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NEXT ONE IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS... MIKEL AND PAU LET´S GO!!

Nov 20, 2009

SECOND CHALLENGE: HALF IRONMAN SINGAPORE!

Friends,
I have finally decided that for my second challenge, I will try to raise funds for two Cancer Childhood NGO's: Fundación Caico in Spain and Children´s Cancer Foundationin Hong Kong.











I would like to introduce my second challenge, AVIVA IRONMAN 70.3 TRIATHLON SINGAPORE (March 21st, 2010), I will try to raise funds for a good cause...to help and collaborate actively with two NGO´s: Fundación Caico (Spain)(http://www.fundacioncaico.org/) and Cancer´s Childhood Foundation (Hong Kong) (http://www.ccf.org.hk/)

I am donating all 113 Kms which is the Half Ironman Triathlon distance (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21.1km run) and I have made up my mind to sell those to raise funds to support those two NGO´s .

Donations can be done as it follows:

1. Friends/Relatives/Anonymous (Km-1 to 113): Each individual can buy a kilometer by 50 Euros/500 HKD, except for, first and last kilometer of each discipline (Km-1, & Km-2 -swim-, Km-3 & Km-92 -bike-,Km-93 & Km-113 -run-)- by 100 Euros/1,000HKD each.
2. Friends/Relatives/Anonymous (Km-0): Any amount from 1 Euro/10HKD are accepted and will accumulate into Km-0.

3. Companies or Institutions Sponsorship: as part of Corporate Social Responsibility, can sponsor my second challenge contacting myself to my personal e-mail: ivaxbcn33@hotmail.com . After receiving its sponsorship, I will wear Company or Institution logo in my triathlon clothes, media appearances and blogsite, explain main of their activities and reinforce its Corporate Resonsibility message. I have created 4 Sponsorhip categories:
D iamond above > 3,000Euros/30,000HKD
G old > 1,500 Euros/15.000HKD
S ilver > 750 Euros/7,500 HKD
B ronze > 300 Euros/3,000 HKD
An agreed % of that sponsorhip will be donated to NGO selected by the Company or Institution.
I will update periodically about total amount and kilometers donated to both NGO's thru this blog.
Talk to you next post,
"XTB" Xavi.
(Spanish)
Amigos!
Me gustaría introduciros mi segundo desafío, AVIVA HALF IRONMAN 70.3 TRIATHLON SINGAPORE (Marzo 21, 2010), voy a intentar conseguir fondos para una buena causa...ayudar y colaborar activamente con dos ONG´s Fundación Caico (España) )(http://www.fundacioncaico.org/) y Cancer´s Childhood Foundation (Hong Kong) (http://www.ccf.org.hk/).
Voy a donar los 113 Kms que consta la prueba de Half Ironman Triatlón (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21.1km run) y he decidido venderlos para recaudar fondos para ayudar a ambas ONG´s.
Las donaciones se pueden realizar de la siguiente forma:
1. Amigos/Familiares/Anónimos (Km-1 al 113): Cada inidviduo puede comprar un kilómetro por 50 Euros/500HKD, excepto para, el primer y último kilómetro de cada disciplina (Km-1, & Km-2 -swim-, Km-3 & Km-92 -bike-,Km-93 & Km-113 -run-) que se venden por 100 Euros/1,000HKD cada uno.
2. Amigos/Familiares/Anónimos (Km-0): Cualquier importe a partir de 1 Euro/10HKD se puede donar y se acumulará en el Km-0.
3. Empresas o Instituciones Esponsorización: como parte de Responsabilidad Corporativa, pueden esponsorizar mi segundo desafío contactandome en mi e-mail personal ivaxbcn33@hotmail.com . Una vez recibida la esponsorización, llevaré visible el logo de la Empresa o Institución en mi ropa deportiva de triatlón, en las apariciones de prensa, así como en mi blog, explicando detalladamente principales actividades y reforzando el mensaje de Responsabilidad Social Corporativa de la misma.
Para ello existen 4 categorías de Sponsor:
D iamond más de > 3,000Euros/30,000HKD
G old > 1,500 Euros/15.000HKD
S ilver > 750 Euros/7,500 HKD
B ronze > 300 Euros/3,000 HKD
Un % acordado de dicho valor se destinará a la ONG seleccionada por la Empresa o Institución.
Muchas gracias anticipadas,
¨XTB¨ Xavi.

