Welcome back or welcome to the humans of triathlon or hot podcast where we bring you the ordinary but extraordinary world of triathlon one human one story at a time with the aim to inspire and to celebrate this life-changing Sport and it's humans to real authentic raw and enjoyable conversations with humans of triathlon from around the globe and from all walks of life.Hey guys, just a little heads up. Here are this week's audio recording quality was pretty poor. So you might just have to concentrate a little bit while listening but I really hope you still stick around because Alan story is a pretty great one and I think the quality gets a little bit better during the second half as well. So I hope you can enjoy the episode still.Hello humans of triathlon. This is swapnil Chauhan not so as you can imagine. This is Charles honk are ruthless CEO leader. He is couldn't come today. So we have kidnapped. We have hijacked the headquarters and I am today with obviously the lovely beautiful. She looked real Evan from Quincy Ontario in today as usual as we do.Sure, you do. We have a fantastic guest for you guys. So listen up. All right, so bullying and bullying is an issue that has been highlighted in the news and at our schools over the past few years. We have pink shirt day anti-bullying assemblies news articles for awareness around cyber bullying despite the work. We're doing to change Behavior bullying still exists now imagine 30 years ago. Williams where the people your parents would say you have to learn to stand up to that bully on your own ignore them and they'll stop at least, you know, that's the advice think have giving us not easy for a small seven-year-old boy to do especially when you're being bullied by your own cousins. Our Guest today was a victim of bullying fully first small stature as a child as well as for being and in his own words and his writing he put this was called limp-wristed and he was teased by both same cousins. He shied away from sport because of his lack of physicality and focused on studies earning two masters degrees. So super smart, super awesome. I actually like the thought that Get master's degrees versus Sports sometimes instead. Anyway, so moving from the Philippines taxes. He met some people who encouraged him to do a track one overcoming his demons. He is now completed six Half Ironman are five Half Ironman and one full Ironman with dreams of kona on the horizon, please welcome from Odessa, Texas Elena speed up, right? And we really want to hear your story and I think every gets we have is such a different story. And I mean she's amazing all the things you hear and how people go through very rough things and just come out stronger than ever and of course, we don't love this sport. So it makes it even even better to talk about it. Yes. Yes, and I promise not get sentimental about it. Exactly. It was very cathartic though to be able to write it down and submit it to a human for triathlons and then to actually read it. I will I will still die when I went all of it before submitting it to you guys, but I think it was like a fairy because it will do and see and talk myself and and Conquer some movements. So if you have questions from fiery. Exactly. Okay. So I think the way we usually start with this is we usually try to fly back in time to the beginning of your time. And so I'm a huge fan of the Philippines. I love the country have so many friends from the Philippines. I love Topsy dog long see logger. Halo-halo all of those things and I'm even thinking about going next year to Subic Bay to do the full Ironman in June. Look for Grants are very that's awesome. He's gonna be very very hot, but I don't care. I think I think whether that I was wondering how hot is it in June. It's like Texas Rover exhibit. It's very human. So it's like you didn't them listless. Well, let's fix this right now. It's about a hundred and two degrees outside. Oh my God. Yeah and and take the ice. Take this. Exactly. But yeah, if you want just let us know a little bit about how was your life back then throwing up. Where do you live? What's your relationship with sport if there was anything at all just a little bit. I know anything you want to tell us about. Okay, I grew up in the Philippines segment and Bacolod City Philippines and when we should say about apps and then because I had that I had that was very moving and it's something that I really Would you shouldn't take as a comfort food that yes, I was born in 1974 and I grew up in the Philippines had written in the area where I lived with a lot of my cousins and whenever not the slums report where my parents used to work so that the child did that I've had this not so bad. It's just that there was a time around seven room seven years old that flash. Remember that the magma Pacquiao of the manufacturer of the 70s and the 80s was very good one and of course living and then and grow back and I put the charcoal Society every every parent grandparent who give their kid to be as strong as they should be. So I grew up I was born premature and we could we could settle you and I we will Coca-Cola bottles, so we're not with that. I said I will up significantly smaller and thinner than my peers and my