tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79577189900950511662024-03-05T04:03:42.754-06:00wHaT iT iSHard work, period. TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comBlogger353125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-71081465242618239132019-04-07T02:37:00.000-05:002019-04-07T02:37:09.199-05:00Patrocinios y Gestion Deportiva- Atletas y Influencers Hola!! Creo que es mi segundo post en español :) jajaja...<br />
Mi involucramiento en el deporte y especialmente en Mexico a dado un giro- de atleta a formar una iniciativa para generar cambios positivos para Mexico y nuestras siguientes generaciones a través del deporte.<br />
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Hace unos días publique un video sobre las inquietudes que creo que muchos tenemos sobre como las redes sociales están afectando los patrocinios y gestión deportiva en Mexico (también en otros países, pero como Mexicana, mi enfoque esta ahi).<br />
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Quiero poder tener el máximo alcance posible con este mensaje para unir a todos los que quieran entrar a este movimiento de autenticidad, consciencia, y responsabilidad.<br />
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Pueden ver el video en mi instagram: @tativertizm , o en mi Facebook (esta en publico).<br />
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En el blog dejare el guion.... Los que quieran apoyar como individuos o compañías /marcas favor de darle "like" y interactuar en la pagina de Atletas Por Un Mexico Mejor que abrí en Facebook!! Apenas la hice entonces voy a ir llenándola de info y demás :) Gracias!<br />
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">Hola! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">Hoy les quiero hablar del tema de patrocinios y gestión deportiva de atletas e influencers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">Voy a empezar contando mi historia personal de la lucha para conseguir apoyo como triatleta. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">Después, lo que he observado del mercado deportivo en Mexico, y al final lo que propongo hacer para concientizar el entorno de patrocinios. Espero que al empezar este movimiento personalmente, mis amigos, conocidos, y los que lleguen a ver este video también se unan a el. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">Como muchos sabrán, soy Mexicana de sangre y corazón, pero empecé mi carrera deportiva en EEUU. En el pico de mi trayectoria, 2009-2011, el mercado de Ironman en Mexico apenas estaba iniciando su crecimiento brutal, y era muy difícil conseguir que una marca apostara por una triatleta de larga distancia y menos una viviendo en el extranjero.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">Mis patrocinios durante mi carrera en la cual conseguí estar en el podio del Mundial de Kona 4 de cuatro veces, y ser doble campeona mundial, ser también dos veces campeona de edad de Ironman Cozumel y Ironman Arizona, y ganar el premio de deporte de la ciudad de Mexico, eran únicamente de producto - de EEUU. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">Al volver a mi país en 2014, ya semi retirada por una lesión de espalda, me di cuenta de la explosión que Ironman y el triatlón en general estaban teniendo en Mexico. Mis ganas de entrenar, competir, y ganar nunca se apagaron, y creí tener una oportunidad enorme en Mexico no solo para darme a conocer como atleta y así poder seguir haciendo lo que mas me apasiona, sino también para tener una plataforma que me permitiera compartir mis conocimientos, y aportar mi granito de arena para mejorar el deporte en Mexico - especialmente para nuestros jóvenes de bajo nivel socioeconómico. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">En 2015 gane el triatlón de La Paz y también volví a calificar para el mundial de 70.3 quedando en 11eavo ahi. En 2016, competi en casi todas las carreras del serial nacional quedando en el podio en mi categoría y en la general de edades en cada una. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">A pesar de seguir comprobándome como atleta, haciendo presencia por casi todo Mexico, y contactando a prácticamente todas las marcas de deporte, no solo de triatlón, y nada se realizo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">Me quede frustrada pero mas motivada para demostrar que aun que no me ayudaran, ahí iba a seguir. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">En 2017 6 semanas después de un podio en el Ironman de Texas, quede en 2ndo en el Ironman de Boulder, y califique por 5ta vez al mundial de Kona. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">Dije, “ahora si!” ya estoy establecida de nuevo como una de las triatletas top en este boom Mexicano de Ironman, claro que me van a apoyar algunas marcas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">Contacte a compañías de bici, de tenis, de zapatillas, lo que se les ocurra-- y aun así NADIE de Mexico, mas que CompressSport que me apoyo con ropa técnica, se junto conmigo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">A un mes del mundial, donde personalmente solo me quedaba ser campeona por 3era vez y vencer mi propia marca de 10hrs 1 min, me puse a reflexionar sobre por que seguía insistiendo cuando claramente no estaba consiguiendo esa plataforma para tener una voz en el deporte Mexicano. Me sentía rechazada por el mercado deportivo en Mexico, y decepcionada de darme cuenta poco a poco que muchas de las marcas del sector deportivo, estaban mas bien apostando por psuedo influencers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">Entonces dije, “Si eso es lo que quieren, si eso es lo necesario para al final poder influenciar en el deporte, eso hare- si entrenar, y ganar no vale tanto, y las marcas quieren que dediques tu tiempo a encontrar la mejor luz del atardecer para hacerte fotos sexies y selfies, vale, lo hago! Si prefieren que dediques tu tiempo en conseguir el mejor robot de instagram para aumentar tus likes y tus seguidores en vez de sudar para mejorar tus tiempos y resultados como verdadero deportista, pues mas fácil!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">Y asi pase unos meses incrementando mi “valor” en redes, pero personalmente no fue tan fácil como pensé- pues espiritualmente sentía que me estaba traicionando yo misma. Es decir, mi valor propio lo había crecido desde chiquita a través del deporte puro y duro, y venderme de esta manera se sentía falso y feo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">También me hizo sentir que me estaba rindiendo de mi propuesta final de cambiar las oportunidades para jóvenes Mexicanos. Si no valen tanto los resultados, y basamos los apoyos mas en guapura, en tu “look”, y en el dinero que inviertas para crecer tus redes, como le va a hacer el deportista que no tiene ni para comprarse unos tenis para patear el balón de fut por la calle?! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD" style="color: #222222;">El choque entre la autenticidad y falta de es lo que está creando un malestar en las redes sociales y lo que determinará el ejemplo que ponemos a los niños de las siguientes generaciones. <br /></span><span style="color: #222222;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD" style="color: #222222;">Yo me había desviado de la esencia de hacer todo únicamente por el amor al deporte y mi propia satisfacción y llegue al punto de querer reconocimiento por lo q había logrado por que creo que al final todos queremos sentir que nuestros esfuerzos pudieron generar un valor externo, que pudieron aportar algo a la sociedad.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">De un día al otro, ya no aguantaba mas y me arrepentí. Quite mas de 2,000 seguidores que me había conseguido mi robot- y que al final probablemente ni se vinculaban con cualquier marca que quisiera patrocinarme y buscara un retorno medible y tangible (cosa que me pregunto si las marcas de verdad están conscientes de ello). Puse mi cuenta en privado, y tome un break literal del deporte y de Mexico, y me vine a estudiar una maestría a España. Estoy a dos meses de acabar la maestría, enfocada al marketing y gestión deportiva y este tiempo aquí me ha renovado la confianza de que SI puedo marcar una diferencia en Mexico, de cómo alinear esa pasión por el deporte y también por competir, con la parte laboral que implica la política deportiva. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">Dentro de mis planes esta juntar a los que tienen criterio deportivo, y de gestionar recursos para atletas e infraestructura, y formar un consejo que sirva como intermediario del gobierno y del sector privado. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">En la parte de patrocinios y mi marca personal como atleta, claro que volveré a competir- al menos en varias de las carreras nacionales. Mi crecimiento tan chico o grande que llegue a ser, será orgánico, y con el fin de ayudar a los demás. Cada patrocinio que llegue a recibir, tendrá que ser igualado para un o una joven de bajos recursos. Es decir, si una marca de tenis me manda un par, tendrá que haber otro par para alguien de necesidad. Si llegara a tener un patrocinio de bici, al mínimo, yo misma recaudare fondos totalmente transparentes para conseguir una, o cuantas mas se logren, para los que no tienen para comprarse. Y cada carrera que haga tendrá alianza con una fundación, para que el esfuerzo personal tenga un beneficio ajeno. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">Sean deportistas, influencers, Mexicanos, o de otro país, los invito a unirse conmigo en este movimiento de patrocinio colectivo en la capacidad que puedan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">Muchas veces pensamos que lo que nosotros hacemos personalmente no llegara a cambiar el entorno general, pero si varios hacemos algo, la suma si que lo cambia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-TRAD">Gracias, y darle! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-70926227999751396792018-08-27T19:40:00.002-05:002018-08-27T19:40:21.262-05:00Programa de Entrenamiento 12 Semanas pre-IRONMANHola! Es mi primer post en Español :) jaja....<br />
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Como sabrán si me siguen en Instagram, diseñe un programa de 12 semanas para preparación especifica de <b>Ironman</b>.<br />
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Es ideal para los atletas que ya lleven mas de un año en multi-disciplinas como nadar, bici, correr, o spartan, bici de montaña, etc, y que tengan buena salud.<br />
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Los requisitos recomendados son los siguientes:<br />
1) Poder nadar 3km sin bronca<br />
2) Ya completaste un 70.3 o tienes experiencia de maratón o varios medios maratones<br />
3) Puedes nadar los 4 estilos<br />
4) Quieres mejorar tu Personal Best<br />
6) Quieres un programa que venga de "old school" donde aprenderás a conocer tu cuerpo sin aferrarte tanto al Garmin/tech<br />
7) Quieres sesiones especificas y un programa diseñado orgánicamente con fundamentos que le han funcionado a campeones AG y Pro<br />
8) Quieres sesiones de natación y demás que no te aburran<br />
9) Quieres un programa que puedas utilizar con confianza antes de cualquier Ironman y en cualquier momento/fecha<br />
10) Quieres ganar, y/o calificar para Kona<br />
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Iba a poner link de PayPal en mi blog pero no es ideal para clientes en el extranjero aparte que me hace convertir mi cuenta a una de negocios- estuve todo el día lidiando con eso.<br />
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Si quieres ordenar el programa que viene con los entrenamientos de esos 3 meses a detalle, y una descripción del como y porque del programa ...escribe un email a <b>tativertiz2@gmail.com</b> con tu nombre completo y edad.<br />
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Gracias y a darleeeee!!!<br />
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<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-78338242208378732912018-05-03T13:23:00.000-05:002018-05-03T13:23:42.161-05:00The Shame in the Game Let me start out by saying that I never thought I’d make a
blog post out of something that anyone with the logic of a 4 year old could see was
a black and white matter.<div>
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But, after a few days now of constant absurd defenses, and
the fact that the very governing body of the sport- IRONMAN- decided to uphold
times, qualifications, and records of cheaters, I feel the urge to voice my
opinion on a permanent platform as a participant, ambassador, and lover of
triathlon for over a decade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all,
the day I can’t say what I think and feel, I’d rather be buried a few feet
underground. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Numerous people took my anti-drafting comments over the
weekend personal, and the defensive attacks commenced because when you’re
guilty what else is left to do but defend and be paranoid that everything is
about you?<o:p></o:p></div>
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To those, all I can say is that guilt you feel won’t go away
any time soon; and my comments, along with hundreds of others that thought and
wrote about the blatant drafting (aka cheating) over the weekend, were valid
because it’s a sport/industry we’ve been a part of for over a decade and we’re
incredibly sad to see how much it has decayed; because we have raced numerous
IRONMANs and other non draft races letting packs (and slots, and PRs, and podiums)
go by; and lastly, because if we don’t speak up and let this slide, what hope
if any is left to save the essence of IRONMAN?<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I started racing in 2006, I got into it because I read
articles, books, and watched documentaries about what IRONMAN and the people
that did it were about- a desire to push the human body to its limits in an <b>individual</b>
competition. Back then (yes even in 2006) it wasn’t about how many IM’s you’d
done or how fast, or how expensive your bike was, or who designed your race
outfit- but instead this community that shared a passion for athleticism and
the outdoors. That’s it! How simple, how fun, how raw! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Despite my own achievements, I always (and more so to this day) felt like a
goldfish in a sea of sharks, because I was fortunate enough to train with and
be mentored by some of the most accomplished, ethical, and HUMBLE men and women
in triathlon. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, it’s ego, it’s money, it’s whatever it takes to get <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> time and beat <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that</i> person, and if it’s gotta be done wrong and dirty, “bring it!”…
because the ego boost is more important than the ethics behind those
achievements. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Records, and personal bests are meant to be broken, and as a
lover of all sports, there is no one I cheer for more than the bad ass hard
worker that makes shit happen and breaks those barriers- even if those are mine
or a friend’s. In fact, it only drives my motivation and appreciation for what
we’re all capable of. With one simple condition: that it’s done clean.