Nov 19, 2009

FIRST TECHNICAL RUN TRAINING!

Friends,

Yesterday night, I did my first "serious" technical run training coached by Mike Maiers in Aberdeen Sports Ground running track.

We started with a quick warm-up 2 laps, then, Cooper test, 12' running to achieve as much distance as I could...result 3K @ pace of 4'/km and, finally, 4 x 700 meters series with different instructions for each.

Mike gave me some tips how to improve my running skills:

1. Arms up and more relaxed,
2. Body a little bit inclinated 5 to 10%,
3. Step flatter and shorter.

After trying to run, as he explained me, my speed improved quite a lot but also my effort...not yet natural movements!haha Thanks a lot Mike!

Conclusion, EXCELLENT TRAINING SESSION, enjoying with other Dragon members in a cold Hong Kong night 14C.

I attach chronicle sent by Mike to all participants:

"Hello Runners,
Some good efforts last night for the Coopers Run Test.
The below results are in the archive, so this will be your goal for the next time we perform this.

Name Dist. Run in 12min Average/km
James 3.4k 3.31
Paul A.M. 2.8k 4.17
Nerida 2.9k 4.08
Riggsy 2.7k 4.26
David 3.0k 4.00
Mel 2.6k 4.36
Jason 3.2k 3.45
Paul T 3.2k 3.45
Xavier 3.0k 4.00
Steve B 3.3k 3.38
Andree 2.4k 5.00
(includes toilet stop)"

"XTB" Xavi.

Nov 16, 2009

BEST NEWBIE 2009!

Friends,

I have a good new for you...yesterday, Dragons Triclub nominated as "Newbie 2009" during Dragons End of Season Party beach...what a joy, surprise and unexpected award!

From left to right: Paul, Richard, Xavi, Julian and Mike.


I attach chronicle from Richard Thornton (Dragons Newsletter) and link:


http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001pbUA9HXeQV9ITbnMcS9IWlB4Wi1bFxOQ9r1meLnD78WQGsizWDYrHIR89QVzrSjoh5OxA-GNr3mzh6AOboxYfMWKkb8FuRbYTGS99d5QiKohmQmIIl-oJ6Gz_QIoFtKYtkKRpHxfOFUx_OD3SFG8dK2BB6QCF9n2Ic8pcnI0TmiFijLSnSofUuL4dHNw4PBsQQsHSeL-Y1o%3D

"Dragons End of Season Beach Party

What a great night, and I was impressed with how much a Dragons triathelete is actually capable of drinking - the food was there and picked at, but the booze was hoovered up. For the committee members that work in the background keeping the club alive, it was a real reward to see so many people there.

The philosophy of the club has always been "A club run by members for the members" - we are not profit making, so everything gets ploughed back into the club for your benefit and enjoyment. The post race sausages have served two jobs this year. One, was obviously to feed you after the race, but secondly and actually the primary point of doing the sausages, was so that people would stay a while after each race and get to meet and chat with fellow racers. And this shone through at the end of season do, where we had 50+ members mingling, drinking and having a laugh - besides the racing, this really is what the club is all about.

And with 40 of us on the Drunken Dragons table at Phuket - it shows that the club camaraderie is strong.