cousin's I think just because I wouldn't want to get into the boxing ring with them. They decided to think that I am interested and would solidify those thoughts with me. Also Googling. So while it's true that I am gray. It is no less hurtful because of that heckling because of that really room I saw That I was not man enough. In fact that the worst part is they even they even Brandon I got heckled and I remember vividly sitting symptoms scribbled the words fall get on the wall when I was going to see that wall at a scribbled in black paint normal cousins and it was a role I pass to are passed back and forth them to school every day so forth. Let's go. Even had that of not The Branding that it needs to have. So yeah, I ended up just just trying to excel intellectually because I like the physicality to come to terms with my cousins. I was insecure about not being able to go toe-to-toe with themselves and behind remembers a Chasm with and between the resident look still growing up. I did not to cover my floss because I thought Then that the indication of being a non-western security. I had a good childhood, but that I had that vote graduated top of my class and I tell you worse and I realized that I can get the respect of my peers using the tools that I was blessed with. I was not mostly in physicality. So I didn't earn the respect of my presence. I also remember that when my cousin's would want to know my grandmother and to containment. About me not doing the box and then with them my grandmother even said are the blue arm. He would never amount to very much for that very grateful. And and I don't know why you walking back to me, but I did remember being that in the subconscious and just wanting to pursue lifelong dream. And being successful professional voltage of the county that were if not swim go back but Trend and Excel so that's why I studied hard and eventually finished a degree in nursing and in 2000. So we were able to immigrate to the United States and became very premature baby where so I was born premature and a pinch of ignorance and that's a Full Circle and ended up getting my a great job and Begin, the director of education for the hospital that I was working for now. So I think all in all life life is good life is great. And then I will have the salmon and the partner that loves me unconditionally that I have that void and and that's where Triathlon webcam in because in in 2000 when I came in 2003, I would still that's biggest and best interest of all the The facts that immigrated with Nana said if it did there's no way I'd be able to even do that acting that my cousin's right to be and then about six six or seven years ago. My coworker asked me if I wanted to do a triathlon and she didn't tell me that if there's a trial after that you just asked me if I could swim and I told her I could probably do that. They were around 35 laps and they're in the University campus school. So she said well when we can swim here, how about button that said, I think it's with my bike in the world long. We would be able to pick it up, but I was never a runner. I thought to myself what's the prompter woman? So I think everyone won't Tire life emotionally said, why would I physically run that she said let's try it. We might you might enjoy it. And so I'm signed up about four months before my first Sprint Triathlon and I bought $17 bike off of Craigslist and truth and onward and woke up every morning at 4:30 with some of the friends that are go with the Jim Webb and started Gremlin and I'm sure you have that I could not run. So I was only sipping back of the back of the group and further then when we've won I was thinking wrong. This is not so different from When I was a kid, I was always picked last and it's always the consolation prize that's happening. And then I was able to get third in my age group in the first half marathon that I did and I said, I don't like you can cut I'd never fuck would I would I would a place and I said wow, this is a first Moser of physicality that I have ever done and all I did was kept at it. I was determined I persevered I woke up early just to be able to turn wire everybody will sleep in the average room. So I thought that maybe there's still hope to be the afternoon that I wanted to do and then we'll try asking them came the Sprint Triathlon came. I've served my phone my first French. From animal attack more than an hour later and say before me and my confidence level shut up to gifts average to Invincible. I bet awesome. Yeah, I have to say like I know you'd ever ran and starting to run this always hard but your talk about how you're small and Light. right I would think running would be like an awesome sport. You would be awesome at it we call you small and mighty right in there with Miranda carefree and Amber Ferrara. It's all the night. I tried I really tried I couldn't believe myself and I said when I finished my son's that I would I would have never dreamt that I would be much more triathlete. That's that little physicality that I was little bit achieved from triathlons living in something that I saw that we never had before and that was to fill the void that I had in my life. So I was very thankful for for how after