Drafting, like doping, is illegal in IRONMAN racing- you draft, you’re
cheating, and your outcome on that day is not legit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Period. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Regardless if they’re my own family member or close friend- independent of the love and care that will always remain intact, my respect for
them as an athlete goes to zero. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So, with a heavy heart, I accept losing “friends” and
watching our dear sport deteriorate, while upholding my principles. For me, and
for the vast majority, what happened in Texas (and in any other race where
athletes stood behind their artificial times despite cheating), is a disgrace,
and does not count for anything except a colossal disappointment of the brand
itself and the people that chose to break the rules. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The only plus side to IRONMAN Texas having the most blatant
and massive violations I think of all time, along with the race officials not patrolling
the course, is that hopefully this will spark more consciousness into the
triathlon industry in general, and the cheating-inclined will think twice
before going down that path the next time they race. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Work hard. Race clean. <o:p></o:p></div>
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TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-49810027060361226062017-09-14T13:51:00.000-05:002017-09-14T13:51:46.851-05:00Turning in my chip- the final blog entry. This past June, at Ironman Boulder, I gave EVERYTHING I had both physically and emotionally.<br />
<br />
In 2012 I was forced to abandon triathlon- it was a huge turning point in my life that in retrospect I am forever grateful for. It took me back to my roots in Mexico (where I swore I'd never live- the irony is awesome) where I connected with some amazing people, and experienced both challenges and gifts that I'd never imagined life would throw at me.<br />
<br />
This time, in the middle of a World Championship race, around mile 30 of the bike, I looked around at the motivated, fit girls zooming by, and all I could think of with a slight grin on my face was "dang, I'd rather be at brunch right now". In a sudden moment of clarity, I knew I was done; that life in sport had come full circle for me, and that this time I was CHOOSING to exit. I felt healed, strong, and armed with knowledge of what I want in life, and this was far from it!<br />
<br />
So, I rolled into T2, and turned in my chip to an official who asked "are you sure you're finished?", and without hesitation, I said "yes, I am sure".<br />
<br />
I knew if I continued to run, despite the fact that my back was also screaming, I could rally to the finish and there was the risk that endorphins, mixed with "I did it despite x..." could lead me to continue down this rabbit hole and through Hawaii and who knows what.<br />
<br />
But my soul, my deep down desire of self and purpose, said "No, stop! There is so much more you want, and if you keep at this you're just distracting yourself from, and delaying what you yearn for to enter".<br />
<br />
They say when you really close a door, another opens. So this is my dare to the Universe (or whatever you want to call it)... the door is closed. What do you have in store now?<br />
<br />
---<br />
Last year, I had a taste of the perfect balance- where I could share sport as a hobby, whilst living life as a normal young woman. Just shy of getting the job, settling into a relationship, and connecting all the little dots, it all shattered. It was one of the biggest blessings in disguise, because through that, and in the months that followed, I grew the equivalent of a decade as a person.<br />
<br />
I gripped triathlon again full force, and used it to propel me out of grief, and into relentless power. Once that had been achieved, once I reclaimed my strength, I just went through the motions of training because I was having a blast with friends and trips, and "workouts", but my body was exhausted, and my heart was ready to move on for no one else but ME.<br />
<br />
One of my favorite quotes, sums it up perfectly. I hope that in reading this, just as I'm told I've inspired people to train and race, I hope others are inspired to own their downs just as much, if not more, than their ups, and voice their emotions so they can connect, learn, and ascend into so much more than they thought possible- it's the essence of being human. There's no shame in expressing your feelings, and feeling them through. It's the only real, raw, vulnerable, and courageous way to heal and grow.<br />
<br />
"I sought help when I needed it and honored my feelings instead of trying to 'be strong' and 'man up' just so everyone could think I was some emotional superwoman. My true strength came from acknowledging my weaknesses, my fears, my heartbreak, and myself." - N. A.<br />
---<br />
<br />
Now, sitting in a Starbucks, at the place where my and THE triathlon seed was planted- Encinitas, CA- I have peace and open arms for whatever follows, and am thoroughly enjoying working out for pleasure.<br />
<br />
There's no list of goals or OCD planning- because life has taught me that the most wonderful things can never be anticipated, because they are usually greater than anything you could've dreamed up or written down.<br />
<br />
Maybe I'll get a job in CA, maybe in Mexico, maybe abroad? Maybe I'll travel a few months.. Maybe I'll fall in love again...<br />
<br />
Maybe all of the above<br />
;)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-33606066500000526352017-06-14T09:15:00.001-05:002017-06-14T09:16:25.571-05:00Cycles...Life is full of them, in every context. Some we open/close overnight, others take longer, maybe even years. Whatever the case, it's when we heed the lessons life is trying to teach us, when we finally outgrow something, or it just doesn't serve our purpose or path anymore that these pages of our life story turn to another chapter.<br />
<br />
Ironman Boulder was a closing of a cycle in my life. It was much more than training these last few months- it was rediscovering WHY I wanted to race an Ironman (which btw, when you can answer that, is when you know you should be doing it), rediscovering my strengths, and more importantly my weaknesses in multiple aspects, finding out who is there for me as a true friend/supporter, what thoughts, feelings, and things do or don't serve me, and what it is exactly that I want for myself at least in the short term of a few years.<br />
<br />
To quote one of my favorite authors, and public speakers, Brene Brown, <b>"Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. It is not weakness; it is our greatest measure of courage." </b><br />
<br />
That is racing, and that is life lived authentically.<br />
<br />
I'm back home now, after achieving the one goal I had for IM Boulder: the slot to Kona. It'll be my fifth time on the island for that race, 10 years after my first Ironman which happened to be Kona! So to say it is special, is an understatement.<br />
<br />
After a solid few weeks of incredibly needed rest I look forward to putting on the best preparation of my life for this Ironman. It starts a new cycle with immense experience, growth, grit, and connection to the people that are really my pillars for this fabulous journey.<br />
<br />
Let's go over Boulder briefly....<br />
<br />
First, I want to thank Andree and Chris Miceli for being the most wonderful hosts during my stay! Spoiled doesn't even begin to cut it. I met them in Cabo when they were there for IM in 2015, and that's the cool thing about triathlon- in one weekend you make friends for life.<br />
<br />
I went in to Boulder, mentally ready and of course physically since I had prepped well for IM TX and also had that event in my legs. But that was a double edged sword...a couple weeks ago I felt the deep fatigue in my legs that just wouldn't shake. I did nothing too "long" in these six weeks between the two Ironmans, but still it lingered.<br />
<br />
The swim was the best part of the day, it was a beautiful morning, and the Res is awesome. Exiting the swim, I found myself right next to Larissa- our newest 18-24 IM AG World Champ also from Mexico! It was super cool to head out onto the bike together :)<br />
<br />
About 20miles into riding my legs were shot. Just bricks. Fortunately, I was enjoying the ride/scenery too much so convinced myself to just get to T2 and it was okay to hand in my chip there.<br />
<br />
So I got to T2, and I honestly have ZERO idea how suddenly I was running. It was robotic, like I didn't even think and just headed out.<br />
<br />
I ran about 8-10 miles decent, at least it qualified as "running" so this pumped me up and got me thinking dang I might just be able to finish this quite well, what a lovely surprise. Then slowly from there, everything fell apart.<br />
<br />
This was unlike anything I'd ever experienced in a race because it wasn't mental demons, it wasn't caloric lows, or GI upset, or cramps....it was UNPLUGGED, DONE, ZAPPED, LEGS WILL ONLY WALK STOP TRYING TO RUN RIGHT NOW!!!!!!<br />
<br />
So at mile 16 the walk began. Larissa passed me and yelled to hang with her. LOL, girl was moving! I smiled and told her to keep at it because I was beyond done.<br />
<br />
Then an angel came by :)... At around mile 10 I had met this guy in a Timex kit, later to find out his name is Kyle, we briefly exchanged some words of encouragement and I ran ahead. At about that mile 16/17 aid station he saw me walking and said "Oh no, you said you want that Kona slot, you're not gonna miss it! Move your a**!" He was moving slower than Larissa, and it was like hearing my coach say none of that this hurts business, how bad do you want it?! So the jog of death began.<br />
<br />
We walked the aid stations, and trotted the rest. The last 4 miles were an indescribable agony. It literally felt like I had to lift 200lb legs each step.<br />
<br />
But then, there it was, the finish chute... Kyle and I ran in together, and he was right- KONA BABY!!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-83895429261395968112017-05-31T14:42:00.001-05:002017-05-31T14:44:12.724-05:00We fine tune who we are by filtering out what we are not....Hi! Ha!<br />
<br />
It's been almost a year since my last post, and so many life changes, adventures, races, new friends, old friends, highs and lows....I kept wanting to post an update, but it just seemed overwhelming at times.<br />
<br />
Now I feel there's been such a delay that it can be easily summarized...<br />
<br />
You may or may not know, I moved to Mexico City for a few months last year (what I thought would be at least a couple years- figuring if I really couldn't stand the city at least I'd land a solid, decent paying, job that could grant me "experience" and eventually justify a work visa back to the US).<br />
<br />
I spent 3 months on countless interviews- some for really exciting opportunities, others not so much. Regardless, the salaries and hours were akin to selling my soul. No thanks. Add in the traffic, the pollution, and just the every day hurdles of a city like that and I realized day by day that the simple, and at times too-peaceful, life in Cabo was beginning to resemble UTOPIA.<br />
<br />
Eventually, I did get an offer and was one day away from signing the dotted line- but felt like I was betraying my entire self in doing so.<br />
<br />
In addition to a personal issue, the decision to honor what I value in life and of myself, had me packing my bags quicker than when we got hit by Hurricane Odile lol, and back to Baja I went :)<br />
<br />
Despite the harsh realities on the career front, I had an AMAZINGGGG time racing and traveling all over mainland Mexico and truly did come to appreciate the many things Mexico City has to offer. It will always be a place I enjoy returning to for brief periods at a time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIZADieiooTU-xolSb9Ie52NJDEHKkJ-5obvXfF2_vmPrgSlumFZgcX6DYI8qeNM4qWeFo4uvFes4hklDhXHnUE3fliDpGtbumWIhOAeW_F7ILX-a36VItDnHNDhYDzgv1YTD881QBaQ/s1600/IMG_4007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIZADieiooTU-xolSb9Ie52NJDEHKkJ-5obvXfF2_vmPrgSlumFZgcX6DYI8qeNM4qWeFo4uvFes4hklDhXHnUE3fliDpGtbumWIhOAeW_F7ILX-a36VItDnHNDhYDzgv1YTD881QBaQ/s320/IMG_4007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It was an experience that I had to live, and do not regret for even a second. That city had taunted me for many years, and I feel it was inevitable that one day I'd try it out.<br />
<br />
Most of the traveling last year was (surprise!) to triathlons, and that was another silver lining- getting to check off all the races that when living in Cabo are just too far to go to all in one season!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGS7QCFKVpuUHCpa2-FMJU265GXybmIrrhJdg5oYAPac2lbA49sqQQDKO8dhr4wF3gjUpKdkKLDfwpVPuPDR3S23_TialraFnD44jRabwCqMj0T8KnLXR_4-HGRMQm2Ba51RbiKE7Cap0/s1600/IMG_3336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGS7QCFKVpuUHCpa2-FMJU265GXybmIrrhJdg5oYAPac2lbA49sqQQDKO8dhr4wF3gjUpKdkKLDfwpVPuPDR3S23_TialraFnD44jRabwCqMj0T8KnLXR_4-HGRMQm2Ba51RbiKE7Cap0/s320/IMG_3336.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Throughout all that Olympic/draft legal racing, my back pain started to subside, and my stubborn AF little voice inside started to wonder ... "can I make a comeback?...."<br />
<br />
Naturally, the second I landed back in Cabo, equipped with some altitude training and "race weight" by default haha, I wasted no time in laying out my goals for 2017.<br />
<br />
It helped that I had already singed up for our inaugural Los Cabos Marathon, which took place end of January. To add to the fun, a few killer athletes had recently moved to Cabo and so the perfect training bubble was in place!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HGx3wjSUdTvMzvbjE2hRt1O2GvEOR6q1gezJWu0PidC4pOayr0s2fLqQenuStXAWF1e6SNo5_1rC9Ng8LS1GRzyIEbaAmSJv0koFJM_-rB2KyW9ARlDtr3C4vuI6utEK6gV9aFL6MuI/s1600/IMG_6509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HGx3wjSUdTvMzvbjE2hRt1O2GvEOR6q1gezJWu0PidC4pOayr0s2fLqQenuStXAWF1e6SNo5_1rC9Ng8LS1GRzyIEbaAmSJv0koFJM_-rB2KyW9ARlDtr3C4vuI6utEK6gV9aFL6MuI/s320/IMG_6509.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
The marathon went well- it was a super gnarly course, all along the hotel corridor, with relentless climbs and downhills that just crushed the quads. But the trail running prep for the marathon plus the race itself, formed an excellent base for the year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7vJqCetPsyfcglk5JG_v3Xjuu863DVIaOmPwnEUOks-zFcoLhzrbV7M_vww50a4dubFwWgRX2l2LDyQamLCn8_2fpepj_a4cyJxnZEoO9tDYcOJBcmzeZbCU2UrX7_4II4NCsSBidjM/s1600/IMG_6126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7vJqCetPsyfcglk5JG_v3Xjuu863DVIaOmPwnEUOks-zFcoLhzrbV7M_vww50a4dubFwWgRX2l2LDyQamLCn8_2fpepj_a4cyJxnZEoO9tDYcOJBcmzeZbCU2UrX7_4II4NCsSBidjM/s320/IMG_6126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I kicked off the season at the La Paz Olympic- which is one of the best, most beautiful, races out there. I placed first in the AG, and 2nd OA behind by new training partner, and stud, Cibelle.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NVVKzCVLcZpq7UNw_rk_HdB6ouNTBUi6QJWBzVhF1FkvjNPROayshtw2oCojigkgKsMo9Caglq1Bn7B2Eyn_SSKE10OXONl3ur6iz60TJ7F43WxhvpmQZmCy4dqy54u7A6jCj3uIbVg/s1600/IMG_6843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NVVKzCVLcZpq7UNw_rk_HdB6ouNTBUi6QJWBzVhF1FkvjNPROayshtw2oCojigkgKsMo9Caglq1Bn7B2Eyn_SSKE10OXONl3ur6iz60TJ7F43WxhvpmQZmCy4dqy54u7A6jCj3uIbVg/s320/IMG_6843.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
After that the focus was on Ironman Texas to qualify for Kona. It was a race I'd mulled over registering for or not all winter, but went for it just shy of 2 months out, because it seemed far enough to get in good form, but close enough that I had no time to lose motivation, or get overtrained for.<br />
<br />
I did manage a mountain bike injury and a nasty head cold (of course!). Nonetheless, come April 22, the hunger to race was at its peak, and I was thrilled with the result. It landed me one spot and a few minutes short of the 3rd Hawaii slot for the 30-34, but to pull off a 10:15 feeling solid was enough to keep me pushing forward. Either way 70.3 Worlds was still on tap.<br />
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<br />
<br />
In less than 48 hours I signed up for Boulder, and that brings us to today!<br />
<br />
There are no expectations for Boulder other than to bust my A** for that Kona slot. The body feels good, the inner demons are being quiet, and so it really boils down to controlling what's in my hands, and accepting what's not.<br />
<br />
Ironman is an incredible metaphor for life- all you can do is show up, give your best effort, and let the chips fall where they may.<br />
<br />
----0-----<br />
<br />
See ya'll June 11, in CO. Thank you to my family, friends, supporters from all over that I have never even met, but ya'll reach out (it means so much!), my new coach, and some very exciting new sponsors!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-17073594562383702142016-07-13T07:13:00.000-05:002016-07-13T13:59:31.703-05:00Detour <div class="MsoNormal">
Last Friday after coming home from racing Challenge San Gil,
down in Queretaro, Mexico, I was out doing a 2hr ride on
top of a morning run and lunch swim- a little rev back in the engine to kick
start the final push for Vineman.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve been registered for Vineman since finishing Cozumel in
November where I surprised myself with a solid result given minimal long
distance training. All year, subconsciously or consciously, I kept delaying the
beginning of actual Ironman training until “surprise!”, it’s July and I barely
have time for anything before a taper. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Still, knowing how quickly things become boring and
monotonous to me, especially when training 99% solo, I really only needed 2-3
long rides and runs to top off the pretty consistent training I’ve had all year
and race fresher than in other IM’s, but perhaps better. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Somewhere in that 2hr ride on Friday though, I had to be
honest with myself. I have no desire to race Ironman. The only reason for me to
toe that line again is to break 10hrs, and I’d really need a miracle to do that
right now. Regardless, I have other things that I’d much rather focus on that
breaking down my body and numbing my mind like that again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What a relief it is to just do what you really want and know
is best for you! It’s not like anyone really cares, and there’s no pressure
from sponsors, family, or friends…but somehow the commitment I had made to
race, and race well, was becoming too much to let go of. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s been a lovely few days of hanging out with old friends,
doing yoga, lifting more, and I’m excited to head out for random group rides
and keep this relaxed approach going. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Through my forced exit as an elite and a couple years not
racing at all, to contemplating a comeback, I’ve now arrived at a wonderful sweet
spot of sorts: I want to be the weekend warrior- enjoying the social aspect of
training and racing, and tackling manageable, fun, and healthy distances. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So the focus right now is on landing a full time job in a
city that I had never ever …EVER… entertained as an option. MEXICO CITY. Yep.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you know me, you’ll likely spit your coffee out reading
that. But it’s true. This year, and certain wonderful people, have made me see
that concrete jungle as a world of possibility, culture, excitement,
challenges; no longer just a threat of traffic and pollution. Perspective is
everything!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I found myself going more often in the last few months than
I’d cumulatively been in years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
each visit I saw myself living closer to family, meeting new people, and
expanding my career to the point where one day if I choose to, I can justify a
foreigner work visa because I’ll actually have the professional experience. Or
maybe I’ll actually love it and stay. Who knows? No one- certainly not me. It's scary, but it’s also incredibly fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hakuna Matata, the circle of life. I love the irony of going
to live in the city that brought me into this world and one, which I had sworn
off entirely. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since moving to Mexico 2 years ago, my country has given me
a lot more back than I gave it credit for. 2016, so far, has been full of great
times and adventure- there’s nothing in me yearning to go back to the US at
all. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being a big believer in the Law of Attraction, I can’t help
but smile as the interviews roll in since taking this detour. I don’t want to
jinx it, so won’t name the company, but this afternoon I’ll be Skyping with an
Ad Agency that everyone in the SMU Ad/Mktg school had their eyes on- lo and
behold they have a Mexico office ;)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This blog doesn’t have much momentum anymore since it was
