Chronicle by Cristóbal Sáez, better known as Tóbal, one of our TriUrban athletes who participated last Sunday in the "Medio Ironman Arenales 113" triathlon event.

ARENALES 113 "If you can dream it, you can achieve it"

The path to a dream

For a couple of years, the idea of taking on a new big challenge had been rattling around in my head. In the last ten years, I had gone from not being able to run to the corner to finishing my first half marathon in 2009. My first cross duathlon in 2011. My first marathon in 2012.

My first and only Olympic triathlon in 2014. This continued until I had accumulated a good number of half marathons and six marathons. All thanks to the training and perseverance instilled by Pedro Esteso and my compadre Juan Carlos Esteso.

In addition to the always unconditional company of my Runnerbrother Roberto Mesa, it was the winning spirit and desire for self-improvement that my brother Pacheco has that motivated me. He instilled it in me when my life was very sedentary and I was overweight.

He made me always seek new challenges to achieve.

Back home again

I wanted to test myself again, largely to get rid of the thorn that stuck with me from the Elche Olympic Triathlon, where I suffered too much in the swimming segment. And what better place than home? And what better event than one of the toughest and most established long-distance triathlons on the national calendar: the Arenales Triathlon?

After finishing my sixth marathon, my fourth in Valencia, I put myself in the hands of José Ángel Árias, from CT Travesías Mitos. A great friend, Ironman, and with enormous experience in triathlon.

In December, we started preparing for the new challenge, although I always had in mind that time was short. My doubts and insecurities would stay with me until the very week of the event. Thanks to his great work, I arrived on D-day confident that I was prepared.

D-day arrives. After a few tough months where it wasn't easy to find time for training, and where my feelings in the sea were very bad.

In this aspect, Marín helped me overcome my phobia. After a day of work and a night where I barely managed to get any sleep, I find myself in Arenales.

I leave my bike in the transition area, get into my wetsuit with my triathlon club teammates. We go down to the beach, I warm up in the sea which was perfect, and after a few sprints in the water, I manage to "drown" my nerves.

1,900m of conquered phobia

I enter the call room and the tense wait begins.

The start is delayed but we ease our nerves chatting with several teammates. We all have the same doubts about the swimming segment.

The moment arrives, the start gun goes off, I let others go out and stay in the outer lane to avoid the typical collisions.

My struggle isn't to get a good position, but to be able to swim calmly and at my own pace. I veer too far towards the first buoy, which makes me swim a few extra meters.

The important thing is that I feel comfortable. I manage to maintain my breathing rhythm and at times I swim breaststroke to continue calming my nerves. After the first buoy, swimmers start passing me and I "draft."

I'm getting into a rhythm now. We pass the second buoy and on the way to the third, I lose my bearings again. I have to swim breaststroke again until I catch the wake of other compañeros.

I feel comfortable, confident, I know I'm going to achieve my first goal: to get out of the water in optimal condition. Once past the last buoy, I see the exit arch and feel a surge of energy.

I pick up the pace and pass people. I can't believe it, it's a boost of self-esteem that makes me swim like never before. When I come out of the sea, I hear shouts from friends, I see Cremades and Juan Carlos, vigilant and concerned to see me get out of the water. Finally 48 minutes, a faster time than I expected, which makes me feel even more confident. The thing I was most worried about was over.

I suspected it, if I got out of the water alive, I was going to be a finisher no matter what.

40km of suffering and 45 flying on wheels

I make the transition without rushing but without stopping. I take a gel and set off on the bike towards the section that worried me the most. A ramp at the beginning of the segment chokes me. I suffer a lot to get to the top and my legs feel tired. Once past that ordeal, I start riding and get into a comfortable rhythm to pace myself.

At 10km, I start having stomach problems. I continue to maintain a good pace, within the average I had planned. I keep eating every half hour, even though my stomach was still bothering me. But I didn't want to stop for anything in the world, I wasn't going to let anyone pass me.

Unless they were stronger than me. On the Vía Parque, there are moments when I can't find my rhythm. I start having a lot of doubts about whether I could finish the segment.

Encouragement

At those moments, I only thought of all the people who had encouraged me so much. All those who were waiting for me in Arenales. All those who believed in me. When I reach the ramps towards Alenda, I pass cyclists and feel a tremendous surge of energy. The discomfort disappears, and I feel stronger.

There are "mitikos" cheering in that area who give me another dose of energy. My moment arrives, now it's all downhill, my strong point, and I can ride comfortably. I get into position and maintain my pace, continuing to pass people. We reach the Torrellano industrial park, I pass more cyclists. In the airport area, I fly and push too hard. I know there's still a race left, but I want to make up for the time lost during the stomach pain.

I arrive at Arenales, there are two ramps and a descent left to recover, so I launch myself, enjoy, and visualize the run. It's my strong point, and I'm eager to see my friends and face those stairs head-on.

Time: 3 hours 15 min at an average of 26km/h, within expectations.

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21km of stairs, dunes, suffering and glory

As I enter the transition area, my Tohalf Team is there, cheering me on. My people were waiting for me, and they give me more energy than a thousand gels and all the bars in the world.

I leave the bike, put on my shoes, and grab some provisions. I set off determined, picking up a good pace. My legs feel heavy but strong, and I find my stride, my rhythm.

I pass by my friends, who again carry me on their shoulders. When I pass through the Mitos Fan Zone, they lift me to the sky.

The moment of greatest anguish

I join a group that is running at my pace. One of the most distressing moments of the race arrives: I step into a hole, twist my ankle, and fall. The fall doesn't worry me, but my ankle does. I think that there, at that 3km mark, it's all over, and I get back on my feet with the help of other triathletes.

I step firmly, it hurts, but I won't finish like this. So I start to jog and the pain vanishes along with the doubts and the fear of not being able to finish. Besides, my friends were waiting for me, and I couldn't let myself down; I couldn't let them down. I pass the aid station and, as I had planned, I stop to drink calmly.

I continue and enter the first dune area; where other companions walk, I keep running. My training on the tough but beloved Camino de la Muerte in La Marina has not been in vain. I reach the second dune area, I pass the same way, I feel strong. Along the promenade, I once again have the "mitikos" giving it their all.

I cross paths with companions who cheer me on and I see that my friends are still there. Róber takes photos and shouts at me, Pedro, Juan Carlos, Laura, Óscar... I don't manage to recognize everyone but I feel enormous.

I'm averaging 5:30, I'm ecstatic. Arriving at the stairs, my cousin Mar is there, with Arte and my little cousins, which surprises me, makes me happy and I love it. It's extra energy before my first encounter with the dreaded steps.

Aid station

I walk up to recover, the ramp is tough for me. I stop at the aid station. I drink calmly and prepare to descend, recovering. I once again enjoy another pass along the promenade where my people are. My legs feel heavier but I still feel good on the way to the second pass through the dunes.

This stretch is tougher, and I slow down a bit but I'm still strong. On the way back to the second pass by the stairs, I meet Róber again, we high-five.

That gesture that Juan Carlos taught us that transmits energy and confidence. And who better than my rocker brother to pass on his strength. Second section of stairs and the ramp feels endless, I can't even recover on the descent. I only have one lap left. I pass my Tohalf Team and the legendary ones telling them that only seven are left, that I've got it. But it wasn't going to be that "easy". At times I have to stop and walk.

I take a lot of time at the aid stations, I see people really struggling and we encourage each other.

The last meters

It's close, we're going to make it. Last dunes, the boardwalk. I see Abel Agulló, who hugs me and accompanies me to the promenade, while I cry. I have overcome the challenge.

I head towards the finish line, picking up pace; I've lost a lot of time, but I'm going to make it. Everyone I pass claps, encourages me, congratulates me.

I just want to get there and hug my friends. I see the finish line and the speaker welcomes me home, while I clench my fists tightly and smile despite the pain. I unleash my emotions and cry like a child because I know I've done it.

That challenge I had dreamed of so much was a reality. After so much training and so much suffering, there was the reward... And my people were there to celebrate with me. Ximo hugs me and I go towards them crying, I thank them, I shout. I did it. I am a finisher of a half-distance triathlon. 2 hours 16 minutes of the hardest half marathon I have ever done.

Euphoria, I am a half-finisher!!

I check the time: 6 and a half hours. I get out and hug everyone, still crying and thanking them. I look for José Ángel, who comes with his little one and I give him a huge hug. I cry and thank him profusely. Everything started with Pacheco.

Róber accompanied me in my races. Juan Carlos and Pedro made me a marathon runner. And José Ángel has made me a triathlete. To them, to my family, to my friends, to all who believed in me and to those who didn't, I dedicate my greatest sporting achievement. As a reflection: ten years ago my fitness level was zero.

Effort and perseverance have allowed me to achieve every challenge, but above all, respect for each event. I am aware that dreams are only achieved if you fight for them.

Never underestimate the effort required to reach the goals you set for yourself. As I always say, if I could do it, anyone can.

If it is said that life is seen differently after finishing a marathon, being a finisher of the Arenales Triathlon makes you feel more alive than ever. #SoyUrbanRunner #SoyMitiko #YoNoEntrenoTriatlonYoSoyTriatleta