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Coaches Blog...Monday, October 29Sunday, October 28BREAKAWAY TRAINING ATHLETES: 2007 SAN DIEGO TRIATHLON SERIES FINAL POINTS: - MATT GENOVESE 2nd 25-29 Age-Group - GUNNAR GRANQUIST 1st 40-44 Age-Group - MARK WAYNE 2nd 40-44 Age-Group - ANTONIO MARQUES 4th 45-49 Age-Group - DANIEL YEAGER 2nd 50-54 Age-Group - BRENDAN SULIVAN 1st Clydes 40+ - STEFFANY MORINO 1st 16-19 Age-Group - KASSIE ECKHART 1st 20-24 Age-Group - PAOLA PASQUALINI 1st 25-29 Age-Group - KIRSTEN LOUREIRO 2nd 25-29 Age-Group - TRACY SCHMIDT 4th 25-29 Age-Group - JULIE DUNKLE 4th 40-44 Age-Group - ELIZABETH GRANQUIST 1st 40-44 Age-Group Saturday, October 27 10/28 Soma Half Ironman (Arizona) Breakaway Training Athletes: - Kathy MacDonald: 5h22' - Dave Platfoot: 5h02' - Paul Anderson: 7h35' - Jay Pedersen: 7h15' - Mark Wayne: 5h39' (Flat tire!) - Mark Palamar: 5h46' - David Teafatiller: 6h29' - Jana Alva: 7h04' - Marsella Macias: 5h57' - Kent Becker: 5h48' - Alex Gigglberger: 6h56'  Maria with the 2X Ironman World Champion Norman StadlerSunday, October 21Friday, October 19Paola Pasqualini spoke little English when she arrived here three years ago from Brazil. She didn't have a job and knew no one. Like many aspiring triathletes, she came to triathlon's birthplace for one reason. "I wanted to come to the best place in the world to train," she said. Pasqualini, 25, now rides a $5,500 bike provided by a sponsor. Another sponsor furnishes wetsuits and race clothing. Her coach thinks she'll soon be racing professionally. It's a feel-good story, particularly given that the day after Pasqualini arrived in San Diego she couldn't keep up with her running group, got lost, cried and wondered if she'd made a horrible mistake. A swimmer growing up in Brazil, Pasqualini transitioned to triathlon. Her tri coach in Sao Paolo knew Sergio Borges, a Brazilian and respected San Diego triathlon coach. Pasqualini's mother talked to Borges by phone, e-mails were exchanged and Pasqualini, with $1,000 to her name, headed to San Diego. Borges met Pasqualini at Lindbergh Field. She swam at a masters workout that evening. The next morning, Borges took her to a run workout on a Rose Canyon trail. Borges explained the run, but he didn't translate in Portuguese for Pasqualini. Unable to keep up with the group, she fell behind and got lost. "You know that feeling when you are desperate and don't know which way to go?" explained Pasqualini. "I was lost and nobody cared. I didn"t have anybody to spoil me and say, 'Everything's going to be OK.' " When Pasqualini eventually found her way back to the group, she was greeted by what she perceived to be sarcastic applause. "You made it," one of the runners said. Back at Borges' home, she walked into a bathroom and cried. "Everyone was so fast and people didn't talk to me," she recalled. "This was harder than I thought." To make money she worked at the UTC mall demonstrating massage machines. She worked at an Indian restaurant, soon discovering she hated the smell of curry. Within about six months she got a job as a server at an upscale pizza restaurant, even though her English still was limited. She sometimes asked patrons to point to the item they wanted. If customers tried to strike up a conversation, she occasionally walked away, embarrassed. "I wasn't very friendly," said Pasqualini, who lives near UTC. "I was scared all the time." One language she spoke fluently, besides Portuguese, was swim-bike-run. Improving gradually since moving to San Diego, Pasqualini won her age group at three local triathlons this year and was the top amateur at the San Diego International Triathlon in June. The latter result qualified her for the Best of the U.S. Amateur Triathlon 13 days ago in Winter Haven, Fla. Pasqualini finished a disappointing 24th in the Olympic-distance race. "That was like a wake-up call," Pasqualini said. "Everyone was so professional." Pasqualini and her new coach, another Brazilian, Felipe Loureiro, think Pasqualini's best distance will be the half-Ironman, the 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run, which is more than twice as long as the Olympic distance. "The Olympic distance is too short," Pasqualini said. "I think anyone can go and do it. When it comes to the longer stuff, you have to be tough. It's something you have in you or you don't. It's a mentality. It's not easy." Few question her toughness. Noting Pasqualini's difficult transition to the American lifestyle, Loureiro said, "She's a fighter. She's very brave." To improve her cycling, Pasqualini began riding regularly in January with top men. Like her first run here, early on the only woman in the group was repeatedly dropped. Of the tempo, she said, "It's suffering." About her passion for cycling, she said, "If I'm depressed, I ride my bike on the 101. That's my free time. I like the feel of the wind in my face. I like to go down hills. I'm not scared of anything. I like the feeling of going fast. That's what I like the most." More than three years after arriving here, a scared young woman in a strange land, she has no plans to return to Brazil. "I want to live here forever," she said. "I think it's gorgeous. The weather's perfect. And the people here are beautiful, just like the movies." Don Norcross: (619) 293-1803; don.norcross@uniontrib.com  Thursday, October 18Three weeks until Ironman Florida.
