BIKE 90´ & RUN 90´

Friends,

Yesterday, training...quite easy, 90´ mins 40K program 8 indoor bike...and today, 90´running, first 6K with Elaine (she is improving an did not stop all the way running @ pace of 7´/K)...then, I have keep running for more 8K, finally 14K overall, with a second 8K @ pace of 5´10´´/K.

¨XTB¨ Xavi.

1000 EUROS...46% OF TARGET!

Friends,

Less than 26 days missing for my first challenge...and already 1,000 Euros donated, 22 Kms out of 52....still 30Kms ready to be donated for "Caico Foundation" to fight agains Cancer Childhood!!Please, share about my blog with your friends, family,colleagues, etc.

Btw, today's training running together with Elaine, 5Kms @ 6.30/Km, then, last 2Kms alone by myself including sprint series...but tomorrow, if rain is not appearing, at 5.45 am, 40Kms road bike before going to work.

"XTB" Xavi.

EPHPHATHA...ARAMAIC WORD "BE OPENED"

Dear Friends,

Today Sunday's thought about: "HOW TO LISTEN MORE THAN YOU TALK"

"BE OPENED: OPEN YOUR EARS, OPEN YOUR EYES..."

A common barrier to effective communication is poor listening skills. The human brain processes language much faster than most people talk. This leaves time for the listener to form personal perceptions, stereotypes and judgments. Interrupting the speaker with these perceptions contributes to flawed communication. Develop effective listening strategies to help bridge the gap caused by communication barriers and you will be able to listen more than you talk.

Step 1-Utilize a listening strategy that is effective for each particular situation. Listening strategies are generalized as either a top-down or bottom up in approach.

Step 2-Employ a top-down listening strategy when background knowledge or the context of a topic is known. The idea is to listen to what the speaker says and then use your background knowledge to interpret what you hear. Then anticipate what the speaker may say next. Top-down strategies include: identifying the main idea, predicting what comes next and then summarizing the idea. This is all done in your head while listening to the speaker. Do not interrupt the speaker with your ideas while he is still trying to get his point across.

Step 3-Use a bottom-up listening strategy when the subject or context of a topic or message is not known. With this type of strategy, you need to identify specific details, recognize concepts similar to those you already understand, then identify linguistic patterns such as word order.

Step 4-Ask questions. When the speaker has completed her thought, restate what you heard and summarize the main points back to her. This reiteration of what you heard lets the speaker know that you were listening and also helps you verify that what you heard matches the speaker's intent.

"XTB" Xavi.

PTTTT

Friends,

Saturday morning 6.00 am, great experience, I have done Pok Fu Lam Tai Tam Trial Time with other 5 mates from Dragons Tri Club...my first time real uphill biking and in a real road with cars, an London buses on my way up to Cape d'Aguilar for 25Kms in 59'...but really dying on Tai Tam road up to Sek O round about! (faster walking than biking!!haha)

"XTB" Xavi.

FULL WORK WEEK IN SHANGHAI...NOT TOO MUCH TRAINING!

Dear Friends,



During this week, I have been in Shanghai for our Budget Meeting and Finance training, therefore, my training plan has been affected...just, 1 hour indoor bike and 20' swim on Monday and 1 hour indoor bike on Wednesday night before dinner!

A really busy working week, very fruitful and full of learning and shared time with my excellent APac Finance team.

Btw, FINAL COUNTDOWN STARTS TODAY, LAST TRAINING MONTH!! JUST 30 DAYS!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4FHckC42QU&feature=related



"XTB" Xavi.

SOLIDARITY IS PEOPLE LIKE FERGUS!

Dear Friends,

I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to Fergus Lam, Hongkognese triathlete since one year ago, a person that I did not know before and he decided to donate 2 Kms for that good cause and he will help me anonymously to contact his friends and family to raise more funds for this "Cancer Childhood" GOOD CAUSE!

"XTB" Xavi.

FINISHER...WILL BE A GREAT SUCCESS!!

Friends,

Today, I was supposed to do a mini triathlon race in Shek O but due to bad weather, they have cancelled it and then I have done 3/4 of Olympic triathlon, which means 1.1Km swim in 21', 30Kms indoor bike in 52' and 7.5Kms in 37'30'' whith a humidity over 85% and very cloudy which help me a lot to maintain my pace @ 5'/Km...after today's training....my idea is reinforced that just becoming a FINISHER on my first Olympic triathlon will be more than A GREAT PERSONAL SUCCESS!!...to finish under 3 hours just a DREAM!!!

"XTB" Xavi.

"YOU HAVE A CHOICE. YOU CAN THROW IN THE TOWEL OR YOU CAN USE IT TO WIPE THE SWEAT OF YOUR FACE" GATORADE

Friends,

Today has been a looooooong and tiiiiiiring day!! After my night work cal with WW Finance team (btw, Ray, asked me if I was training for my triathlon, because, someone in the call forgot to mute his cell phone and started creating a lot of noise and walking. My answer "Not yet" because, I really was ready with my sport clothes to go to the gym,just after the call...but I was with no positive mood to do a long training session), I have done my 113' indoor bike 60.3K, watching on the DVD "Che Guevara Part-II" (quite interesting, but, I prefer Part I, as usual).

Today, I was close to "throw in the towel...but fortunately, I have used it to wipe the sweat of my face".

"XTB" Xavi.

P.S: Finally and the most important of all before the call, I had my son Lucas 3 years old birthday dinner and cake!! I love him so much...and he is "my little monster"!

SOLIDARIDAD? SOLIDARITY? JUST TO THINK A LITTLE BIT...

SPANISH>

Definición

Según la Real Academia Española la solidaridad es la adhesión circunstancial a la causa o a la empresa de otros. Por lo tanto, solidaridad significa siempre tomar como nuestro un problema que en principio no nos afecta.

El filósofo Luís de Sebastián da una definición más global de solidaridad: El reconocimiento práctico de la obligación natural que tienen los individuos y los grupos humanos de contribuir al bienestar de los que tienen que ver con ellos, especialmente de los que tienen más necesidad” .

¿Qué tipos de solidaridad hay?

En el acta de creación del Día Internacional de la Solidaridad la ONU declaraba: La solidaridad tiene dimensiones diversas y manifestaciones en varios niveles, de ahí la posibilidad de conmemorar el día de formas diversas y por diversos medios (…)”.

Según quien la practique podemos describir dos tipos:

• Solidaridad personal: es un comportamiento individual. Cada uno de nosotros como persona aislada podemos ser solidarios con otras personas o grupos.
• Solidaridad política: es un conjunto de acciones que un grupo humano o institución pone en práctica para beneficiar a un determinado colectivo.

¿Por qué debemos ser solidarios?

La tendencia humana al egoísmo y a la comodidad lleva a preguntarse con frecuencia qué sentido tiene ser solidario.

Luís de Sebastián nos da tres tipos de razones para ser solidarios:

• Razones de moral: los convencimientos éticos y/o religiosos nos obligan a reconocer la solidaridad como una obligación humana.
• Razones de decencia: nuestra razón y nuestro intelecto nos enseñan que ser solidarios es “lo correcto” para la situación histórica actual del hombre.
• Razones de conveniencia: los seres humanos dependemos los unos de los otros hasta tal punto que nuestra supervivencia y bienestar están condicionados a que sepamos conseguir un equilibrio con nuestros semejantes.

¿Quién merece nuestra solidaridad?

Niña indígena

La lista de personas y grupos que atraviesan dificultades y necesitan ayuda parece casi infinita: pobres, ancianos, niños, personas discapacitadas, enfermos, inmigrantes…etc. Así que se plantea la pregunta ¿con quién tenemos que ser solidarios?

La respuesta es: con todos. Todas las personas, grupos y sociedades, por el hecho de pertenecer a la humanidad tienen derecho a que se comprendan sus problemas y a recibir solidaridad.

Pero de hecho, no todos estos colectivos sufren necesidades en el mismo grado así que obligatoriamente tenemos que establecer prioridades en la solidaridad.

Deberán recibir ayuda prioritariamente aquellos cuyas dificultades y sufrimientos sean mayores.

¿Cómo ser solidarios hoy?

Como individuos podemos ser solidarios realizando actos tan cotidianos como…

• Ceder asiento en el transporte público a una persona mayor
• Ayudar a una persona discapacitada
• Donar sangre

Pero con todas estas acciones sólo estaremos siendo solidarios con nuestra sociedad, y estaremos ignorando a los grupos y personas que sufren en el resto de países.

Algunas de las respuestas que han surgido son:

• Voluntariado
• Organizaciones No Gubernamentales (ONG)
• Comercio justo

ENGLISH>

Definition

According to the Spanish Royal Academy membership is circumstantial solidarity to the cause or the company of others. Therefore, solidarity means always take as our problem, in principle not affect us.

The philosopher Luís de Sebastián gives a more comprehensive definition of solidarity: The practical recognition of the natural requirement that individuals and groups contribute to the welfare of those who have to do with them, especially those most in need. "

What types of solidarity are?

In the instrument establishing the International Day of Solidarity, the UN declared: Solidarity has various dimensions and manifestatuons at different levels, hence the possibility of commemorating the day in various forms and by various means (...)".

Según quien la practique podemos describir dos tipos: Depending who practice can describe two types:

• Personal solidarity: it is individual behavior. Each of us as a single person can be in solidarity with other people or groups.
• Political solidarity: it is a set of actions that a human group or institution puts into practice to benefit a particular group.

Why should we be supportive?

The human tendency to selfishness and convenience often leads one to wonder what the point of sympathy.

Luis de Sebastián gives us three reasons to be supportive:

• Moral reasons: the ethical convictions and / or require us to recognize religious solidarity as a human obligation.
• Reasons of propriety: our reason and our intellect we are taught to be supportive is the "right thing" for the present historical situation of man.
• Reasons of convenience: human beings depend on each other so much that our survival and welfare are conditioned to know to achieve a balance with our neighbors.

Who deserves our sympathy?

Indian girl

The list of individuals and groups in difficulty and need help seems almost endless: the poor, elderly, children, disabled, sick, immigrants ... etc.So the question is whom do we need solidarity?

The answer is everyone. All people, groups and societies, by virtue of belonging to humanity are entitled to an understanding their problems and receive solidarity.

But in fact, not all these groups suffer the same degree requirements so that we necessarily prioritize solidarity.

Should receive priority support those whose hardship and suffering are over.

How to be supportive today?

As individuals we can be supportive by such everyday acts as ...

• Giving a seat on public transportation to an older person
• Helping a disabled person
• Donating blood

But with all these actions we will only be in solidarity with our society and we are ignoring the groups and people living in other countries.

Some of the answers that have emerged are:

• Volunteering
• Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
• Fair Trade

GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? OR...

Friends,

Today, I have tried to do my indoor bike training...but, what a shame it was occupied by a neighbour...then, I have taken it very easy, 30' elliptical machine, then, 2K full sprint in 8' @ 4'/K pace! quite faste...at that impossible rythim maintained...I could do 10K in 40'...just a dream at this stage and my age...may be not my age? may be my weight and height? haha

"XTB" Xavi.