Testimonials
“What does an Ironman race and a marathoner add up to? Answer–a train wreck.
When my name was announced on TV in the list of Kona lottery winners, I had a monumental decision to make. Without much training in swimming and biking, it would have been easy to walk away with my self-image intact. Fortunately, I had met Felipe back in 2003 and knew his background as a elite triathlete and coach. My question for him that day was simply–”Will you help me prepare for this Ironman, given my lack of skills in triathlon?”. His fateful answer was “Yes”, and the race to train was on.
My triathlon training started in May 2008. I gave up most of my planned marathons at that point. I got fitted for my bike. I learned how to do transitions T1 and T2. I learned how to ride properly to save my legs for the run. I learned how to sight during the swim, plus entry and exit into open water. I got introduced to speed work in track workouts. I learned how nutrition is so important during all phases of the race. I learned to love and hate the hill repeats at Blacks Beach and Torrey Pines State Reserve. I learned to deal with the dynamics of group rides. I learned many many things from my teammates. In this team environment, I slowly gained the confidence in my triathlon skills.
Coach Felipe and I agreed that my first Ironman would be all about finishing. My training schedule was geared more for endurance than speed. We would problem-solve for those areas that require fixing. The coach would introduce me to good riding skills; this gave me the confidence to rely on some innate skills that I have on these two-wheeled contraptions–it made for fun training rides to Oceanside and back.
We also went on paced swims (wetsuits) at the La Jolla Cove from 1/4 mile to 1/2 mile to the buoys, and also to La Jolla Shores and back. Now if you have told me a year ago that I’d swim 1-1/2 miles at one time out in the ocean, I would have laughed hysterically and said NO WAY! In one of our paced swims to La Jolla Shores, we were caught in a strong current that tried to sweep us to Scripps Pier; it was a bit crazy to swim in place for a near ten minutes, but that was a great learning experience. The group swims and paced swims were sometimes accompanied by turtles and dolphins, which appealed to the tourist in me.
My first triathlon would be the Buckeye Challenge in Springfield, Ohio. I’ve had two months of training at that point. I went into the race full of confidence. I was near last coming out of the water, which made me burst into laughter as I went into T1. The bike was uneventful, except that I had to go a bit faster to beat the shortened road course closure deadline. I forgot to feed on the bike, which made my run out in the very humid 90-degree weather a struggle. But I got the HIM done.
The two months after the HIM would be full of longer training rides, longer swims, and plenty of variety. I enjoyed one training ride to Oceanside where I stayed with the lead group until mile 35. That was an amazing accomplishment in itself. Coach Felipe also arranged for a training ride out at Borrego Springs. That ride would become mythic, in the variety of issues that each athlete had to face out in the desert heat. I did a 21 mph ride to the Salton Sea, but had to cap my ride at the top of the climb back to assist one teammate. In the month prior to Kona, I had reached the endurance necessary to complete the race. The rest of the time, I was maintaining skills and obsessing over equipment. I knew at this point that the Kona race was on.
I invited Coach Felipe to watch the race in Kona. Together with Michelle, Mike, and Marty’s family, they would cheer for Marty and me out on the course. Perhaps because I didn’t have a pacer, I took to the water like it was a Sunday swim. A paddler had to remind me that I needed to keep going. The bonus would be that my name was announced prominently as I got out of the water. I got to the bike and began to make my way to Hawi; along the way, I would see the leaders come back including Chrissie Wellington. I also saw Marty come back at around mile 35. The fabled climb to and ride from Hawi was uneventful; the headwinds and crosswinds did become a major factor on the way back to Kona. I easily lost an hour riding against the winds.
The transition to the run was smooth. I hadn’t trained on running dismounts, but I picked Kona to do my very first. It was perfect and effortless! At this point, I knew that finishing the IM was simply a matter of a long run. I was determined to make it a celebration run through Kona, even if the run to the Energy Labs was done in near darkness. After a while, I decided to pick up the pace so as not to worry Coach Felipe any longer.
The picture of the finish line has been burned in my mind after hours of endless media coverage of past races. It is simply indescribable, wrapped in the envelope of well-wishers and spectators plus the feeling of accomplishment that overwhelm an athlete all at once. I would cross that line before 10PM, but not before receiving congratulations from Coach Felipe, Mike, Michelle, and Marty under that massive banyan tree on Ali’i Drive. The group would enjoy drinks and margaritas at a restaurant overlooking the finish line; we kept the tradition of waiting for the final athletes finish. There was no other place in the world we’d rather be that night in October 2008.
So looking back, a train-wreck it wasn’t. I had successfully met the challenge without making a fool of myself. I couldn’t get to this paragraph without describing the long road to get to where I’m at. I would not recommend this road to anyone, but I think the IM became possible only because of Coach Felipe’s steady guidance. Although I would still rather be known as a runner versus a triathlete, completing Kona makes my triathlon future bright indeed.
