Super triathlete moms (chapter IV)

Today we finish our special 4 chapters dedicated to triathlon moms. This last episode we interviewed 6 triathletes competing in ELITE category.

Four of them are Spanish, Ana Casares (6ª IM LZ'4 and 10ª Roth'14), Anna Rovira (5ª IM Niza'15 and 7ª IM Barcelona'15), Ester Hernandez (3ª Embrunman'14) and Aintzane Argaiz (1ª Vitoria MD'15). In addition we will meet the Dominican Raquel Torres that disputes competitions ITU (4ª Copa Panamericana Valpariso) and the Chilean Pamela Tastets (2ª IM 70.3 Punta del Este'15). Finally, we will close this article with the Paraguayan Andrea Prono, she is the only one of all that competes in GGEE ... but she is also the only one of all the 24 supermamas we have interviewed who is the mother of 5 children.

The questions we have asked them are the same as in the previous chapters, a presentation of each of them, their beginnings in triathlon, favorite competitions, how to combine family and work life with training and competitions, ending with some tips for the women and moms who want to start practicing triathlon.

Ana Casares (Spain)

Ana Casares Polo, I have 44 years and I work as a personal trainer. I live in Gorraiz (Navarra). I have 3 children from 13, 9 and 3 years. Carlos, Paula and Adriana.

About my beginnings I did my first triathlon in 1995. It was held in the Sports Group San Juan de Pamplona and consisted of swimming 400 meters in the pool, pedaling 15 kilometers and running 3. For me it was a challenge. The feeling of crossing the finish line after that adventure enchanted me and I was hooked to continue growing as a triathlete. Until then I practiced athletics, and that year I had just finished my studies at INEF. I wanted to try a different sport and I was encouraged by the triathlon. That was when the first triathlons in Navarra began to be held. Also that day I heard someone talking about the Ironman of Hawaii. When I heard the brutal distances that had to be made, I thought that these people were crazy. That was impossible. That I had enough with my 400-15-3 ... But 9 years later I was the crazy one that I was considering doing the Ironman of Lanzarote.

In me day by day I usually do a first workout early in the morning, while everyone sleeps. Race, swimming or bike / roller depending on the time of the season and what you prepare. After that, it's time to prepare breakfast and make sure the children go to school. In the morning and depending on my work some days I go by bike other days I do a second session of strength, race or swimming. Other mornings rest of training for work or family reasons. In the afternoon I have work many days. Those who are free I take advantage to be with my children and if I can practice sports with them.

These are my most outstanding results:

The highlights can be:

• 3 times Spanish Winter Triathlon Champion
• Bronze medal Cpto de Europa in 2015
• 6º World position in 2000
• 2 times Spanish Duathlon Champion
• 7º placed in the Duathlon World in 2001
• Bronze medal Cpto Spain Triathlon long 2004
• Winner Challenge Vitoria 2013 (9h52')
• 6ª IM Lanzarote 2004
• 10º placed in Roth 2014 (9h41 ').
• Win the Zarautz triathlon in 2007.

What I am most proud of is that my children accompany me to almost all the tests. If I had to mention one that I'm proud of, I'd say I finished the Ironman on Roth at 2015. After overcoming very hard physical and mental moments and having to lower myself to a much lower performance than expected (10h22 'and 22º put). Crossing the goal of the hand of my three children made up for everything. It was for me a unique moment of immense happiness and great emotion. I also have two big Marathons in my memory: the Berlin 2007 where I got my personal best (2h36'58 "). This made me think about the Beijing Olympics. And the Madrid 2010 Marathon where I managed to be Champion of Spain.

I like the triathlon of Guadalajara for the treatment of the organization and the affection and enthusiasm that they put in the triathlete. But this is a very hard and long test (1.900-85-20) for those who start. As a triathlon for those who start I recommend doing a promotion or sprint. I have very good memories of San Sebastian and Vitoria as places where I made my first triathlons and what I would recommend.

Finally here I leave my advice for those who start in triathlon. That they do it in a very progressive way, practicing only one activity each day and looking for a balance of energies. Sport has to provide vitality, physical form and strength, but not leave the mother without energy for what awaits her at home.

Swimming, pedaling and running are natural activities that allow the development of aerobic capacity and that produce great benefits in physical and emotional well-being.

As a very basic routine to start, you can consider:

• Swimming 2 days per week 20-30 minutes
• Bike: 1-2 days per week 45-60 minutes
• Race or race march: 2 days per week 30-40 minutes

In addition, it is very important to work the pelvic floor. I recommend following a routine set by a professional from hypopressive gymnastics.

If the challenge of a triathlon arises or the woman raises more concrete objectives and wants to progress, I recommend putting yourself in the hands of a professional to design an adapted training program.

