I Run, We All Help @irunweallhelp - Tumblr Blog

SUNDAY

Well, it was a hell of a week… Everyone I met and the friends I made were a reason to feel very fortunate. I lived every moment with a great attention to detail and realised this is the way I want and am going to BE.

Huge THANK YOU to everyone who touched my present in some way during those seven days and especially to those who probably marked my future. Thank you ALL (those who have been present in my life for a long time now) for your support and patience especially during the last year.

Thank you ALL for your donations, you are GREAT!

Thanks to my family (biological and friend-formed), thank you - Peter… Patrick, Raed, Rob, Space Monkeys, Kristian, Alex.

Beijinhos, Nati, thank you for being with me the whole time since I first met you, I can not wait to BE with you.

To ALL - be well, be good, BE NOW!

——— Special thanks to: Skateistan - DONATE HERE PLEASE FM TEAM (Mark, Tom) - website Kalufa Surf Camp&School - website Helly Hansen 2XU

Race day After a good night sleep I did 40min yoga in the garden, meditate for some 12min and organised my things. The previous day we (Tom and I) had already left our bikes at the transition area of the race so there was not much to do now.

I was having some tea in the kitchen when I saw Tom, his dad (thanks for the support, pre-race hug and motivational words, mr Denis Sr), Mark and Yonas coming. Smiles of seriousness on our faces, the air was dense enough to be cut and saved for later (we all were going to need it during the race). We all left the house and headed to La Santa where the tournament was going to take place. It was probably one of the longest drives in my life :)

After the quick morning bike check, words of wisdom and hugs I was already half body in the water waiting for the scream of the starting gun. My heart was pounding, my mind was clearer than ever. I focused on the moment, smiled at the landscape of bodies in wetsuits, water colours and breeze, I felt the sun on my face and took my jump into the water. THE SWIM was a real human battle as I was constantly slapped and kicked and pushed by the bodies around me… I supposed I was doing the same to them as well, so no hard feelings were there. Although I lost some time orienting in the whole situation, I finished energised and ready for the rest of the race. THE BIKE was the part everyone was afraid of. And the segment I was feeling less prepared for - although almost an year of training (with some months of alcohol disruption and bad food in between) I had trained on a static bike only (needed to save cash) and have known my race bike for 6 days only. My “monkey shoes” (vibrate 5 fingers) as Mark called them seemed to do the job well. Although long and really exhausting uphills I was feeling just fine. Just on the highest point of the route I saw a friend of mine I briefly had met in Kalufa - Fumyia waiting for me! It was an amazing power boost, thank you, 私の友人! The rest of the bike race was just a patient fight with my own body and mind that in my humble opinion I could say I won. THE RUN was just enjoyable - I was feeling great and had started to really sense the magnitude of the whole IronMan race. People were cheering (thank you immensely, Anisha and Angie for being on the finish line), I saw Tom which (for me) was a mood booster (thanks, mate, for the “less talk, short steps” advice which kinda saved me :)) and hearing Mark´s “you are doing great!” meant the whole world for me in that moment. FINISHING was amazing, I was happy, complete, zen and…hungry… Returning my race chip the lady on the counter congratulated me for my position (18 in my age group) which made me feel kinda emotional - ok, I was alone for a moment so I let myself cry a bit :) I barely remember anything tangible from this day but I sure remember all the feelings and emotional cocktail I had became - I (hope) I will never forget that and to be sure - I will continue racing.

#ironmantri #keepskateistanrolling #irunweallhelp #Skateistan #Lanzarote

Day 5 and 6 - 48h/24h before the race.

Kalufa Surf Camp was feeling quiet… at least to me - my mind went to this Japanese garden place where it usually stays when something big is going to happen.

