Rio 2016 Season!

This is the beginning of a new season, and maybe my last season as a profe, or better, a sacrifissional athlete, I mean, with no sponsors... 

In the next year, I will be completing 18 years of triathlon. Starting my adulthood in the sport, it will be time to review the idea of exclusive dedication, and maybe start a new career while I can still playing as an enthusiast athlete. 

(pic: mundotri.com)

Many stories, lessons, achievements and also frustrations, that Im sure magnified big time my life. I don't regret any step. Some were wrong and encouraged me to mellow out, many were right and also encouraging mellow!

As Paulo Coelho wrote in "The Alchemist", in the journey to reach the treasure of our dreams, we discover what treasures really are.

I will dedicate one more shot at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, but on this time there will be no frustration! At first, I never felt so close to be an Olympian, and second, is that my goal is to enjoy this journey and not only to be racing in Rio.  

It could seem that Im already resigned in case of defeat, but a really defeat would be not to take advantage of everything the sport has to offer. Im very optimistic that the results will come as a consequence of my efforts, and the main reason for my excitement is that I finaly figured out why in the past 4 years I had this "slow down" feeling, discovering that my thyroid was underactive (hypothyrodism), which I am planning to talk soon about it.

Yes, talk about it! Instead of mostly writting in here, I want to start posting more videos, I think it is a fun way of blogging, or vlogging (as video-blogs are called). Meanwhile I warmup the Cavanha's Entertainament Production du Brazil, LOL, I would like to hear suggestions of what to post or talk about! 

I will take advantage of this post to wish a new year plenty of strength (not luck) to reach all your goals (not dreams)!! ;)

Merry Christmas and a 2015 of Pure Life!! 

My Izuzu and I, doing pretty well in the altitude!

Completing four weeks here in Boulder, we both are working much better, the main change was in our alimentation.

It is funny how we both work in the same way! Its not only how you eat, but how you metabolize your food. Its pointless using the highest octane fuel if there is no spike from the igniter to explode the calories up and propel the piston to make the machine to run.

To keep your battery at high energy levels, you need a good alternator, or a balanced endocrine system. For my Isuzu I had only to replace that piece, but for my system I had to find a balance with proper fuel. The dietician Megan Forbes, as I said on my last post, has helped me out on figuring out this balance and the main changes on my diet were more vegetables and fruits (as every Mom knows!); more protein (I was trying to avoid it as I want to drop muscle weight #notagoodidea); and supplements like multi-vitamins, amino-acids, selenium, iodine and a root called ashwagandha, that supports the adrenal system, which is related to the synthesis of cortisol and other hormones released by stress during the  intense workouts.

I am feeling great, and I bet my car too! Lol

Training wise I made a big change too, since last week I am joining Apex Coaching Team and have a new guidance for my workouts.
I am still working on my race schedule, but next big goals are only in October, part of the Olympic trials, I will be racing in Mexico (Cozumel) and Colombia (Cartagena).

I have promissed training videos, but unfortunetely the camera I got came defective, so all the videos I did, ended up with no áudio. L

Instead I used my good old camera to video tape the attempt to change the alternator of my Isuzu myself! I counted with a hand of my friend Raphael to do the work and you can find out on the video below if we were sucessful or not!!

With no sponsors and cutting all the expenses the most I can, I had to try doing the "procedure" myself. The initial cost for all the mechanic service was around 375 USD, so I bought a refurbished alternator for 75, and used my mechanic skills for the rest!

I am far away from calling myself a mechanic, but while I served the Brazilian Army in 2003, I was trained to be an official of warlike equipment, which included auto-mechanics and armour knowledge. 11 years later I was being tested if I still remember the lessons...

First weeks of training in Boulder altitude, all going as previewed!

Breathless, extreme fatigue and no juice (for my car and I) haha

Well... My Isuzu couldn`t handle it and run out of energy, the problem this time is the alternator (which recharge the battery). I will try to fix it myself during this week to honor my Mechanical Instructors when served the Brazilian Army in 2003.