 

Anna Rovira (Spain)

My name is Anna Rovira Garrido and I have 34 years. I live in Palafolls and I develop my love for sports in the city of Calella. I currently have a girl from 4 who will be 5 at the end of the year.

My beginnings in triathlon were just after four months after having my little girl. To the 30 years. My husband used to do triathlon and he lived from the barrier until the gift for giving birth to our Emma was a road bike and a huge desire for him to share our love of sports with more people. We had always liked to spend weekends practicing btt, rowing, hiking, etc.

It is stressful but rewarding if you finally meet the work schedule, home and training planned. If you do not succeed, you feel bad but we must learn that it is our reality and what makes our three facets beautiful. The truth I start the day training. After the first-hour shower, have breakfast and prepare everything for school, accompany the little girl, go quickly to work and at noon back to train to rid in the afternoon and enjoy Emma. This in general lines. Every day is different. My work schedule was developed from Monday to Sunday, having a fixed schedule and another according to the needs of the work. This supposes stages of more meetings and assistances to acts and other moments of greater free time that I can distribute. It's about being organized every day and doing a balancing game.

About my results perhaps the most prominent is the 2014 Long Distance Duathlon Champion and the fifth place in Nice of this 2015. From this second I feel more than proud and with the aim of improving it.

My favorite triathlon is Nice. It is an Ironman with charm, history, hard, precious, unique ... I in medium distance and closer, the IM70.3 of Barcelona.

Tips for those who start ... It's about enjoying and going little by little. Since I started and they ask me about the subject I always say that I think we will be more and more, because we moms have a privileged mentality for endurance sports that makes us special for triathlon because it requires physical strength but also mental. In addition, women mothers should think that doing sports inculcates the values ​​that come with overcoming, healthy life, companionship and the experiences that you bring to your children and family. Therefore encourage them to discover and practice triathlon.

 

Ester Hernández (Spain)

Ester Hernández Casahuga, I have 37 years. I have a degree in Chemistry, and work as a commercial technician in REMOSA (wastewater treatment equipment). I have a son of 8 years and a daughter of 6. I live in Súria (Barcelona)

My first triathlon I did in 2001. My partner was preparing to do the IRONMAN of Austria and in preparation he did the Carcassone Triathlon (distance B). Taking advantage of the trip ... I did it too. I did not do my next triathlon until 2005. It was the IRONMAN of Nice. At that time I was more dedicated to mountain races. It was after the birth of my two children (2007 and 2009), a bit collapsed on the theme of the mountain race, that I decided to focus on triathlons.

My day starts at 5.30 in the morning. Breakfast and 6.30 I'm in Manresa to go swimming (I have approximately 25 'drive). At the 8.30 I am back in Súria to go to work. At the 12.30 I am going to look for my children at school. Depending on the day, from the 14h or the 15h I ride or bike. I go back to the 16h30 to find the children at school. From here extracurricular activities, shopping, housework, etc. The days are quite complete. We are lucky with my partner, since we both do sports and take care of children without depending on practically grandparents or kangaroos. Also the good part of my job is that I only do 4 classroom hours. On the contrary I work two hours more from home and every month and a half I travel 3 or 4 days to France or Morocco for commercial visits.

About my results ... The truth is that I have always enjoyed more of the daily routines than of the results. I play sports because for me it is a habit. Of the mountain races I prefer the participation in the Kima Trophy (2a). At the triathlon level with the third place in 2014 in the EMBRUNMAN. By means of some championship of Catalonia or Spain ... but the truth is that they are not always the races where you feel better care.

On the other hand, about my favorite triathlons it is difficult to advise. In my case it is best not to get carried away at any price for "three pairs" of shoes per year and four bike pants ... It is better to make the decisions for yourself, even if it is a bit more expensive. It is difficult for me to advise one; in my case, I always prefer the hardness of the bike: distance B from Balaguer, EDF from l'Alpe d'Huez, EMBRUNMAN, etc.

To the mothers and women who start with the triathlon I advise to begin by incorporating the habit of doing sport. I think that competition should not be a goal in people who do not work professionally. The competition is a point of reference and only a consequence of what one can do during the day to day. I admit that I am a bad example. I've never had a coach and we've always been pretty self-taught with my partner. As I said before, each one must find the path and the resources with which they feel most comfortable.

Aintzane Argaiz (Spain)

My name is Aintzane Argaiz Castro, I have 47 years and I work as a firefighter. I live in Vitoria-Gasteiz and I have 1 son of 11 years.

I started running a sprint in Anglet, a small coastal town in the Basque-French area, back by 1988. I liked it a lot and started to train seriously. At that time it was easier to compete for France, in Spain the triathlon was beginning to settle, the FETRI did not exist as such, the triathlon was a section of the modern pentathlon. Two years later, the Spanish team called me to compete in the European and World Championships in Duatlon. I can not say I've been competing for almost 30 for years because I've had a couple of long stops in my sporting life, but I've competed about twenty or so.

