I already booked my flight for Cozumel, Mexico! I’m so excited; it’s going to be my first time in Mexico!!! Another country, another culture and the opportunity to meet people and discover new places!

Cozumel is an island in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The 29^th of November Cozumel will host for the first time an ironman.

Cozumel

cozumelparks.com

La playa en Cozumel

photos.igoupo.com

I should be back in Switzerland now but decided to stay a couple more weeks in Florida and flight to Cozumel for the race. Should I race or just be a volunteer and support my friends ? There is only one answer: time will decide…. Never say never!!  you never know what is going to happen…

Miami

Miami ride

Lily y Edwin

Tennis

After my race in Panama City I returned to Miami with the dream team. What a great group, friends from everywhere but with the same passion “triathlon”. Miami was great. It was supposed to be an easy week without any training but I love racing and I found myself racing the 10km in Key Biscayne.

Start

Finish

Edwin and Lily told me about the Lighthouse run race and I had to go….

It was a 10km in Key Biscayne, Miami. The race was well organised in a beautiful course. My legs were still sort from ironman one week before but it was fun. I finished 3er overall and won my age group.

Awards

El equipo: www.eltrainer.us

My friends showed me the city, we went kayaking… I had a great time in Miami! Muchas gracias Lily y Edwin. See you soon!

Kayaking in Miami

Love kayaking

Now I am in Sarasota thinking about my next race….

Life is either a GREAT adventure or nothing!

There were 1 million reasons why I should not race in Florida but those 8 words were enough to convince me to race.

Swim start

Before start telling my race story, I would like to say “THANK YOU VERY MUCH” to my brother Martin who updated my blog and support me at every race, Bree Wee and Travis who were all day with me during the race, Lili and Edwin for all your help and all my friends for the support and the messages!

The race… Every ironman I do I’m impress about the challenge that represents! I can be really competitive trying to break a time or struggling to the finish line. One minute you feel great thinking of winning and one minute later you try not to walk, and even thought sometimes walking can be really hard.

Travis a great person and friend

I came to Florida to redeem myself after Hawaii and to try to qualify for Kona 2010. I love Kona, is not just the race, I love the place, my friends, the sunsets, everything is great over there.

The plan was simple and very risky: swim fast, bike faster and try to run under 3 hours. I had a bad swim but I jumped in the bike and I rode as fast as I could!

Having a good bike makes a HUGE difference. I felt great on the bike; my time was 4°48’ and a PB (personal best).

La bici! Gracias Lili

During the bike, I felt strong

The run course was a 2 loop. I wanted to run faster the second loop, so I decided to go easy on the first one. I run a 1°32 for the first 21,1km and I had nutrition problems again during the second half; threw up a couple of times and had to walk for 4 km.

I saw Travis when I was feeling really bad and he said: “Go Pablo only 10km to go” I try to eat, I had a power-gel and start running again to the finish line!

Pablo and the yellow socks:-))

I crossed the finish line in 9°24’29’’. My goal was to break 9 hours and get the Kona slot. I’m happy because I did my best, pushed as hard as I could but unfortunately I did not qualify!

Last year, I had the best ironman ever; a 9°11’ in Frankfurt, a 9°26’ in kona and a 9°2’ in Panama City. This year was a challenge in every ironman I participated but I learnt more than before and I’m sure I will be stronger next year!

Another amazing sunset

My friends did great! Felicitaciones chicos!! Carlos, Francesco, y Darwin por haber terminado el primer ironman, Edwin y Diego por haber terminado una vez mas y las mujeres por todo el apoyo! Fue un viaje increible gracias a ustedes!

Amigos increibles! Gracias

The road to Kona will be longer but I will be back for sure!!

Thanks for your support

Pablo Ureta from Argentina is one more time an Ironman finisher in a time of 9:24:29. His splits were a 1:00:54 swim, 4:48:47 bike and 3:29:19 run. He finished 12th on his division position.

Pablo at the finish line

Pablo is on the run!

Updates:

“Pablo, mile 3 of the marathon… about to move into 5th male age 30-34yr olds… looking good, strong, focused! GO PABLO!!!!!!” Bree

First run segment: 6 mi. (40:42) 6:47/mile

“Pablo has moved to position 26th in the first run segment (9.6 km) and 5th on his age group.” Martin

Second run segment: 7.4 mi. (54:06) 7:18/mile

“Pablo just finished the 2nd Run segment, continues with a good pace, and is 6th on his age group” Martin

The current weather is slightly overcast with the temperature hoovering at 24.5°C. There are some light winds around 11 km/h. Great conditions for the runners this afternoon.

Third run segment: 5.6 mi. (47:52) 8:32/mile

“Pablo finished the 3rd run segment. He is 7th on his age group. Last 11 km to go! Go Go Go!” Martin

Update:
“Just hung up the phone with Travis… Pablo started walking, Travis rode bike next to him, told him to KEEP GOING! Pablo started to run again… he is about to start mile 24. He is fustrated about not breaking 9hours… He is still champion to all of us! 2 miles to go! We ♥ Pablo!!” Bree
TOTAL RUN: 3:29:19

“Okay…. Pablo is on the run with a smile, Mile 1, he got tired on the bike (mile 90 is the foto), but drank some Coke and is okay now….”