Can you believe it? I have only 3 weeks left until the big day and we are not talking about marriage. This weekend is my last big workout weekend, I feel like I am graduating from the school of sore, tight and inflamed muscles. Let me just say DAMN, this training season has been a tough one. Is it the race that makes you an Ironman or the training? I have asked myself this question a ton of times. I think I have found the answer to, why do you do it? Because someone at some time told me I couldn't. Here is quote that has been driving me these past few weeks: "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle-victorious." Vince Lombardi I have had some amazing days and I once again have been blessed to have surrounded myself with some amazing people. There are a ton of people I have to thank for the inspiration, coaching, kick in the ass, help and my training partners. My training partners have met me at times when most of the world was either sipping cocktails, spending time with there family and friends and at early morning. I want to thank the following people, these are the people I have spent a ton of time with this season and I owe them a ton of thanks for helping, pushing and supporting me. These are the people I call "My training partners": John Correia Don Lopez Christine Hook Eric Uribe Chris Teague Joanne Arena Elaine Gower Tona Fox Thomas Johnson Victoria Schlosser David Gale Freddy S. Emelia Boletti Most of you guys on this are not doing this event and to those of you who are not, you are. You are a huge part of this and I thank you guys very much. When I come across that finish line we all come across that finish line. I hope I spelled everyone's name right and if I over looked anyone I am sorry. To My coaches: Felipe Loureiro-Owner & Coach of Breakaway Training Luke Walton-Coach of Breakaway Training Courtney Carpenter-TCSD Swim Coach I would not have made the leaps and bounds that I have this season with out either one of you guys. Felipe has shown/taught me the right way to train for an Ironman. He has also proven to me the importance of having a coach and structure in a solid training program. Luke, pretty much just listen to me wine. Luke also helped talk me through some training issue I was having. He helped kept me focused and gave me the best pep talk I think I have ever had. Courtney made me do kick drills in the pool and I still don't like them. She helped me shore up my swimming form, stroke technique and gave me a ton of helpful tips. I would recommend both of these coaches to anyone, their experience and knowledge is priceless. To my bike shop: JT Lyons-Owner, Sales & Mechanic of Moment Cycle Sports. JT and his shop have helped me in ways I can't even begin to thank enough. I recommend everyone who lives or visits San Diego go by and see JT and his crew in action. They can help you find the bike of your dreams or service the one you already have. To my family and friends along with everyone who has supported me these past few years. As I have gone and fallen off the face of the Earth to peruse this dream of becoming an Ironman. We are closer to the finish line, more so than we ever have. I thank you for believing in and supporting me. I know I haven't been the best friend. I promise this, after this is over things will be back to normal. Or as normal as normal can be. Thank you to my two awesome roommates, Keith and Chris, for helping me with Jayk and K2. You guys have allowed me to go and chase this dream by taking on my responsibilities of a dog owner. Those home cooked meals after training, yummy, they really hit the spot. Thank you guys for everything. To the creator of ice, I owe you many thanks. My muscles have never seen so many ice baths. The inventor of the foam roller, you are the man. Props to Hed and everything aerodynamic. Ok I am play'n now. Thank you everyone for your support. Three weeks from tomorrow will be the day that I get to put all these miles and hours to the ultimate test but I the end I know I will pass. Thank you, Kevin K. kmkoresky@yahoo.com Sunday, October 14 - Erik Nau: 7th Elite Overall  Breakaway Training Athletes: - Kathy Macdonald: 1st Age-Group (40-44) * First Triathlon - Paola Pasqualini: 6th Overall - Kirsten Loureiro: 3rd Age-Group (25-29) - Colleen Dunn: 3rd Age-Group (35-39) - Crystal Vitug: 5th Age-Group S.P. (25-29) - Tracy Elmer: 37th Age-Group S.P. (35-39) - Marsella Macias: 11th Age-Group (25-29) - Liz Granquist: 2nd Age-Group (40-44) - Rachel Wayne: 3rd Age-Group *11 years old - Susie Zolghadri: 30th Age-Group (40-44) Thursday, October 11 10/13 Ironman Hawaii World Championship Kassie Eckhart 13h19' (First Ironman) Dearest Friends and Family, Here I am in KONA for Ironman Hawaii…. AHHH! (for those who don't know its like the mecca of all Ironman races.... aka Crazy Town) I am writing to you today because I am need of your assistance. PLEASE, whatever you are doing on Saturday (this coming Saturday, October 13 th) if you could think of me and wish me good thoughts I would be forever appreciative! Here is what I need you to do: 1. THINK OF ME!2. PRAY FOR ME! 3. SMILE when you think of me!!! If you catch a glimpse of the Ironman broadcast on TV I'll be sporting the orange Breakaway Training, so look out. If you're really into it and you'd like to track me online, you can enter my race #: 1839 on the Ironman.com website - look for the athlete tracker. (Start time is 7am Hawaii = 10am Pacific and 1pm East Coast and there is a cutoff of 17hrs to complete the race) Also - I (the non-blogger) have started a Blog since I'm sitting here in Hawaii on my own until my parents arrive in a few hours... So if you're interested in what I'm up to, you can check it out: http://kassie-eckhart.blogspot.com/ Thank you in advance for your smiles, thoughts and prayers. It means a lot to me - and I will be thinking of each of you many times throughout the long day. My goal is to FINISH the race and leave Hawaii with a smile on my face! I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity - and I know that with your help I will cross the finish line prior to the 17hr cutoff!! Most importantly - I hope that ALL of YOU have a fabulous Saturday as well -Please go do something FUN for me!!! (Whether its sleeping in, hanging in London eh hemm, going to a party on the beach eh hemm, or whatever - just do something GREAT!) xoxoxoxoxo, Kassie P.S. We just did the "goofy underpants run" - a long time Ironman Hawaii tradition - HILARIOUS. Lightened the mood a bit! Sunday, October 7Thursday, October 410/06 Best Of U.S. Triathlon (Winter Haven, Florida)  - Paola Pasqualini: 23rd Overall |
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