A few special awards were handed out on the night (Below) as well as over a dozen prizes in the lucky draw:-

Best Male improver - Matt Holland
Best Female improver - Kate Ruthersford
Most committed racer - Chris Gunns
Best Newbie - Xavier Garcia
Best Tri Tumble - Ray Wepener

Our Thanks again are extended to Escapade Sports for supporting the Dragons and providing us with many of the gifts.

If you haven't visited them yet, then you must, as it really is a one-stop shop for the triathlete, and the staff are really helpful and very knowledgable. "

Talk to you next post,

"XTB" Xavi.

Nov 10, 2009

TRICKP...NEW TEAM!

friends,


Just "fresh" info from tonight's dinner, we are starting a TRICKP team with new Finance triathlete beginners, as Nicolas Brouchon, Omar Durrani, Jim Levy, Steve Giafaglione, Sergio Soriano, Al Wieand and myself, to participate at least in 1 of those 3 Olympic triathlon during 2010:
Philadelphia (http://www.phillytri.com/),
Barcelona (http://www.garminbarcelonatriathlon.com/) and/or
Hong Kong (http://www.hongkongitu.com/en/index.shtml).

I invite from here to more CKP employees to join our "small and crazy" TRICKP group...and let's see how many members can we get until 2010 June, first challenge, as new triathlete beginners, looking for becoming 'FINISHERS' very soon!

I have explained them that first thing they need, as I did 5 months ago is to select a training plan from a good webstie, as for example, http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/ and start training hard on weakest part of the tri...that it looks like is going o be for them the swim and for me keep training the running!

Talk to you next post!

"XTB" Xavi.

Nov 7, 2009

USA TRIP...PHILADELPHIA FULL WEEK!

Friends,

I am in Hong Kong airport 00.35 a.m. in my way to Philadelphia (18 hours flight) for a full Finance meeting week to cover very interesting topics...but, I believe, my training will be affected (last 2 days no training at all...today I missed 89 Kms with my Dragons mates in Disney).

My goal, for tomorrow, is at least to recover part of it with a long bike static ride in the hotel fitness room before go to the stadium to attend..Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys, NFL game. Go Eagles Go!

Btw, I might have a chance to participate in Phuket Laguna triathlon (1.8Kms swim, 55Kms bike, 12Kms run) December 6th, which will really help me to prepare my second challenge HIM in Singapore March 2010.

http://www.lagunaphukettriathlon.com/

Talk t oyou next post,

"XTB" Xavi.

Nov 4, 2009

LIFE REFLEXION...?

Opening my heart and finding beauty
I was not brought up in an emotional household. My parents were strict and unforgiving. Years later I realized that this was the way they cared. Better to have strict parents than parents that don’t care. The worst thing a parent can do to a child is not care. Children want to know that their parents care for them in some way shape or form. I know my parents cared. Now years later, I am on my own spiritual path. I am on a path to open up my heart and to be totally free. I want to be free of worry, doubt, envy and fear. I want to find beauty in all of life’s simplest of moments. I want to live each and every moment to the fullest. Tonight I was watching the sunset turn the sky into ribbons of a deep salmon color. It was one of those beautiful “ah ha” moments. This is what life is all about. Letting go of all those illogical worries and loving my short time on this earth. I want to embrace each moment and open my heart to all of them. Always.


Opening my heart before my mind reacts.
As I drive across the bridge in the morning, I sometimes click off the Audio book I’m listening to and drive in silence. I then hear the soft thumping of the tires on the bridge struts. As my mind quiets I watch the soft, grey morning clouds float off the top of the skyscrapers. I watch the golden rays of sunshine reflect off a thousand window panes, creating a magical splash of vibrant gold across the city. If a driver cuts me off, I feel my heart contract and begin to close. Before my mind reacts I allow my heart open again and let the moment go. I am too much in love with this morning and this life to allow my heart to close and have my mind react negatively. It is going to be a magnificent day. I only have a short time on the earth. This is my path. I am on it now, there is no going back.