centered on my athletic career. So these posts are more of a diary than
anything. I can’t wait to look back in a few years and remember the time when I
made yet another big shift into another thrilling chapter of life. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The journey…it’s all about the journey….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-60409336486451261272015-12-06T16:42:00.004-06:002015-12-06T16:54:21.355-06:00ANYTHING Really is Possible Up to now, that Ironman slogan hadn't meant much to me other than a motivating marketing quote from a company who's races I participated in. From my first Ironman in 2007, it had been something that was easily possible because all it took was logging in the long miles and staying headstrong- so that even with a massive breakdown in pace on the marathon, I could stagger to the finish line.<br />
<br />
That possibility was *completely* taken away in 2012 when I DNF'ed Ironman Louisville after getting off the bike with over 60 miles of locking back pain and gathering my thoughts and strength in the porta potty of T2 barely able to stand, and seeing if I had the courage to open that door and take on the run course.<br />
<br />
Save dignity, I made it past the first couple miles of crowds cheering "you can do it!"- and I furiously thought, "no, I can't! This isn't about discomfort or a mental bonk- this is disastrous- one more step and my back will break, type of pain!".<br />
<br />
Soon I found a little building with a stair hallway I could hide in, cry myself a pity party, and then walk to turn in my chip.<br />
<br />
3 years later, I still didn't think I'd see an Ironman finish EVER again. But my new life in Cabo was finally taking form after a few emotionally difficult years dealing with separating myself from triathlon, moving to an essentially new country despite my citizenship to it, and leaving behind family and friends to venture out entirely alone.<br />
<br />
I'd found my purpose with people as passionate for sport as I, and was setting out on making my life work tie in directly with what I love to do most- be active, healthy, and help out the greater community thorough this lifestyle.<br />
<br />
With this excitement, triathlon entered again in a new light: as a way to stand for the athletic movement in Cabo, be an example to the local kids, and travel and seek out new adventures and experiences.<br />
<br />
Little by little more things seemed possible.<br />
<br />
As driven as I was for Ironman Cozumel, there was an undeniable amount of nervousness of can I really even finish?! I told my coach that I didn't really grasp what I had achieved in my younger years in Ironman until now- that youthful fearlessness was such a weapon!<br />
<br />
It comes down to this- remove fear from your mind and you can do absolutely anything.<br />
<br />
Coach P eased my mind the night before saying this was just a long day- a picnic for the steady and strong. Just be a machine, and don't overthink it. This was my comfort zone and I just needed to trust that my body knew exactly what to do.<br />
<br />
It sure did.<br />
<br />
The race unfolded as follows...<br />
<br />
Thursday morning, I woke up after a series of naps resulting from food poisoning (which tends to plague me before a big race), and continued hugging the toilet until I literally would miss my flight if I stalled any longer. I debated dragging the luggage into my car and going at all- when you feel deathly ill even something that important to you and which you've worked so hard for, seems meaningless at the time.<br />
<br />
I'm glad I summoned up the energy to get my butt in the car, as I'd regret if massively if I'd chosen to stay and victimize myself.<br />
<br />
Pedialtye, bagels, potato chips, gatorade, juices, and mineral tablets galore later, things were looking up.<br />
<br />
Once in Cozumel my aunt picked me up and took me to the best Thanksgiving dinner I've enjoyed in many years. Some American family had their grandmother in town and she followed recipes passed down from generations and it really was grandma's cooking that gave me back my strength.<br />
<br />
Friday morning I got the packet, did a short ride, run, and swim to wake the system up and then rested until race morning as best I could.<br />
<br />
Sunday came and I felt awesome. The swim start was rolling and I'd never experienced that in an Ironman before. Everything would have gone great with that method had they not chosen what seemed like a theatre prop for the ramp into the water.<br />
<br />
With eager athletes that thing shook like it was undergoing an earthquake and as we quickly jumped into the water "one by one", too many of us unfortunately discovered the water was about 2-3ft deep and I started my Ironman day with two scraped knees and a jammed foot I was hoping would come back to life halfway through the swim.<br />
<br />
The swim was uneventful- warm clear water typical of Cozumel, and a pace that at times seemed a bit too peaceful. My only regret was not jamming my way to the very very very front of that first corral and holding onto the front group of swimmers. I needed to exit the water with the girl that went on to win our age group.<br />
<br />
Onto the bike- BEST RACE RIDE OF MY LIFE. Since a couple long rides in July and two more in September in TX I had not ridden over 4hrs. But the consistency of the year paid dividends!!<br />
<br />
I felt I rode 80 miles. I didn't light a single match the whole bike ride and considering the winds this year were way tougher than previous times I've raced Cozumel, I rode better than I could've ever expected.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zxjSj1hqAMJsKUj7nIZUg3THQH6gLevEO1zFlP4wdLAHc94gDi83bIyomiJ7hpp4SqTC5_44IfxUP6JDaIAbZklqLMZpgyUjUQVmshtFR871jXzBrTfVlqdPfE4LVLFpmoNhKj6RFd4/s1600/IMG_3433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zxjSj1hqAMJsKUj7nIZUg3THQH6gLevEO1zFlP4wdLAHc94gDi83bIyomiJ7hpp4SqTC5_44IfxUP6JDaIAbZklqLMZpgyUjUQVmshtFR871jXzBrTfVlqdPfE4LVLFpmoNhKj6RFd4/s320/IMG_3433.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The run started out great- my legs felt good. But the back was stiff as nails the first 5k. I had way too many internal pleads to stop running and call it. But I just told myself to keep at it until it literally stops you in your tracks.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9scWYZFZhi9Z_dab1dXHVkLXNkLPmL2S3vpuwO1TysDaAZ3Gcf4JfQfVgKkM53HSvyYAPa3gyQyBLPJo89DhpP-Wz_4LXwnZcp2zDcNxHBaZEeNh5l5c1nEmofdqr67CuJhiBDdztmH4/s1600/IMG_3435.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9scWYZFZhi9Z_dab1dXHVkLXNkLPmL2S3vpuwO1TysDaAZ3Gcf4JfQfVgKkM53HSvyYAPa3gyQyBLPJo89DhpP-Wz_4LXwnZcp2zDcNxHBaZEeNh5l5c1nEmofdqr67CuJhiBDdztmH4/s320/IMG_3435.PNG" width="180" /></a>The run had its ups and downs. Loop 2 of three I felt the best but started cramping right before the third lap began. I upped the salt and came to- until mile 19. At that exact moment the lack of long runs slapped me in the face. It was a survival to the finish line.<br />
<br />
This finish cost me much more those last miles physically, than any other Ironman I've done. But the elation from realizing I was about to actually finish an Ironman when a couple months ago I still swore it would never happen was too much and I broke down in tears the last km.<br />
<br />
I gave everything I had, and have no regrets. I trained what my mind, body, and life approach allowed and desired each day this year, and thus it was never daunting- it was one of the best years in sport, and a year that taught me so much not just as an athlete but as a person.<br />
<br />
Third in 25-29 and 5th female amateur, 18th overall in 10:26. Not shabby.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsanZi3VATp1h21ZZtSUS6iH_nHxUkI8AAPaqckhzWEHS9CF8P99UeRltnfvgfRq5PboPXZKH88ghAblBM1IuqzPm3RcgFEJEYssrEVY8ewU_bh_9aWKEc1yXgWY8WkEV6VbySypCqwo/s1600/12348544_1075895462461192_1340160416_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsanZi3VATp1h21ZZtSUS6iH_nHxUkI8AAPaqckhzWEHS9CF8P99UeRltnfvgfRq5PboPXZKH88ghAblBM1IuqzPm3RcgFEJEYssrEVY8ewU_bh_9aWKEc1yXgWY8WkEV6VbySypCqwo/s400/12348544_1075895462461192_1340160416_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
But if you know me- there's always the desire for more. I missed the Kona slot, and I want Kona.<br />
<br />
So Vineman 2016 it is. And the goal is to win Worlds a third time.<br />
<br />
2016- I'm a triathlete again and I'm placing no limits.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qqTm3KF58Sd98myBnfutfVTAyyaUajN_iChaxT-hyj2uo5PzNp4N0R9NzwTKl3j7cntf8X8TSH8lS2TFft-FdKaOU4u1EI9lSlpDf5FXtZqo7cQuQfKT5_H4375o47wzGTikI5z-_FQ/s1600/IMG_3417.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qqTm3KF58Sd98myBnfutfVTAyyaUajN_iChaxT-hyj2uo5PzNp4N0R9NzwTKl3j7cntf8X8TSH8lS2TFft-FdKaOU4u1EI9lSlpDf5FXtZqo7cQuQfKT5_H4375o47wzGTikI5z-_FQ/s320/IMG_3417.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-13897615344710680702015-11-02T12:40:00.002-06:002015-11-02T13:17:31.853-06:002015 In a NutshellIt seems silly at this point with instagram, Facebook, twitter, snapchat, and whatever other social media tools we use, to write paragraphs on what those snip bits covered on an almost daily basis.<br />
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But, at the port-a-potty line of 70.3 Cabo last Sunday, a woman I'd never met came up and introduced herself asking if I was Tatiana as she loves to read my blog and is very happy I'm back racing and involved in the sport. WOW! That made me blush and it was so cool to have that kind of reach and appreciation from people you may run into once in your life or maybe not at all.<br />
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Triathlon, and sport in general, connects us like that- and it's special. We can all inspire and motivate people when we don't even realize it.<br />
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Deep talk aside, I'd like to note for years ahead when I read back at 2015, that I am incredibly thankful for what life has given me these past months!<br />
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After accepting the Austria Worlds 70.3 slot at Galveston, I enjoyed an amazing two weeks in Spain that were a welcome change to every other kind of vacation/travel I'd ever been on. I met some wonderful people and experienced things that I thought only exist in movies.<br />
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After that escapade, I was back in Cabo hosting our SMASH/DIMOND camp. It went really well, and only cut short due to a tease from Hurricane Blanca, that luckily just caused some rain and power outages...but led to me fleeing Cabo early for the summer.<br />
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Back in Texas, I jumped into Lubbock 70.3 to get my butt into gear for Austria training and then followed my good friend and teammate, Dawn Elder ("Kona Dawn"), to a month long training camp in Tucson.<br />
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I LOVE TUCSON! We had a ball- and the camp resulted in another fabulous friendship with Lauren Palmer, who I'm sure I'll battle out the 25-29 in Kona next year if the cards line up for us;)! Some other HPB/Smash athletes joined us for some random training days, and I left for Europe feeling fit and in love with triathlon all over again.<br />
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Europe can't even be summed up here. Austria is the most beautiful country on Earth. The training at Hotel Mohrenwirt was absolutely perfect. I've never been to or seen such picturesque and ideal training grounds for triathlon, and road or mountain biking.<br />
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After 3 weeks alone in Fuschl Am See, my brother and mom joined and we headed to Zell Am See for Worlds.<br />
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The race went as best as it could've. I swam and biked my heart out, and may or may not have paid for it on the run but that was the plan- just GO FOR IT. Im happy to see cycling finally clicking- just need to run like I used to with that new bike rhythm.<br />
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After Europe I touched down in Texas and raced TriRock Austin which is always a blast! Then it was off to Chicago for Short Course Worlds. Chicago itself I'm enamored with. What a cool city! I hope to return to enjoy it as a pure tourist soon. I had some issues in that race- just felt flat on the run, and a fiasco in T1 with running in bike shoes through literally wet mud puddles resulting in minutes trying to clip into my speedplay pedals.<br />
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To end the year, I had the intention of racing Ironman Cabo and again joined Dawn for her final long Kona workouts in Texas.<br />
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However, when I returned to Cabo at the start of October I realized Ironman felt daunting. The heat those first two weeks was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. Also, and in hindsight it's even clearer, I was unplugged after that whole summer of training, racing, and traveling. So I opted for the 70.3<br />
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That half was important to me as I have a lot of people that look up to me here in Cabo, and I needed to perform to give back in effort what this place and the community means to me.<br />
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I probably rolled over the last staple-thing before the turn to the manicured airport toll road at around mile 30 of the bike. I was leading the age group race by 10+ minutes and after standing around for a miracle pit stop from a mechanic or anyone that would loan me a spare wheel, I called it and went on to cheer for my brother, Daniel. He ended up winning overall amateur in his first 70.3!<br />
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There's no excuse for not carrying a spare but I'll give my reasons- I have no race wheels here. Daniel even forgot my front and I scrambled to find us another wheel from local friends that weren't racing 1 day before bike check in. He even had to use a front clencher and rear tubular.<br />
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The disc I flatted I just bought from a friend a few weeks ago and it had a bike shop glued tire that after the race took me 30+ minutes to peel off. I had no pit stop here...and in the end YES I did say "last race, all or nothing, here goes!".<br />
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Bitter sweet weekend as a lot of friends, new and old, were in town racing and we hit up some of my favorite spots. Superstar Mel McQuaid decided to stay a couple more days with me and we went with some other triathlete friends to swim with the Whale Sharks!<br />
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.......<br />
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What that flat caused though, is a fire inside me that I haven't felt since I last raced Hawaii! It made me so angry that I couldn't put all that hard work to use and showcase it in front of my hometown. Naturally, I looked for what race I could do this year- but not just any, one that could have an end purpose and a lot at stake.<br />
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Enter IRONMAN COZUMEL. My last Ironman in 2011, my first race as a Pro, and in my country. BAM! Unfinished business is an understatement.<br />
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This last week ramping up the mileage and planning the training showed me that I needed that recovery/taper week leading into Cabo 70.3, that I was EXHAUSTED beyond measure and I couldn't even sense it myself!<br />
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Right now I am a mix of awesome emotions- I'm pissed, motivated, ecstatic, hungry, ambitious....I want to go to Cozumel and absolutely race my heart and body out. I want to cross that finish line with nothing left- nothing but a deep exhalation of what an amazing year Ive had and how fortunate I am to be surrounded by wonderful family, friends, and supporters.<br />
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Training and racing aside, things in the sport development realm in Cabo are going fabulous! We have a new government in place and investors/local business keen on attracting sports tourism and brining in the infrastructure needed to make Los Cabos an athlete's paradise. I won't share more until things are clearly defined, and honestly because there's too much to share I could probably write a book!;)<br />
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Keep an eye out.<br />
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Cheers.<br />
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<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-78313396378990135112015-04-28T12:16:00.000-05:002015-04-28T12:17:20.739-05:00Galveston 70.3 In 2013, I "raced" Galveston after barely surviving Qt2 Pro Camp, and months of underlying fatigue that just wouldn't go away. Only now that I'm healthy do I realize how grey that cloud was that loomed over me. There was almost complete apathy toward being there and taking one more step- I felt bloated and stone legged, annoyed, and just wanting to move on from the world of swim, bike, and run. The back pain lasted for days after, and it wasn't long before I called my coach at the time, Jesse, and said I'm done racing.<br />
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In the last 2 years I've discovered that the general health issues had to do with my body's ability to process folic acid, and its need for bio active folate...which I talked about at length in another post. I also did find balance in my life, and got a life ;) haha. As well, maybe it was just giving time, time, but I learned to manage my back pain and spent many of what felt like stupid minutes a day doing tiny exercises/stretches that have accumulated to nothing short of a miracle.<br />
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I don't for once take my health for granted, so I know that the back pain is a part of me as an athlete and the spondy as a condition is a part of me as a person in whatever activity or lack thereof I partake in. So I can only continue the diligence when it comes to this bodily maintenance.<br />
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Onto the race...<br />
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I arrived in Texas on Wednesday night, got a great night's sleep, and was eagerly at the pool at 6am on Thursday. Everything was going perfect until 11am when a sudden urge to puke my brains out hit and didn't stop until 5pm that I was letting out vile and coiling in screams at the stomach pain. Realizing I couldn't even keep down 2oz of water, and my mom said I looked like death, we headed to Urgent Care. I passed out in the car over. Two IV bags and a triple dose of anti nausea medicine later, and life looked promising again.<br />
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The doctor said it was a virus, so not food poisoning, and that if I wanted to race I just had to get as much fluid and hopefully solid food in by Sunday morning (race day).<br />
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Cool.<br />
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Saturday evening in Galveston was my first real meal aside from boiled potatoes, fruit cups, and bananas. I even felt good enough to have a glass of white wine.<br />
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The mistake was made on Sunday morning when I should've been preemptive and downed some electrolyte tabs, or drank a bottle of sports drink with Base salt.<br />
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The race----<br />
Swim: I lined up front center, and ended up swimming 99% of the course on Alicia's feet ahead of the whole group, minus one girl that was farther ahead of us. It felt cruisey and the only bummer was having to navigate hundreds of slower age group men from prior waves. I did cramp 3 times on my right calf in the swim and still didn't take the hint to load up on extra salt on the bike!<br />
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I lost Alicia through a crowd of those men right before the last turn bouey toward the ramp.<br />
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Onto the bike I felt awesome. The Dimond is just ridiculous, that's all I need to say. I opted for a disc in the most perfect flat conditions. I passed Alicia a few miles into it, and then she caught back up with about 10miles to go.<br />
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I ended up coming into T1 only about a min ahead. I knew she ran well since she trains with my friend Sam Mazer, and so I just hoped I could run strong and even if she did end up ahead by a couple minutes she had her Worlds slot so I'd be good and have had a breakthrough race.<br />
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Looking at my watch if I ran 1:35 I'd be finishing right at 4:35-:4:40 so possibly a 70.3 PR (Vineman 4:39)...I was stoked!!!<br />
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Then it happened. Roughly 2 miles in, the quads started to cramp. I stared grabbing bananas, gatorade, and coke at every aid station like I was at an eating contest vs a triathlon. Too late. It was very humid, but I train in heat and I do well in humidity, and have never ever cramped in a race- EVER.<br />