I highly recommend Coach Felipe and his team of coaches for all your triathlon training and run training needs. The Breakaway Training team is like family, and strong age-groupers and pros have benefited from the nurturing environment provided by group training. If you know you are ready to step up from the crowd and reach your potential, Breakaway Training is where you need to be. ”
-Ed Cabanero ( Breakaway Training Member Since 2008) Kona Ironman Finisher, # 857
“I am a gold medal winning 60-year old triathlete… How did this happen? The answer is simple: Felipe, head coach of Breakaway Training…
I found Felipe in September 2005 on the Internet. At that point, I was a runner; I had completed two marathons and was worried about my joints. I hired Felipe as my coach and began to attend the team’s track workouts. I was terrified! I had no core, and I was the oldest and slowest member of the team. But Felipe was always encouraging, and the team was supportive and patient. After 6 months of just running and doing core training, Felipe suggested that I start biking. The last time I had biked was 35 years ago on a Schwinn. Who said, you never forget how to ride a bike? Felipe was so patient with me. He spent hours teaching me not to fall off my hybrid road bike. . He took me first to Fiesta Island and then on HWY 101 and rode next to me at a top speed of 8 mph. He finally convinced me to buy a tri bike, a Specialized, which I used to fall harder and faster. During this pre-triathlon period, I began to swimming with Felipe. I told him that I could swim, but I did not mention that I could only swim 15 meters or less without stopping and choking. I swam in a pool that was essentially a large bathtub. It took me months to swim a single lap. Finally, Felipe convinced me to sign-up for a triathlon in Hemet. Hemet is a baby triathlon – a 5k run, 12-mile bike ride, and 3 laps in a pool. On my way to my first race, my car was rammed in the rear by a hit and run driver. The Specialized and the car were smashed. I called a friend who was also racing, and she insisted that I use her bike. I stopped crying and completed the race despite th4e fact that the bike was sized for someone 4 inches taller. After the race, I went straight to B&L Bikes and bought my second Specialized. I was now hooked on triathlons and broke. I was still swimming on the big bath tub and falling off my bike when I went with the team to do my first Torrey Pines hill repeat bike practice. I was insanely fearless coming down the inside path at 35 mph. My bike decided to fly but did not spread its wings needless to say, it was a bad fall. My arm was as big as my leg, but that did not stop me. Next I signed up for a real triathlon – Mission Bay. Unfortunately, I forgot to unclip my cleats at the dismount, and I fell on my head. I was not hurt, but really embarrassed. The race monitors pulled me from the race after asking me a hundred times who I was and where I was. I finally stopped falling off my bike, bought a used Kuota, and I took master swim classes (in my own slowest lane). I did progress but it was slow and hard work. Felipe never forsake me. He was always encouraging and extremely kind. I began to do duathlons. I finally bought a wetsuit, which I promptly left at La Jolla Cove after a swim. I continued to preserve and experienced remarkable success thanks to Felipe. I was very proud of my first gold medal even though I was the only one in my age group. This year has been very special. I came in first in the San Diego International Triathlon (International distance) and in my first Half Ironman (Barb’s Race). For the 2007/2008 Koz Triathlon series I came in second place. I still swim with Felipe (in a regular pool), and I still cherish my weekly core sessions with him. I love Felipe. He changed my life. I can run, bike, swim, and win gold medals. This year, I will complete 2 Half Ironman triathlons, 5 half marathons, and numerous Olympic distance triathlons, and every Tuesday I will swim with Felipe for an hour, proceed to our 1-hour turbo class, and then run. Thank you, Felipe. Thank you, Breakaway Training.”
-Rachel Saldivar
“My goal was that some day I would complete a full Ironman event…
Last February my personal life and professional life were as stressful as I thought it could possibly get. I had given up on a life goal and was heading down the road of depression. I had chronic back pain and my neck hurt all the time. I went to see my Chiropractor Gregory M. Berkoff, D.C. At that time he was at the only person I was confiding in about my personal issues. I told Greg I wanted to do a ½ Ironman and he said he was thinking about it also. Greg then told me about Felipe and gave me his number. I called Felipe on January 28th 2006 to see if I could join in on the group bike ride in Anza Borrego. Felipe was more than happy to have me there and I felt welcomed right form start. I have now completed several sprints, 2 Olympic and the Baja 70.3 series. It seemed that things were turning around in my personal/ professional life and my training with Breakaway was consistently exhilarating, beneficial and enjoyable! So in July of 2006 I decided to register for the AZ Ironman (4/15/2007). I wish I could say my personal life worked out but unfortunately that was not the case. Life has thrown me some pretty big obstacles since February of 2006 my husband and partner of seven years decided to leave me and my two daughters which has caused a series of time consuming emotionally draining events to occur. I have had to put my house on the market, go to gosh knows how many mediation meetings for the divorce, learn a new job, adjust to the new life of “single mom” and train for my race. I have thought to myself on many occasions maybe I should just not do it and do one next year….
Triathletes DON’T quite!
Without the support of Coach Felipe and the entire TEAM I would not even be thinking of doing this. I know in my heart that fate matched me up with Breakaway last February and without this TEAM I know for a fact I would be in a very dark place today. I get such a warm feeling thinking of the last year and all the amazing people I have the pleasure to train with. When I registered for the race I set out to finish in 11:45-12:00 hours. I broke my foot during training so I ended up walking about 20 miles of the run portion but still completed my first Ironman in 14:21.
It has now been 5 months and my foot is all better. I won my first overall Olympic distance race in Las Vegas on September 1st, 2007 and have set a new goal “Colleen is going to Kona”.
I know I can do this with the guidance and training of Breakaway.
Thank you Coach Felipe for your continued support!”
-Colleen W.
“I’ve been with Breakaway for only four short months, but the results have been extraordinary. With the ongoing support of Breakaway’s coaches and its teammates, I’ve met my seasonal goals, and in many ways I’ve exceeded what I believed was possible. I’ll certainly be returning next race season…. To triathletes of all levels and ages, I encourage you to push your limits to the next level with Breakaway”