TOTAL BIKE      180km (4:48:47)         37.44 km/h

Position: 33
Division Position: 6

Bike: 180 km

Looks like Pablo is doing good on the bike.We have some information from Florida. Triathlete and friend Bree Wee just send us this update:

“My manager & Coach is in the car calling me with splits, he is moving up on the bike, mile 40 now…”

Thank you Bree for the info. I’ll contine posting here.

—

Last Updates from Bree:

“Pablo at 80k, with a big smile…passed most the pro women already…”

—

“minutes behind the lead pro woman, he has on yellow socks! He looks strong…waving to my manager..having fun…”

Almost halfway through the bike... all smiles, ugly socks

“Pablo mile 60 of the bike now, laughing! Drinking Coke…Martin, I’m going for a bike ride now, I will update you more when I get home.” Bree

Pablo Ureta is out of the water and is making his way up the beach to the transition area.

FIRST SWIM HALF 1.9 km (28:43)
SECOND SWIM HALF 1.9 km (32:11)
TOTAL SWIM 3.8 km (1:00:54)

Rank: 118
Division Position: 20

Race has started

The swim portion of Ironman Florida begins on the beach behind the Boardwalk Beach Resort, in the Gulf of Mexico. The course is a 2.4-mile (3.8km) two-loop swim. The first loop is rectangular in nature, with athletes actually exiting the water, and doing a turnaround on the beach. Upon re-entrance, athletes take a diagonal (see swim map) angle before reconnecting with the original portion of the swim course, continuing along the second loop until exiting the water at the completion of the swim. After exiting the water, athletes will run up the beach, running up the entrance steps to the Boardwalk, before continuing on to the transition area.

Welcome to the 11th edition of Ford Ironman Florida in Panama City Beach. Over 2200 athletes will enter the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in a few minutes with 1239 making their first attempt at an Ironman. Participants representing 44 countries will also be running for 72 coveted spots for the 2010 Ford Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

The professional race will start at 6:50 am central time (13:50  Europe). Age groupers will hear their cannon go off at 7:00 am. (14:00 Europe)

The race day weather forecast is calling for temperatures in the low to mid 21’s with winds from east at 16-22 km/h.

Pablo is ready to start his 19th Ironman. I’ll post from time to time his results,  but you can also go to Ironman.com and check the Live Athlete tracker. His number is 310. Age group 30 to 34.

Bye, and good luck Pablo!

Martin

Ironman Florida

Mahalo to everybody that made my Hawaiian ironman trip possible again

How many times people asked me: How do you do to travel all over the world? And my answer is simple “I have the best friends a person could ever have”

Last year when I finished my university degree, a dream came true: “a round world trip”

The idea was simple: discover as many places as I can, enjoy new cultures, race everywhere I can, and learn from everybody! It’s difficult to describe how great my trip was, and how many great people I met.  Certainly was a trip I will never forget.

I will share with you some of my trips later, but now I would like to write about friends that helped to be back in Kona this year!

After my round world trip I could not afford to go back to Hawaii for the ironman. However, a couple of friends made my Hawaiian trip possible again. I had already qualify, I got my slot in Panama City in November 1st 2008.

If once any of my friends (girls) would like to meet a great man! I know one: Marcelo Ribotta. I met him back in 1997 in Córdoba. He used to live in Cosquín, Argentina, close to my house. We had the same coach and the same passion: Triathlon. He is one of my best friends; he is an amazing friend.

I called him a couple of months ago and asked him if I could borrow some money to go back to Hawaii. And he not only said yes, he was so happy that he could help me. Marcelo next year you come to Kona with me!!!

Susanne, the “Swiss miss”, another great person. I met her in 2004 and since them we became great friends. She lives in Luzern, Switzerland and she is a triathlete as well. In 2006 she found me a place to stay in Kona with the Power’s, what a great family! Susanne will be back in Kona next year?!!

After a 2 hour run

Bree and me

Bree Wee, it is possible to be so nice to everybody? After meeting her, I say yes! What a great person with a heart that beyond everything you can ever imagine. She helped me so much in Kona. She is one of those kind of person that are always taking care of everybody. I borrowed her road bike during my time in Kona, she showed me the island, she took care of me, she was my training partner, she introduced me great people, she was my friend…; she made me a better person! Ahhh, and I forgot, a big mahalo Bree because you’re the only person in the world to have the courage to taste my crunchy rice

The best bike ever: Argon 18

Marc-Andre and Argon 18. Bree introduced me Marc and asked him if I could use one of their bikes for the race. They let me use one of the 2010 E114 Argon 18 bikes. Thank you so much Marc-Andre, the bike was just incredible!

Volcano trip with my family

My Hawaiian family, I don’t  have words to describe such great people: Tanya, Lowrey, Jessi, Nia and Misha are my family. I met them in Kona in 2006 and now they are part of my life. After meeting them, I started loving Kona because I was not a tourist any more. I became part of the Kona crew. I met great people; I got to know the island, the cultures and everything there. I stay with them every year I go to Kona, I love you all.

Lavaman race director

Gerry; the Lavaman Race director. She is a life dictionary, she knows everything and everybody. Thank you so much Gerry for giving me the opportunity to do an internship for Lavaman.

Volcano trip

Lauralynn, Steven and Evan, my Hawaiians neighbours. I love them, they were always there to listen to me, to share a good dinner, drink some wine; visit the island. I will miss you!

I love them

Descansando despues del ironman

Kona has such amazing people, mahalo all of you! Living there was like living a dream!

I would like to thanks all my friends, my families, my training partners and all my supporting crew.

See you next year!!