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By the middle of the first lap I was about to hand my chip in and call it a day. The pain was ridiculous. Every step felt like my legs were going to buckle and I was jogging at a frustrating pace. It sucks when you feel great but your legs are worthless!<br />
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At the middle of the second loop I actually laid down for about 10min and had a massage on my legs to try and get the cramps out enough to just finish.<br />
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Devastatingly enough, I got passed with about 3/4mi to go by the girl that got second, and thankfully managed to hang on and finish because the slot rolled down to me for Austria.<br />
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Some things are just out of your control, but I do feel a bit of anger at myself for not having the light bulb go off and load up to prevent the cramps. It was such an obvious possibility that I dropped the ball. But, you learn.<br />
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That said, I am thrilled that I PR'd the bike with a 2:22 and had almost ZERO back discomfort. Knowing that with even a decent run I might've PR'd for a 70.3, motivates me like heck to put my head down and drill the training for Austria and Chicago.<br />
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You never know what will happen on race day but I'm in it to win it so after a couple weeks break, I'll be back to work;)!!<br />
<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-13821199829437012952015-04-02T11:15:00.002-05:002015-04-02T11:50:52.888-05:00One month to go!!! Racing for the Children's Tumor Foundation<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, lucida grande, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">I am Incredibly grateful to my friends that have already donated to this great cause which I hope to race not just the Hawaii 70.3 for, but many more events!! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, lucida grande, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, lucida grande, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">It will be an honor to line up on that start line knowing that the journey was more than time spent in a pool, a trail, or cycling highways. It was about being thankful each and every day for health and the OPPORTUNITY to be able to do each of those things. Children born with neurofibromatosis battle obstacles much greater than most of us could ever imagine. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, lucida grande, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">From all the reading I've done regarding neurofibromatosis, it is wonderful to be able to play a part, however small, in funding the research and education/counseling for families affected by this genetic disorder- especially with my recent involvement with all the kids in Cabo, and our own TriCaboKidz foundation. 30 days left for us to reach the goal together!! Thank you!!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, lucida grande, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1106461&supId=420693242&extSiteType=1">CLICK HERE</a> to help!!</span></span>TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-25483620164890569912015-03-23T07:57:00.001-05:002015-03-23T08:26:48.190-05:00ITU La Paz Moonlight TriathlonThis weekend was one of five Mexican Federation's age group qualifying races for the 2015 ITU Short Course Worlds in Chicago. It also included a draft legal race for Elite men and women that went off 20min before us.<br />
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Until yesterday, I had only done 2 Federation races- both in Ixtapa- but as an Elite in the draft legal category. There are 3 defining things about me as a triathlete: 1) the longer the race, the better I perform 2) I don't like draft legal 3) I seek out races according to temperature - HOT HOT HOT please!!<br />
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So hearing that the AG qualifier was non draft, that the bike had been lengthened to 48k (I think the main reason was to really separate us from the draft legal event on the course), and it was obviously going to be summer temps, I was immediately keen to sign up and give it a shot!<br />
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Last June I raced a half marathon in La Paz- all along the Malecon (stretch along the coast that's got a run/bike path and lined with restaurants, shops, and hotels), and into the Marina and Costa Baja golf course. Needless to say it was spectacular and I couldn't wait to do another race there.<br />
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Unlike 99% of the races, this one was set to start at 3pm...about the time I usually crave a nap in my day:) Joking aside, I was looking forward to this start time as it meant it'd be warmer, and it was something new and thus exciting. The only issue was making sure I ate very simply the whole day so as not to start the race with stomach trouble. A reason for this late start (not that it's the sole reason but one I know of) is that it's the "Moonlight Triathlon" - the idea is you finish at sunset and then party.<br />
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Mid morning Friday I left Cabo. It's a gorgeous, desolate, 90min-tops drive along the Pacific Hwy 19 (which I train on regularly). Since hotel check in wasn't until later, I met some friends from Mexico City and Cuernavaca at their hotel, caught up over coffee and lunch, and at 3pm the race organizers set up the swim course for a recon.<br />
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The wind was blowing pretty hard so the current and chop were gnarly- which I was stoked about! We swam the 1500m all against the current, and knew all the open water practice in Cabo and daily fun in the waves was going to pay off.<br />
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That afternoon I checked in the hotel and walked across the street to have an early dinner at a really cool new Mediterranean place, and then ended up accompanying a friend that had yet to eat, later that evening on the Malecon. It was great to get out there at night, walk a bit, and potentially stay up so as not to wake up at 6am Saturday and twiddle my thumbs waiting to race!!<br />
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Saturday morning I did a little jog first thing, showered and ate a normal breakfast of eggs, coffee, juice, and potatoes...then spent the rest of the hours relaxing until bike check in. Afterwards, I just ate a Powerbar and Vega Sport Protein with water 2 hours before the start. It worked like magic!<br />
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Just like the day before, the wind, chop, and current were on their game! The sprint race which started from a different point and a couple hours later actually ended up pulling people out of the water because of the conditions. Many even called it quits voluntarily:(<br />
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All the women went off in one wave which was awesome because I hate guessing where I am until the results are posted!<br />
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I lined up on the far left- it was a running start- as I knew the current would push me right/toward the beach, and sure enough I sprinted to the front and caught the feet of the girl who was swimming in second position. After a few strokes i decided to pass her and try to bridge up to the lead swimmer who I could see well within reach. Ultimately I couldn't latch on to her but dropped the other girl so ended up swimming solo in second a few meters back from first all the way to the exit.<br />
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We got out with a good lead on the rest of the women, and here commenced my T1 sh*t show haha...<br />
supposedly ITU rules state that if it's non wetsuit, then whatever you swim with you must bike and run with. Therefore, if I chose to wear my TYR swim skin over my two piece tri kit, I'd have to keep it on the whole race- what?! Umm NO!<br />
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So I swam with a bathing suit and put on tri shorts in T1 to prevent chaffing ;) Well that took a bit of time, as it frustratingly does when you're wet. I also love my road shoes so I took the time to put those on and hop on my bike leisurely, ha. It was good as at least I calmed the HR through that locker room scenario.<br />
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Onto the bike I caught the lead girl at about 5km in, and continued to lead the race from then on. The bike was STUNNING!! It's the absolute most awesome bike course I've ridden. Rolling hills along some of the world's most incredible beaches with the opposing desert landscape just taking your breath away (no pun intended).<br />
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The bike leg was fabulous- my new Dimond is a rocket! I've never felt so stealth on the bike before- and was just having a ball!<br />
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As for the back pain, an ortho doc friend that was racing too kineseo taped it, and placebo or not it helped tons! I did feel it lock up at times and I'd just soft pedal a few seconds until it relaxed. The only thing I can do now that's non invasive is aggressively tackle the core work before the 70.3 events coming up to make sure the little hiccups don't completely ruin my race like in the past.<br />
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Anyway...onto T2, and then started the run feeling great minus a bit of air trapped - you know when it's like cramping, and you just have to hope you burp and it settles. Well luckily at about 2km it did, and I continued on a decent pace, feeling better each km to the finish. I didn't run a spectacular time, but had a clear lead and no need to completely gas myself. At the last turn around toward the finish, however, I saw a girl (who ended up running like the second fastest split, men or women) pretty close to me and picked it up to make sure she didn't catch up. She finished only about a min behind me- making up a ton of time with that awesome run.<br />
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I can't describe how happy I was to cross that finish line with little physical issues, and just overwhelmed realizing how much I enjoy this sport and how beautiful that course is. After 2 years of not racing I was chomping at the bit!! Winning was just icing on the cake.<br />
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At night we enjoyed the awards party, beers and food, and it almost felt like Ironman with the late finish except I could actually keep food down and walk:)<br />
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Sunday morning after breakfast a friend from Cabo and I check out and decided to head to Balandra and Tecolote- the most renowned beaches (where the bike turned around) and relax a bit and grab lunch before driving back home. It felt like I was on LOST and really just wanted to pitch a tent and stay a few days.<br />
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Now home, Chicago ticket in hand, and with 4 weeks until Galveston 70.3 I have some serious work to do to qualify for Austria Worlds. I feel privileged to be able to train and race- something I can't deny taking for granted many years. </div>
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<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-38336391111423550642015-03-19T12:28:00.001-05:002015-03-19T12:40:16.549-05:00Hawaii 70.3- Children's Tumor Foundation! We're fools if we do things the same way expecting different results, right?<br />
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Well, the last time I raced Hawaii 70.3 was in 2012- the birth of the low back "injury" that has haunted me since. I kept racing that whole season, and tried again to swim/bike/run in 2013 until calling it quits at Galveston 70.3....<br />
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Fast forward to now- I'm attempting a return to triathlon but this time with a different perspective and cause.<br />
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For one, I've come to terms with the low back situation and see it as a "dare" to manage it through a whole season by successfully getting to the finish line at each event without having to sacrifice performance.<br />
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Secondly, being on the SMASH/DIMOND women's team has renewed my sense of purpose and reach, in terms of being able to inspire others, by belonging to something bigger than myself. I feel accountable to these women and what we stand for, as well as all the people and companies supporting the team.<br />
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Finally, as part of TriCabo and TriCaboKidz, I want to be a role model for the triathlon school of Cabo and to walk the talk of sport development in Baja Sur.<br />
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I guess on top of all of this, is also the weird sense that if keys from the Universe keep showing up at my fingertips to hold steady on the triathlon road, it must mean I shouldn't give up! Not a believer in coincidence, I think when obstacles are thrown at us, and walls block us even from what we (*think*) want most in life, we have to take it with a grain of salt and accept that we are meant to be on a different journey.<br />
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For some odd reason, the triathlon train still reserves my seat! So I've decided to hop on board again.<br />
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I don't have a clue how I'll fare this weekend at the La Paz Olympic, or Galveston 70.3 in April, and I've now committed to raising money for Hawaii 70.3 May 30th...but I do know that I'm in shape, healthy, and ready to leave the back pain and results to fate. The daily process of and interaction with other athletes in this crazy sport is what makes me happy.<br />
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That said, I know that if I am to race on the Big Island again, it has to be for something other than myself, so when a friend mentioned Hawaii 70.3 and I curiously looked at the site the "entry for charity" stood right out.<br />
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The sense of training and racing for kids in need is far more motivating and fulfilling than for any podium spot or qualifying time.<br />
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<a href="http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1106461&supId=420693242&extSiteType=1">The Children's Tumor Foundation</a> asks for a minimum of $3000 dls by May 1st for the charity entry and it would mean a lot to me to have your support.<br />
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Please share, and follow the link if you want to help me in this cause:)!<br />
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<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-88334449718861236482015-02-10T14:28:00.002-06:002015-02-10T14:28:55.208-06:00Cabo Half Marathon This was the third year for the <a href="https://www.mediomaratonloscabos.com/">Los Cabos Half Marathon </a> and it went from a couple hundred people to over 1000! From the expo/packet pick up to race day, everything was smooth and professional- a real top notch event.<br />
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The course is similar to the Ironman run, in beautiful historic San Jose, finishing on the main plaza in front of the church and surrounded by coffee shops, bars, and yummy restaurants.<br />
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Naturally, I ran supporting the <a href="https://www.tricabokidz.com/">TriCaboKidz Foundation</a> which meant sponsoring a kid's entry, and getting a cool tshirt in return, which I proudly wore after the event:)<br />
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I saw a few friends race morning and found Miriam who I also raced in La Paz- she's a local stud that beats me up on the bike and run any time we get together haha.<br />
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Training leading up to the half had gone great- it wasn't specific to this race obviously as I switched back into triathlon mode about a month ago, but I had banked some awesome runs (even marathon long ones for the supposed Carlsbad full) so I felt I was carrying solid run fitness.<br />
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The course was awesome! It took us from the Plaza along the San Jose hotel corridor, over to the Mayan Beach Club, back and over the Puerto Los Cabos bridge, where the hills start into Fonatur then down to the Marina, some trails in the huerta/farm, back to the bridge again and a small out and back to the Plaza finish.<br />
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All along there were people cheering, awesome volunteers, clearly marked kms, and aid stations with gatorade and water.<br />
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Along with the 21k they had a 5k and a kids 3k and 400m dash.<br />
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At the start I lined up next to Miriam and hung on through 3k, then dropped back a bit where I stayed within sight until the end, never able to catch up. Around km 18 another local, and also SoCal chick, Melissa, caught me and we played cat and mouse until 2km left and she snatched 2nd place a few seconds before me.<br />
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At the finish, I chugged some Baja Brewing Co beer, and then enjoyed a short walk over to Miriam's where we showered and then grabbed some foooood! Ive never rushed a buffet like that since awards were going to start, but Tropicana Inn is a must for the breakfast buffet- paella, delicious hashrbowns, and omelets, fresh juices....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9oqfv4LAI_nFbCMspshQTElf7Ottar6J2QBUtHrovbQmRs7PPv-2otUaNzUaQU6XydThWUGs1CsADm0wQtS_GJxpxKSWDREkU9fv4vSLq3qAad_9ewTzC-SW0Ks4hWCRydAc2xZBPFA/s1600/IMG_7111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9oqfv4LAI_nFbCMspshQTElf7Ottar6J2QBUtHrovbQmRs7PPv-2otUaNzUaQU6XydThWUGs1CsADm0wQtS_GJxpxKSWDREkU9fv4vSLq3qAad_9ewTzC-SW0Ks4hWCRydAc2xZBPFA/s1600/IMG_7111.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Half marathons are the best distance honestly- long enough but intense enough to give a quality fitness deposit, and so I'm thinking I'll go race the inaugural Rock N Roll Half Marathon at altitude in Mexico City March 15th. It sounds amazing since you start at sunset!! The post race party will be good ;)<br />
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<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-68510709770124765802015-01-27T19:57:00.000-06:002015-01-27T19:58:53.474-06:002015 Race Team & Schedule!I could not be more thrilled, honored, and motivated to join this amazing group of women in the 2015 SMASH DIMOND Triathlon Team!!!<br />
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In a few weeks I'll have my hands on this sexy bike and plan to fly with it in the following races...<br />
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March 21- ITU LaPaz (Chicago 2015 ITU Worlds Qualifier)<br />
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March 29- Cabo Whaleman Half Iron Distance (tentative)<br />
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April 26- Galveston 70.3 (Intention of qualifying for Austria 70.3 Worlds which hurricane Odile kindly stepped on my attempt to grab the slot in Cozumel last Sept!)<br />
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May - August a few sprints and olympics in Texas as I go home for the summer to train for Chicago and Austria (fingers crossed!).<br />
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Depending on how my back fares....end of season Ironman to have just one chance at my new AG 25-29 that I never raced Kona in, and...well...I've never been known to just treat Kona as a "fun run" ;)<br />
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BUTTTT above all the goals and results, is getting to meet each of my teammates, train and race alongside them, and inspire and be a role model for other triathletes.<br />
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<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-83358476771305678702015-01-26T11:14:00.000-06:002015-01-26T11:14:19.456-06:002015...Checking in from Cabo! Um, wow. That about sums up my reaction to life thus far. Up until I reached a quarter century, literally at 25, life had been pretty smooth sailing. The biggest stressors I had faced were college papers, demands from parents and coaches, the occasional fight with a friend, a sports injury, the buildup to an Ironman....cake!<br />
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This post may be a long one because I have a lot of personal and professional things that I've kept to myself the last couple of years that I'm finally ready to speak about and release, welcoming a breath of new air, new beginnings, and a new found strength that only certain downfalls could've provided.<br />
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The first bump in my step isn't really news- the back injury that seemed to pop out of nowhere in 2012, thus leading me to pull away from any hope of being a professional triathlete, maybe ever competing in an Ironman distance again, and starting the real world job hunt that had only proved fruitless since my 2009 college graduation.<br />
