IRONMAN SUPERFROG SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA -2019

I did this triathlon because in 2019 I finished my second full Ironman in Mont-Tremblant Quebec, Canada (a blog coming soon) where I had another tough experience I got severely sick with the nutrition, I spent like an hour or more in the medical tent with low pressure then walking the marathon with paramedicals I reached to the finish line in slow motion. After all that hard training and sacrifices months before that day and to get there expecting to have a good event and then finishing like that, it was like throwing thousands of hours of pure hard work in the trash, I could have finished with same time as if I didn’t train at all, so I decided to sign up for this Ironman 70.3 to substitute that ‘sour taste’ of my mind and heart, one of my best decisions ever.

I was conscious about all the personal risks I was taking, like anything the conditions were never perfect, these two events were exactly 4 weeks apart, again compromising a lot of things to get there, but something inside of me told me that it was worth it. I told my coach, Coach Mark and he always supporting my crazy decisions, this was my last Triathlon (Sept.15-19) before the Covid-19 shut down.

In this triathlon there were just age groups categories and you can choose your swim start position in the corrals based on your swim time, I think I took the first wave. This swimming was 1.2 miles in the ocean it was hard, some waves in a circuit of 2 loops in between those you need to run 100 meters in loose sand, that is very tough for the body switching from swimming to run in the sand and then again in the water.

It was wetsuit legal, so I was very comfortable with my Aquaman Wetsuit and my Taymory Tri-Suit under.

“Tough times are a blessing in disguise, it always reveals the true color of the people around us”

When I was taking my wetsuit off in Transition #1 I was right next to a girl who also made it to the overall podium, I was teasing her and told her “take it easy if you are in my age group lol” and I checked her calf, she was in another age group. Then I was telling myself “Raquel take it seriously haha”.

The 4 loop 56 mile bike course was basically flat with some wind, some other coaches were screaming at me that I was a few minutes behind the first girl. I was getting worried because my watts were getting low in the last 2 loops, but I was very positive trying to stay focused on my nutrition and breathing, hoping to digest and have a good run.

“Energy flows where attention goes.

Guard your mind. Protect your energy”

At transition #2 I was very slow, I ate a gel with liquid carb, when I started running my legs were heavy. That day I was very good at practicing being here and now, not thinking about how much was left.

This triathlon is particularly special because the half marathon of 4 loops with 13.1-mile run reflects the beach running that Navy Seals do in training where close to 9 miles of the run is in the sand.

On the 3rd loop I started feeling very slow and thirsty I was drinking in every single aid station like a starving to death person, I was taking two drinks at the same time while still moving, learning from past events, I rather keep going (like short distances at elite ITU level) I realized sometimes even slow and steady is better than stopping or walking.

When I got to the finish line I was surprised the crowd screaming and clapping, I thought I was far behind the leaders, a God surprise, everyone congratulating me telling that I was second overall, I was very happy, humble and thankful. Besides finishing top 3 overall and first place in my category, I also qualified for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships 2021 in Taupo New Zealand.

Hawaii 70.3 Ironman-2019

At this event I was in an emotional distress, like most of my races all those years from 2013 to 2017, I was fighting several tough life situations and challenges.

I am thankful that it’s all done, that long chapter is behind, resolved and most important is that I am healed and happy because I grew internally immensely.

I din’t prepare very well for this triathlon, at that time I was easily distracted and then sharing with other nice friends athletes from Ecuador days before the event, If could tell myself something before this triathlon it would be: “Raquel stay focused and relaxed”.

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but YOU CAN DECIDE not to be reduce by them”. Maya Angelou.

I was very tired the days before this event, living in Oakton, Virginia working at 3 different jobs, as head swim coach in a private school, also as private swim coach, swim instructor, personal triathlon coach and manager in a triathlon studio, also my daughter and the responsibilities as head of my household as single mother.

During the first bike portion, the main nutrition water bottle dropped, I remember feeling so out of focus after that.

In this picture, you can see my “torpedo” black water bottle that suppose to be on the handle bars, after it dropped and I stopped trying to “save the nutrition” I ended putting it in the frame, because an elastic was broken, my main nutrition was lost after weeks practicing with a specific carbohydrates nutrition, the nutrition in long distances triathlons at pro level is half of the game and I am delicate with my digestion when I am racing…Things that happen in triathlons.

Sometimes when you are not in the zone, mood or focus, because other life’s big issues in your mind or heart; any little thing if you don’t have the right support (behind scenes) can mess up the whole day or event, that is lack of internal strength. Long distance Triathlons can reveal your character and life circumstances: it can brake you or make you stronger.

