiest man in the world. It made me realize that if we really want something and work hard for it, anything is possible.
I came back a year later and my expectations were high but I did not have the race I dreamed off. In 2004 and 2005 even thought I qualified I did not took the slot because I had other priorities in my life.
In 2006 everything changed. Before 2006 Kona was beautiful, Kona was ironman, Kona was hot, humid. But from 2006 Kona became as home for me because I met the incredible Power family, thanks to an amazing friend from Switzerland: Susanne. She found me my Hawaiian home and Hawaiian family.
Some people would say I was lucky, some people would say I was in the right place at the right moment… I don’t know what it was but I certainly don’t believe in luck or bad luck. My life was plenty of obstacles since I was young but those obstacles made me find a way in which I met fantastic people. Sometimes big things are hidden behind high mountains. We just need to keep going, go for it and never, never give up.
I don not have words to explain how happy I’m to have had the chance to meet Tanya, Lowrey, Nia, Jessi, and lately Koa. The Power’s made me feel as their family since I first met them in 2006. Every year since Kona feels like home to me thanks to them. I spent a couple of weeks every year and I visited almost every spot from the beautiful beaches in Kona to the Volcano National Park.
Kona is much more than the Ironman World Championship; it is a paradise that I share with a great family, good friends, fantastic neighbors and one of the best weathers in the world.
En las buenas y en las malas
En las buenas y en las malas
Tanya and Lowrey
I will do my best to qualify again and be back in 2012 and every year after.
What a fantastic race, I loved it. The swim, bike and run course are challenging, scenic, hard, beautiful, hot, windy, sandy, is just everything you need for a great race.
Una imagen vale más que mil palabras...
Minutos antes de la largada
Nadando en Maui
Listo para el moutain bike
Sucio pero muy contento
En la transición
A fondo
El último tramo
Great shoes and equipment, thanks to Scott
Muy contento con el resultado!
I grew up doing off-road triathlon and mountain biking and I’m happy when I’m in the nature doing what I love. Unfortunately, when I moved to Switzerland I didn’t ride a mountain bike any more but any time I have a chance I go for a ride.
2003 was my first time at the Xterra World Championship; came back 7 years later in 2010 and last week was my 3er participation.
I have so many great memories during the race that I don’t know where to start. I will just say that I will be back next year for sure. I love the Xterra in Maui: the people, the spirit. the place, everything.
A big mahalo to Carina and Guillermo our home stay family in Maui, they were amazing and they take care of us as if we were part of their family. GRACIAS.
Thank you to Scott for letting me use such great shoes and equipment!
Me gustaria compartir mi experiencia en el ironman de Utah con ustedes. En el siguiente link pueden ver mi relato en español en mi columna en www.atletas.info:
I like this motto and I live my life that way. Simple try to be the best you can be.
Why finish a race second if you can win it?
Why finish an ironman in 14 hours if you can go under 14 hours?
Why speak 2 languages if you can speak 3, 4….6?
Why stop learning when this world has plenty of things to teach us?
My last weekend in Switzerland before leaving to Kona was just amazing and one of these reasons was because I shared it with great friends. Life is beautiful when we can share it with people we love.
Everybody has his own goals and he or she could try hard or not to achieve them. A couple of months ago I was dreaming (planning) to pass the exams at the university, qualify to Kona and of course work to pay my trip to kona. Three months later I realized I achieved everything I wanted too
However, when I heard that there was an Xterra in Switzerland I could not stop thinking about doing both Kona and Maui as I did in 2003 and Maui became a goal.
The race was on Saturday in Nyon, a city 100 km form Fribourg where I live. On Friday I went with my friend Marcelo to pick up the mountain bike at Swen’s apartment in Murten, and then we went to Faoug to pick up the mountain bike shoes at my Oncle’s house.
Everything was ready for the race. Unfortunately I had to work on Friday night. I went to work at 22:30 came back at 8:00, slept for 1 hour and woke up for breakfast. Marcelo bought everything for the barbecue on Sunday and prepared the breakfast:-)
In Nyon my brother, Emi, Caro and Ale joined me for the race. What a great support team (Could not be better)
I would lie if I say it was easy… I would lie if I say I did not suffer…. I would lie if I say it was not spectacular… I would lie if I say I did not enjoy…..