New hostel mates have just arrived - a UK group - Anisha, Angie, Ceri and Manju - he broke the ice (and also my idea for craziness) and after some swimming classes fI considered he needed the jokes were flowing. It is a rare pleasure to meet such a nice group and I really appreciated their (your if you are reading) company, smoothies and occasional ridiculousness :)

Later on I met the Belgium gang - another encounter I (hope) will be for life! Mark (mr Coach and amazing guy), Tom (mr Racer - congrats for the great time, mate, and thanks for the advices and laughter - you are what the word “Athlete” means) and Yonas - TinderMaster and a future Madrid citizen. They quickly became the closest thing I had for a family since, well, a long time.

So out of the sudden - I had it all :) I was prepared for the Big Day :)

#ironmantri #Skateistan #keepskateistanrolling #irunweallhelp #Lanzarote

Day after the “Long Way Down and B(l)ack”

Last night dinner (www.teleclubdetao.es) was exquisite… or better said - people were - Ada, Joan, Javi, Paul, Fabio, Rafaela (although you did´t come! :) … and the desserts (Bienmesabe is definitely an ah OH, Wow, Yes!) then - a short peaceful sleep. (also - I think we all saw Apple Maps rock)

I spent the next day (today) at the swimming poll just reading and enjoying some rest. It is time to tell you about Kalufa Surf Camp (www.kalufasurfschool.com) now.

Founded in 2009 by a skate and surf guru Roberto Merli (cheers mate for the 3am W‘‘d and Vodka&mint cocktail during my last night there and practically every encounter we had, you rock&surf :) the Kalufa Surf Camp is without doubt the reason of 40% of my enjoinment in Lanzarote.

Laura - the real soul of the place showed me since day 1 I was in a place which briefly after I could think of as a temp-home. From the photos it is more than clear that both Laura and Roberto had a wonderful style and had converted this one floor house in a piece of paradise. Clean, quiet and respectful environment mixed with the free minded habitants were a promise for a great time. I have probably said it (wrote it) already, but - it is The Place if you want to really breath and taste the Lanza-surf-spirit-enjoyment in the island, I just can not recommend it enough.

Most of my interpersonal encounters I would like to save for my self. But I just wanted to mention that I met amazing people and if you were there - thank you for your time :)

#ironmantri #keep skateistan rolling #Skateistan #irunweallhelp #Lanzarote

Day(s) next to the first two :)

Yes, this breakage in the organised “Day - X” format means I am having a great time. Decided to have one last big bike adventure before the race, I chose to cross the island and go south - from Kalufa Surf Camp to the natural “must see”, according to the locals, beach Papagayo.

Planned - it was a 41km going down and 43km returning route passing trough one of top 5 places in Lanzarote - Timanfaya Natural Park (big a*s volcanos in the central-west part. After the usual surf morning and a not-so-short nap I started my ride. The sun was preparing for its own bed (or second life somewhere you always wish you were) so I needed to be fast. I had my frontal flashlight but i was peddling the sand out of the road once I realised during those 40km one way there was practically nothing except occasional wineries. The ride was at first smooth and I was able to enter in the usual sweet spot of meditation. Thoughts about the race, then more thoughts about the race… It was all ok, my head was tasting the images without giving them a lot of time to make a mark…

Then I jumped to another place - I was enjoying some photos and sounds of Morocco I had on my phone and had nothing to do with the landscape in Morocco :) … I was reminded of a beauty much brighter than the sun falling over an island in the North Atlantic.

Somewhere before down I was before Papagayo. A dirty 5k road just before this magnificent place had almost trashed my bike and really fought my legs. The view (photos published) was almost a under-skin experience. I went for a swim, enjoyed the sunset (it was too beautiful for a “I have to be at the hostel before it gets dark” thoughts), took that nice purple curtain-like photo and headed back.