Talking about energy, on this week I started a new diet plan  prescribed by Dietitian Megan Forbes, where she wrote down a special nutritional plan for me to invigorate adrenals, reducing the stress caused by intense workouts and also building alkalinity, getting my body ready to tolerate lots of lactic acid from next workouts! 

(@ Rally Sports)

Going to race matters, unfortunately I will no long race the China World Cup, as I have not enough sponsor, I thought it would be smarter save the budget to chase some points in the next races, although it would be a great opportunity to make some points. :(
 

My bike just got a new equipment to register training pictures, so make sure to follow my youtube channel! @ http://www.youtube.com/maurocavanha

Hello From Boulder!

Starting video-post in my blog!
Today I am just telling about the new training days coming up here in Bouder, Colorado.

While in Brazil you need to lock you car even if it is in you own garage, I love the security we have in US. Just illustrating with a picture of my car with open windows, while I was buying groceries . . .

LOL (mine is the coolest, the blue one!)

Fun Post Race Diving and Exploring Huatulco!

Finished the race, on the day after, Eduardo Lass and I woke up early in the morning and swam around 1000m, from Santa Cruz Bay to La Entrega Beach, where we had some fun diving and exploring the area!

Here is some images of our tour, and my favorite pic on the cover (A selfiesh!!) Lol

Back in LA!!

One week after racing the SESC Brasíla Triathlon, in the capital of Brazil, I am already getting adapted here again in the North Hemisphere, I am, not the workouts!! Lol

The training has been really ugly! Tiredness and fatigue day after day, the goal is to at least finish the volume planned. On days like this with no motivation, I hop in the water and swim 3.000m nonstop, no timing, the same way as I do 40 minutes of run or 90 minutes on my bike. #Justdoit

Having breakfast one of these days, someone asked me: Do you love this job!?
Nahhh... I don`t necessarily love working out everyday, but what I love is to be race ready!  

On this past weekend it was really cool to follow so many friends racing at the Ironman Brazil!
People doing PBs, getting a stamp to Kona, and finally getting the win to Brazil, congrats to my friend Igor!!

Others not even so happy, but that is the sport, and they were all very brave!!
How cool is to be racing for more than 8 hours dealing with yourself, then some people raced for almost 16 hours!!

Glad to follow all of that! Congratulations every one!!

I felt inspired!! It made me to think about going back for the Ironman races!!!

Cool down, cool down... Keep the focus! #Rio2016

Meanwhile nobody knows when or where is going to be the trials of the Panamerican Games Toronto 2015 #GoCBTri, I keep researching about the chemicals related to my blood exams from my last week in Brazil, (cholesterol, thyroid...) And I have discovered a bunch of interesting things to be posted soon!

I will be back in action on this weekend to race the Panamerican Championship in Dallas, TX.
Not really optimistic for this one, I hope it does not reflect my last workouts! Lol
But at least I have no expectations, just wanna do my best!!

Pictures from this post are images from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where I was visiting a few days ago!

Extra days in Auckland!!

After racing in New Plymouth, New Zealand, I also had a New Surprise!! haha

In the airport, while doing the check-in they have told me that my visa was not good to make the conexion in Sydney, so I couldn't travel back to LAX...

My visa was good for 42 days, but only good for one entry...
And besides being in the Kangooroo land, I couldn't hop in the Kiwi land and hop back!!

Kiwi is a NZ popular bird, it can only be found here and it's peculiarity is to not having wings. Not being able to fly suuucks!! :S

Good for American Airlines, as to delay my flight they have bitten me 230% on the price of that leg...

Moving on, I have already gone to the Australian Consulate to get the transit visa, and should be flying tomorrow morning. While I am here I have found everything I needed: A Backpacker hostel, a good coffee shop and a swimming pool!

SWIM!! That's what really matters since New Plymouth World Cup...
#1500sub17'30"!! 3 days after the race, and I have already counted 720 laps or 18km!! #owwwyeahhhbaby!!!

Ready to be back to the ITU Races!!

Already in LA acclimatizing for the time change, as in two weeks I will be heading to Australia and New Zealand to race the first Word Cups of the season.

I had a decent start on the Continental Cups, placing 4th in Chile and 2nd in Argentina. The training is going great too, rising up the expectations every other day! The long distance past season was perfect to build mental resistance and also to learn on managing injuries.

