I’m so excited about racing in Frankfurt again! Why?

• Because I love that race
• Is the most competitive ironman race after Hawaii
• It’s going to be my 20^th ironman, the 4^th time in Frankfurt
• And I will try to get the Kona slot. If I qualify for Kona; it would be the 10^th time I in my career

The start

Esperando la partida

Frankfurt at night

Finish at midnight

I remember being in a cyber café in Australia with my friends Chiara and Nico. We wanted to sign up for Frankfurt. We were online ready to sign up but we had problems and we could not enter in the race. The race was full booked in a couple of minutes. I was so disappointed but I never stopped believing. I knew I will race in Frankfurt.

When I have something in my mind I try the impossible to do it and I never give up!

Last Friday, there were a couple of slots online and I could sign up and now I’m in!!!!!!!

Last time I raced in Frankfurt was in 2008. A couple of my best friends from all over the world came to support me: Melania from Costa Rica, Fede from Italy, Rohan from South Africa, Kris from Hungary, Patric from Switzerland who raced too, Marce and my brother from Argentina. We were 8 in the room and we had 3 beds but we figured it out and we slept well. My friends make my life beautiful and I enjoy racing much more when they are with me.

Marcelo, Fede, Kris, Rohan and Melania

Marce, yo y Patric

I participated 3 times at the ironman Frankfurt and I always had amazing races. In 2008 I finished in 9°11’ and I got my Kona slot. This year I will try really hard to do better. I already started training; I just need to buy a good bike and I’m ready for it.

Swim Start

Transition

Bike course

Finish line

Disfrutando

Llegando

I’m motivated for this year more than ever before. I want to go back to Kona but not only for the ironman. I miss my Hawaiian family, my friends, and a special friend….. I feel at home in Kona and I’m sure I will be there soon.

Now is time to work hard, train smart and go through every step to be ready on July 4^th

Hasta la próxima!

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

Hace casi cuatro semanas participé del ironman de Hawaii y tuve una carrera muy difícil donde tuve que sacar fuerzas de muy dentro mío para poder terminar. Esa carrera me dejó un sentimiento de insatisfacción y unas ganas impresionantes de correr nuevamente, de tener mi revancha antes de volver al crudo invierno suizo donde no pedaleo por 6 meses.

La única posibilidad era de correr en Panama City! Pero los obstáculos eran muchos. De cualquier forma siempre me gustaron los caminos difíciles así que decidí intentarlo.

Antes de viajar

Los pasos a seguir:

Conseguir el dinero

Conseguir una plaza (la carrera está cerrada desde hace un año)

Conseguir una bici

Viajar con amigos era un “must” ya que para mi compartir con los amigos es tan importante como correr!

No voy a entrar en detalles de cómo conseguí cada una de las cosas porque fue complicadísimo y se haría muy largo explicarlo pero acá estoy a punto de largar!

No quería comentar ni escribir nada de que iba a participar porque es una locura. Lo más cuerdo hubiese sido volver a Suiza, instalarme nuevamente, empezar a trabajar, comprar una bici y el año que viene correr nuevamente. Sin embargo, siempre tomé decisiones distintas persiguiendo mis sueños, por más arriesgados que sean.

Ironman and me!!

Hoy me encuentro en Panama City, Florida a punto de largar mi ironman número 19, gracias al apoyo de muchos amigos y mucho coraje. Es una carrera muy larga y muchas cosas pueden pasar, daré lo mejor y espero tener mi revancha.

En el departamento

El año pasado en Hawaii tuve la oportunidad de conocer dos excelentes personas de Colombia, Liliana y Edwin, que viven en Miami desde hace 2 años. Les pregunté que pensaban de mi idea de correr en Florida y sin dudarlo me dijeron: “VENITE” de Miami nos vamos juntos con todo el equipo y podes usar una de nuestras bicis.

Anoche salimos de Miami rumbo a Panama City, después de casi 10 horas llegamos. El viaje fue muy divertido con personajes de todas nacionalidades: Edwin, Liliana, Diego y Pilar de Colombia; Francesco de Italia, Mario de Nicaragua, Darwin de Ecuador, Carlos de Estados Unidos y yo de Argentina.

El dream team:-)

El equipo!!

Hoy ya retiramos el número y empezamos a preparar todo para la carrera. También fue el día de probar por primera vez la bici de Lili, la Cervelo P2 con la que voy a correr. Mañana trataré de pedalear 20 km más para tratar de acomodarme lo mejor posible.

Esta semana previa a pesar de todas las horas de viaje y todos los nervios de la carrera la estamos pasando bien. Es un grupo increíble donde es imposible no reírse! Está lleno de personajes!

La bici que usaré el sábado

Sunset in Florida

Saludos desde Panama City, gracias por el apoyo!

Next story is going to be in english!

Tomorrow I will be at the start at the ironman Florida!!!!!!!!! Yesssssssssssss

Todos los dias no son domingo… What makes Ironman a special race? Lots of things, for me it is the love of a challenge. You never know what is going to happen…I was ready for that race. I have been training hard was mentally more prepared than ever before. It was my 18th Ironman and definitely the hardest for my body and mind. I had a good swim, a good bike, but struggled to the finish line on the run. I could not drink or eat anything after 2 hours on the bike. Every time that I tried to drink or eat I threw up. I knew it was a question of time before I would start running out of energy.

A good friend of mine told me once “If you do an Ironman you have to run, if you cannot run, you walk, if you cannot walk, you can rest but you must always finish”.
I did run, I did walk, and when even walking was hard, I slept. In the end I finished and for that I am very proud. Certainly, my goal was to be closer to 9 hours than 12 hours, but I learned a lot and believe life always gives us another chance, I am ready for that chance.

I faced the worst but I found my inner strength to cross that finish line AND I AM AN IRONMAN!

Looking forward for next ironman!!