The ride started with a 7km vertical (ok, some 45 degrees) uphill that reminded me of how tired I was. After a real mind battle I was on the top with a pounding hearth and almost unresponsive legs and back. I continued. Just because destiny likes to do these sort of things and because it was a pitch dark spot between volcanos in a Mars kind of landscape, my flashlight died. Then my braveness as well. Ooopps… then - ooooooooopssss, I was really scared - my mind was doing that thing it always do when you are scared - staying away laughing at you every time you tried to think of a solution. I did the “I am scared 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-0” I am not scared any more “I am - shut up you are not” thing and continued with my iPhone flashlight attached with the cord of my shorts to my helmet. I spend 2 hours watching at my front wheel thinking about the first part of my ride… then I relaxed and started to enjoy the night landscape - well, the darkness and quietness around me. And out of the blue (well, black) i raised my gaze - oh, the sky… I still have that sky in front of me. It was just a moment, but perfection can not be more than that.

I was back at Kalufa. I was tired and excited. I was warmthly welcomed which made me almost emotional. I was offered an invitation for a dinner which made me happy. I had an amazing night with beautiful people which made them friends. I was grateful.

#ironamntri #Skateistan #keep skateistan rolling #irunweallhelp #Lanzarote

Day 2 Well, I needed couple of days to really feel and do things worthy for telling. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I had booked a surf course trough the Kalufa Surf School (http://www.kalufasurfschool.com). I just want to say that if you are in Lanzarote - this is the place to do surfing - situated in the north part of the island - perfect waves and brilliant instructors (Pepe (super-cool and sharp guy who really knows how to teach)). So after every 3h lesson I was heading back to the hostel (Kalufa Surf Camp - probably one of the best places I have been - I'll post a separate article at the end of my stay) to have a rich lunch and then (after sometimes an enjoyable nap) some training.

#ironmantri #keep skateistan rolling #skateistan #irunweallhelp #lanzarote #kalufasurf

Day 1 - noon and afternoon

Lanzarote is beautiful. Right from the airport I was able to already see and feel the ocean. The landscape I expected was boring and nature but the island surprised me with its amazing views, mixture between colours, textures and sounds (ok, just check out the photos I posted :)) I took my bike for the race from BH ProAction (http://www.proactionbh.com) as well as some nutrition (primarily gels and iso-powder). The service was friendly and super-correct - they couldn’t find the aluminum bike I have reserved so instead they gave me a true carbon beauty for the same price. This was my first contact after the plane and I need to say - if you want to rent a bike - this is your place - a part of the “hello-make-yourself-home” feeling they have absolutely everything you’ll need. I’ll probably go back the day after tomorrow for more nutrition and also to check the beach there. After a quick lunch (fruits and hummus) I headed to Kalufa Surf Camp&School (http://www.kalufasurfschool.com) - my shelter for the next week. I’ll write about my experience here in a couple of days but for now I was blasted with good feelings. It was a ride across the island (check the map I published) and - oh my, it was amazing. Hard up hills and a lot of wind, 80% humidity and the sun (and my backpack) made the 23km tough. Now - I need to chill, find some food and organize my week.

#irunweallhelp #ironmantri #lanzarote #skateistan #keepskateistanrolling

Day 1 - morning

I woke up at 03:30am after a 4h sleep in a good shape but still with some leftovers of fever and the flue that was making me company during the last couple of days. After a cup of tea I did my usual 35min Yoga, meditated for around 15min and headed to the airport. During my flight I enjoyed “180 South” - Conquerors of the Useless follows Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia. Along the way he gets shipwrecked off Easter Island, surfs the longest wave of his life - and prepares himself for a rare ascent of Cerro Corcovado. Jeff’s life turns when he meets up in a rainy hut with Chouinard and Tompkins who, once driven purely by a love of climbing and surfing, now value above all the experience of raw nature - and have come to Patagonia to spend their fortunes to protect it. I’ll keep it short but it is a huge recommendation m. Also - be good and get involved with their Patagonia Conservation project - www.sinrepresas.com; www.conservacionpatagonia.org

#ironmantri #keepskateistanrolling #irunweallhelp #skateistan #lanzarote