With races like this, the ‘not so good’ experiences sounds cliché but these are the ones that we learn the most. With all the bad ones I improved a lot of awesome skills, I have learned a lot…Now I am more resilient, patient, conscious, mindful, courageous and truly independent, even I thought I had all those before, now I am so much better in all of them.

“The middle is messy, but its also where the magic happens” Brene Brown

One of my slowest 70.3 Ironman, during the run I stopped in all aid stations walking, saying thank you to the awesome volunteers while drinking heaveanly refreshing coke. I was just thinking, “Raquel get to the damn finish line, no matter how slow you are today.”

After I crossed the finish line, I spend like an hour chatting and laughing with other females pro athletes and coaches that also felt like me “a not so good day”. That was a good part of the day.

Honestly I was not very happy with my performance, but now I am very happy because I know I did my best and I handled the situation with a good attitude.

I am the only one (and God) who knows how many obstacles and challenges I was having and all the sacrifices I was making for years and years, allways doing my best to stay strong and being able to be responsable in many things while helping others.

“An entire sea of water can’t sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship. Similarly, the negative of the world can’t put you down unless you allow it to get inside you”

IRONMAN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY -2018

Professional Category, an awesome Iron-women debut experience.

WHY I DID THIS IRONMAN…

The first semester of 2018 I was in Michigan like always working very hard in different jobs as coach, teacher, so many roles and responsibilities, also training. I was honored again to be invited by a personal direct call from the Dominican Triathlon Federation to race as elite in a few ITU races, that year I did 3, Huatulco World Cup, Magog Pan-American Cup in Quebec, Canada, and Santo Domingo Pan-American Cup. (Mini Blogs coming soon)

That summer 2018 in between those International races, I got a job opportunity as a Triathlon Studio manager and coach, my daughter and I moved from Michigan to Virginia, I decided to do Ironman Maryland because it was close by, after training and working very hard for months, then during tapering, 2 weeks before this event, the Ironman officials called to tell me that I can’t race there because my professional status and the rules. You can find more details about it in this blog I wrote for my team Athletic Mentors .

After all those changes, in Virginia I was juggling with 3 new jobs, motherhood responsibilities and trying to arrange to be in Louisville ready for that starting line in less than 2 weeks. When the day arrived I was lucky my coach Coach Mark and a part of Athletic Mentors Team were there, and other teammates also doing the Ironman, that made a huge difference mentally and in many ways, no words to express my gratitude.

I was at ease the days before the event, trying to stay focused on the details and what I can control rather than the weather or what could happen. I spent a nice time with other athletes and friends, a fun experience. I remember riding with a couple of teammates to see the bike course and I was falling asleep in their car, a good sign that I was very relaxed, like usually I had good sleep days and the night before, is very important to sleep well on race week.

The race day was uncomfortable because it was raining and cold, in my case I was submerged like in beast mode and my mind was in good spirits.

“Hold fear in one hand and passion in the other and leap.”

L. Nichols

the 180 kms. bike ride

Windy, cold and raining is kind of the hardest weather for a long bike ride, but this is the uniqueness of this sport, you need to be everything-proof if you want to enjoy it, get better and see improvements.

To be honest it was very tough, but I can tell you that if you train well, you become familiar with being uncomfortable. My power-meter was not calibrated, I spent the first 10k trying to fix it, but again raining and with gloves it was almost impossible to work with a touch screen computer, then my chain dropped several times. I was very focused on keeping my mind on resolve mode and reminding my self: “Raquel this what it takes!”

Because nutrition when racing is my weakness I was very focused on nutrition, drinking a good sip approximately every 10 kms or when I catched a negative thought.

The last 20 kms were the hardest, I was very tired to be on aero position, my neck, shoulders and legs were hurting a lot, but I was practicing here and now mental stage and not thinking about whats ahead.

“True winners compare their achievements with their goals.” Nido Q.

The marathon… 42 kms

This transition #2 was different from others, learning from other half Ironman experiences and reading about others athletes stories I prepared to take my time and use the transition as a “break” to stretch and to prepare my best for a full marathon. The volunteers were very kind and helpful, they opened the gear bags for me and supported me to get ready as fast as possible. Again you can read more funny details in the blog I wrote right after the event.

The first 10k I felt very good, I was going faster than planed, I tried to stay in the zone and drinking sips of my nutrition, that now I can tell, I think that was not enough nutrition but, I survived. The environment was amazing, a lot of music and enthusiasm on the 2 loops of a flat run.