A fondo pero sufriendo
At the finish line
I gave my best, everything I had that day; I had nothing left when I crossed the finish line. I was so happy because I won my age group, I qualified for Maui, but even more because I shared this adventure with people I love. Thank you Emi, Caro, Marce, Ale and Martin for the support and for being there. It wouldn’t have been the same without all you.
Saturday night I could not make a proper sentence. I was so, so tired and my friends made fun of me. The Empanadas were just incredible Caro(eating was not a problem). One hour of sleep and an Xterra race simple killed me.
Sunday was again an incredible day. Seba’s family invited us for a delicious barbecue. We had fun eating, drinking mates and fernet and sharing good moments with great friends!
Asado con amigos
Espectacular
My brother installed two cameras on my mountain bike and made a great video of the Xterra. I Hope you enjoy it
A little more than 15 years ago, I participated in my first triathlon. I used to play soccer in a club and used to go everywhere with my mountain bike. I was at high school and it was there when I first heard about this sport called triathlon.
The school would organize a triathlon off road: 200 meters swim, 18 km mountain bike and 7 km run. Even if it was only 200 meters, it was so hard because the water was really cold. However, ones I was on the mountain bike I felt great and pushed hard to finish the bike on the second place. The run was up hill for 3,5 km and then down to the finish line. That was my first triathlon and I won the race. I loved this sport from the beginning and since that day I never stopped racing all over the world. I have already participated in lots of races and I still have the same passion as I had in my first triathlon 15 years ago.
Maui in 2003
The bike I rented in Maui in 2003
On the way to Maui
Next Saturday I will be participating at the first triathlon Xterra in Switzerland and try hard to qualify for the Xterra World Championship in Maui, Hawaii. I haven been doing any mountain bike training since 2003. However, I love mountain biking and every time I have the opportunity to ride one, it feels like running in the mountains. I like better to ride a mountain bike than a triathlon or road bike.
I will be riding Swen’s mountain bike. I’m so grateful I can ride his bike. Thank you so much Swen!
A couple of friends will be on the race to support me and to have some fun too. My brother will install two cameras on the mountain bike to see what it looks the race from inside.
Lakes, mountains, rivers, trees; I love it!! Time to discover a new place doing something I love.
I’m like a 10 year old child with a new toy. I’m so excited about this new adventure in the North of Sweden. Some people would hardly understand how somebody can be so excited about running 110 km in the North of the Polar Arctic but I’m.
Aurora boreal
Que lugares...
A couple of months ago Raul contacted me and invited me for this race and I was immediately on it. I will be representing the travel agency: www.pampastravel.se
The race has 8 different starts from Wednesday to Sunday. The first day’s trekking people will start. Saturday and Sunday there will be mostly runners.
The start is at Nikkaluokta and finishes in the Abisko National Park. We are going to run through 110 km of pure nature. The mandatory objects we have to carry on during the course will make our running a little harder, but those are the rules and we must respect them.
I will try to update my blog with photos before the race.
Thank you so much Raul and www.pampastravel.se for giving me the opportunity to take part in this incredible adventure!
Which means that Pablo Ureta (3rd) and Jeremie Py (2nd) need Gilad Rotem (1st) to completely fold if they want to take today’s race. While Rolem looks to be struggling, he’s still moving quite well.
Meanwhile, behind them, Tammo Konig (4th) is close to Pablo and is charging yet again – steadily gaining time on both the men ahead of him. Sven imhoff (5th) remains very close- he’s just under 11 minutes behind.
To watch Pablo and others at the finish line: http://bit.ly/ddz9z9
Pablo has now finished the 21 km run. The lead is now down to less than eight minutes.
Pablo Ureta is now running just under 8 minutes behind race leader Gilad Rotem, who needs to hang on for about 21 more kilometers if he’s going to win the title here today. Very close to Pablo, at only 40 seconds is the French Gael Mainard.
1- Gilad Rotem 7:20:35 – 4:24/km
2- Mainard Gael 7:28:08 – 4:50/km 3- Pablo 7:28:49 – 4:50/km
4- Tammo Konig 7:29:17 – 4:22/km
5- Sven Imhoff 7:30:57 – 4:24/km
6- Ulrik Nielsen 7:31:04- 4:52/km
7- Marcus Buchler 7:32:05 – 4:37/km
Pablo Ureta who continues to sit in great shape is very getting close to the actual leader Gilad Rotem. Pablo is now in 5th position. He is now trying to get close to Nielsen Ulrik from Great Britain that is now only seconds away.
This is the time from the top five on the Ironman Race after the 1se split on the run:
