Just...

...to wish you a day in peace and with serenity surrounded by family and friends!

...to say try not to gain 2 more kgs, but enjoy the food variety.

...to wish you all a Merry Christmas!

(...to leave you with 2 Christmas cartoons:

News about last weeks

As the pre-season is reaching its middle, I have some news for you:

1) Last sunday (13/12) I ran the Christmas GP a 10km run and I felt light and confortable - 37:50min was my finishing time.

2) For the next season I'll be sponsored by Becker Distribution: They are the european distribution of blueseventy, the leading brand in triathlon wetsuits, swimskins and open water swimming.
Blueseventy stands for the best wetsuits and swimskins in the world, and Becker distribution represents international sales expertise at the highest level.

I would be the first athlete in Portugal who is sponsored by them ;-)!

3) I'll be sponsored by Hammer Nutrition: Hammer Nutrition provides top quality endurance fuels and supplements to help serious endurance athletes reach their highest level of athletic performance. They don't use preservatives or simple sugars in their products.

4)In January the 4th I'll begin my Uni exams, so for the next two weeks I'll be studying! (And playing Wii on the breaks)

Have a nice weekend!

:D

Climate Change Conference

Leaders of different countries will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark to try to have an agreement on the reduction of green gas emissions. This conference will take place on the 7th to the 18th of December.

I am not very optimistic about this conference. It certainly will be the next Kyoto, nothing will be done again.

By now, let's hope this will never happen:

That's Courage!

Type 1 diabetic athletes from the Triabetes triathlon team, test their bloodsugar with glucose meters one last time before entering the water of Tempe Town Lake at the Ford Ironman Arizona in Tempe, Arizona

Feels good

To have a hot bath and eat a big meal with family after a tough, cold and wet ride.

Bonus: Quote of the day: "Follow your heart!"

New friend?

Wow what a finish!

Do you remember Hamburg Triathlon 2007?

The last 1,5km of this race was incredible and I just remember it every time I pass someone when I'm running.

Watch it out:

Concerned about your health?

For those who are concerned about what you are putting into your body, stop consuming all that energy drinks like gatorade and bars like reduced sugar protein bars from powerbar!

These type of packaged foods cause damage to your body.

Apart from having aspartame, sucralose and all that kind of artificial sweeteners these also have artificial colourings. These type of foods can have an inflammatory effect in your body and eating them repeatedly can mean cancer (not now, but in 10,20 or 30 years).

You can find more things about your nutrition in Ben Greenfield's website. He is a triathlete and a personal trainer.

Because I'm concerned about what I'm eating when I train (and when I'm not too), I found Hammer Nutrition (I pay for their products). They have all kind of supplements that you need but these don't have simple sugars (they only use maltodextrin a complex carb) , artificial sweeteners or additives.

Another good sports bar brand is Clif Bar (I'm not sponsored by them). Their bars taste really good and all their bars are made of brown rice syrup, oats, nuts, seeds...

Feel free to ask me more about nutrition or about those brands (and where to find them).

Kids and Politicians: Good match up?

From Reuters

Swimming World Cup

Roland Schoeman of South Africa is seen from underwater as he hits the water surface on his way to set a new world record in the men's 50m freestyle finals at the swimming World Cup in Berlin November 15, 2009 - 20,57 on short course (25m)

Paul Biedermann of Germany is seen from underwater as he sets a new world record in the men's 200m freestyle finals at the swimming World Cup in Berlin

More Pictures

In this World Cup: Five World Records Set During Day One Finals and

10 World Records Set In Day Two Finals

Do what I say, don't do what I do

Apart from lectures and studying, triathlon is getting in my daily routine for the past 1,5 year.

But some people ask me what is my number of swims, rides and runs per week and here it is.

I've been doing this for the last three weeks since I'm in the Base period phase (basically lots of volume and low-medium intensity). The distance and time depends on days.

Swim:4x 3000 to 3500m

Rides: 5x 30km to 70km

Runs:4x 1h to 1h45

Gym: 2x 45min

The only rule I have is to organize myself the best way, plan the day after including some risk (unexpected events that take place and take me some time of the day).

P.S. If you want to get a healthy life you don't need to this.

36h later...

After 1,5 days without internet, tv and telephone,

I have to say that we are so dependent on those things!

Shot Gun!

Had an amazing ride to Sintra today with a friend from Azores who is living near my house.
With the exception of strong wind near Guincho the rest of the ride was big fun.
(3h - 68km done with some hills)

Are you afraid?

I laugh when people say: "I am only one person my changes will not affect anything"

Come on!