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It came at a necessary time as I was also exhausted and craved change- maybe not so much change as came about- but change nonetheless.<br />
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Fast forward to moving to LA and no luck at finding a job that would sponsor a visa. There were amazing internship offers that I wasn't legally allowed to take as an intern can't be foreign unless the company sponsors an entire H-1B petition for them (no company in their right mind would do such a ludicrous thing).<br />
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So out of a casual bar conversation with a stranger bloomed the idea of moving to Cabo San Lucas- the thought of which had never entered my mind prior to that fateful February evening in Pebble Beach.<br />
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So in a span of two months I visited Cabo, signed employment with Snell to sell real estate, sold my car in LA, packed up my condo, flew to TX, packed bags there, and moved to Cabo.<br />
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Through all of this, beginning in November 2013, I was battling some perplexing, frustrating, and depressing health issues. I've only vaguely told people about this because until recently I still had no clue what was really going on.<br />
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All I knew was that since cutting back my training from a full time athlete to your average gym-goer, I had actually become more fatigued. Where was the sense in that?<br />
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If only it had been just fatigue, I started getting double vision, headaches, grave unexplained and random bloating, muscle cramps, and a complete apathy toward any and everything.<br />
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One could say I was depressed, but it was different. It would come in bouts, and even when my mood was great, when I was stoked and at my most optimistic, this cloud loomed over my physical and mental health.<br />
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Around April, when I was finally in Texas for a few weeks before the move to Cabo, I Googled my symptoms like mad, determined to narrow down what could possibly be preventing me from even 30minutes of activity a day, causing weight gain while eating healthy organic foods and in complete caloric control.<br />
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Enter hypothyroidism. I was convinced. This had to be it. Thyroid and a major hormonal imbalance whether related or not, where causing this turmoil.<br />
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Back track for a second- even in early 2013 when I went to Clermont for QT2 Pro training camp, I had a discussion with Jesse about my ridiculous fatigue and recovery issues at my young age. How I felt like I was 80 and training was ten fold harder.<br />
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Anyway, three days before scheduling an appointment with my family's endocrinologist, I started taking a supplement by Mega Food (I love this company btw because everything is FOOD based). I didn't want to take anything synthetic, especially on my own, and I didn't want supplements that had thyroid hormone etc because if I was wrong I'd be playing with fire.<br />
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Mega Food's Thyroid Strength has a large dose of iodine from kelp, 300mg of tyrosine, some holy basil, copper, magnesium, basic things that help to support your thyroid.<br />
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You may think I am crazy as heck and that's fantastic but I swear by the time I stepped into the doctors office a few days later, I almost wanted to apologize for not canceling the appointment because I felt 16 again.<br />
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I had energy to conquer the world, I slept amazing, the water retention disappeared about as magically as a bad bout of PMS, the headache gone...just out of this world amazing.<br />
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I told the doctor this, he ordered blood work, and a week later we discussed that I may be borderline hypothyroid. As such, I should continue on Mega Food's supplement, my multi, and check back at year's end. If I feel like stopping that supplement then I could go off it a few days or weeks and monitor the symptoms.<br />
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I lost roughly 10 lbs by July, and the sky was blue and sunny again!...And then it happened....In Cabo Mega Food anything can't be found, and the only multi is Alive (which is ok, but you'll later understand why this didn't work for me), and I had run out of my own. Everything returned to the nightmare of early that year, until late August when a trip to Mexico City reunited me with my pills haha that my mom had sent from the US with a friend for me to pick up there.<br />
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Again like a roller coaster, I was revving back up to normal. Thanks to the hurricane, once back in the US I wanted to monitor blood and all again and see if there was a way I could not be dependent on this supplement forever...I mean what if they discontinue it? What if I am in another country? etc. Also, I was sure something else was missing in this puzzle.<br />
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Coincidentally, I happened to read Jordan Blanco's post about some health issues and her doctor, in Colorado, Dr. Silver at Boulder Peak Health. She seemed like an excellent option- a doctor that lives in the heart of crazy endurance athletes like myself, is an athlete herself, and speaks of hormonal and women's health so passionately.<br />
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Immediately I scheduled a phone consultation, we ordered blood work, and this is what we found....<br />
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Everything looked normal and actually very healthy. Creatine looked a bit elevated, could just be dehydration....but there was ONE "aha!" to my symptoms: MTHFR.<br />
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I have a genetic mutation C677T that hinders my usage and production of folic acid.<br />
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Very few multi vitamins on the market use FOLATE- the bioactive form- and instead use synthetic folic acid, which if you have my issue you can't use and it only in a sense clogs you.<br />
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Folic acid is also used to fortify a lot of foods- luckily many are gluten products like pasta and cereals that I don't eat.<br />
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Regardless, through my years as an endurance athlete I had run these reserves of folate pretty low, and since a couple years ago I had stopped taking a certain multi vitamin that contained the FOLATE that I didn't know I needed and had switched to multi's like Alive that have folic acid.<br />
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If you do your research you'll see that your body's ability to use folate directly impacts your thyroid, your hormones, your ability to make new cells, seratonin, dopamine, everythingggg!!<br />
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So why had Mega Food's thyroid supplement worked really well for me? Because it fed me the tyrosine and other thyroid supporters that my body wasn't churning on its own.<br />
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Since then, taking METHYLFOLATE, and/or a vitamin like Garden of Life's Kind Organics Women's Daily which has folate (from lemon), I feel like a NORMAL 27 year old!!<br />
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These ups and downs have resulted in my inconstant training, in reality exercise. They've caused me to value health and the ability to have even the most basic active lifestyle, and more importantly that Ironman did not cause this, that I didn't overtrain, that I'm not a hypochondriac, that I wasn't depressed, and that I can and will still workout avidly and compete in sports- especially the one I love most.<br />
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Through this all, through the moves, the job challenges, the hurricane that left me literally feeling homeless and unemployed, and sad about what had happened to such a beautiful place, I learned that as quickly as the body recovers, so does the soul...so do groups of people, and cities like Cabo.<br />
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And out of the storm, if you keep your mind and your heart in the good that you want out of life and what you hope to contribute, life will exceed your expectations and give you tremendous fortitude and opportunity to live out your potential and help others do the same.<br />
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I came back to Cabo in early December, with only plans of staying a few days at a friend's house- unsure what conditions it was really in, just wanting to tie some lose ends, not overstay my tourist-visa-welcome in the US, and clear my head a bit after two months of another round of door knocking for US jobs that led to nothing.<br />
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The progress was outstanding! Sure roughly 60% of hotels are still shut until late spring/summer, there are some "issues" in the lower income areas of San Lucas and San Jose, and only things pertinent to tourism are being dealt with full force, but if you really witnessed or understood what this place went through with Odile, the fact that it felt 99% normal in its everyday functions, leads to nothing but respect and admiration for the community.<br />
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At that point, I had a gut feeling (I always say there's one thing you can trust over everything else and that's your gut!) to try and stay in Cabo. So I put it up to fate. I said, if there's a place for me here, then I will be able to commit myself to the sports development that I had begun to get deeply involved in with TriCabo, it will be nearly effortless to find a place to live, and my family will be receptive to the choice.<br />
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One phone call to Paco of TriCabo expressing my desire to commit to them 100% at least until summer and see where it goes, and he was on board and thrilled at my decision. One email to these condos that a new friend had shown me, and they responded with ONE unit left for lease through June available Jan1.<br />
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Coincidently, one of our TriCabo coworkers that had been administering TriCaboKidz had begun to slowly step out of that role and so it was perfect timing that I came in to shadow her and take the reins to grow our Triathlon School for kids, promote our races, our camps, and help develop sport in Cabo.<br />
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I feel elated, healthy, free, and honored to be giving back doing what I love more than anything else.<br />
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Working with the kids is refreshing, inspiring, challenging, and am also coaching some local adults, and hoping to change a little bit of the culture in this part of Mexico to be more in tune with an active and healthy lifestyle.<br />
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As well, I have my own lofty triathlon goals for this season that I can't wat to announce in the next post...now with the fabulous assurance that my health is on track!:)<br />
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My hope is that I can welcome any of you to Cabo in the near future and showcase the progress we have made with the community's involvement in sport, and host you in a wonderful training or racing experience.<br />
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Cheers from sunny Cabo!<br />
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<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-57258466614494331002014-12-23T16:18:00.001-06:002014-12-24T11:10:18.805-06:00SILENCIO- COLLECTIVE BEAT!<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
I want to share this link with all of you for a project that one of my oldest family friends (we are like sisters) is launching to help her dad rebuild his career- after 30+ years as Mexico’s leading radio guy. He founded Grupo Monitor and was the only actual “voice of the people”. His success was such that Fox announced his Presidency at the studio, he was awarded a journalism prize by the King of Spain, and basically there was no political figure in Mexico that didn’t know who he was and cared deeply about what he communicated.</div>
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Long story short, as you will see in the third, and main, video, the Calderon Presidency/party shut him down and breached his Radio contract (he later won trial but was never compensated), and in 2008 had to go to the US for political exile. </div>
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With the help of his daughter, Andrea, and her boyfriend who just quit his job at CNN in NYC to help them, they are rebuilding Pepe’s image and resurfacing him as the source for intellectual growth and expression for the Hispanic community- both in and out of the US via a website/podcast. </div>
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The story itself is Shakespearean in its drama and tragic ending- which, with the help of those that donate to launch the site, can change into a just and wonderful one. </div>
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<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/693620155/silencio-de-collective-beat">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/693620155/silencio-de-collective-beat</a></div>
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Thank you for supporting them and our birthright freedom of speech! </div>
TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-24810731970084360612014-10-22T01:08:00.004-05:002014-10-22T01:11:05.776-05:00The rest of the Kona trip & SeattleIt was my true intention to blog every day while I was in Hawaii but after the very first blog post on, technically, day zero, it simply wasn't going to happen.<br />
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When I'd finally sit down on the computer, it was with mediocre wifi, so more often than not I'd resort to my smart phone.<br />
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The trip as a whole was fantastic! I set out to try and connect with as many people as possible in hopes of finding a job in this industry that could keep me in the US or somewhere cool abroad, and I left with numerous promising leads.<br />
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It was fabulous to see new and old faces, and spend some time helping out at the expo and for the first time, getting involved in the keiki (kid's) race before Ironman.<br />
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The Saturday right after I arrived I found out there was an organized race of the full swim course and jumped in last minute with a friend which was amazing because it felt like I was racing again but then emerged to find fruit and bagels waiting at the King Kam beach restaurant.<br />
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Every day I'd run and/or swim, mostly solo but got in a solid 11 miler with Hillary (www.smashfestqueen.com) all along Alii, and another short one with Beth before finally leaving the Island- got to meet little Wynne too :) The swim highlights were: obviously the "race", finding the Smash girls mid-sea and joining them for the remainder, and the last dip from the Pier getting to swim out to the 1.2 bouey with Chrissie Wellington, and the Grangers.<br />
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For the majority of the trip I shared a condo with Holly, SOAS' Steph, and her sister Andrea- it was awesome spending time with these great women! The night before last, Jen Barber let me crash with her before slumming it back down to Uncle Billy's "hotel" and we had a great dinner and a failed attempt to find late night local Big Island ice cream despite miles of walking in effort.<br />
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(Jen, Me, Jordan Blanco at the Aloha Party)<br />
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I also had two long lunches with some of the Mexican athletes and it was cool to hear of their journey to Kona and how/where they train back home.<br />
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The rest of the sun and fun is all in pics....<br />
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some amazing salads: Ultimate Burger (in a bowl), Lava Java Greek chicken, & Huggo's seared ahi :P<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZtPXOVoMJhjLjEd-6f_o7t82HGztirWCInBsczIh2L8CDf5L7eOlcOeZdB-WQZSCX9AywfwFmpODBiA3H-sScGu_Nj6xI074cPP465g7ZksRyoCoziIA5IFi1XKfGqgcNmXo9AYDaV8/s1600/photo+1-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZtPXOVoMJhjLjEd-6f_o7t82HGztirWCInBsczIh2L8CDf5L7eOlcOeZdB-WQZSCX9AywfwFmpODBiA3H-sScGu_Nj6xI074cPP465g7ZksRyoCoziIA5IFi1XKfGqgcNmXo9AYDaV8/s1600/photo+1-3.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sinfully hydrating Nuun cocktails at the Triathlete house party<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIspTrJxUCA649A9LQ2avt7P1StT-TA-Vw7wFeLYlZEZMRYHkLm47UVmN8_wxO0ZOBOBKXKpivAqjWV4aRLb5HjxC3f14rOvDl4Epoe2pq_5AJKiQ-K6GtNqWUKeqb1DPILTGTEu-9mM0/s1600/photo+1-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIspTrJxUCA649A9LQ2avt7P1StT-TA-Vw7wFeLYlZEZMRYHkLm47UVmN8_wxO0ZOBOBKXKpivAqjWV4aRLb5HjxC3f14rOvDl4Epoe2pq_5AJKiQ-K6GtNqWUKeqb1DPILTGTEu-9mM0/s1600/photo+1-5.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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One of the first swims in my new Betty suit (www.bettydesigns.com)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vlh4RtxRMzBKp1JrabkJdF3K6Do9O2dFWX5Rv1K0KM-ub4jxD7E7bGchyMP0IY_5q0gNd4avsC8hBp6aa3CRNtA-696Ho6S0Q0c6A-ZFMMTMZm7Ts37f_Rb6HMExGzbCh2xHSEmiHvM/s1600/photo+2-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vlh4RtxRMzBKp1JrabkJdF3K6Do9O2dFWX5Rv1K0KM-ub4jxD7E7bGchyMP0IY_5q0gNd4avsC8hBp6aa3CRNtA-696Ho6S0Q0c6A-ZFMMTMZm7Ts37f_Rb6HMExGzbCh2xHSEmiHvM/s1600/photo+2-4.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeVe1L68gDSclXTjensjBAn3VgZxEhXVXIHzA2bJVZ_drNVDoWYzSXe52ZYxnmU0AglfNO05-lT0FKFdf1fHNpIo_dTC9ceEaTyr6UcmCD96fUUpY-IJ4F2APSZWSpNcizE55k9Ovp3o/s1600/photo+2-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeVe1L68gDSclXTjensjBAn3VgZxEhXVXIHzA2bJVZ_drNVDoWYzSXe52ZYxnmU0AglfNO05-lT0FKFdf1fHNpIo_dTC9ceEaTyr6UcmCD96fUUpY-IJ4F2APSZWSpNcizE55k9Ovp3o/s1600/photo+2-5.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
Rad view from our stay at the Royal Kona the night after the race!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JeW8Wt9RaH1R0ODVDQBHp2YNn5uy_knTlyHxSy1CoDUSUb9QLozqPpYKcEcjX7ajQQl4eadGdvGTA9NsVyhgjnOvSITaJ0i36d8ANDmO4OBAIsCor0upDAndDbxtfsZStfCRnbncUU8/s1600/photo+2-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JeW8Wt9RaH1R0ODVDQBHp2YNn5uy_knTlyHxSy1CoDUSUb9QLozqPpYKcEcjX7ajQQl4eadGdvGTA9NsVyhgjnOvSITaJ0i36d8ANDmO4OBAIsCor0upDAndDbxtfsZStfCRnbncUU8/s1600/photo+2-6.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzD_PQFkWA9YH7nfEkRrTd2d7lY4-JOfjIDh5dsd4VNmEWAwVs5Ls_mIFWL7HGbTDSO0tg5ItveBn9WOGQ5vEpltJeMjVrYNRjbmJjBcd7EWLH28MwBRrkgvCj8F4aLimyrJQdDKIxKnM/s1600/photo+3-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzD_PQFkWA9YH7nfEkRrTd2d7lY4-JOfjIDh5dsd4VNmEWAwVs5Ls_mIFWL7HGbTDSO0tg5ItveBn9WOGQ5vEpltJeMjVrYNRjbmJjBcd7EWLH28MwBRrkgvCj8F4aLimyrJQdDKIxKnM/s1600/photo+3-1.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
Finally stole a pic with this legend!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYNIQJz4aGkfa9VGn5rnQLnImR4098YsAg-I57bKM1w4Z8c262QnDtA2v3v3Et3TNfjvS23bJjUP3agY7apJtmXXG3eYFaaqHCio_KxSrb8Rm2fFqfjm_hjrBbCwSR-_cr_sPjzKGUWY/s1600/photo+2-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYNIQJz4aGkfa9VGn5rnQLnImR4098YsAg-I57bKM1w4Z8c262QnDtA2v3v3Et3TNfjvS23bJjUP3agY7apJtmXXG3eYFaaqHCio_KxSrb8Rm2fFqfjm_hjrBbCwSR-_cr_sPjzKGUWY/s1600/photo+2-2.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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cheering along the run course!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0IMT4T1tUGphpRg5ZQYJYV-P7B3mRVBeJyaayzTMZ4FFEaG7jgLQhG1M13aHjUOBamNlYj4v3In3SQKuuyU4FxvY2bX-AwNHrvGODZNljEYwSc92FQoHrqeFQmhDr0QAeZ-S7DdI3Rk/s1600/photo+3-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0IMT4T1tUGphpRg5ZQYJYV-P7B3mRVBeJyaayzTMZ4FFEaG7jgLQhG1M13aHjUOBamNlYj4v3In3SQKuuyU4FxvY2bX-AwNHrvGODZNljEYwSc92FQoHrqeFQmhDr0QAeZ-S7DdI3Rk/s1600/photo+3-2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdgMCYdfBsFWVsuRsUrXfHgg9SMl7axDFkb0pCr02_8yq__UvRLm4yJU6TJ_BKzBr2tcfpwWOvfh4tR7v-i4haS_b58xxv3XgsTmBTpY9oOrcVOmToXjViIlXH1WqDu-CBYtfJ-k_rQA/s1600/photo+3-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdgMCYdfBsFWVsuRsUrXfHgg9SMl7axDFkb0pCr02_8yq__UvRLm4yJU6TJ_BKzBr2tcfpwWOvfh4tR7v-i4haS_b58xxv3XgsTmBTpY9oOrcVOmToXjViIlXH1WqDu-CBYtfJ-k_rQA/s1600/photo+3-4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>Race Day!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPrMeY1xCT3BBt-Yr8ZOpyDd44dkCo9f92G32RTptfscBAfj0gcr_O-whGapmAtXievcLp6RB_Si_u-kdAZF-ePj9-xcYA-ucyyZwAgBsU7i7GMoWZdUc3SiLfRsyTg_Fu4YWzQuK2oA/s1600/photo+3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPrMeY1xCT3BBt-Yr8ZOpyDd44dkCo9f92G32RTptfscBAfj0gcr_O-whGapmAtXievcLp6RB_Si_u-kdAZF-ePj9-xcYA-ucyyZwAgBsU7i7GMoWZdUc3SiLfRsyTg_Fu4YWzQuK2oA/s1600/photo+3.PNG" height="320" width="180" /></a>Sebastian the King of 2014</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDShGAEyftUsdSyVDxyB-D46OUEQzs1PNK0Lw8_EopcE3v7_AIms-d5JaytTaF-VBEPSJ07ZQZcBiCTLLL_sXL-GoLQV96F-RShbQqRgEy_c36QLQ0CAPbDsEYrh6ROlrMrlhHYOF1v8/s1600/photo+4-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDShGAEyftUsdSyVDxyB-D46OUEQzs1PNK0Lw8_EopcE3v7_AIms-d5JaytTaF-VBEPSJ07ZQZcBiCTLLL_sXL-GoLQV96F-RShbQqRgEy_c36QLQ0CAPbDsEYrh6ROlrMrlhHYOF1v8/s1600/photo+4-1.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>What a performance by Ben Hoffman!!</div>