Today I did an excellent ride with my brand new bike, I did a PR on the three loops around the Riviera Country Club, the La Grange ride for Thursdays.

Talking about new bike, this is a fast one!! The good side of not having a bike sponsor is that you can try different brands, and this is the first time I am trying a Cannondale Super Six, it feels awesome on my first miles!

Here is a really cool 2014 ITU Season preview, by ITU.
Looking forward to get it started!!

Why did I not choose to be a Soccer Player!?

This is a post I originally made in 2010, in my Portuguese version blog. Recently it became very popular at facebook, so I got motivated to translate it and here is the English version of it!! Have fun!!

 

Ok... like 99% of Brazilians I wanted too to be a soccer player!!
I still remember when I was at the first grades of school and I went with my father to register myself at the soccer classes in the school. Lucky or not, it was already sold out!

My other options were Judo or Swimming.
I opted for Judo. I was always very hungry for training and wanted to reach the next belt color as soon as I could! 

I had fought for 3 years so I was invited to join the strongest Judo school team, which had classes at night. My father thought it was too late and said "no" for it.
I left Judo, I didn`t want to be in the "no competitive" classes. I had already the idea of becoming a professional athlete.

At that time Fernanda Keller was very successful, and by watching a TV commercial I met the Ironman!
Done, I was in trouble! Since that day I wanted to be an Ironman!!

Lucky I didn`t know all the hard work waiting for me!!
While training and even racing, many times I have asked myself why did I choose such an exigent sport which demands so much effort.

Triathletes have to train almost a third of a day!!
Soccer players don`t even need to wkout everyday...

The routine is tough and the recognition seems so far away...

Soccer Players can win the local championship to become billionaires...
A triathlete, to become millionaire needs to win the World Championship plus the lottery!!

In World Cup times it makes me wonder even more... They are the national heros, everyone follows their steps, since the team election until the triumphal way they leave the country...

A Soccer Player when traveling doesn't even need to make the check-in, they have a red carpet, people are cheering them on and they land on the pilot window!   
Triathletes need to check-in and then go to the airline store to pay the bike fee!

There are days where the workouts are not fun, and also those days where races doesn`t come as expected...

When a Soccer Player is tired, they can just go to the bench, and still winning...
A tired triathlete... is done!!

Keeping your body close to the limit, we sometimes get injured...

A Soccer Player injured will still having his salary...
An injured Triathlete means no more races, and the need to look for extra money to treat it.

Such dedication needs some time to cool off!

Soccer Players are well known to be in all kinds off parties... 
Triathletes after working out barely can step out of the house door...

But the time off cannot be so long, your adversaries are training...

Soccer is 11 vs 11...
Triathlon is 1 vs 100!! 

The bigger is the fight, the bigger is the glory!! Triathlon is a sport that teach us how to reach an advanced stage of mental or emotional development, mature as a person and learn better about your own body. Focus, discipline, determination and the will to overcome whatever comes in your way becomes a the real victory of each triathlete...

For some sports you need a ball...
For Triathlon you need two balls!!

Vacation time!!!

Nice!! I took advantage of some time off to make a bunch of stuff that I never had time due to work!

Like pulling out the wisdom teeth... Yeaaah!! Who has never waited for this unforcracktable day!! lol 

 

As my vacations are not paid, and neither arms nor legs can read the "sick paper", I decided to wait for my tiny week of vacation to do the surgery.

 

It was all four at once, what a brutal procedure! Someone needs to invent a pre-anesthesia to that needle, because even the anesthesia is painful!

 

Actually the worse was not the pain, but those noises and sensations of pulling the ligaments out... :O 

I survived, and the teeth came all out at one piece, wealthy teeth!

I could check that those dentist logos were right, and a tooth really has "legs". A questionable fact since every milk teeth came out with no legs!! lol 

There are white stains on them because the dentist told me that the more I let them soaked on the bleach, the whiter they would became! I almost killed these little guys! :)

 

Wanna see me doing it wrong, just tell me "the more the better"...

