Carlos Ramirez, the iron man with 77 Ironman in 25 years.

Carlos Andrés Ramírez Duarte has 46 years and lives in Tres Cantos (Madrid). He works as an intermediate manager in Telefonica with 43, his dependents and belongs to the Tres Cantos Triathlon Club

- How were your beginnings in triathlon, in what year did you start and the reason to start doing this sport?

My debut in triathlon was in the year 1990 participating in the Villa Duathlon I of Madrid over the distances 5-30-5, finishing the 108 of 316 participants, after 2 duathlon plus my triathlon debut came the 24.6.1990 in the III Triathlon Villa de Madrid, over the distances 1,5-42- 10, in 2: 26: 55 finishing the 134 of 400. The reason for doing triathlon and its variants was something that haunted me from the 1996 but I did not have a bike and the moment I got one, I already made the jump to triathlon.

- What was the first Ironman you ran? Could you tell us how was this race?

My Ironman debut was being very young with 22 years, the 15 of August of 1992 in Embrun, considered one of the toughest tests in the world on distance, for the unevenness that exists in the bicycle as for the environment that develops in the French Alps.

The most spectacular of this test was to get into the 6 in the morning in the lake completely at night, the mystery of the unknown and the darkness added more tension to the test, fortunately the test developed phenomenally until in the absence of 8 kms I burst the back cover, I could not repair and made the descent of the Chambon on the rim, after 13: 52: 26 I achieved my dream to be Finisher in an IM distance test, at that time doing this type of tests was cataloged crazy. It is more in my house I did not say anything to them, so that they did not worry, and when I mentioned it to him nobody believed it.

- Of all the ironmans you have competed, which one do you keep a better memory of?

Of all the tests I always keep a great memory well by the people with whom you share this type of tests and the environment by which it develops, if I had to choose 2 moments, it would be the Hawaii Ironman for what it means and Zurich for being the site where I have my best brand 9: 50: 26.

- In what ironman did you spend the worst moments?

I have had a bad time in several tests, especially due to dehydration, but the worst was undoubtedly Embrun in the 2015, I caught a hypothermia on the bike that made me stand on the ground, I had very critical moments when I thought I was going down the Izoard, obviously I did not finish.

- What is your favorite competition?

Naming a test would be unfair to the rest, each one has a special charm, but without a doubt, they would be Embrun for the environment and its hardness, Ironcat y Northwest for the very personal treatment, KM0 (Challenge Madrid in 2017) for running at home, is something unique with all your people. Hawaii for being "The Mecca" where everyone wants to go.

- What advice would you give to people who are starting out in triathlon and dream of being a finisher in an Ironman? What test do you recommend to debut?

To those who start using stages, who discover triathlon in all its distances, from the Olympic, average and then if they are trained to take the step, but really only if they are well prepared and for that they rely on some of the very good coaches that we have or in a club that will surely guide you very well and you will feel protected.

As a distance test IM to debut would do some on the peninsula, Ironcat, Northwest, with affordable circuits, then if you want the support of a franchise, certainly Lanzarote and Challenge Madrid, but these tests with quite demanding cyclists circuits and if you do not have a good Level on bike you may get out of control.

- Along with Monica Falgueras, you are the only people who have run the TriatlonKM0, in 2015 officially and in 2016 you wanted to do it in a particular way when the test is suspended. For 2017 returns with strength thanks to the organization of Challenge Madrid What could you highlight in this competition Challengue Madrid and what reasons can you give us to run it?

Challenge Madrid which is its current name has it all, an easy swim at the foot of the Sierra, a bike circuit completely closed to traffic worthy of a stage queen of the cycling tour to Spain, with 3 renowned ports, Canencia, Morcuera and Cotos, a walk on the Madrid River with thousands of people cheering and the entrance to the Puerta del Sol on the main street is something that can not be transmitted, you have to live it in person to know what it is and if that adds the support of a great organization because you get an 10 test. Of the great world capitals it is the only one that has a test of these characteristics and that is without a doubt.

- After so many years in triathlon you will meet many people, many people will have supported you during your career. Do you have any special thanks?

Of course thanks to these tests you meet wonderful people who go directly to the list of friends, there would be so many that it would be unfair to leave someone, but they know perfectly who they are and thanks to many of them I have managed to finish so many IM and part of this Success is also yours.

Thank Triathlon News for this interview and for all its support in the diffusion and expansion of triathlon that you are a very important part of our sport.