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Fun times at the ClifBar party<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHVQajQxCdShN5BAp1tWPhjBkgTRMfQ-wYB0lPmZu4F4jBGxFDHzG-whlgUlNNxb3J-CySJyBLOiw8g4KB9XLe9IpT4a_6-C62fKPChV1SQ-WGx9VJwjqw5lKqtYc6toK6uxsfK7koX8/s1600/photo+5-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHVQajQxCdShN5BAp1tWPhjBkgTRMfQ-wYB0lPmZu4F4jBGxFDHzG-whlgUlNNxb3J-CySJyBLOiw8g4KB9XLe9IpT4a_6-C62fKPChV1SQ-WGx9VJwjqw5lKqtYc6toK6uxsfK7koX8/s1600/photo+5-2.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Day after the after-party on a couple hours sleep with Tawnee for a "swim"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23xlbWtCUQc-XVwTUH4BmHOT8bgPOHhAGckF_zE4Rgys2WksrWKsh_cR8Ov23DYWfNN__Bmk4K8BKuKS8aeLiljZl8cFZ-mJ79CXvlZH9LtHiN0lPUvt2EfUogG4evOvc1TgEi5szE4o/s1600/photo+3-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23xlbWtCUQc-XVwTUH4BmHOT8bgPOHhAGckF_zE4Rgys2WksrWKsh_cR8Ov23DYWfNN__Bmk4K8BKuKS8aeLiljZl8cFZ-mJ79CXvlZH9LtHiN0lPUvt2EfUogG4evOvc1TgEi5szE4o/s1600/photo+3-3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Shiono Sushi- top notch!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZ_-sNbaklvW5aBlF4qmDYF2NHNEpg5y_T8ktWsGkxIpBjEwd0tOVa0i7caDab9I-D2QSpNZ1QNbsN9T4EAmDuKDTZU4Nk4aulJ_Lg2rz3X27psJo2rFlficMA1w7ap3uhfIwGSNAHT8/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZ_-sNbaklvW5aBlF4qmDYF2NHNEpg5y_T8ktWsGkxIpBjEwd0tOVa0i7caDab9I-D2QSpNZ1QNbsN9T4EAmDuKDTZU4Nk4aulJ_Lg2rz3X27psJo2rFlficMA1w7ap3uhfIwGSNAHT8/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>The best for last: Rinny in absolute Beast Mode about to cross the mat for her 3rd Kona title!</div>
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From Hawaii, I was set to travel back a whole 17.5 hours to Texas with stops in Seattle and Dallas. The Ebola scare in Dallas coupled with the agony of being sleep deprived in airports felt enough to warrant getting off in Seattle and stay with my good friend Sam a few days. I'd only passed through Seattle in 2007 en route to Portland for Nationals, so never explored any of it.<br />
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Aside from the gloomy weather, the people, abundant culture, fantastic food, and general love/support for outdoor activities made me think I could totally live there! We enjoyed walks to some amazing coffee, cocktails at the chic Edge Water Hotel, a swim in Mercer Island, and a fabulous dinner at Anthony's Home Port in Kirkland.<br />
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Icing on the cake was getting to play original Nintendo and meeting Sam's horrendously cute rescue dog, Mimi.<br />
<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-79804968753615774882014-10-03T22:20:00.002-05:002014-10-03T22:24:04.030-05:00Kona 2014 Day 0It happened! For the 7th year I'm back at the Hawaii World Championship- 3rd time not racing...except last year was a total catastrophe as I spent only a few days on the Island sick and counting down the minutes to return home. Needless to say, I didn't stay even to the race week and sort of left apathetically without looking back- more concerned about fixing my own work/life situation than playing around in the Hawaii sun.<br />
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However, this year the Kona plot began brewing early summer when the TriCabo races and events were being planned at full gear and I was set to come promote the camps and primarily our inaugural Cabo Whaleman. As well, I wanted to help some friends out at the Expo- LAVA Mag & SOAS.<br />
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The almost too-good-to-be-true fun of 2012 was begging to be repeated and 2014 had to be it. Then Hurricane Odile came through Cabo and did its little dance of destruction and there went Cozumel 70.3, and any concrete thoughts of promoting Cabo tourism through Ironman week.<br />
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Fast forward to a few days ago, sitting at home in Texas, regrouped and looking at everything through a "blessing in disguise"/"glass half full" lens and tick tick the dots connected and...well...ALOHA!<br />
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It's hard to succinctly describe the feeling of touching down in Kona. Wait, backup to getting on the triathlete-filled plane at LAX, and feeling a mix of butterflies as if I was going to race again, and an excitement of the week when this whole community of swim, bike, run lovers unites in paradise to celebrate the best of the best. I ran into a good friend, Pablo who was seated just across from me, and it was amazing to hear about all the endurance racing he packs on year after year! The baggage claim was full of people from all over the world, each with their unique story of how they got to be at this year's World Championship.<br />
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I got my suitcase, which was all I had since my bike is still cozy in Cabo, and another good friend and Kona local, Cody, picked me up and we went to grab lunch at the Kona Brewing Company. I'm not a beer person, but their Longboard is fantastic and after a whole morning of travel it went down like liquid gold.</div>
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From lunch he dropped me off to check in at Uncle Billy's where I'll be two nights before joining some girl friends at a condo for the remainder of the trip. At the lobby I met the cutest woman- in one of the elder categories- that was telling the receptionist she qualified in IM Sweden but had never swam without a wetsuit and was nervous and just hoping she'd make the swim cutoff. I couldn't resist, and asked her if she wouldn't mind me helping her out these next few days in the ocean to give her a few pointers and get her more comfortable so she makes that cut off no problem! So tomorrow we'll start bright and early :)!<br />
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Quicky, I unpacked and put on my bikini to head straight to the beach to get back some of the color I lost since Odile. I enjoyed a little swim in the ocean and was feeling surprisingly awake despite the 4am TX-time wake up, so also went for a run on Alii.<br />
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Now I'm starting to wind down and will just relax the rest of the evening.<br />
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Tomorrow after I swim with the woman I met, I think there's a group doing the whole course so why the heck not?!<br />
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<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-32959524066217672952014-09-18T09:41:00.000-05:002014-09-18T16:52:10.183-05:00Hurricane Odile- From Paradise to Armageddon in 12 hoursI'm writing from the safety of my family's home in Mexico City after fleeing Cabo on a rescue plane yesterday morning. Words will never be enough to portray what I saw and experienced in Cabo during and after Hurricane Odile, but I want to write the most detailed account so people can get a sense of what the situation was really like as of Wednesday, Sept 17- as most media outlets are filtering things likely to protect tourism in the long run, as well as not to worry friends and relatives of those in Cabo during the storm. The easiest way to do this is as a "timeline"...<br />
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Sunday morning (Sept 14)- Woke up and went to the grocery store as we all had word that the hurricane was coming, but Mega (the grocer) wasn't packed nor frantic, so nothing seemed too worrisome. I bought two jugs of water, and some coconut water as I had plenty of rice, energy bars, and snacks to hold me down a few days (even weeks- thanks Powerbar!!) if the electricity went out. I returned home and just chilled the remainder of the day as all my training for Cozumel 70.3 had pretty much wrapped up and I was enjoying this OFF day and looking forward to a cozy but interesting night in, and my upcoming Wednesday flight to Cozumel for the race!<br />
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Sunday afternoon- I got messages from friends saying to duct tape all glass doors and windows and fill bathtubs (don't have one) with water in case it needed to be used to wash dishes or other things after the storm. Having never experienced a hurricane before I started thinking this was kind of crazy but it did raise my level of concern so I had my neighbor help me tape my windows. I also put up my bike box and some dining room chairs against my glass balcony doors to protect them further.<br />
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Sunday evening- the skies and the ocean were beginning to look quite eerie and the wind was starting to howl. I continued using internet and face timing with family and friends until about 8pm when lights would flicker and eventually the wifi went out. At that point, as the wind was making very scary loud noises, and the doors and windows were rattling I had the impulse to change out of my pijamas into workout clothes and tennis shoes in case...well in case I didn't even know- it just felt like what I should do. Also, in a rather amusing but what felt like necessary way, I packed a backpack with some essentials- wallet, jeans, a jacket, power bars, emergen-c packets, car keys.<br />
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9PM approx- a glass balcony door from my bedroom (I have a studio so it's continuous but the bedroom is a bit separated by two steps and an archway)- blew out and I heard some glass splatter across. Adrenaline rushed through me, I grabbed my backpack, literally put on my bike helmet and sunglasses to protect me from flying-anything, and rushed to my bathroom and shut both doors (one leads to my tiny hallway the other to the bedroom). I still had phone signal and called my mom scared out of my mind. At this point I had only a flashlight and didn't know how long the batteries would last so I spent various minutes in the dark with doors rattling and the wind making atrocious noises and things breaking everywhere outside of the bathroom. Eventually the ceiling began to raise (where the vent is), and shake badly, my balcony doors had broken too and if the bathroom doors gave I was completely exposed in the 4th floor to the 125mph winds and anything flying around. **Note: I later learned that it actually helped when things broke because it leveled out the pressure in the apartment. If I could do it again I'd have left the entire balcony doors open to the screen only and maybe nothing would've broken- happened to many people I later spoke too (not even a coffee cup had moved because they opened windows on purpose!).<br />
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Early on I had to open the bathroom and retrieve my passport and the jug of water I had forgotten as water had already stopped running so in that hot bathroom I couldn't be without water till morning. It was the scariest few minutes of my life trying to retrieve those two things.<br />
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This continued for about 2.5 hours. At roughly 11PM the eye came over us and I heard my neighbor yell for me. I thought their place was in better condition but I was wrong! Their front door had blown out as well as their glass pane/windows in their bedroom and their bathroom ceiling. So they took cover with me (he and his gf and their two dogs) in my tiny bathroom where we remained until about 7am. We'd occasionally sneak out to pee in the dark as the winds calmed down for periods at a time.<br />
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7am-10am Monday Sept 15- We walked out to a ghost town- it looked apocalyptic. All of the beautiful palm trees were skimmed, the skies were a gray I'd never seen before, there was some flooding, the pools and the ocean were a disgusting brown, the palapas were all collapsed. Only about 6-8 people were renting in the Casa del Mar Apartments, and the resorts which it belongs to- Zoetry and Las Ventanas had been evacuated. I immediately shifted to robotic mode- it was instinctual- and started to clean up and gather my things. My apartment was clearly uninhabitable and at that point I just had to figure out where to sleep that night and how to get my things out of the apartment asap. I ran into one property management guy and he was walking around with a notepad assessing the damage to report it to the office at a later time in weeks I assume. I told him I was evacuating and made sure they were going to take care of the damages with the owner from then on. A couple that was renting an apartment two floors down for a few days had been the smart ones that opened their balcony and so other than flooding their place was not damaged. They offered me a bed or couch if I needed for that night and also helped me with some clean up (limited to sweeping some glass and using all towels to limit the flooding). They had little water or food to hold them through the next few days and I am mortified thinking they're still there as their flight was for the next day (Tuesday) but they had no rental car, there were no taxis functioning and like I said the whole complex was empty. So once I left and it was dangerous and also wasted gas to go back once more, I don't know how they fared.<br />
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10am- I drove down to Cabo to my great aunt's house to check on her and see if I could move in with them for now. I didn't take that couple's offer cuz I had to get all my luggage out and it was survival time so being around those that had food, water, and other resources, and some plans was imperative. The roads were okay but you had to meander through telephone poles that were splayed across the highway, rocks, fallen signs, often drive on the wrong lane, etc. My great aunt and her husband were find and their community had some neighbors that had really taken Odile seriously and stocked up well. They had found a pipe that was providing water thanks to gravity and so after a long day of packing my things and bringing over 4 luggages with all my clothes and stuff, I was able to shower with buckets. It was the best shower of my life.<br />
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4pm-8pm I returned to my old apartment to grab my bike box, wheels, helmets, bike trainer and kept that in my trunk with the plan to store it at another friend's house that was very secure, in their garage. My great aunt's neighbors cooked some fish on the grill, they even had wine and she made a salad- we were using all the food that was going to spoil and actually had a lovely dinner enjoying the fact that we were alive and safe for now. It was a much better Monday than the majority of the people. I also had 3 bars of phone service on their rooftop so I called my mom and dad and brother and a couple other people.<br />
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Monday night- candles lit, I said goodnight to my family and went to sleep- shocked.<br />
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Tuesday morning Sept 16- Woke up actually thinking I was still in paradise in my apartment- then it hit me. I rushed up to the roof to try and call my family again but service was now completely gone. I went with another guy from that complex to try and get signal on one of the highway ramps in town but we quickly realized it was gone everywhere. I asked him to take me to Brent's house - my friend that I train with at Diamante all the time and whose house I wanted to store my bike and prob other luggage with for the long term. He and his wife and baby (4mths old) and his mother in law were about to drive out to Diamante as that exclusive property had large generators and they could care for the baby better and eat. I asked if I could follow them in my car and I was very very fortunate to spend the whole day in Diamante.<br />
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The contrast between the people of San Lucas we saw on the drive over lining for a bit of gas in barrels, and packed outside all the grocery stores and other shops looting and fighting over everything, to a buffet, and cold drinks, and even some people playing on the putting green in Diamante was heart wrenching. People in all of the hotels/tourist developments were not being told of the chaos in town both in San Lucas and San Jose so as not to set them in panic. The dark reality was hard to keep to myself but I was also shamefully enjoying an almost normal day in Diamante as people were walking and standing in the heat for hours just to get basics for their family.<br />
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A friend that's a pro golfer at Diamante let me store my bike, wheels, trainer, pump, helmet and shoes in the clubhouse and I couldn't be more grateful. It is by far the most secure place in Cabo due to it's distance from town and incredible security.<br />
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Tuesday 3pm approx - we left Diamante through back roads to avoid the chaos in town but still ended up seeing the disaster in San Lucas where the Walmart Plaza, Costco, etc are all located along Hwy 1. Cars were parked all along the mudded highway and people were walking out with everything- abusing their chance to get free food and water and stealing electronics and anything they could get their hands on. Police, even military squads couldn't and didn't do much of anything. I was really worried driving as a single young girl, in a nice car, through this free for all mayhem. We sped quickly back to Cabo del Sol (residential grounds and also resort grounds of the Sheraton and Fiesta Americana).<br />
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There I rushed to another friend's house, Paco- he's from Mexico and we were working together with TriCabo for all the exciting races and events. I learned his wife and kids had fled on a plane that morning- which didn't surprise me but I was beating myself for not having come to him sooner. Luckily, for me, he was still there with his two housekeepers. I found one and she waked with me to the Sheraton where he was meeting with the head guy of the resort and he explained he stayed to help with the situation at hand; also to secure his house. The Sheraton had a generator going and the people were enjoying 3 buffet meals a day and enough water/drinks. Though they weren't very comfortable sleeping in a big convention room with nothing but a couple fans.<br />
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All these tourists had their names written down by hotel staff and told there were no commercial flights for a few days, and eventually they would get bussed over and put on planes. I knew there were already at least federal planes coming in and even though the airport was destroyed it seemed stupid to not try and at least see what was really going on for myself the next day- especially with a car of my own and enough gas for 2-3 trips- another advantage I had over tourists as they didn't have rentals and again, no taxis were available. They were completely reliant on what hotel staff told them.<br />
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5pm Paco offered me to stay with him at one of his villas- the other had been absolutely obliterated- front door blown out, plasma tv from the living room blown out, marble slabs broken in half, ceilings ripped. My great aunt has two cats and I'm deathly allergic, and as I said it was survival mode and Paco frankly lived in a much more secure community and is very well connected so he was my best shot and making it through the next week if need be or at least getting to the airport soon. I took him up on the offer and went to my great aunt's to collect my 4 suitcases full of clothes, shoes, jewelry, purses, everything.<br />
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6-6:30pm they had a tiny generator that was going to pump water for a half hour. I showered with a bucket from the little water that came through the bath. Filled my car with my stuff and drove to Paco's. A neighbor of his in another villa had experience with hurricanes having lived in Cancun- he's the manager of Esperanza a luxury resort in San Lucas, and he was the only one that did a phenomenal job of forcing his guests on buses to San Diego Sunday morning. Some resisted not understanding the state of emergency but his initiative won them their safety. His wife had made soup from pots on a grill, and we had another great dinner, and then it was off to bed.<br />
<br />