INSTANTS (Poem Jorge Luis Borges)
If I were able to live my life anew,
In the next I would try to commit more errors.
I would not try to be so perfect,
I would relax more.
I would be more foolish than I've been.
In fact, I would take few things seriously.
I would be less hygienic.
I would run more risks, take more vacations, contemplate more sunsets, climb more mountains, swim more rivers.
I would go to more places where I've never been, I would eat more ice cream and fewer beans, I would have more real problems and less imaginary ones.
I was one of those people that lived sensiblyand prolifically each minute of his life; Of course I had moments of happiness.
If I could go back I would tryto have only good moments.Because if you didn't know, of that is life made: only of moments;
Don't lose the now.I was one of those that never went anywhere without a thermometer, a hot-water bottle, an umbrella, and a parachute;
If I could live again, I would travel lighter.
If I could live again, I would begin to walk barefoot from the beginning of springand I would continue barefoot until autumn ends.
I would take more cart rides, contemplate more dawns, and play with more children, If I had another life ahead of me.
But already you see, I am 85, and I know that I am dying.

and

Peace (U2 song)

See the world in green and blue
See China right in front of you
See the canyons broken by cloud
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
See the Bedouin fires at nightSee the oil fields at first light
And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colors came out
It was a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away Beautiful day

U2

Nov 1, 2009

SPLASH N DASH SERIE 3

Friends,
Just to add a brief note about my Sunday training race...and despite of my pain on right knee, I am very happy because I have ran my 10K with a pace below 5'/Km and in first swim part after 400m I was 4th classified (swimming works well for me!).
I have finished 13th on my category.

POWERBAR SPLASH 'N DASH AQUATHON SERIES
RACE 3, REPULSE BAY, 1 NOVEMBER 2009
Racer Description BibNumber OverallPlacing CategoryPlacing FinishTime
Xavier Garcia Male Challenge 35-39 144 56 13 01:02:59

I attach my running and laps data from my Garmin 310XT:


Talk to you next post,

"XTB" Xavi.

Oct 31, 2009

# 610 REGISTRATION NUMBER HIM SINGAPORE 2010


Friends,


Just to let you know and share with all of you...I have registered to HALF IRONMAN SINGAPORE 2010 (March 21st), have a look!


Talk to you next post,


"XTB" Xavi.

Oct 29, 2009

PAREJAS/COUPLES...COMENTARIOS/COMMENTS?

(Spanish)