If every and each person would focus on changing is mind and attitudes towards global warming, this little contribution from each person would help to change the world!

I changed some things in my life: I use more public transports, do not use plastic bags, do not leave my DVD player and my computer on stand by...

You can do it too. You have more money in your pockets in the end of each month and you help to preserve the earth!

Best October Pics - Reuters

Good news!

My pre-season started this week and I'm getting in the rhythm.

Next week will be determining about my future in triathlon.
I have to make choices: sponsors, teams, equipment...

Festival Bike Santarém

This Bike Show happens every year and it's where the main bike brands with dealers in Spain and Portugal show their goodies for 2010.

I went there and took some photos (in this album I have Sergio Marques and Mark Cavendish bike's photos) : http://picasaweb.google.com/thebeginningm/BikeFestival#

P. S. (Now I have to study for a test on thursday - Internacional Financial Markets)

To remember

how water entrance in triathlons can be really tough sometimes:



(Clif Bar sell organic tasty bars and shots)

Green Pepper Restaurant

Why does everytime I go to Green Pepper I feel my stomach like exploding and feeling that I gained 1 or 2 kgs?

You know food tastes so good that I want to eat everything over and over again.

This is my order when I go there:

1st full dish with salad and cold vegetables,

2nd big soup with 2 or 3 slices of bread,

3rd full dish with hot food and to finish either a big ice-cream cup, a crepe,

a crumble or a tasty cheesecake.

Bio shop in Lisbon

Miosotis is an organic and bio shop that opened last year in Lisbon.

Yesterday I went there (for the 3rd time) and bought some things like meat, quinoa, bulgur, fruit...

You know I think some products are a bit expensive but gosh fruit and vegetables taste different like these have been picked just for you.

I think we have to come back to our roots to preserve nature.

The time of big mass cultivated land with lots of pesticides to make these grow really fast and the time of animals (cows, pigs and chickens) fed with protein and drugs to make them increase size has passed.

Amazing quote

Steve Prefontaine (an American middle and long-distance runner) once said:

"The only good race pace is suicide pace, and today looks like a good day to die"

Mmmm....

Mmmm... Chocolate and Banana Crepes! (Better with Homer Simpson voice)

I had one of these delicious crepes after the toughest workout of the day.

OH NO!

I think I have some kind of disease. I think it's serious.

I can talk about it, breathe it, it sure flows through my veins, I begin to figure it out...

I am a Triaholic.

Kona review

Congratulations to Sérgio and Paulo who finished Ironman Hawaii!

In the elite race, Craig Alenxander an australian triathlete won the race for the second consecutive time.

For the girls, Chrissie Wellington a british triathlete won the race for the thrird consecutive time and finished 32nd overall (some guys felt pretty bad).

This is the video in which Chrissie crosses the line:

Some photos:

Today!

Don't loose the greatest triathlon event of the year: Ford IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

Ironman is one of the toughest triathlon race: 3,8km swim, 180km ride and 42,2km run

Portugal we'll be represented with two athletes: Sérgio Marques (Elite) and Paulo Codinha (Age-Group).

(Photo taken from Sergio's blog)

The race begins today at 5.45 pm (Gmt) and you can watch it live from http://ironman.com or http://www.universalsports.com/

As days passing by...

I have in my hands something that have not come yet to Portugal.

Specialized launched the new bike shoes for triathlon and they are already mine. These are called Specialized Trivent 2010.

Old passion

Cooking is something that I enjoy doing. It's fun to make everyone happy by tasting delicious dishes (sometimes).

Today was one of those days. I felt that people that came into my house enjoy it. Ok I had a little help: my mom cut some vegetables into pieces while I was doing the other dishes.

This was the meal: (these are not my pictures, sorry I had not time for taking my pics)

Coriander, Carrot and Courgette soup;

Chicken breast and vegetables Wok with soy and ginger

Blackberry and apple pie

P.S. Please close your mouth and clean your drool

Busy days

After Setubal, I have been very busy.

I was thinking that the off-season had come but actually training is getting more specific as I am going to the Estoril Olympic distance triathlon in 18th of October.

Uni classes are becoming more challenging as teachers feel it's time for works and tests.

Another work which is taking me some time is the digital marketing course website. I have to make a website that features internet publicity: a vague stuff.

Setubal Race report

I had fun doing this triathlon. I really liked to do the Olympic distance course because it is a mix of sprint and long triathlons, we have to be quick but we suffer alone.

The swimming was not bad according to the conditions of the water and wind. I know I can do it better. And I felt pretty light doing the run.

Cycling is another thing. I have to do lots of base training, hills, hills and more hills to get endurance riding.