The siesta time by Felipe Gutiérrez, I'm in love

Felipe Gutiérrez talks to us this week at the siesta hour of the Ironman feeling in the trialtetas

 

On Sunday in Cáceres I was asked if I was going to write about the situation of the two "national" tests that were going to be held in Extremadura on the same day.

One of the Xterra and with the "title" of the Championship of Spain granted by an economic agreement with the FETRI and after pocketing 75.000 euros of Turismo Extremadura and the other Triathlon of Cáceres, official qualifier of the Fetri but with 0 euros of help.

Today, at the time of my siesta, I was thinking about it and I said to myself, who cares? To the Federation, to the triathletes, to the organizers, to ...? Well that, "step word".

And I pass word and confess that it is not me who is in love, it is one of the triathletes that I train. He told me one day "I AM IN LOVE WITH IRONMAM".

And that is the truth, think about the tests of the franchise and only speaks and well of Ironman, although it does not rule out other national tests in different distances. His illusion would be to go to Hawaii for a year and since he has a difficult time qualifying in his group, I think the IM franchise would have to make a special invitation to him.

The truth is that he is one of the triathletes who are loyal to IM and I am not surprised because the franchise has a very clear marketing program and how to have everyone "stuck" with everything he does, he says, he thinks ...

The newsletters that arrive at the houses with news of them are part of the doctrine of IM.

Yes Antonio, I believe that you are the triathlete that I know more "hooked" and that day by day thinks how to be in this or that test and always looking in the exciting Hawaii.

I ask Antonio to tell me what he feels on a daily basis ...

"5: 15.AM the alarm goes off, I try to go back to sleep but I wake up, my legs hurt from the training of the previous night, but as a breakfast automaton and I go to the pool, I have been doing the same routine for months .

It's been almost a year since I paid, what most (myself included) would consider an exorbitant amount for signing up to an Ironman, nor do I remember the last time I went out to dinner with my non-triathlete friends, they would not understand that I got up more in order to week to go out with the bike during the week to go to work.

The family and your co-workers tell you that you are very thin, you know it's a good sign, the training starts to bear fruit.

During the hours and hours of training you can not stop a thought from coming to mind, why do I do this? The Ironman is about the limits, physical and mental, knowing that you can do it, checking that you can finish it, that motivation is what pushes you to train every day, be cold, hot, rain or snow, until the date arrives which has been marked on your calendar for a year.

That day I will be surrounded by others like me, each with their own motivation and their own way, I will know that they are mine, with the same willpower and perseverance to get to the starting line, being there is the reward for so many months of training.

Reliving that last kilometer before reaching the finish line is what has led me to do 2 and 3 daily training sessions for a year, it is difficult to describe it in words, a mixture of intense emotions, having fulfilled a dream.

Some time ago a coach told me that achieving a dream has two wonderful things, the ability to improve oneself on the way to achieving it and the real possibility of achieving it and serving as a motivation to others. That is the essence of the Ironman. "

I think few things can be said about the franchise that is slowly getting more things and putting distance to the international federations, national, organizers ... if they think how to "hook" even more and get the athlete also enjoy that way . They are dreams of love between them.

Now following and giving a twist create the IRONMAN University, where coaches will be trained for Ironman and Ironman 70.3 After obtaining the certification, the coaches will be able to enjoy the benefits of the Ironman coaches association, surely something new will bring to light.

Will you enroll in any of these courses or are you worth the federative titles ?. I think the wrapping paper is going to be more beautiful that of IM and if I tell the truth I think I will sign up for the first course they do in Spain, surely they will adorn it in such a way that we will all say "AS MOLA THIS COURSE".

They will also do courses, talks ... so that the triathletes gain knowledge and practical application in the training for long distance triathlons.

No doubt the business lines are still open, they are clear where they can continue "digging" and if that possibility is not going well, they will be looking for other ways to please.

There are many things at stake and there is something for everyone. Do you know the VIP program? Well, for the modest price of 279 euros you have this whole pack: “transfers to the start, of course watching the race from the best places, they take you along the river by boat during the marathon, they take them to the finish line when the pros arrive, first row of seats at the finish line, meals included, etc., what else can you ask for a luxury for you and that you can round up for only 45 euros more with the "Meet your finisher" program, where as a companion you can go to the finish line so that put your Finisher medal and where the photo is included.

I understand you Antonio, some go to this or that IM of the world, in your case to Frankfurt in a few weeks and others live intensely Walt Disney World, it is a matter of love and you have it clear.

Now for Frankfurt and to get the "slot" for Hawaii, I understand you perfectly, but yes, I will never get a tattoo of those so ugly that you get (you still don't) from IM.

Now I wonder: What will the official Federations do before this IM tsunami? sure they think that "it does not matter, there are customers for everyone".

Felipe Guitérrez