For the type of work I have, for me there are two types of days, those that work, which are 24 hours shifts. These days I do not see the family and the training is limited to running a bit, static bike and gym, although all this quite smooth. The days I do not work, I get up, breakfast with the family, we take the son to school and we go swimming, after bike session and in the afternoon, we go to look for the son at school and we usually take the opportunity to do the race session while Our son is in athletics or swimming. I usually train with my partner and sometimes with people from my club, Vibike.

Of my results I would highlight the 1ª position in the Cto. of Spain of Duathlon LD O'Rosal 2001. 3ª by teams in the Cto. of the world of Duathlon LD 2003. What I am most proud of, this last year, 2015, after a great break to prepare for exams and take the place, my biggest gift was the first place in the MD of my adopted city, Vitoria-Gasteiz. I am also very proud of my first place in the mythical triathlon of Zarauz of the year 1999.

My favorite triathlon today is that of Vitoria-Gasteiz. It is a triathlon with an impeccable organization, made with great care taking care of every detail and it has some spectacular landscapes, I get goose bumps, when you get to the T2 and you see so many people cheering as crazy !, it's impressive , everyone who goes repeats.

I tell moms to cheer up, they need their time, but everything is organized, when you really love something you always find solutions to take time, I remember when my son was a baby we had a trolley, my partner and I always we have organized to train one and then the other, sometimes in untimely times, but always enjoying. Being in a club is also a great help, there are usually people of different levels with whom to train. In other countries, triathlon moms organize themselves very well, taking care of the babies in batches to be able to train, etc.

Raquel Torres (Dominican Republic)

My name is Raquel Torres, I am 34 years old and I live in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic). I'm a bank executive and ITU professional triathlete. I have a daughter, from 8 years, Chantal.

As a girl I practiced swimming recreations, I liked mountain biking a lot, in the nineties I participated in several triathlons for children and youth at the Pan-American and Central American level. 15 years later, exactly 3 years ago I tried to do my first triathlon which made the passion revive in me.

I recently moved from Michigan (USA) to Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) which brought changes for my daughter and me. Already after three months we are having routine, I on the one hand a few weeks ago I started to train after a few months out of training routine. Currently one day of mine is usually like this: 6: 30 sounds the alarm. I get up to prepare breakfast and all it takes to make Chantal prepare for her school. 7: 25 Going to take Chantal 8: 30-10: 30 Swimming. 11: 00-12: 30 Bank / Supermarket / Pay invoices / Measures / Meetings. 12: 30 Prepare / Lunch Time. 13: 00 Work on emails and projects, things from home and lunch Chantal. 14: 30 Collect Chantal 15: 00 Monitor Chantal change clothes, lunch. Task Chantal 16: 00 Prepare for Swimming / Break 17: 00 Swimming Chantal / While Chantal nothing I'm going to run or pedal. 18: 30 House, Bathing Rest 19: 30 Prepare Dinner / Work on emails / projects / Prepare things for the next day of both. 20: 30 Chantal to the Bed. 22: 00 go to sleep.

Speaking of the highlights, I do not have any in particular I think that my short triathlon career has been enriching every stage, I have results that have personally made me feel proud of what surpasses that are often things that are not seen in the result , because everyone is fighting different battles and triathlon is a sport that links a lot your personal life in the results since the mere fact of not sleeping well one day makes you have a less strong career. But when you do it with your heart you enjoy achieving things that seem impossible. Of my competitions I would highlight the 6ª square in a Pan-American Cup in Mendoza Argentina to which I was feeling very tired, and even so I arrived sixth and I was leading most of the time. Although I think my most outstanding result is the 4º place in the Pan-American Cup of Valparaiso in Chile. I have also been 3 times 1ª in the Ctos. of the state of Michigan. Finally I want to highlight my qualification for the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games and have been able to run the WTS of Chicago and Edmonton in 2014.

I have two favorite places first triathlons in my country, the weather, running surrounded by friends and acquaintances is fabulous. I also like to run the Michigan triathlons in summer, they are fun, good atmosphere, excellent weather. They are beautiful.

Advice to mothers: Everyone has different tastes, we all have strengths and weaknesses. I think that being active helps us feel better, doing a sport does not have to be triathlon, it should not be considered for mothers "feeling bad mother". It is to take care of ourselves, it is to be healthier, it is to focus, it is wellbeing for one and for our children, family, work, whatever we want to achieve. And if ... If I think there is a magic key: Want to do it!

Pamela Tastets (Chile)

Pamela Tastets Ceppi from Lecco, I have 33 years. I am a Law Professional and PRO Triathlete. I live in Chile and I have 1 son of 2 years and 9 months.

