Interview with Pablo Dapena, "Objective: compete in the Ironman franchise and qualify for the 70.3 World Championship"

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Pablo Dapena, has been the best triathlete in national scope, shining from distance supersprint to long distance, going by sprint, Olympic and middle distance.

Mario Mola is the current ITU world champion, Javier Gómez Noya IM 70.3 e world champion Ivan Raña 11º in Kona. They are the three best Spanish triathletes of the year in their distance. If we had to choose the best nationally in competitions, FETRI would undoubtedly be Pablo Dapena, shining from distance supersprint up to distance, passing through sprint, Olympic and middle distance.

 Hello Pablo, before starting the interview we want to congratulate you for the Gold achieved a few days ago in Ibiza and also for the great season you have done. Could you summarize how was the competition last Sunday? How did you feel? Did you have a bad time? When did you see a champion?

First of all, thank you very much for the congratulations, the truth is that what I have experienced this year has been incredible. The test was of the highest level, I think that in long distance so many people of such good level never got together, they are not my words but the president of the Spanish triathlon federation. It is not easy to put together Emilio Aguayo, Gustavo Rodríguez, Miguel Angel Fidalgo, Mikel Elgezabal, Angel Salamanca ...

I arrived with the doubt of how the body would face such a long test after a season with great demands and great wear. Already from the water I saw that I was not fine at all. I started strong but was not able to hold the rhythm and my companions of water escape, both Angel and Emilio overtook me and put in front.

From there they started 120km of ups and downs. Emilio was putting a hellish rhythm and I was quite past, so from km.30 he left me and went solo making a spectacular bike. I stayed in no man's land, and I did 20-25kms bad enough without being able to go to the desired pace, I ate, I drank but I do not know what happened. It was from km 65-70 when I was again me and began to tighten, when that, Emilio took me 4'30'', a bleeding difficult to recover, while behind Gustavo was reducing the distance but less than I thought, therefore inside I thought it was not so bad, just that Emilio was leaving.

I got to the pits after 120 km with an unfavorable income of 5', I made a calm transition allowing the body to recover, as little as possible after 4 hours of testing that we had already carried out, and I went out to run, a little faster than expected but " Who does not risk does not win. The distance with Emilio was reducing due to some problems that he has been suffering in recent weeks that have prevented him from running. At km.12-13 I pass him and take the lead; he was still going fast but that bullying start was starting to pay off. It was after km 17 when analyzing the situation of the rivals I realized that I could win so I tried to keep up, but the body was already beginning to take its toll. The last 5km I was quite touched at the level of everything, a bit emaciated and muscularly affected, I had never run 30km in competition.

1º in the CTO of Spain of LD at the end of October, 2º in DO at the beginning of September, 2º in the MD in May and 5º in the Sprint in July, results that have never been achieved by any other triathlete at the national level. What is the secret to perform at the highest level in different distances and times of the year?

And the Supersprint between the week after Canada and the one before the Spanish DO Championship. I think there is no secret, just in the training method. We combine and play a lot with the distances in the running race without focusing specifically on one since I think it gives enough variety to the overall calculation of the training. This has its positive things but also the negative ones because by not focusing on one thing, you lose a little the ability to perform at the maximum in one. Let's give an example that I hope you understand, it's as if in economics I dedicate myself to diversify instead of concentrating all the money when it comes to playing on the stock market.

 What would you highlight in each of these four championships?

In Sprint the ability to be consistent and suffer agonizingly during 5kms hard and fast kilometers as they were in Banyoles.

In the Olympic, risk, be combative and not lose the opportunity to get on a new podium when I went only for Cesc and Richi when they escaped the two.

In Media, play with the mind and fight when things do not go well, since I suffered during the whole race for a wisdom tooth that was bothering me for a week and when I got home the next day they had to take it away.

In Long ... control, eat and drink not to end up in a ditch.

 To be able to perform at 100% for so many months and at different distances with the changes that this implies in rhythms, it is essential not to be injured. What specific work do you do and recommend to avoid injury?

A few years ago when it was usual to injure myself (2012, 2013, 2015) I did not pay as much attention to the issue of prevention and strengthening. From then on I focused my winters to work almost daily to create an anti-injury armor. From there, I can not complain, keep it all that way.

 On tests not drafting in MD and LD this year on a national level you have always been fighting with the best ones do you pose in 2018 to make the leap to the circuit IM 70.3?

That's my idea, but I'm not going crazy like in the past I did with the World Cups. He traveled with the money he got from competing in the leagues of Germany and France all over the world and in the end he finishes the year to 0. It is clear that the Ironman circuit without economic support is complicated, starting with your license 960 dollars (for the whole season and any test, yes) and above all with an ambitious goal that is to qualify for the 70.3 World Championship that if I remember correctly It will be in South Africa.

During this winter I will try to work on it, seeking even minimal support to try to compete in the Ironman franchise and with the aim of qualifying 70.3. I know it's complicated, because the level grows spectacularly with each passing year, but this phrase always comes to mind: "LET'S BE REALISTIC, LET'S DO THE IMPOSSIBLE"

 This year you have competed in the different Spanish championships both individually and by clubs in distances ranging from supersprint to distance C. I think you only need a distance to do it ... Do you cheer for her in 2018?

Hahaha, IM are big words and it requires a lot of head and determination as well as physical effort. If there is a place where I would like to try or debut in IM it would be Vitoria, from here to there there is a long way to go. Now disconnect, recover time with people that I have not been able to be, update many things that during the year you can not do and little by little start studying the new season and see what it is that you want and motivates.

 It has been a long season with many successes, possibly the best of your career. Do you have any special thanks?

 I have been performing at a good level for two years, on a regular basis throughout the year and I am very satisfied with that. Thanks to those who support me, live and suffer day to day with me, my family, my friends, my girlfriend, and especially the sponsors (VIATOR, SPECIALIZED, 226ers, COREEVO, AQUAMAN, BROOKS) that without their material I would not be having the opportunity to fight up.

Thank you very much to all!

Photos: @triatlonsp / Ona Onari