A Full IRONMAN is no easy feet, but Maria Michelena and Veronica Vetencourt are READY! As the head to Mexico, I’m super nervios…, yes I’m the coach, but I have never donde an IRONMAN myself! I have studied over and over how to approach an IRONMAN training program, how to establish the training loads and were to peak, etc., but the psychological part or the athlete is so important and so out of control for a coach.

When the going gets tough, we need all the will power and mental strength to overcome this huge challenge, and one of the toughest muscle to train flor many athletes is the mind. If you don’t believe in yourself, it doesn’t matter how much other athletes believe in you!

I trust they both have this to their advantage! so I calm down, wait for their wheather report, the pics of their athlete check in and their feet up in resting position with the most beautiful view possible of pristine water and a huge bottle of water and electrolytes! it’s all going according to plan….

The big day approaches and I’m getting more anxious, wish I was there!!! I wish I could go to ALL of my athletes races and just be there to hug them and stare into their eyes: “you got this, you got this, you have done all the training, it’s in the bag” , but I can’t, I’m far and tracking minute by minute…

They finish the swim, they finish the bike, the finish the run! BOOM! pics of the biggest smile possible, tears of total happiness and pain at the sam time, Vero “ you are an IRONMAN”, Maru “you are an IRONMAN” that is all they can remember for now…. and all they say through the phone is “ coach , wish you were here…”

Vanessa