06.22.09

El Remate Triathlon

Posted in Central American Adventure, Gardens, Guatemala, Mayan Calendar, Triathlon, Uncategorized at 11:24 pm by Administrator

I did it!

That is the main thing. I am very happy to just do that… the rest is icing on the cake. And there was plenty (bastante) of that….

When I registered on Saturday afternoon a small crowd had gathered. It is a well run event despite being small. They normally have about 250 entrants, but this year due to the swine flu and economic crisis attendance was about 100. My number was 52 – a magical number in the Mayan Calendar. 52 is 4 x 13. Most things in the calendar are counted in cycles of 13, and 4 is the number of the cardinal directions (North, South, East, West). It was a good sign of things to come.

It was a beautiful day in El Remate. I didn´t sleep much – too much excitement – so I woke up early and went down to the playa about 6am. People were just beginning to arrive. Being blonde, and tall, I stand out, so everyone talked to me to wish me buen suerte (good luck).

At 7am sharp we started the swim. Not wanting to be in the crowd, I hung back a little and took off after the majority had left the beach. The 1km swim seemed a bit longer than I expected since I´d had little opportunity to train. I rounded the first buoy, then the second, completing the triangle in about 25 minutes….

Then onto the bike. Riding through El Remate the women and their families were lining the streets to cheer me on. What a boost to my energy. I did this as much for them as myself. The first 4 miles is a series of BIG hills. I had trained on them twice so I knew what I was facing. I climbed the hills (poco a poco – little by little) finally reaching El Caoba at the top of the hills. The road continues on through small pueblos, farms, and sections of jungle. It is a beautiful ride. Some friends from El Remate drove along with me for the whole ride. It was wonderful to hear them cheering me on. 20 miles later I arrived in Tikal, the great Mayan pyramid center.

Only a 4 mile run to go. I took off into the jungle. It´s a beautiful park in the middle of the rainforest. We ran from Temple G Complex to Temple P on the other side of the park…. Then past Temple 4, the highest in the park at 74meters, and then past El Mundo Perdido, the Lost World, my favorite group of temples. Finally I rounded the corner and could see Temple 2 looming ahead and a big sign indicating I had reached the finish line. It read META….

Meta means goal. My goal had been to finish in under 3hours. I finished in 2 hours 50 minutes. They placed a medal around my neck and called my name. My friends – Alanna, Estella, Erwin, Esmeralda, and Di were there to welcome me to the central plaza. It was very exciting. I achieved my goal to finish. We hung out at the central plaza for awhile just enjoying the positive energy and satisfaction of achieving a goal. Taking time to celebrate the moment.

The group went on to tour the pyramids and I went back with Estella and Esmerelda to collect my bike and shower. Come to find out, there was a celebration luncheon for the participants back at the Tikal entrance… We walked in late, but the timing was absolutely perfect. Just as we walked in they were announcing the winner of the category Women age 40 – 49…. and guess what? I came in 2nd Place behind a professional triathlete! What a surprise! I received a trophy, and a hug from the Los Pinos Cow… (a milk company sponsored the event). Pictures to follow…

It was an incredible day to add to my list of amazing adventures here in Guatemala. I am so happy to have finished and to have shared it with good friends. I can´t wait to show the trophy to the women. I hope to be an example of what can happen when you set a goal and work to achieve it….

One last thing…. when I introduced myself to Eduardo Cofino, the organizer, we had an amazing discussion. We had met in El Remate on my last trip. He remembered me and ask what I am doing back in El Remate. I told him I am here working with the women to plant gardens. He said he can help…. He is in charge of the Guatemalan development bank and allocates funds to non-profits. He said he can help us get legalization, and money…. a lot of money. I almost started to cry…. Wow – was that ever icing!

My incredible journey continues. I just wonder what will be the surprise today!

06.19.09

Back in El Remate

Posted in Uncategorized at 12:24 am by Administrator

I´m back in El Remate. The women of Group 2 just threw a big party to welcome me back. The group is now 45 strong. 45 gardens or more. Many have added a second garden. The cucumbers are prolific. The tomatos un poco despacio (a little slow), and most of the radishes are already eaten.

I´ve been swimming and biking, so I´m as ready as I can be for the triathlon. It´s on Sunday, the summer solstice. I´ll be biking through the neighborhoods and to hear the women applaud will charge me up the hills. And hills there are. I did a practice ride the other day and it´s challenging, but I can do it. It doesn´t matter how long it takes, this is about participating… not just in a triathlon, but also in life.

I was talking to some of the women the other day… life is like a garden. We plant seeds, and some of them grow and others don´t. And we don´t get to eat right away… the garden requires care. With patience, a little sun and water, tiny seeds turn into vegetables… food…. life.

06.01.09

What’s Next…. El Remate Triathlon

Posted in Central American Adventure, Guatemala, Tikal, Triathlon at 6:04 pm by Administrator

I’ve been home a month, barely time to catch my breath and I’m leaving to go back to El Remate in less than 2 weeks… Why?

1) To participate in the El Remate Triathlon
2) To eat the vegetables that we planted in the gardens
3) To see if El Remate is still as magical as it was the first time… who knows where I’m going to end up!

Yes, there is an El Remate Triathlon, called Hombre Maya. It’s a 1km swim in beautiful lake Peten-Itza, 34km bike to Tikal, the famous Mayan Pyramids, and 7km run in the pyramids, ending in the central plaza of the pyramids. When? June 21, the summer solstice, when there’s almost guaranteed to be a ceremony by Mayan Shamans celebrating the passage of time and praying for world peace. All that calls to me, and I began thinking about participating the day I heard about it while I was still in El Remate.

Then, the women asked me when the vegetables would be ready to eat. About 2 months I guessed, judging based on how long vegetables take to harvest here. I was wrong. They are already eating radishes and cilantro, but the majority will be ready in mid-June. With the triathlon on June 21 and the vegetables ready to eat, the stars aligned, making my decision to return to El Remate a no-brainer. Plus, if I’d left not knowing I would be coming back, I would have been quite sad. Instead of saying good-bye, it was merely hasta luego, to the women and friends I had come to love in just a few short weeks.

Now I’m getting organized… how do I get my bike to Guatemala? Where will I go once I get arrive? The thrill and uncertainty of international travel…. One thing I know for sure, it will be an adventure!