Spanish options to podium in Kona

Only "the best of the best" manage to go to the World Cup in Hawaii, the level is very high so getting a podium or winning in a GGEE is very difficult

 

We continue with a new chapter of "Special Kona'15"From Triatlon News. As we know the Ironman World Championship must be classified in the other tests of IM (and some 70.3) where each race have a number of seats called "slots" (1), the competitions that gave more slots this 2015 were the Ctos. Continental (100 or 75), then the rest of Ironmans (50 or 40) and some important 70.3 IM.

These places are always for all the winners of each GGEE in addition to distributing the rest of the Slots according to the number of triathletes of each age group. Therefore, “The best of the best” go to the World Cup in Hawaii, everyone's level is very high so getting a podium or winning in a GGEE is very complicated. As complicated as it is in the following article, we want to give a lot of encouragement to the Spanish GGEEs, citing several of them (2) whom we trust can be very high in their GGEEs fighting with the best in the world.

'Our' "Magnificent 4" with Michael Patrick Alonso McKernan, Carlos Aznar Gallego, David Corredor Panadero and Ivan Álvarez Gómez.

 

 

Michael Patrick lives in Villares de la Reina, a village located 3km of Salamanca and works as a firefighter in the park of the City Hall of Salamanca. Michael does not belong to any club since belonging to a club means being federated and for years he decided he did not want to be, so he competes with a one-day license.

Carlos Aznar He is a native of Alcalá de Henares, although he currently lives in Rivas Vaciamadrid. He works as a nutritionist and personal trainer and belongs to the Diablillos de Rivas Triathlon Club. David Corredor lives in Albacete and is a national policeman for 11 years. He belongs to the Albacete Triathlon Club since he started doing sports for 6 years ago. By last Iván Álvarez he lives in the Tablas neighborhood north of Madrid. He works and runs his own restaurant, La Bodeguita Gastroteca, in the center of Madrid. His club is the Sierra Norte de Madrid.

We have contacted all four to do an interview, where they have told us how was their classification for Kona, how they prepared the test and more things they have told us.

Triathlon news: Hello everyone, the first thing I wanted to ask you is: In what IM did you classify and in what position did you stay in your GGEE?

Michael: I qualified in Barcelona, ​​I was 2º behind David Corredor that happened to me like a plane in the Marathon.

Carlos: I got my place in Mallorca 2014 leaving first of my age group and absolute tenth.

David: I qualified for Kona in the Ironman of Barcelona, ​​1 of my age group.

Ivan: I have qualified in Ironman of Austria, 2º of my age group.

 

 

Triatlonnoticias: Can you tell us a memory or anecdote about this IM in which you got the classification?

Michael: I suppose that like all those that we disputed that test, the previous hour, with that monumental deluge.

Carlos: The main memory of that test is the wonder of Isla a is and that it was the first IM I went to with my newborn daughter :-) ... she worried me more than the race.

David: Many memories, for example as it rained before the departure. The anecdote is that I met a person I respect a lot and a good friend, Michael Mckenan. Lying on the stretcher after finishing the IM was very bad, I was approached by a person and he said, "What a fucking son, you do honor to your last name", I did not know him, I opened one eye and saw that it was Michael, I said "calla cabrón I've had nightmares with you all week. " Hehehehehehe is a great person !!!

Ivan: The truth is that the memories of that Ironman are not very positive, I had a fall 2 weeks before and I cracked two ribs. I arrived with a lot of pain and in the race I had a really bad time. I'll have to go back to get the bad taste out of my mouth.

 

Triathlon News: How did you prepare the Hawaii World Cup and how do you face the competition?

Michael: I trained as much as I could and they sent me (remember, I do not want to fall into the mistake of football, where everyone knows, I understand Tri little.) My brother commands). The objective is clear: finish, get to goal and give everything you have. I respect the Ironman a lot. If above is Hawaii, where I debut, the level is huge.

Carlos: Well, being able to be here has finally been complicated, which has led me to do an atypical preparation since I did Embrunman on August 15 and taking advantage of the bike volume of that test I have focused on 4 weeks of quality work both on foot like by bike. I think I'm in pretty good shape and guaranteed to have a good career ... although Kona is another movie and you never know.