It was also a ghost town there- only a few people in the villas and it looked out of a horror movie. I asked Paco to sleep in the same room as I, and frankly we were both scared during the night. I still tried to open the faucet to brush my teeth only to be reminded I had to use the water bottles. We grabbed buckets of pool water to flush the toilet- just surreal stuff. You learn to appreciate basic necessities.<br />
<br />
We were told 8pm no one was allowed out of Cabo del Sol as cars would be parked outside to prevent people from coming in along with armed security.<br />
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Wednesday morning Sept 17- 6am went with flashlight to the underground parking to get my car and move some belongings around in suitcases to make sure of what I was going take on the plane. Paco's driver had agreed to meet me at 8am to take me to the airport to try and see if I could get on a plane. If not, at least we would see what the situation was. Again, I feel incredibly fortunate to have enjoyed a breakfast at the Sheraton buffet- limited- but still, coffee, eggs, has browns, and fruit. I asked a staff member if the guests were being taken to the airport at any point that day and he said "no, there are no commercial flights today, we'll just have a meeting at 9am to tell people how things will work to evacuate". I grinned in disbelief- what BS.<br />
<br />
As we were driving to the airport at 8:30 am 50+ cars were lined in one gas station waiting to get rationed gas. The radio was repeating that it was obsolete to make the trek to the airport because there were no commercial flights today. OMG. BS!! I was looking at planes in the sky on the toll road drive over!<br />
<br />
We get to the airport and there was a line of 300 people maybe? I told the driver to take me to the front, got out of the car, and cut my way to the very front of the line. No apologies whatsoever. Once I knew there were actual flights leaving, I was going to be on one of those flights no matter what it took. I only had a small suitcase and a backpack with me. Fortunately I spotted two families I knew and grabbed the hands of the children and when they opened the actual way over to the military trucks and walkway to the runway (the airport was in shambles, you got on at the runway), I yelled "women and children" and we found our way to the very front group. We got on one of the military trucks and got off at the point where it was a line for Mazatlan and a line for Guadalajara. They were going to make 3 trips to these mainland airports and from there people could connect to their homes internationally or in Mexico. I got on the Guadalajara plane, and from there to Mexico City where I finally landed at 4:30pm.<br />
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<br />
-----<br />
Looking forward....<br />
<br />
I am still in disbelief- I loved Cabo and cannot believe it went from paradise to now being enforced by Marshall Law and looking like a bomb exploded.<br />
<br />
I pray for those still there without running water and power. In that heat, sickness/infections are almost inevitable and the frustration of unshowered hungry thirsty people leads to incredible danger.<br />
<br />
Some friends and even my great aunt and her husband, understandably wanted/had to stay. They own property there, they have pets, family, etc. I was in a sense a tourist renting a furnished place and only with 4months of ties to Cabo. It won my heart over immediately but I could leave and at my age with no pets, children, or in a relationship I can go anywhere.<br />
<br />
The only thing I feel I can do to help Cabo is to provide information and pictures and pressure others to donate for reconstruction and to aid those stuck in Baja Sur.<br />
<br />
I know it will be rebuilt and it is a place so dear to nationals, and internationals, that they want to see it thrive in all its beauty again.<br />
<br />
At this point I will be in Mexico City for a few days before going to Texas to my mom and stepdad's a few weeks- need to see them, my brother, my dog, and have a sense of normalcy for a while. Also, I have little clothes and stuff with me so need to be with them and regroup.<br />
<br />
I'm open to finding a job in Mexico City in the marketing/Ad industry that I love, but I am slo heavily considering a job abroad - not going to spill the beans now but I had an incredible phone call yesterday with an opportunity to live/work in a country I've been dying to visit since I can remember.<br />
<br />
The point is, things, even horrible things, happen to all of us and we grow and learn from all of the experiences. You have to see it as a blessing even in disguise and make the most of it. If I learned one thing it's that the only things that matter are safety, health, and family. I would not have even flinched at just leaving with the clothes on my back and my passport and phone.<br />
<br />
I LOVE YOU CABO AND YOUR WONDERFUL PEOPLE. YOU WILL RESURFACE EVEN BETTER THAN BEFORE.<br />
<br />
<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-45795754822014940442014-08-07T10:45:00.002-05:002014-08-07T10:48:18.060-05:00Where did the summer go?!The last time I remember really wanting to blog was about a month ago- I'd had an awesome week leading into the 4th of July and wanted to share all the fun but then I got sick which left me wanting to do absolutely NOTHING and then a week later I got sick again! It started with an ear infection which led to a nasty cold, or likely flu, thanks to my genius idea to run in the rain in downtown San Lucas as cars whipped by drenching me with dirty street water like Shamu at Sea World:(<br />
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It's crazy we're already into August and only 6 weeks out from Cozumel 70.3! I'm very happy with the way things are going balancing training, work, and life. It's not that hard when you live in a place that gives off vacation energy 24/7. My back still gets tight, still hurts on some rides, but I've come to make peace with it and more or less know how to manage it. Luckily we have a fabulous massage guy, Chris Vincent (www.cabomassageacupuncture.com), and he introduced me to Dr. Green of Vital Balance in San Jose, who I'm pretty confident can get me back in the game- at least finishing another Ironman in a year or two pain free. Fingers crossed!<br />
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Late June I headed up to La Paz and raced a half marathon- it was one of the coolest half's I've done! I stayed at the Perla Hotel right on the coast, or Mallecon, and jogged to the start where I met up with some of the peeps from Cabo. I felt fit, and though not rested, I was shocked at my time for a hilly hot course in 1:36 given the Kenyan that won went 1:31. My friend Miriam clocked 1:32 for second female, I finished 4th and still got some dough:). Got a great meal on the beach waiting for the awards and drove home at a steady 100mph on that fantasy highway 19 hehe.<br />
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At this point, I just want to qualify for Austria Worlds 2015 in Cozumel. I've been obsessed with The Sound Of Music since forever, and never felt inclined to race Clearwater or Vegas 70.3 Worlds, but the hills are alive in Austria just screaming my name.<br />
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Anyway, prior to the two bouts of illness, I met a wonderful family that vacations in Cabo- the dad, his son, and his son's friend were in town a few days to get in some surfing. We were introduced by another realtor I work with as we were planning a girls night to dine at The Market's wine pairing in the One & Only Palmilla. We stopped by the guys' house for a cocktail and that led to a group of about 10 of us heading to the dinner- such a great night! The food was fantasticcccc!!<br />
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The next day, I joined them for a surf lesson as they are good friends with one of the best surf instructors at the Cabo Surf Hotel, Daniel. After a quick overview on the beach, we paddled out and I was surprised to get the hang of it quickly. We got lucky with some great sets, and I caught more than a handful of waves- hooked!<br />
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From there we sped off (no pun intended) to Cabo Wide Open dune bugging for the rest of the afternoon- about 5 hours of dirt, hills, and sharp turns....and I learned to drive stick;) Then that night the fun continued as they threw Daniel a surprise birthday party. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMI0XupnPEk0NLVHxr1ar4R3RdTj8OBFvdIE7Yk9MpPRDl1yvRms6DyzLWUBgPKSHIIWtQ3AtmJFJLdlPb1SXYrOkBg2RpP0bxYhVv7hK0PIGxGlI0KRTutnBBov0WpTF4g4yqvDEM9M/s1600/IMG_3216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMI0XupnPEk0NLVHxr1ar4R3RdTj8OBFvdIE7Yk9MpPRDl1yvRms6DyzLWUBgPKSHIIWtQ3AtmJFJLdlPb1SXYrOkBg2RpP0bxYhVv7hK0PIGxGlI0KRTutnBBov0WpTF4g4yqvDEM9M/s1600/IMG_3216.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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After a night out the 4th of July, the training and the playing had caught up to me. It was a rough rest of the month until the very end when I finally got into some consistency with the guys at Diamante, namely Brent, that are also training for Cozumel. We get in some amazing riding with not even a stop sign for upwards of 4 hours if we desire. Right now 3-4 is our longest, but with that heat and those mountains, it's insane quality.<br />
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Finally better, I flew to Mexico City last week as I was invited for the second year to open the Triathlon Expo at the World Trade Center and to give a speech. At first they asked me to talk about my experiences as a 2x World Champion- but that's in the past and I doubt many people want an hour of someone's life spilled on them, so I took it as the perfect opportunity to announce the race series, training camps, kids school, and foundation that we have developing, or already ongoing, in Cabo.<br />
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It was also a chance to apply for my tourist visa to get back in the states- I barely slept and had my stomach lodged in my throat the weeks leading to this consular appointment because although I have absolutely moved to Mexico and am not looking to reside in the US atm, and everything I was disclosing is true- all the t's crossed and i's dotted- there was still that by-the-book mentality that I feared could be an insurmountable obstacle for me right now...see, you have to prove income, property, etc that ties you to Mexico, but I earn commission, have not yet closed a deal, rent my apartment, and my immediate family, albeit my dad, live as citizens in Texas:/<br />
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Fortunately, it all went well, though I was trembling as I handed over my documents, and literally my life, to the consulate on Monday morning. In the end, having had visas and never violating any terms for over 20 years, was a sure sign that there was no reason to prevent me from visiting friends, family, and straight up vacationing in the US as I please:)<br />
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Today I fly back to Cabo with a huge sense of accomplishment and pumped to continue my life there full throttle with real estate, the sports development, and my own triathlon goals, as everything that I had planned and more has unfolded in a mere two months.<br />
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For those curious on what we have going on...I'm working the sponsorship, PR/marketing side of things and all of us at TriCabo are stoked and intent on giving you all the opportunity to train and have a world class racing experience in Baja....<br />
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We have a local race series of sprints, olympics, duathlons, and mountain bike events that have already been going on a couple years but we are now taking control of these local, basically group based workouts, and giving them a formal race structure/environment. They will run through the year in different venus of Cabo to mix things up, and allow locals to earn points culminating in awards at our half distance triathlon in March.<br />
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Here's the international race calendar-<br />
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Feb 8, Los Cabos Half Marathon (www.mediomaratonloscabos.com)<br />
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Approx Feb 8-15 Michael Lovato & I will host a training camp for 10-15 amateurs - long rides and runs, interval rides and runs, trx sessions on the beach, track, pool and open water swims, optional cross training Cabo style: surfing, outrigger paddling, yoga.<br />
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March 29, Cabo Whaleman Half Distance Triathlon (www.whalemanloscabos.com) - inaugural race as the IM got moved to October. The weather in Cabo is perfection until May (summer months), and this is a beautiful time of the year for a half and to vacation with family- play some golf, do some fishing, whale watching, snorkeling, etc pre or post race.<br />
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2 Gran Fondos from Cabo to La Paz, and La Paz to Cabo- dates TBD but one in spring one in fall.<br />
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May 2, Los Cabos 7k Open Water swim (also 3.5k relay), and SUP race from Palmilla to Puerto Los Cabos.<br />
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Another training camp at start of summer. Eventually one leading into Kona for pros that want to come get in some excellent heat training, and prep for IM Cabo. Lastly, one late Oct for IM Cozumel. *** Pros interested in leading any of these camps with me please email me. You'll get comped stay and a % of camper fees***<br />
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Nov 15 Xtreme Cabo Off Road Triathlon<br />
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Our whole project, as I mentioned above, is very focused on the community and on youth development. We already have the TriCaboKidz (www.tricabokidz.com) summer camps and after school clinics. These boys and girls are lucky to be able to exercise in such a beautiful place- the Cabo del Sol grounds, where the lovely Sheraton Hacienda del Mar is, has carved out a trail path for the kids, and let the camp use a fairway style lawn overlooking the Sea of Cortez for them to run and do drills. Their open water swimming and obstacles courses, as well as canoeing, takes place in the El Ganzo Hotel of Puerto Los Cabos, where they have a waveless beach that gets them comfortable with open water in a safe environment.<br />
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TriCabo also has the kids foundation (link on kidz site)- and a portion of our race fees will be given to this cause, helping underprivileged kids get the proper equipment and training tools to be involved in sport.<br />
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Unofficially, our Olympic swimming pool has been approved, it is now a matter of getting the financials and administrative rights in order to hopefully have it done by end of 2015. For now, there's the 25scm lap pool at Sporti-K gym in San Lucas, the Huerta Spotrts Club pool in San Jose, and the incredible endless pool of the Sea of Cortez- Chileno Bay, Palmilla Beach, Puerto Los Cabos, and Medano.<br />
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We're still looking for companies and individuals to get involved as sponsors or investors (on a larger sports complex project we have in the works), so please contact me with any questions, ideas, or comments. Our Kids program could really benefit from a swim wear sponsor, bike donations, running equipment- all the necessities that are simply out of reach for some.<br />
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So that's THAT! It's a lot, and come Feb/March I'll likely be pulling my hair out, but I've always loved the behind the scenes of this crazy sport we do and I am thankful to have landed in a place that is prime for development and that allows me to blend both my cultures and languages and passion for sport to give back in the same way that so many people gave to me when I was a kid and total novice.<br />
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-yu7kW8KcZpw%2FU-OX601uoaI%2FAAAAAAAAA74%2F4WKjh9i2QD0%2Fs1600%2FIMG_3015.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iPA3SaMqeePDKFLWrtvA4ZDSjaS7-AQ74Giw4zixGX77dO6ileNmhc_CJ1m_Q470bRRsH2g83YtGpJJdb4CG2_1bpA7N7c-PO4qTn6p-F9cJNhzeb8SoKhjQTOldvuE7K-OyCR3OU6s/s1600/IMG_3015.jpg" -->TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-30843390084381272162014-06-18T10:02:00.000-05:002014-06-18T10:04:44.721-05:00Cabo Triathlon Training Camp(s)Yesterday I felt exactly what it's like when you combine passion and work, and when you understand why you experienced what you did years prior, and why you are where you are at this very moment.<br />
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I posted this on my Facebook yesterday, even though there's still quite of bit of planning left because I know once the camp is officially open for registration people will appreciate having had a heads up. <br />
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"Get ready for the most EPIC "tracation" EVER!!...When I got to Cabo it sort of felt like the Kona of Mexico: Great highway, mountains juxtaposed with stunning coastline full of majestic bays for swimming & golf courses and new roads and trails for running, I could not contain my excitement and determination to bring my friends and make this a new Mecca of triathlon.<br />
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Life works wonders, & I've been fortunate to connect with some incredible people that share the same passion for sport and vision for Cabo as an athletic destination.<br />
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We already have the Ironman, we're planning more races, mountain biking is part if the culture here, we have a half marathon in February, & more and more people show up for group open water swims, and rides in and out of Cabo on some amazing mountainous roads. <br />
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We had a meeting today at the site of the ongoing TriCaboKidz camp and you could feel the generational impact of sport all around you. <br />
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We're going to offer an intermediate to advanced training camp for adults (to start) and invite a couple interested pros to help us promote the camp and lead the campers in swims, bikes, runs, trx sessions, and nutrition/training talks. The details of the discount packages for accommodations etc, as well as the "invite package" for pros will be announced later as we're still in the beginning stages of setting the camps loose;)!! <br />
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Friends, friends of friends, amateurs and pros alike, sponsors, and anyone else interested, please contact me with any questions or to mark your enthusiasm just like this post/album. <br />
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Where else can you get 350 + days of summer sunshine/yr, turquoise waters, quick (California!) and easy travel, amazing food and hospitality, and the chance to literally "live the dream" training?!?!"</div>
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We're shooting for early 2015 to allow participants a chance to really get in some SOLID work load before the season commences. Eventually, we hope to offer a mid and end of year camp as well. Because Cabo can get VERY hot in the summer months- July-September, I want to organize something for the masochists (like myself) that like brutal but effective Kona prep. </div>
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The accommodations (villas/condos/homes and hotels) that we will offer campers- pros and amateurs- will be second to none. No matter your budget, you will be somewhere that allows training, recovery, and "enjoyment" :) to be your only concern. </div>
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Myself and other locals we'll be partnering with, will offer rides to and from the airport, to other activities you may want to explore in Cabo (if you have energy left haha), and to some of the areas best EATS. This won't just be triathlon training- it will be the ultimate Cabo experience!!</div>
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TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-47966957598934440612014-06-04T14:28:00.000-05:002014-06-04T14:28:58.298-05:00Cabo, THE PARADISE! & A General Observation of Mexico & USAIt's crazy to think I've only been in Cabo for 2 weeks because I feel like a TOTAL LOCAL. Since childhood, I've been able to adapt to new areas and orient myself very well practically by instinct. I give much credit to my parents too for always treating me like an adult, never excluding me from things, places, or people because of my age. That exposure along with the confidence building via encouraging me to do things on my own has led to a self sufficiency that I'm very proud of. One example is of my first day in school in the US. I only knew Spanish and I was 3 or 4 yrs old, in Montessori. So I made up my own "language" and the other kids somehow understood me! Eventually that morphed into pretty good English;)<br />