Un ejercicio que no deben dejar de practicar:
Hace algunos años, cuando todavía era soltero, joven, y bello, tuve una clase muy especial. Fui a ella con una chica llamada Norma, que en ese entonces era mi novia, y puedo asegurar que la lección que aprendimos ese día impacto muchísimo mi vida.
No recuerdo mucho del tema de la clase, pero lo que si recuerdo con mucha frecuencia es la dinámica que se realizo en ella. Para empezar,nos sentamos todos en círculo, y entre bromas, nos pidieron a Norma y a mí que nos sentáramos juntos.
La persona que daba la clase dijo entonces 'Supongamos que Juan Pablo y Norma se acaban de casar'. Ambos nos miramos con los ojos muy abiertos y tragamos saliva.La instructora continúa sin prestar mucha atención a nuestro desconcierto: 'Ellos han construido su hogar, establecido sus normas,y comienzan a ser muy felices.
Con el tiempo viene el primer hijo'. Llamaron a uno de los jóvenes y le pidieron que se sentara entre nosotros. 'Norma y Juan Pablo le dan la bienvenida a su hogar y le tratan con mucha ternura y cariño. Pero, como suelen ser las cosas, tienen entonces a otro hijo'.Pidieron a otro de los jóvenes que se sentara al lado de su 'hermano', entre nosotros.
La familia va creciendo, y tienen buenas normas. Los chicos se tratan con mucho cariño y los papás vigilan que no haya riñas entre ellos. Son muy buenos padres y literalmente dedican su vida a ellos'.
Norma y yo nos vimos en esa ocasión muy productivos,porque tuvimos unos tres o cuatro hijos más. En cada ocasión pidieron a alguno de los jóvenes o jovencitas que se sentaran en medio de nosotros para darles la bienvenida.
'El tiempo pasa', continúa la instructora, ' y llega el día en que los hijos hacen su propia vida. Primero, Julio se casa y forma su propio hogar. 'Dejara el hombre a su padre y a su madre'. Vamos, déjalos,Julio, ahí deja tu silla'. Julio, nuestro primer 'hijo', se levanta y ocupa su nuevo lugar.
'También Martita y Linda encuentran buenos partidos y se casan'. Las chicas se levantaron y dejaron su lugar. Así cada uno de nuestros hijos se fue 'casando' y dejando sus sillas vacías.
Cuando todos hubieron terminado de irse, la instructora hizo una pausa y luego dijo: 'Ahora miren la distancia que existe entre ellos'. Y callé nuevamente. Efectivamente, había entre nosotros una distancia enorme de sillas vacías. A mi me pareció kilométrica.
Me hice muchas preguntas entonces. ¿Que pudo haber causado ese hueco enorme? Como sileyera mi mente, la instructora respondió entonces algunas de las preguntas que me hacía. 'Juan Pablo y Norma han cometido un gran error, porque han permitido que sus hijos se interpongan entre ellos; y ahora que están de nuevo solos, si acaso, tendrán que empezar desde el principio'.
¿Que habíamos hecho mal?¿Acaso no nos habíamos dedicado con fervor a nuestros hijos?¿O era ese el centro mismo de la construcción de una familia?La instructora nos explicó el error de darlo todo por nuestros hijos.
Explicó Que la base del fundamento del hogar no son los hijos, sino la pareja y que esta debe permanecer unida contra viento y marea. De hecho, el mejor regalo que se puede dar a nuestros hijos es el hecho de saber que sus padres se aman y que permanecen unidos y ellos aprenden a amar en función de cómo aprenden que se aman sus padres.
Si los padres no salen juntos, no se siguen cortejando con frecuencia,no se hablan con 'tiernos acentos' y no se comunican entre ellos de manera frecuente y especial, es escasa la probabilidad de tener hijos espiritual y emocionalmente estables y, cuando ellos partan de casa, nos encontraremos incomunicados y encontraremos a nuestra pareja a una enorme distancia, sin saber del todo como recuperar lo que nuestro propio descuido ha dejado que se pierda con los años.
Y no es egoísmo; por el contrario, es un seguro de vida para ellos y para nosotros mismos; para garantizar la vida eterna. Primero la pareja. Son los hijos los que deberán acomodarse. La vida familiar tendrá que girar no en torno a ellos, sino en torno de los padres.
Los padres deben recordar que una relación de verdadero amor con su pareja es el mejor regalo que puede darles, y su principal prioridad, y su mayor herencia, y la forma de enseñarles a sus hijos a amar y de garantizar así su verdadera felicidad, temporal y eterna.
Ellos se escogieron primero, ellos dan la bienvenida como invitados a los hijos. Estoy aplicando esto con mi novia actual. Mi única novia, gloriosa, infinita y eterna. Mis hijos saben que tendrán una plática conmigo si faltan el respeto a su madre. Y mi esposa, mi novia, les recuerda que necesitamos espacios para platicar y estar juntos en ocasiones.
Encuentro que es mas fácil darlo todo por los hijos de esta forma, si uno sabe que el amor por la pareja está creciendo. Es la fuente de donde uno puede extraer todas las fuerzas.
LOS FRUTOS NO SE ALIMENTAN, SE ALIMENTA EL ARBOL. UN ARBOL FUERTE YSANO DA FRUTOS BUENOS.


