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!

Hasta la próxima

And the lead is down to 10 minutes.

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

The topfive through 31 km:

1- Gilad Rotem (312) 8:07:11 – 4:26/km
2- Jeremie  Py (2287)  8:15:14 – 4:34/km
3- Pablo (361) 8:17:32 – 4:38/km
4- Tammo Konig 8:18:54 – 4:43/km
5- Sven Imhoff (207) 8:18:58 – 4:34/km

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:

1- Rotem, Gilad 06:34:18

2-Gael Mainard 6:37:17

3- Jörg Scheiderbauer 6:38:03

4- Ulrik Nielsen 6:39:50

5- Ureta-Zaugg, Pablo 6:40:57

–
Keep on track,

Martin

Pablo averaged 36.46km/ hour for 185km of the ride today. The total time bike is 4 hours 56 minutes!

What’s going to happen on the run?

Things are looking good for Pablo Ureta at this point. He looks good but the race is not over. He has only 10 real training days before the race and anyone knowing what it’s an IRONMAN will say it’s crazy and not enough.

Pablo told us before the race what he needs to finish the race: Motivation

I still remember 16 years ago when he was only fifteen years old and he said to a local television that he will do an Ironman one day. They thought he was crazy at that time, but now, with 19 Ironman at his back he is ready for the number 20!

Pablo Ureta is well into the run course as the rest of the men start the run. The current leader is Gael Mainard from France. Behind him chasing the leader is Pablo and the rest group of men.

Here are the top five bike time for the men age group 30-34:

1- Mainard, Gael: 04:52:42

2- Nielsen, Ulrik 04:53:17

3- Rotem, Gilad 04:53:47

4- Scherer, Matthias 04:57:42

5- Ureta-Zaugg, Pablo 04:56:12

We’re seeing some of the images from out on the bike course, and looking at Pablo’s position on the bike. He looks very comfortable as he powers away in an aerodynamic tuck.

He’s now through 140 km of the ride.

This year the Frankfurter Ironman European Championship bike course is 185km, that is 5 km more than usual.

Pablo Ureta was 12th out of the water in his category. He’s racing as 30-34 category. Final swim time is 55 minutes 36 seconds!

Nine-time Ironman Hawaii qualifier Pablo Ureta is in 12th position, 8 minutes behind the leader.

My new machine!!

Mi bici para esta temporada

I’m so excited about riding a new bike. The first and the only time in my life I bought a new bike was 13 years ago. I remember as it was yesterday, it was in September 1997. It was my first road or triathlon bike I ever had: a white Cannondale. From 1994 to 1997 I participated in triathlon with a mountain bike. I remember seeing triathletes with the super light triathlon bikes and I was always riding my mountain bike. Even if it was harder and slower I was so happy to get the chance to do triathlons.

The first time I rode with my new white Cannondale I could not believe how fast it was compared with the road bike.

Anyway, 13 years after my first new bike, I get to ride again a new super machine: “Scott Plasma”

Thank you so much Rodolfo for giving me the chance to ride such a great bike. I met Rodolfo in Guatemala when I participated in the Tikal half-ironman race. I had a great time over there and my friends from Guatemala were amazing.

Rodolfo has a bike shop in Guatemala : www.bicimaniaguate.com and he is one of my sponsors. I appreciate a lot your support!!! I’m training hard to ride as fast as I can.

Last year I rode with so many different bikes: Zenith, Cannondale, Roy Hinen, Scott, Merida, Argon 18, Cervelo, Bianchi. I loved the Argon 18 I used in Kona and I was thinking to buy one but I had this sponsorship opportunity with Bicimania and I got a Scott Plasma.

My 13 years old bike

Another bike I used last year: Roy Hinnen

Con esta Scott corrí 13 ironman

Thanks Bree for letting me use your great bike

What a great machine! Thanks Marc-Andre and Bree

Gracias Lily por prestarme la bici en Florida

I’m so excited to ride my new bike…

Only 3 weeks for the first ironman of the season. I just need to buy race wheels and I’m ready for it. If anybody has a good pair of racing wheels to sell, you can contact me!

Hasta la próxima

The Rotterdam Marathon is done and now is time to train for the next big race. As I always say, I like to have a big race every 2-3 months to keep training and get motivated all the year around.

9 hours!!! Yes 9 hours a week is the time I dispose to train and prepare the ironman. It took me a couple of days to prepare the training program. I had to find the time in between work and studies. It is a challenge but I love challenges. The idea (or dream) is to transfer those 9 hours of training per week in a 9 hours ironman race… Ambitious? Maybe but I like the idea! Will see….

The training program is simple:

Swim twice a week

Bike twice a week

Run ones a week

I will try to work on the quality instead of quantity.

I will do a couple of running races before the ironman but the main goal is to be ready for Frankfurt on July the 4^th!

Last time I raced in Frankfurt was in 2008. I had a great time over there. It is great to have support and I had amazing support in Frankfurt 2008.

Marcelo, Fede, Kris, Rohan and Melania

Ironman Frankfurt start

Con mi hermano

Llevando la bici a la transición

Christen and I ready to get the slot for Kona 2008

A entrenar!!!