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Eduardo Rodríguez Herrera
(Mentally handicapped athlete from Guatemala)
22.5.99
I am in Lanzarote to do my second Ironman. I have a commitment that it is very, very big and “I must do it” because many people believe in me, as my daddy says in his faxes I know that they believe in me because I received a fax from the federation from Guatemala.
And all believe and I must lift the name of Guatemala. I was scared in Hawaii. It was that I could do it, therefore it is such a commitment. Tomorrow is my big day.
Today I went to the press conference with the best of the world. Isabel said I was among the best, because above all I do the Ironman.
Uf, they almost disqualify my bicycle, I cannot use the gears on the top. A referee had taken the bike away saying I could not use this bike and I almost got angry and cried but Isabel talked to the referee and I will race. Thanks. Everything went fine.
I received many faxes and I feel well. I know that there are people remembering me and knowing that I can do it.

Yesterday, I got up at 4 in the morning and we went to Puerto del Carmen. I prepared my bike the day before I had left it there, I inflated the wheel and put on the wetsuit to go and swim at 6.30. Isabel told me I had to go to the beach. They gave me an orange swim cap.
Mum told me I could and many told me that. They put us all on the beach, the gun went and we all started running towards the water. It was very cold, I did two loops, I did it well.
I came to where the bags were. Montse told me which was mine. I took it but I don't know, I thought another triathlete had taken my bag, I left this one and went to look for mine.
Alfredo told me that the bag that Montse gave me was mine, I came back but, what a shock, the bag was not there anymore. When one leaves a bag, a volunteer takes it away and puts it somewhere else. They were talking to me and I did not understand. Montse came in and Alfredo with more volunteers. They were looking for my bag 606; they finally found it. Alfredo says I lost 30 minutes. That is a lot. Montse told me you can do it, don't worry.
I went with my bike. Mi thoughts were to gain time. There was burning sun, but much cold air, really bad.
I left the bike and felt like a duck when starting to walk, I went for my bag. Montse and Alfredo told me to go ahead and don't talk and I did that. I thought I was going to gain time in the first loop but it seemed very long, the following ones not so much. I did the 4 loops, I came into the finish. I did it, I did the Lanzarote Ironman. It is tougher than Hawaii. Many ups and hairpins downs. Much sun and much cold air.
They gave me a massage. Isabel came and said if she could give me a kiss. She gave me one and I felt happy.
Montse and Alfredo stayed with me until I was brought to the car. I did it. I am a Super Gorila. I am an Ironman again where it is hardest to perform it.
Thanks for the help. I did it in a longer time, but I finished it.