I started doing the triathlon in the 2008 year because my boyfriend (current husband Felipe Van de Wyngard) was already doing 7 years doing triathlon with a lot of commitment and very good results. I swam from the 12 years but not in high performance, just as a hobby. The 2009 we dreamed of dedicating ourselves in a really professional way to sport, which was very complicated in the reality of our country, especially because we both wanted to do it and among other things economically it was very difficult without support.

We got married at 2010 and made the decision that we would fight for our dream as a family despite how hard it looked. In my case despite inserting in the middle distance the same 2009 with some promising results (16ª in the World Ironman 70.3 2009 PRO category) the body passed me the count and I had some periods of over training and the consequent injuries. So the 2011 and 2012 year I focused mainly on healing myself and supporting Felipe in the qualification to the London Olympics, which we achieved at the last moment. This achievement at 2012, that Felipe could become an Olympic athlete, certainly marked our lives and made us understand that no matter how hard a target is seen if you fight with all your might to achieve it, no matter how many obstacles you have to overcome, You believe firmly in something you can achieve it. This year I also got pregnant and Max was born in March of 2013, happiness was maximum.

With more conviction and more difficulties we decided to continue fighting for our sporting goals, I reinserted myself competitively at the national level at the end of the year, classifying the South American Games and with an 4 place in the 70.3 of Pucón the 2014, we met the challenge of running several competitions next to my husband being Max barely a baby, however in March of 2014 in a competition I had a fall in which unfortunately my rotator cuff was cut and I had to operate. It was a very slow and long recovery that made me postpone my competitive plans again. Finally at 2015 I have managed to compete with much more regularity but above all, I am definitely a triathlete, respecting my family structure and organizing my goals and how to meet my own goals in the medium and long term.

About my day to day, with my husband we take turns for some short training in the morning, then we will leave Max to the garden around the 10am, then we train another session, we have lunch, then there are a couple of hours that we must devote to our responsibilities with the sponsors, then the 3 session we are going to look for Max. What's left of the afternoon we play with him and among the 3 we order the clothes, the bags and coordinate the next day, we have dinner, we bathe and go to bed. In this the day flies by, for us the most important thing is that Max is involved with our lives, for example if we are going to work on bicycles, we ask him to "help" us.

From my international results I highlight the 70.3 World 2009 year in which I finished 16ª, I dared to compete in Elite category with no experience and gave the best of me taking a little over a year in the sport. I am also proud of my recent 2do place in the Ironman 70.3 of Punta de Este a few weeks ago.

Honestly I do not have any favorite Triathlon since all the races have their challenges and special characteristics, in general, I like the races in which many people compete, the atmosphere that occurs between athletes within the competition is the one that I enjoy the most despite go suffering.

To the moms who start I recommend that they do everything calmly but with passion, that they always believe that they are capable of doing what they want and want because that is the reality. They are blessed by being mothers, that is a star that gives you joy, peace, love. If you want to do triathlon as a hobby, as a way to disconnect, to compete, for whatever reason, everything is valid. Motherhood gives you the maturity to understand that you can really do what you want.

Andrea Prono (Paraguay)

Andrea Prono. 31 anhos. Lawyer, Master. I live in Asunción - Paraguay. I have 5 children: April of 14, Carlos Martin of 12, Renata of 7, Lorenzzo of 5 and Saint of 2.

The beginning was to want to improve a personal brand in 10k ... and so one thing led to the other and I fell into this wonderful sport that I am practicing without interruption almost 2 years ago

A normal day is getting up early, taking the little ones to school. Go to train. Attend things from the office. Mobilize my big kids to their respective sports. Organize the house. Search for the little ones at school. We had lunch together and took the biggest ones to school. Route the little ones to swimming. Train in the afternoon. And in the late afternoon my husband and my boys help me to perform the stretches that I love.

The most outstanding competitions are my first 70.3 in Brasilia in April 2014. I was just learning to use the bike against the clock, I had never run more than 10k and I wanted to get down the 5 hours ... and that's it, I ended up at 4h56m, I was very happy!

And another was in Concordia this year where I was surprised by a first place in the general. With a time of 4h31m. A unique sensation the fact of being accompanied by the bike with the little sign of 1er place the 21k !! I am very happy!

I love the Half or 70.3 distance ... It seems challenging and achievable, more humanly possible. I have run Olympic and an IM is what I have pending.

And the advice I can give is that if they like what they do, they continue to do it with a lot of love and affection and respect towards oneself. Being a triathlete is a lifestyle.

 

Acknowledgments:

As the author of these 4 chapters dedicated to triathlete moms, I want to thank all of them for the willingness and enthusiasm with which they conducted the interview. Thank Triathlon News for the opportunity to make this special and finally, thanks to Saleta CastroShe was the one who gave me the idea to write an article dedicated to triathletes mothers.

Juan José Martí Navío @jjnavio