After 8 half Ironmans, 7 Olympic triathlons, a few Sprints and a couple of Overseas trips, today was one of my most interesting experiences.
I was ready last night, had everything I needed and had a good night sleep, I had a big training day today... 50 miles bike and 10 mile run.
I left the house early, ready for action and after arriving to the city parking lot which was going to be expensive, we moved to a better lot with a flat fee and security.
When we got there a drunk and not pleasant attendant asked us to park the car better, we told him we were OK where we were, he insisted, we told him it was not necessary and then se said, OK stay there.
So there we are, things are ready for the bike portion of the training.... and then things start happening, someone reaches me, takes me out and walks away with me... in the mean time, my owner is happily riding his bike, looking for lost team mates, getting a flat tire repaired and coming back to get me and the things he needs for his next part of the training .... but I am gone.... I am heading to unknown territories, I am heading the the underworld... an innocent victim of my owners disagreement with "El Nica"
My owner arrives at the parking lot, opens the car to get me and a few of the things I keep for him... but I am not there... and I am terrified... I am being now held for ransom.
I knew my owner would do what he needed to save me, he even talked to the police that politely reminded him that the ticket of the parking lot where he left me would say that they are not responsible if anything happens to me, that there was no point in writing a report because I was not that significant.... little did he know that me owner and me have been together for nine years, competed in many, many triathlons, traveled to Europe and the USA and had many, many training days together.
But my owner persevered, he knows a few things about the value of things and the art of negotiations, he offered the new attendants of the parking lot, the ones giving out pink tickets, instead of the yellow tickets given by the night shift, a ransom for my safe recovery. No questions asked, just bring us back together... for a good financial reward.
Rich from the parking lot was excited by the reward so he made some calls, after I left to have breakfast with my friends, and told people about my disappearance, I think he knows people and he got things moving because, while in captivity, I heard this guy talking on the phone and saying: "Yes, I have seen the red bag...." me, they are talking about me.... yes, I am getting saved I thought, " some guy was walking trying to sell it and I said you ain't selling that bag, you owe me money, I am keeping the bag" so here I was now in the hands of a new member of the underworld that now kept me for ransom... I am getting more scared by the minute.
In the mean time, my owner is having breakfast, barefoot because I have his crocks that he puts after he exercises.... so he is barefoot in the restaurant... how funny.... I should not be laughing, I am sure he did not feel to happy about this... anyway, the running shoes are now gone.... I do not know where they went ... I was so tired from all this and the early start, that I took a little nap and when I woke up, the shoes were gone.... I do not know where they went but they were not there any more. All of a sudden, my kidnapper starts packing me in a plastic bag and I think... holy smokes they are taking me to a hiding place and do not want me to recognize where we are going, little did I know until the last minute that a negotiation for my return to my owner had been negotiated and I was heading back to be re-united with him.... for more adventures and now with a big tale to tell about my morning in the downtown Miami underworld.
david's blog
my thoughts
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Crossing the Andes
Just like the journey of a thousand miles starts with one step, my journey across the Andes started with one step and the conviction that I was capable of completing it.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Obama won
A very good thing has happened to this country and to the world, a president was elected based on his intellectual merit...a message of hope was accepted by a majority,,, hope itself is now part of the fabric that covers a much larger segment of the population of this country and the world at large... this is a good time to be alive!
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Ingrid is Free
Last week, citizens of the world united with all of the Colombians in happiness and celebration for the liberation of 15 kidnapped victims including Ingrid Betancourt, eleven colombians between police men and regular army soldiers and three American contractors abducted after their plane crashed in Guerrilla territory. Some of them had been in the jungle for almost 10 years... 10 years deprived from your freedom by some animal... I am one of those that could not contain my feelings and being still in great spirit for such an event I can't comprehend how we as humanity accept such a terrible situation with out doing more to support our government and forces and unite in solidarity for the liberation of all victims still in the jungle.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Can perseverance be a substitute for hard work?
I just completed my fourth Florida Ironman 70.3 and for various reasons that are not relevant, my training for the event was not adequate. I saw this on my results and having run 20 minutes longer than previous runs on this event. I concluded that not matter how much we persevere, even though it is very important, it is not a substitute for hard work. The combination of both elevates exponentially our performance... but both are needed.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Why we do things...
Last Sunday, I completed my tenth Marathon, a grueling test to the will and endurance of a person. I was not physically as well prepared as I was determined mentally to do it. And I did it and I feel very proud of the fact that I persevered through it... why can we persevere so hard and successfully for some things?
Friday, October 26, 2007
Honoring those that sacrifice everything
I am in Washington DC getting ready to run the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday October 28 and I feel very privileged to be able to do this for two very significant reasons. First; to have the health to be able to do it and second to have the freedom to live in a place where I can work, live and train.
For this second reason, I want to pay tribute to those soldiers and their families that sacrifice so much so that the rest of us can be free.
For this second reason, I want to pay tribute to those soldiers and their families that sacrifice so much so that the rest of us can be free.
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