(English)


An exercise that should not stop practice:

A few years ago when I was still single, young and beautiful, I had a very special class. I went there with a girl named Norma, who was then my girlfriend, and I can assure that the lesson learned that day impacted my life greatly. I do not remember much about the class, but what my memory is often as dynamic that comes back on there. To begin, we all sat in a circle, and jokingly asked us to Norma and me to sit down together. The person explaining the class said 'Suppose that John Paul and Norma have just gotten married. " Both looked at each other with eyes wide open and swallow saliva.The instructor continues without paying much attention to our bewilderment: 'They have built their home, set their standards and begin to be very happy. With time comes the first child '. They called one of the youths and asked her to sit between us. "Norma and John Paul welcome you home and treat him with great tenderness and affection. But, like most things, then have another child. "They asked another young to sit next to his 'brother' among us. The family is growing, and have good standards. The children are treated with love and dads watching that no quarrels among them. They are very good parents and literally devote their lives to them. " Norma and I were very productive at that time because we had three or four more children. Each time they asked some of the young or young women who sit among us to welcome them. 'Time passes', continues the instructor,' and the day comes that the children make their own life. First, Julio is married and formed their own home. 'Man leaves his father and his mother. Let, let, Julio, then leave your chair '. July, our first 'child', gets up and takes his new place. 'Martita and Linda are also good matches and get married'. The girls got up and left instead. Thus each of our children was 'married' and leaving their seats empty. When everyone had finished their leave, the instructor paused and then said: 'Now look at the gap between them. " And I was silent again. Indeed, there was an enormous distance between us empty seats. I thought it kilometric. I did a lot of questions then. What could have caused this huge gap? As if she was reading my mind, the instructor answered some questions then I did. 'John Paul and Norma have made a big mistake, because they have allowed their children to come between them, and now they are alone again, if ever, have to start from scratch'. What had I done wrong? Are not we had fervently dedicated to our children? Or was that the core of building a family? "The instructor explained the mistake to give all for our children. He explained that the foundation of the home base are not the children, but the couple and that it must stand united against all odds. In fact, the best gift you can give our children is the knowledge that their parents love and remain united and learn to love them according to how they learn to love their parents. If parents do not go together, there are still courting often do not speak for 'soft tone' and do not communicate with them frequently and special, there is little chance of having children spiritually and emotionally stable, and when they depart home, we will cut off our spouse and find a huge distance, not knowing quite how to recover what our own carelessness has left to be lost over the years. And it's not selfishness, by contrast, is a life insurance for them and ourselves to ensure eternal life. First the couple. They are the children who must be accommodated. Family life does not have to turn around them, but parents around. Parents should remember that a relationship of true love with your partner is the best gift you can give them, and their top priority, and his greatest legacy, and how to teach their children to love and to ensure their true happiness, temporal and eternal. They were chosen first, they are welcomed as guests to their children. I am using this with my current girlfriend. My one girlfriend, glorious, infinite and eternal. My kids know they will have a talk with me if you are disrespectful to her mother. And my wife, my girlfriend reminds them that we need space to talk and be together at times. I find it easier to give everything for the children in this way, if you know the love of the couple is growing. It is the source from which one can draw all forces. Fruits don't need to be feed , feed the tree. A strong and healthytree grows good fruit.

Oct 26, 2009

FIRST TRAINING POST DISNEY TRIATHLON!

Friends,

After one tough week in Japan with many tasks to cover...I just did today my first training today, 62K in Disney circuit together with Richards from Dragons, including, some sprints in our way to Hong Kong airport...I was feeling quite well.

I have started my training program for my next challenge HIM Singapore 2010 thru this website, where, you will be ale to check how my training is moving on...I have selected HIM Beginner Training Program, similar to the one used, for Disney Olympic Triathlon from the same website:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/training/index-weekly.asp?memberid=164932&year=&month=&day=

I will also try to upload my Garmin 310 XT training log on a daily basis...


Talk to you next post,

"XTB" Xavi.