The siesta time by Felipe Gutiérrez: "Guadalajara 30, Muchas Gracias"

Felipe tells us about the tribute they made this weekend to the 30 editions of the Guadalajara Triathlon

 

Last weekend I had the great pleasure of attending the XXX anniversary dinner Triathlon Guadalajara which in turn coincided with the awards ceremony of the circuit No Drafting Series of which that test is part.

This afternoon in my usual siesta on Wednesdays came to mind the beautiful moments we could live in Guadalajara, the memories that many athletes brought us and for me it was a pleasure to run that round table where the champions spoke, where they told us their experiences , your memories, something very beautiful that will undoubtedly remain in our memory forever.

Many people have fought during all this time so that the Triathlon of Guadalajara is a difficult reference to forget and where year after year the triathletes want to return.

And go if they return, this Saturday some returned to the place where in an edition they were proclaimed champions.

The first triathlon was held at 1984 and the first three editions were held in a different order than the traditional triathlon. First 25 was km of cycling, then and when they had "regrouped" everyone started the race where they did 8 Km and at the end of the pool they swam 700 meters.

The first winner was Alejandro Mayor Mayor who won the first three editions (1984, 1985 and 1986). Alejandro professor at the University of Alcalá has published some books on Physical Education and Sports. He was one of those present at the round table of "the champions".

Also the first champion was Marisol Casado, currently President of the ITU, but for professional reasons could not be at the gala dinner.

So far 19 are the men who have climbed to the top of the podium for 21 women.

Of the male champions, the following were the following Andoni Valencia (1987), Carlos Santamaria (1988), Jorge Puebla (1993), Eduardo Arenal (1994) and Gustavo Rodriguez (2013, 2014) and of the female Piroska Abos (1986 ), Mª Jesus Planet (1988), Laura Luetich (1991), Ruth Gomez (2001), Ana Casares (2003, 2004, 2010) and Miriam Muñoz (2015), a real treat to hear their memories, their interesting visions of the test and above all the special affection that they continue to have. There were so many that we had to make two blocks of “champions”.

This Wednesday afternoon in my siesta hour I remembered those who missed and the truth that was a pity since this XXX Anniversary was without a doubt very special.

But let's remind everyone that nobody has forgotten them and we were not lucky enough to see them this Saturday. On the part of the boys, the "other" winners were Paco Godoy (1989), Antonio Esteban (1991), Marcos Barrantes (1992), Salvador Martinez (1997), Raúl Tereba (1998), Felix Javier Martinez (2003), Hektor Llanos (2004), Alejandro Santamaria who won five times (1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2008) Ivan Tejero (2011,2012) and the Portuguese group Lino Barruncho (2002), Pedro Gomes (2006, 2009, 2010), Sergio Marques ( 2007) and Jose Estrangeiro (2015).

While women were not named Marisol Casado (1984), Clara Torres (1985), Isabel Dumall (1987, 1989), Mª Luisa Gomez (1994), Mª Elena Garcia (1998, 1999), Catherine Davies (1992, 1993) , Elena Vicente (1997), Paqui Márquez (2000), Veronica Avene (2002), Virginia Berasategui (2005), Beatriz Jimenez (2006), Alba Xandri (2007) Inke Schiersch (2008), Ana Burgos (2009, 2011) and Estefanía Gomez (2012) and Gurutze Frades (2014)

But not every year the test was held, in the 7ª edition of 1990 the traffic permits were not obtained and there were no winners although some 30 triathletes did the course without proclaiming champions, although that does prove it as if it had been celebrated.

In 1995 and 1996 the mood went down to the point of not doing the test because the year before in 1994 an accident in the promotion test ended the life of an old lady who crossed the street and was hit by a participant . In 1997 the Triathlon of Guadalajara returned with the work and interest of the club's members.

I think I have not forgotten anyone, if it were not so I beg forgiveness but it is that after so many years it is easy to forget.

What is clear is that it was a day of memories, a day that was animated with the presentation of the 2016 circuit of the NDS.

Undoubtedly we will return to this triathlon ..., or at least we will always have it in our hearts, so many years it is worth it.

Felipe Gutiérrez