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The few weeks between deciding I was going to move here and when I actually flew over, were spent reading everything I could get my hands on regarding Cabo, and talking to everyone I knew that either vacations here frequently or lives/has lived here. Logically, when my family came down to help me with the move, I already had a list of things to do, people to see, and an understanding of the area stretching from San Jose to Cabo San Lucas that truly puzzled some locals.<br />
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I am elated to share the constantly growing knowledge of a place that I'm falling more and more in love with every day with absolutely everyone! It's fascinating talking to all the foreigners (Mexicans from elsewhere, included) that now call Cabo their home, and hearing nothing but joy in their hearts and feeling their contagious positive outlook on life, because this paradise breeds inner and outer wealth.<br />
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For blue collar Mexicans, Cabo is a land of opportunity. Fueled by tourism and back on a rocket ship of growth and development, there's the chance to make a living in a beautiful, clean, and safe environment. For wealthy Mexicans, it offers a beach retreat that isn't saturated with traffic or crime, nor overly Americanized in a distasteful way. Frankly, one of the things that stood out the most to me about Cabo compared to other vacation spots in Mexico is that, aside from the key spring break locations downtown, Cabo attracts classier people (both nationally and internationally) - and I'm not talking about rich or poor, but the real definition of class- behavior, education, and culture.<br />
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Americans and others from around the world, particularly love Cabo because of its unique location, near perfect climate (350+ days of summer sunshine with little to no humidity), famous fishing waters, large Marina, easily accessible international airport (you can fly anywhere in the world 7 days a week!), and dozens of outdoor activities (golf, tennis, cycling, stunning beaches for swimming, snorkeling, diving, paddling, zip lining, ATVing, dirt biking, cross fit, yoga....pick one!).<br />
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From all walks of life, and whatever their intention for vacationing or living in Cabo, people find enthusiasm and opportunity to live out their dreams. As both a Mexican and American, I relate to all of these views, and personally feel the energy and beauty of Cabo changing my life by the minute!<br />
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That said, I must admit hesitance of moving to Mexico in general, for the same concerns that many Americans and other foreigners hold: lack of safety, corruption, and economic instability. However, these assumptions couldn't be farther from the truth. I felt very ignorant supposing that the troubled years of the nineties and early 2000s of Mexico City ("express kidnappings", getting mugged on the street in broad daylight, the almost lethal air pollution, etc) hadn't improved in the least.<br />
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But letting the worries of one the largest cities in the world cloud judgment of quiet and far away beach towns, is absurd. When I hear comments about "all" of Mexico being unsafe because of misrepresented news stories being cast abroad, it really disappoints me. Don't we have the common sense to know that anywhere in the world if you're a drunk girl coming out of a bar at 3am, something bad just may happen to you?! Or yes, if you're talking with the wrong people in obscure places about things you shouldn't, that could lead to trouble. I take care of myself at night in cities like LA and NY just the same. But all the negativity from the drug/cartel reports is just silly. Their beef is with government or whoever else may be getting in the way of their business. Some tourist coming to relax at an all inclusive hundreds of miles from the border has nothing to worry about.<br />
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As is written on my website (www.cabobytatiana.com), Mexico's economy actually prospered through the US crisis of the last few years. It is currently the 14th largest in the world, growing at a rate faster than any South or Central American country. According to our current President, private companies plan to invest $8.6 billion in tourism projects throughout Mexico over the next three years.<br />
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What's more, and I am a prime example of this scenario, is thousands of Mexicans educated in excellent public or private schools in the US that are unable to find visa sponsorships for work are coming back to Mexico to feed the economy and improve the country in every aspect. Many of those young professionals came from very poor working class families in Mexico and are now slowly shifting their generation and their children's into the middle class. Ironically, while Mexico's middle class is growing, or dare I say coming into existence for the first time, the US middle class is on a devastating slide, increasing the gap between rich and poor much like Mexico has had for decades.<br />
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Let it be clear- I'm not writing this on some high chair all of the sudden trying to either psychologically feel better about my departure from the US or bash on its government and economy for no reason. I love the US, I always will- it pains me to see this evolve and to hear numerous Americans tell me in person, that they moved to Mexico, or are planning to, because they are tired of the US auto destructing with its obsessiveness over rules and regulations and being run by nothing but insurance companies and lawyers. I QUOTE.<br />
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What I hope, is that all or some of this information, educates some as it did me, and spreads a general awareness of our quick judgment of other countries and cultures, as well as that of our own.<br />
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Also, I hope it increases the desire of more of my foreign friends to come visit;) haha.<br />
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<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-13154477696628375832014-05-31T08:34:00.000-05:002014-05-31T08:34:05.990-05:00Flora Farms, Capella Pedregal, Avalon Salon, California Ranch Market & the unforgettable Hacienda Beach ClubFor the last dinner before my family left Cabo, I made a reservation at Flora Farms. Their restaurant/patio area is huge and we weren't scheduled until 8pm, so when we got there a little after 7 I thought it'd be no problem to get seated fairly quickly. Wrong! Word has definitely spread about this gem tucked into the mountains of San Jose del Cabo. It was packed! Even the bar had no available seats to pass the time. Luckily, after walking around the farm a bit, we found a sofa and chairs outside the bar area and sipped $20 freshly squeezed juices and margaritas.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz47Pjiuhq-8WP67SOutVA6lxnvmX7hqHoGSR6q-x00vJ_rj4DATBS5eOrQSp5VL3IMhT87XRonHrE0DDewXsz_lP4FUPxB4z8Z3j71KKtAW8dkVz9lOWivQHFjTuKIe46iq08Q4bsZ3Y/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz47Pjiuhq-8WP67SOutVA6lxnvmX7hqHoGSR6q-x00vJ_rj4DATBS5eOrQSp5VL3IMhT87XRonHrE0DDewXsz_lP4FUPxB4z8Z3j71KKtAW8dkVz9lOWivQHFjTuKIe46iq08Q4bsZ3Y/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a>The special of the day was a fried chicken family style with the typical southern comforts- collard greens, mashed potatoes, biscuits, and slaw...oh and carrot cake as dessert which we ended up forgetting to take home:(. My mom ordered the special knowing we'd probably take 1/2 her food, my brother got the double cut lamb chop, and I got a salad with grilled snapper. (I know, I know, but I haven't been eating my usual truckload of vegetables and this is a FARM so...).<br />
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As always, the dishes were full of freshly grown and picked flavor, and we devoured every single<br />
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Pictured is one of the farm dogs named "flor" or "flower"...fitting, huh? LOL.<br />
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After my family left, I needed to relax and recharge to fully absorb my new life in Cabo now that the bit of vacation mindset had vanished. Naturally, I called <a href="http://www.capellahotels.com/cabosanlucas/">Capella Pedregal Hotel</a> to schedule a manicure. Capella is owned by a Mexican family and is one of the most exclusive and luxurious hotels in Cabo. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean just past the marina, it is nestled in the mountains- literally as there's a tunnel you go through before arriving at the main entrance- with a grandeur that is unparalleled.<br />
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It was on my urgent list of places to visit and out of all the other fine hotels and resorts with a spa on grounds, this one had the most impressive and comprehensive menu of services.<br />
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If you can't experience Capella as a hotel guest, I urge you to book something at the spa to get hours of pampering at this wonderful place.<br />
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Once you valet, you're escorted down to the Auriga Spa, checked in, and taken on a tour of the locker room, co-ed relaxation pools, and then given a little quiet time before your specialist greets you.<br />
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I got there right at my appointment time so enjoyed the jacuzzi, steam room, ice room, and shower after my nails were done. But you can allow time before yours to get all these "necessities" in:).<br />
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The Auriga Spa reminded me a lot of the spa at La Amada Resort in Cancun- where I spent a month of vacation post Ironman Cozumel in 2010 as my dad was living there. It's from a Spanish company and the concept and design is very similar.<br />
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At Auriga everything is based on the phases of the moon and aligning the customer with that energy. All of their products are organic when possible and as my manicurist explained, the scrubs she used on my hands and arms were by a company (can't believe I forgot the name!) whose founder was in a terrible accident and he was completely restored by some Asian healers so his products were made in honor of them. In the locker, you have chlorophyl water and "digestive" teas, hors deouvres, and fresh fruit.<br />
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The manicure was fabulous, and the young lady, Paola from Guadalajara, became an instant friend. I will be back at some point for a pedicure when the time to unwind is loud and clear.<br />
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Continuing on the beauty theme:)...my grand aunt booked me a haircut and highlights yesterday because when she saw me at dinner the other night she gasped "sweetheart you are a natural blonde, you can't have that almost black hair with green lines from all that swimming you do!". I love her honesty and sassiness.<br />
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I've noticed more and more as the days in Cabo pass, that I'm actually living in SoCal, so it was no surprise to walk into Avalon full of young, hip Americans, and have them rival my favorite salon in Beverly Hills: Fringe.<br />
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Jessica did a fantastic job with my broom like, crayola disaster hair. She informed me that ketchup or tomato sauce/paste takes out the green from pools, and I was skeptical at first but she was right!!<br />
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Avalon is right in the heart of Cabo, and even if you weren't planning on getting your hair done here, you might as well look fabulous!<br />
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In the evening, I joined my great aunt and her husband for a movie and dinner. That's how I roll on a Friday night;)<br />
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We went to see Maleficent starring Angelina Jolie and it was awesome! I love her, and Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite Disney movies. They did a great job in adding to, or clearing up, the story, and using modern film technology to bring this fascinating fairy tale to life.<br />
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We then took a short trip to the California Organic Market- where you can find all the essential "Whole Foods" items albeit a very marked up price. I only grabbed some baked Kettle Chips, but spotted Tamari sauce, organic milk and yogurt, Amy's frozen foods, some favorite cereals, etc.<br />
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With no rush we drove a few blocks down to the Hacienda Beach Club for dinner. It is one of the oldest hotels in Cabo right next to the Marina past Medano Beach. The ocean is calm more often than not and they had looong bouey lines for swimming that immediately caught my eye (I'm going today of course). The Hacienda lives up to its name with Spanish influences and a spread that differentiates it from the other hotels in Cabo.<br />
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The view from the dining area is UNREAL, and for some reason their varied and chef quality cuisine has maintained extremely reasonable prices compared to the competition. It was clear I had a new place on my list of musts for when friends and family are in town.<br />
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Today, I'm feeling wiped out from the last couple weeks and the solid training I've managed. Instead of doing a long ride today, I'm leaving that for tomorrow and heading to the Saturday Organic Market in San Jose for its last weekend until November. I went last week and the vendors have already started to fade out, however I did find some raw coconut butter, awesome body cream from Baja Body Deli, and organic pork and chicken tamales- making sure to jot down the lady's number as she still makes and delivers to locals year round. </div>
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<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7957718990095051166.post-47778531665683677402014-05-29T12:54:00.000-05:002014-05-29T12:54:43.699-05:00Puerto Los Cabos & A Day at Diamante (Athlete Utopia)Life in Cabo makes you forget what day of the week it is, but before my family left yesterday afternoon, we continued having a ball at the seemingly endless attractions in this part of Baja.<br />
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One night, my parents were exhausted and decided to stay home so my brother and I ventured out to dinner alone and I took him to The Container in Puerto Los Cabos. It's a restaurant literally built in/from a ship container with incredible views of the PLC Marina, and though right off of the main street from downtown San Jose, it feels remote and extremely serene.<br />
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We both had a perfectly cooked snapper on a bed of rice and sautéed vegetables with a subtle Cabernet. Afterwards, we took a walk to look at all the boats and noticed the dolphins jumping slightly out of the water adjacent the Marina. It's the pools that belong to Dolphin Encounter, where during the day tourists or whoever can "swim" with the dolphins. Having swum in the wild in Hawaii numerous times with dolphins, and experienced the structured "swimming" at a similar facility to this in Cancun, I'd rather leave it to my slim chances in open water where I can really connect with these animals in their true environment.<br />
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Daniel of course immediately noticed that the only thing keeping us out of the dolphin pools was a tiny rope. "C'mon!" he urged me, "There's no one around". I love these animals and there really was not a soul in sight so I followed him. We laid down and splashed the water a bit but they weren't showing us any interest, so we moved on to the next pool. After a few minutes, 3-5 dolphins came right up to us, stuck their cute little heads out and let us pet them :)!!!!! Best. Night. Ever.<br />
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Thankfully, because it's Mexico, once we were spotted by a security guy, who btw was on the phone talking about some girl to a friend, he casually came up to us and said "um you guys can't be here" and proceeded with his phone call. My brother apologized and told him they're our favorite animal, and he humorously responded "I'm kind of sick of them, I see them every day". I love how in the US this would've probably been considered trespassing and/or gotten us some misdemeanor. </div>
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After our play date with Flipper, we went straight to bed as we had a long day at Diamante in store the next day. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpqUIVaKwBpEBS0B6Wb9SS_vv2Rr-rTBb47ugGkan540UdM8tzJGQjPgdHoC96x9W6cmIVYDzi_wuIeKmnny7lUT8NwxGqgFwAkALyQw-edFn2dhGrsLtmC_c0XK4NIyHkOnOmReoGsI/s1600/photo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpqUIVaKwBpEBS0B6Wb9SS_vv2Rr-rTBb47ugGkan540UdM8tzJGQjPgdHoC96x9W6cmIVYDzi_wuIeKmnny7lUT8NwxGqgFwAkALyQw-edFn2dhGrsLtmC_c0XK4NIyHkOnOmReoGsI/s1600/photo+3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>The Diamante development, located off Highway 19 a few minutes from Cabo heading toward Todos Santos, is a majestic 1500 acre property with 1.5 miles of Pacific coastline. It features the newly designed Tiger Woods El Cardonal golf course, along with the Davis Love III Dunes Course, multi million dollar beach estates, villas, the 10 acre saltwater lagoon, a hotel in the works, tennis courts, baseball field, soccer field, and state of the art fitness center. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXXwo9_ZDSsw8jO_riZYW9_897rlVakkcW_zK6wGW8dCnPdbbgd2ALdQ0jaW7rpOee79mYpCt2RgQ60fHWEn1BMr2wyDM1_R_G9YzFDnDQzTiB8SfvQHTLRdfmoa6hO_tNt1Qzt7wt90/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXXwo9_ZDSsw8jO_riZYW9_897rlVakkcW_zK6wGW8dCnPdbbgd2ALdQ0jaW7rpOee79mYpCt2RgQ60fHWEn1BMr2wyDM1_R_G9YzFDnDQzTiB8SfvQHTLRdfmoa6hO_tNt1Qzt7wt90/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>We met with the head of Sales for Diamante, and he took us through all of the construction, residence options, and toured us around the incredible grounds. Afterwards, we had a delicious lunch at their 24/7 cafe, and played for hours in the lagoon and sand pit- paddle boarding, swimming, beach volleyball, soccer, drinks at the pool bar....epic. </div>
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As an athlete, my eyes and mind were LIT. This project, in addition to events like Ironman Los Cabos, the Cabo Half Marathon in February, the already famous surfing community, and the booming interest in SUP, are paving an incredibly exciting road for Cabo becoming a sports mecca. </div>
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In other posts I've talked about how perfect Highway 19 is for cycling, and although the main Highway 1 that lines the Corridor from San Jose to Cabo has more cars, with a few yellow "respect bicycles" or "share the road" signs, Cabo's caring and respectful people will make this a prime destination for athletes to train.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvoPvcmznQubjvgz2w3vYnAhWDPRYsCk8Ej_paP8hQZzPhZ7JZlO_gLMFiqwwOej4mfiAw7kTy_rgaoZ1IthGP1K6gQ0bh5kdZnaV-QgKFEw58ytwmrpTXZBHUfJiQfUAi42yfxV0Okk/s1600/photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvoPvcmznQubjvgz2w3vYnAhWDPRYsCk8Ej_paP8hQZzPhZ7JZlO_gLMFiqwwOej4mfiAw7kTy_rgaoZ1IthGP1K6gQ0bh5kdZnaV-QgKFEw58ytwmrpTXZBHUfJiQfUAi42yfxV0Okk/s1600/photo+1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XMTE1KHcRz-d8Wx3MS7ELyciyW-nHyfbR_IWt5vqyETCyhtKYbtEDzZX5u_X9_1D_OQAs_Q-P5a9oI8XIq5K00G47xS6AAS27-Uf-w8lWyxWuKEeGRSZ-RVax6ZUddLTWxtYKdM6FHk/s1600/photo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XMTE1KHcRz-d8Wx3MS7ELyciyW-nHyfbR_IWt5vqyETCyhtKYbtEDzZX5u_X9_1D_OQAs_Q-P5a9oI8XIq5K00G47xS6AAS27-Uf-w8lWyxWuKEeGRSZ-RVax6ZUddLTWxtYKdM6FHk/s1600/photo+3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>My plan is to get involved with the Secretary of Tourism and help promote health and an active lifestyle to the People of Los Cabos. With the increasing number of Americans and Canadians- many of them outdoors lovers- coming to buy property in Cabo, this sporting culture goes hand in hand with the tourism that drives the economy of Baja Sur.<br />
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I'm in the process of talking to several resorts to partner with me in hosting a training camp for pros and age groupers, whereby they'd get a discounted all inclusive hotel fee, access to the resort's gym, sagged, safe, and uninterrupted bike rides, trail and road runs, pool and plenty of open water swimming, and the priceless opportunity to spread the message of sport to the local community.<br />
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If you're interested, I'll be announcing something on FB, Twitter, and my blog when the time to sign up comes, and feel free to comment here or message me on FB.<br />
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<br />TATIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497781282628180650noreply@blogger.com