This maybe sounds like an irrelevant comment but everything I share is how it really happened to me, in my first lap going under the train bridge tunnel I saw right in front-over me crossing slowly a train’s freight with a graffiti paint saying: “LET THEM KNOW”, it was very nice in huge letters, I bet some people from Louisville or somewhere else had seen it, for me it was a little surreal, like a movie…I took that message with me.

On the last loop of 21k, Coach Mark yelled at me “You need to be tough now” and I thought “I need to be tough, NOW?” But I knew what he ment… I needed to be tougher than ever.

Then I was counting the kilometers, when I reached the last 10k everything was hurting, the mantras were a little stronger and more frequent: “Raquel you rock, you can do this!”, “Raquel this is what it takes, you got this!”, “Raquel, just a 5k left, keep going!”.

When I got to the finish line it was a mix of emotions, the crowd was very energetic, I was in pain and so happy at the same time, I couldn’t believe that I made it. I finished 8th at Professional category and 15th Overall female.

“Sometimes you have to be willing to let go of something old to grab onto something new. You have to be willing to let a part of you die that you used to be comfortable with in order for another part of you to be born.”

L. Nichols

Ironman 70.3 dubai -2017

Why this triathlon?

In January 2017, after having the support of awesome sponsors and a new Time Trial bike and some ‘no-so-good’ races in the past, during the USA winter no races around, I wanted to perform and have more experience in long distances, I thought Ironman 70.3 Dubai was a good shot at that point.

As always I was working a lot at different jobs and roles, no breaks 24/7, without vacations ever since I was a kid, I was very busy working to sustain my daughter as a single mom and training hard, just recently healed from a small and first injury in my athletic career, for this half, I was basically just swimming and biking, I Improvised to complete the half marathon. I also competed at the Professional category because in December 2016 I was in Dakhla, Morocco still competing at ITU as elite representing the Dominican Republic.

the swim in jumeirah beach…

I waked up very early, I was having a little jet lag, Dubai is 11 hours difference from USA; a kind friend from India picked me up from the hotel and they cheered at me during the race, I was very confident and organized for that start line. I remember when I was “warming up” in the water, it was still dark with other pros, 30 minutes before the start, then waiting at the race start line, barefoot over a cold sand with a hotel towel over my swimsuit, I was freezing.

No wetsuit legal and no skin-suit available for the latina? no problem. When swimming open water in triathlon events if the water is cold sometimes you can use wetsuit, for professional category the rules are very strict with the temperature between the air and the water, in this specific event the water was a little cold, but wetsuit was not legal for pro cat, but legal for age-group category, at that time I didn’t have a skin suit, so I did use my swimsuit. As you can see in the picture. A “skin suit” is use in triathlons over your triathlon suit gear, that could have pockets or the fabric type can drag water, “skin-suit” a ‘self explanatory name’ that is tight to the body like the skin, avoids dragging and makes you swim faster. At professional category every little thing counts.

Besides that, I had a smooth swim, clear water and the swim course surrounded by boats, I survived a fast swim.

The 90 km, Bike ride…

I think this was my first time having a “bike race plan” for a half Ironman and maybe couple of races with a power meter computer, for this one my coach and I planned a “power zone target”, also I was testing a new nutrition with liquid carbohydrates. I remember for the first time trying new mantras strategies to keep the power on, my main focus was drinking and keeping the power zone. During the bike ride I remember going next to another Pro girl and we were passing each other several times. After the race she came to me and congratulated me and told me I was a strong cyclist, even I didn’t feel like that, I was thankful and also congratulated her.

It was very tough trying to go “all out” for 90 kms, I am very thankful, I did better than I was expecting.

the 21 km run through jumeirah beach…

I remember this event was extremely organized and neat, all impeccable and fully covered with a red carpet, this transition was very special with “closets” for your gear bags one for each transition and a special place for your helmet as you can see in the picture, you needed to wear your helmet before getting your bike. So many people cheering all the way in the 13.1 Miles with 4 flat laps run next to Jumeirah beach. In each lap they gave you a specific colored bracelet so you can count your laps and get it as a “prize” I found that a cool motivation and a nice distraction from the pain.

During this run, I remember I fell on the floor in the first lap, I stumbled on a gap in the floor. After that I was using a specific mantra, “this shall pass”, to keep the pace. I was very thirsty and I fought until the last step.

At the finish line the first place winner Javier Gomez, hugged and congratulate me and I asked him: “did you win?” he humbly replayed: “Yes, I did”. Very happy and proud of his personality.

I finished #16 at Professional Category and #18 Overall Female. Very grateful and honored.

After the event, a super fancy area with good food, and with, I think, around 100 massage tables each with a specific massage therapist, like spa styled. Everything nite, with nice towels, oils and music. Then a super nice after party that night. Definitely a unique experience, hard but epic.