I do have a serious problem with that, and will always do more than what I think it could be the maximum possible.

 

But at least I learned it for studying! I knew I need to face books as a sport training periodization, which it must have a preparation, a base, a build, a peak and a race phase! This stuff works for everything in life!!

 

So as I would have some extra time, I invested it all on studying law for 8 weeks. Since I got my law degree I have never got the chance to try the bar exam, as I was always racing or training in USA. At this time the dates were good, but I would not have much time to study... :S

 

Damn! I would not have a DNF!! There were so many triathlons where I wasn`t ready, and ended up doing so well!! What if I just wake up in a good day!?!

 

I had to score 40 questions, and I did 38!!
Now I am waiting for the official result, because if they nullify 2 questions (which is not rare to happen), I am down for the second phase! And than I need to build another macrocycle of law studying!!

Well, let me stop to dream about it, because my vacations is already gone and the duty calls me! Need to go back to the same old routine: swim, bike, run, gym, sleep, repeat... and also get the luggage ready for more trips!

January 5th starts my 2014 season:
ITU Panamerican Cup - Viña del Mar/Chile!

Is there any flower delivery service to La Paz!?

No google, Its not in Bolivia, this is a tiny Argentinian town, in the state of Entre Rios...

Klga Flores, Monica C.
Wow! Google is really good, this person from La Paz has the same birthdate, October 26th.
But the orthopedist Monica C. Flores will not send flowers to my Flor. (Not trying to be a poet, as the cliché "Flowers to my flower" does not work with any Florência...

Ahh Floreria, asi es como si llama donde vendense flores, gracias Google.
Some more researches and I see googling will not bring me anywhere...

Carol, donde hay florerias en La Paz!??

Aww, let me introduce you Carolina, she was the one who started all this romance story.
She shot a picture of me racing in the La Paz Triathlon in January.
I was tagged on facebook, and her sister Florência, left a comment: "ooh la la!!".

Mmmmm... After a feel months and chats, we start to discover synchronies that ignited some diachronies and finally we started an actual date in Curitiba a few months ago, and now I am counting the days to see her again!

Carol, Carol, donde hay flores en La Paz!!??

Uhmm, not everytime facebook and google are so efective! But as we built this relationship virtually, I thought would be worth this reminder at the blog! So I can take advantage and introduce Florência to my blog`s friends, as I am pretty sure she will be on next pics and posts!

Well, I wanted to imagine her smile when receiving the flowers, but as I learned from the sport, the journey is a lot more worth than the goal, so I am posting this short story picturing smiles and laughs around the blogosphere! 

Happy Birthday Flor!! Espero que tengas un super dia de cumple, y que possamos celebrar muchos otros juntos!
Deporaenterai Chichimica! ;)

Blog Updating!!!

Almost 100% recovered from the accident things are going well here in LA!

The workouts have being SUPER and the more I travel and training, the more I realize I know nothing about the world, and neither about myself! Training with Siri Lindley was indeed is a revolution in my professional life, I am learning a lot about how to face the training and races, learning about my own mind ...

You know when sometimes we get strenght from somewhere we don't know and have no idea how we did it!? Here I learned where to find this extra energy and that becames a habit to overcome myself every day in each single workout ... Sometimes I'm pissed! Because after several days training "balls to the wall", I think: Ok, today I am going easy because my legs, arms, abs, back, I mean everything is sore! Once the training starts I just kill myself and I go for one of best sessions ever!! Hence I think again: "All right, tomorrow I'll calm down!" and guess what!! Lol

On this pic I was climbing one of the Malibu mountains... Thanks for the best helmet ever Jay!!

Almost five months away from home still have some misunderstandings when speaking English witch can be very funny!
These days I was saying that the training was so strong that I was crapping in the pool! (instead of cramping)...
And the other day I said we need hookers to put the bike in!! (instead of hooks)... OMG!!

Besides training, these days I was chilling out on Venice Beach!
I did not tattoo, piercing or found an alternative treatment with marijuana! lol
But I bought a blue foot! So now I can move quickly anywhere using my own foot!!
The problem are the stumbles on my thumbs!!
Ouuchhh!!