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!

I have been in Florida almost four weeks. I spent time in Miami with Lily and Edwin and some time with Bree at her family’s house.  I had a great time. Training has been going really well, even though it was only a little as I am still recovering from Ironman Panama City.

Pools in Florida

Bree and me before swim practice

I’m impressed with the swimming facilities here in Florida, amazing.  Huge pools with nobody swimming. For example, our last swim was at a 19 lane pool with 2 people. I would love to have a pool like that in Switzerland or Argentina. Florida also has rivers that push you to go faster if you do not want to be eating by a crocodile.  However, the bike ride is much better in Cordoba or Fribourg for somebody that loves hills. The only way to go up and down here are the bridges, speed bumps, and the steps at the buildings

You better swim fast

Gators

Que mirada

Maybe the hardest and funniest workout this week was the interval and speed training. We did a steep up hill and a crazy down hill at almost 120 km/h. It was in a roller coaster at Bush Gardens.

Montañas rusas, espectacular

It continues to amaze me how many great people you can find in the world. In every little town, in every country, in every culture you find special people.  In this Florida adventure I want to extend a big thank you to Edwin, Lily, and Bree and her family, and my ironman Florida team: www.eltrainer.us .

Now is time to pack, get ready and take the plane to Mexico!

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.