“If you want the wisdom, the strength, the clarity, the courage that can come from struggle the price is clear: you have to endure the struggle first.”

E. Greitens

IRONMAN 70.3 Steelhead Michigan -2017

Professional Category

In this triathlon I was planning to wear one of my Aquaman wetsuits, but just a few minutes before race starting they said that the air temperature plus water temperature indicated that wetsuits were not allowed for Professional category.

I was worried because I didn’t have a skin suit for that situation, I saw all the pro girls with their skin swimsuits (something that you can wear over your tri-suit to avoid dragging with the triathlon gear) at that time I didn't have one. Lucky me I had a second optional sleeveless top without pockets, at that level every little detail counts as minutes ahead or behind. I was trying to suppress my emotions, I remember my daughter telling me “mom its ok, you can do it”.

Those words from my 9 year old girl gave me a lot of courage.

“Integrity is choosing courage over comfort. Choosing what is right over what is fun, fast or easy and choosing to practice our values rather than simple professing them.” Rising Strong.

The bike portion was smooth, after that rough cold swim, I was trying to stay positive and focused on the nutrition.

This was my second half Ironman with my nice TT bike I got from my awesome sponsor R. H. Mejia & Co. I am deeply thankful. I remember during this bike portion I was trying to stay in a good position with other strong girls and thinking: “these girls are true beast cyclists, I need to work more on the bike”.

“The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood”

Roosevelt.

The running part was tough, I was dehidrated and had low energy I didn't eat enough during the bike portion, I was running close to other pros still fighting to stay in a good position. I finished 13th at Professional Category and 15 overall female.

Long distances triathlons are challenging because so many external and technical factors that influence in your performance and mind, more at the professional or elite level where most of them have had a lot of years of experience and an adequate support.

I always tell myself from the beginning to keep learning and staying grounded while dreaming to the sky and to never compare myself with anyone because I am unique (like everyone). My personal challenges, my life story and everything is very different to everyone. My goal from the beginning to the present is to do my best and see how much I can improve at my personal life stages in this hard and awesome sport.

“Focus in what you want to do. Not what you want to be".

Barak O.

IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside -2017

This ironman was in California, I flew from Michigan and sent my bike with Tri bike Transport.

I did a couple of things that if I can go back I would do in a different way, first to be more relaxed, I was having some out of my control issues at that point for several years, (dealing with some emotional abuse) and second to focus more on the details like logistics and gear.

I met with some friends in California, I went for lunch with one childhood Dominican girlfriend and she went to cheer on me during the course, that was really nice.

I was super late for the start line, we didn't plan where to park the car, so I ran to the start line, and 10 minutes before the countdown, I was still rushing doing my transition, and I literally was putting on my wetsuit on when all the pros were already in line for the start. Epic, unbelievable and yes crazy. One of my friends was shocked, and I was not impress.

The Swim was in the water start for the professionals, it went fast and smooth, even thou I didn’t properly put the wetsuit.

The 56 Mile Bike ride

The other thing I did learn during this event in a hard way, was that you never use a long speedo race-swimsuit for an Ironman. I wanted to put the Sponsors logo, to “save time and money” I just took one of my super tights swimsuits and put the logos, one of my worst mistakes, I literally was hurting so bad, I couldn't sit on the saddle. It was horrible, I thought about quitting so many times, but I was thinking Raquel you will feel better if you get to that finish line.

IRONMAN Racine 70.3 -2016

Bike - Run Ironman 70.3

This Ironman was one of my first Ironman and using my new TT bike.

Because of a storm, they postpone the starting time for 2 hours later, and then they canceled the swim.

I had an unplanned breakfast of scrambled eggs and toasts, that made my stomach hurt, so I was super uncomfortable from the start to the finish line.

I was always training so hard and doing so many personal sacrifices, that I was willing just to finish.

The Bike

The bike portion was hilly at the beginning, then flat with some wind.

Some things went differently on this event, I was racing in the Professional category, the start was: one athlete on the bike every 20 seconds, to keep the non-drafting rule.

This bike ride went fast, I was having heartburn, and I didn’t wat to drink or eat anything.

The HAlf marathon RUN

This run course was rolling, I remember trying to keep my pace around 7 minutes/mile, I was thinking why did I eat so much? I was a little tough to myself during the run, and then proud of myself that I pushed out my comfort zone from start to finish.

I finished top 20 Overall, later on, I heard that at this event a few Professionals female leaders were DQ because of anti-doping rules. Very humbly proud of myself that I always play clean, in my athletic career I have had 5 anti-doping tests, I am always good and 100% honest.

PEACE of MIND is a TREASURE