David: Well first thing with great enthusiasm and a lot of training. My coach, Javier Gutiérrez, has done a thousand cabals so that he can get to Kona well. The injuries do not leave me in peace, first it was my back, which does not let me do many days of intensity because I'm caught with tweezers. At the end of August I did a serious sprain on my foot, which left me in the dry dock for a while and now the soleos are crushing me ... but I can not complain I'm happy to be able to train, although not everything I wanted ... I ONLY expect to enjoy every second, every moment and when I reach the goal having given everything we will look at classifications, much what I have waited for these years to come back, I think about enjoying.

Ivan: I have prepared this race very well, I have trained more and better than ever, without injuries and without discomfort. I hope I have a good day and that all the work done comes out. I face this race without thinking about my rivals, who will be many and very strong, I just want to focus on giving my best, without thinking about what I have around me, when I have done this on other occasions it has turned out well.

 

 

Triatlonnews: For those who have already raced in Hawaii ... Is there anything you would improve from your previous participation? Any advice for the debutantes?

Michael: I have gone as a water carrier and a spectator, is that valid? Seeing an Ironman tires, so from here I will give a companions advice: Big bottle of water, patience and remember that although we are in plan vinegar ... you are very important.

Carlos: I think that something that would improve and in fact I have improved is the bicycle training, since until you are there you are not aware of the true hardness of the circuit. My advice is the same that Iván Álvarez gave me on his day… “Watch out that the bike starts in Hawi (km90) ;-)”

David: I ran in 2011 and it was nothing at all well. It would improve the bicycle segment, it was a real disaster and I did not enjoy anything more than 5 hours that took. An advice? I think it's already clear, ENJOY !!! Because it's a pass, especially the previous days.

Ivan: This is my 4º Hawaii and I have learned many things in these years, especially to control my fears and nerves, I arrive with a better swim, this is important on the island because I swim without a neoprene and a better bike, I have always been very long this sector. A tip for those who debut, is that this is an Ironman something different from the rest, but if you are here is because you are also, at some point you have given the best of you and it has gone well, think about doing it again, and do not give anything for lost at any time.

 

Triatlonnews: And finally, any special thanks? Thank you very much to the four!

Michael: Well mainly to my partner Nuria for her patience and my brother Clemente for training me and making everything easier for me. On the other hand, to my Fisio Javi from Fisiosport Salamanca and Pedro from Fit4bike who give me a hand. Then already family, friends and co-workers. I am very fortunate of the people around me.

Carlos: I want to thank my parents for the unconditional support they have given me throughout my life, my brother and my sister for being one more part of the engine that pushes me every day and this year in particular more, to me Club Devils of Rivas that not only supports me morally but actively participate in my preparation, Marta who despite everything does not lack a word of encouragement or willingness to facilitate the long premieres in which I miss being with our little girl and as not to my sponsors that without them a lot of this would not be possible: Chemogroup, Gestrion, Tri4u, Keepgoing and Rothar ... to all of them a million thanks ????

David: THANK you with all your heart to www.nutrifitnes.es, to www.vsenergia.es, to www.eventosycomidas.com, to www.tritransportbike.es, to Pilates Albacete Medical Center, to Sports Tracking. My children, the butter (my friends), the people who love me, especially one! and to you for the interview!

Ivan: To my sponsor Tomtom -Angel Sevillano I'm going to miss you on the island-, 226 ERS -Jesús Sánchez Bas thanks for coming-, Ceepo, Powertap, Enve -Pablo Sáenz see you on the island. and Bioracer -Marcos López some year you have to escape-. Thanks to your help I am in Hawaii. To my firefighter friends who put up with my training hours every day. And finally and the most important to my girl Carla, who shares this passion with me like the first day. I am very lucky to have you by my side.

Thank you very much to the four of you for sharing this special moment with the readers of Triathlon News. Besides, we obviously send encouragement to all the Spaniards and all the Spaniards since being in the World Cup in Hawaii is an award that you achieved by getting your corresponding ones Slots

And finally the one who writes this article has several other triathletes in whom he trusts a lot: Jordi Matos, Mabel Gallardo, Marina Leboso and Maxine Mckinnon ... bet my personal ????

 

Juan José Martí Navío @jjnavio

(1) Until 2014 was also the option to qualify by a draw but for this 2015 has not been like this.

(2) When choosing these four triathletes we have taken into account their sporting record, their latest IMs and we have also consulted several veteran triathletes who have advised us when writing the article.