On this day of the race, which started out a bit humid but turned out really sunny in the afternoon, we first saw a Gregorio in top shape come out of the water from the swim, among some of the second groups. Subsequently on the bike course, he had put himself in the third position as he reached the transition zone, which he kept during the rest of the race, right until crossing the finish line.

The race really became even more special, as you began to notice the landscapes in your beautiful surroundings. A lake, the fields, the birds in the sky, and a fantastic park, provided the ideal surroundings, for both the contestants as well as the helpers and the spectators.

Now that we are back again, we have had the opportunity to talk more calmly with/to Gregorio, who kindly agreed to give a small interview with us, as follows:

IM: If we look two months back, then how do you remember the Ironman in Lanzarote, where you got a magnificent sixth place?
G.C.: It was a great feeling, to get such a huge satisfaction after seven month of hard and intensive training.

IM: Had you expected a result like that?
G.C.: Not at all! (laughing) –My main goal was to be in top fifteen, and when my coach Daniel asked me, what he could expect from me at that time, I told him that I would be more than happy, just to finish among the fifteen best.

IM: What do you consider the most determinating factor, in obtain this great result?
G.C.: Well it certainly wasn’t the swim that did it for me, -cause this turned out really bad. But the bike went a lot better, and gave me renewed hope and encouraged me a little for the run; Where my main focus was, to just keep my position.

IM: What have you been doing since you got back?
G.C.: Since I finished the Ironman I have been working to make enough money to go to Vitoria, which is the fourth slot giving event for the Spanish la Copa Championship in long distance. I still need some sponsors, which is why I have been working, but next month I will start training.

IM: Have you been wanting to do the Double Olympic Triathlon in Vitoria for a long time?
G.C.: Yes. Ever since I was in Gran Canaria and found out, that it was marking points for the Spanish Copa.
I could see that there were six qualifying races, among which Ironman Lanzarote, Vitoria, and the last one being Ibiza on the 7 th of October.

IM: What did you think of this new qualification in Vitoria?
G.C.: Actually I thought it was quite good. The routes were really pretty…-but the swim in the lake wasn’t really my kind of thing. The bike ride was very nice and the run was a fantastic sight through the trees and over the dirt roads; All in all, I very much enjoyed it.

IM: What happened in the lake?
G.C.: I didn’t feel all that good, and struggled a bit, with the fact that fresh water is harder to swim in than salt water.

IM: Do you think you will come back next year?
G.C.: I certainly hope so. I will try to really train, to be able to come back every year.

IM: How are you preparing for your next race in Ibiza?
G.C.: Well, first of all I have to work for another month until I can go back to my training. But when I train, I try to get up at seven in the morning to go on my bike, to have more time to go swimming afterwards. Sometimes, I start out by swimming but then I don’t get up before nine, when the pool opens.

IM: Next year, you will be in the Ironman again. Which are your goals then?
G.C.: I would like to do better this year, even though it is not going to be easy. What I would like to do, is to improve my time, even if I finish lower in the classification. Actually this is what I try to do every year. And even though I didn’t participate in Hawaii this year, I hope that (if everything turns out well in Lanzarote) I will be able to compete in Kona next year.

Well we certainly hope so ass well, Gregorio. And may all of your plans turn out really well and may you continue to get many great results in your career.

All the best of luck to you, from all of us here at the Marketing Department in Club la Santa!