The Road to Kona

Here are my thoughts about how the race went. Overall, I enjoyed it like hell. Was a bit scared during the swim and at the beginning of the run, but I am pretty happy with the results considering it was my first triathlon ever!

The Swim (31′ 20″)

My first competitive swim. A bit scared because of the number of people and the color of the water. As soon as I jumped in the lake I realized it was going to be tough, null visibility and a lot of people. Received a couple a kicks in my nose and I started bleeding, tried to remain calmed and do my race, but it was really difficult. I used one of my triathlete friend’s advice “Quiet your mind”. Left the lake after 31 minutes, happy considering the circumstances. Used a bit more than 4 minutes to remove the neoprene, put my bike gear on and leave the Transition 1 Area, not a bad time (but no good either).

The Bike (2 hrs. 42 ‘ 39″)

I departed with my bike through the center of Antwerp. I enjoyed the whole ride a lot and felt that I could have pushed much more, I guess I paid my inexperience. I wanted to arrive with fresh legs to the run, so always controlled the speed, heart rate and cadence. Some guys passed me like rockets…the sound of carbon wheels is amazing…

The Run (1 hr. 41′ 43″)

I made a fairly good transition (2′ 24″) and started the run. Just after leaving my bike I started to have bad cramps on my stomach, I guess my belly didn’t enjoyed the last sips of gel, tried to remain cool and focused, and decided to maintain a quiet pace for the first 10 km. After Km. 12 I started to feel great, and I pushed a bit more. Suddenly I realized that my time could be below 5 hours, I couldn’t believe it. It was too late to make it happen, but I finished supper strong, without any pain and passing dozens of runners. Final time: 5:02:19. I am thrilled!

I need to thank my wife for her unconditional support during my whole training period, also for buying me the coolest bike on earth. Thanks a lot to my friends Chema and Iciar that came the whole way from Spain to support me during the race, you guys rock!

No Hawaii Ironman World Championship waits for me, it will take place on October the 9th. I am fully immersed in the training, now things are a bit much serious!. I’ll keep you posted.

Tomorrow is the great day, more than 5 months of hard training, pains, aches, happiness.

I will do my best.

Thanks to everyone who supported me along the way.

Special thanks to my wife.

Because sometimes it’s very hard to understand why am I doing this, to my wife, for being there and letting me be.

One month ahead, almost 30 days of training till my first triathlon, Antwerp Ironman 70.3.

I spoke to lots of different people and they all told me the same thing “You are crazy”. Apparently I should have chosen a shorter competition for my triathlon baptism, they are probably right, but that’s my way of doing things.

My first race ever was a Marathon, Madrid 2007. My objective was to finish, my secondary objective was to do it below 4 hours…I accomplished both (3 hours 51 minutes). I recognize that I suffered a lot, but I also learnt invaluable lessons.

My objectives for Antwerp are: first of all, to finish the race, that will bring alone my passport to Hawaii, the secondary one, to finish below 6 hours.

I arrived to triathlon because of injuries, started swimming as part of my cross training program, then I decided to get a bike…and here I am, loving the sport, stronger, faster and in better shape than I have ever been.

I have become a decent swimmer thanks to Total Immersion, I have spent long hours on the saddle of my bike (and I

can tell you that a Triathlon Bike is not a comfortable piece of equipment to be sitting on) and I have continued running, suffering from my shin injury and without being able to recover 100%…and here I am, one month to go, looking forward to do a good job.

I want to thank my wife for her continuous support, it would have been impossible without you.

Thanks as well to my friends Chema and Itxiar, they will both come to support me on the D day.

30 days to go, I pray to stay healthy.