that friend of mine who Coachman urge Newton-John. That's the slope. So now you mentioned earlier how your grandmother I don't know if she's still around here the same age as me. I'm also in Before maybe if your grandmother got to see you get your master's degree your degree in nursing for for the NICU babies the you know, and I'm sure your I've seen pictures on Instagram. I think are those your parents there are supporting you they you know, how do they feel now seeing you active and so successful and you know in your cousin's do you have a different relationship with them now? I actually blew it. - Abu and at first when I when I was doing all that rice and my in the back of my mind shallow, as if my scene I wanted to post it on Facebook and Instagram because I wanted them to see where I'm at right now. And and I know I don't think they even remember that they were with me when I was younger, but it was just like a full circle and my grandmother isn't with us anymore. But I know that all of my aunts and aunties uncles They've seen what I have achieved on a journey so far and I know that they're probably not my cousins are very proud by I see them automatically like all the postings out I have and one of the things that I really don't do this too and all of my friends learned I will say I've been asking him that's what is the member of that particular cousin of yours that we contribute and our potential works the code that the shooting was no reason to put up. Issues like that. I won't it's pretty shallow to think that I could and I could go back in time. And so look at me now here. I have the Swagger of a certified try a flute that there's virtually no point. But as I said in the post and I was submitted for even try after them that if given a chance to go back in town, I would rather go back in time and talk to myself and so that on you Insofar are on the journey in their lives about thirty five thirty and forty years from now, you will be unliberated success. You have a family that loves you unconditionally you a bit about them the physicality but you never have and all of our with that that's better and I am very thankful. Well animal lives because of being sport that I never said I never said I could and I did. Cuz of the people around them and their dedication and the perseverance that I put into it. Yeah, of course, I'm definitely I mean, I think one of the one of the great lessons here, I not only you are able to prove yourself and others at that you were maybe mentally or the same more capable to achieve things. But also in the end you did the pro strap-on you start to succeed. So it's like you don't at all know. It yo, you live a happy life in the u.s. Now and obviously we would love to have that sort of little DeLorean time machine right here to you know, it's gonna get better. But but at least yeah, it does get better right and I think that's something that you have clearly managed to to prove to yourself and to more makes most of yourself. I barely remember that day that make when they Coral Castle to to try a triathlon and had I said no them then about six years into it. I would probably pursued doctor degree, which that was the plan then I wish I was wanting to just continue pursuing the intellectual world. I told myself that before you turn 50, we should be able to be called the doctor and I think that Do that with in that respect that one can gain some where relatives from the from the from where family from some of the Brilliance that that were in their life that would that with the introduction of giraffe Lon my grades have changed and I said well, maybe I can do more and that what you have to have to love will support. We have to respect the square tube because I did. Dimension that 9 my confidence level short of the roof. I was walking in the clouds. I was I had the Texas to add where the certified drafted but if you don't ring in the new year with us up, so on my second run triathlons, I had a work stopped and I said well what the debris being so this last year nothing you're just decided to win dwarf and that's not That's not what this film is about who have denied you have to continue indicated and with that further prompted when during a visit to a tutorial about four years ago. I went to Victoria on a cruise to Alaska and as I'm going home from from Victoria to the other I happen to be on the Clipper with a bunch of triathletes and those Fabrics clothes government. Cut them off of the rates in half Ironman 70.3 Victoria and I said, I don't think I can do that. I was jealous of their bikes and I have jealous of how how to the vents is so Irene search and I researched the distances and my job of drop. So much that were hundred meter swim and my first triathlon how would I be able to for have a how did the eye that the panel by the way to perform Alison for for Ironman separate the words it was it was a it is a new goal that I have in mind. So I said between adopted the group and Iron Man now, I think my my my brain would be able to handle a doctorate degree if I I'm 50 years old that I'm not sure if my body can handle the the hardships that I want rayvin would expect for you to get that that distinction of being an Iron Man so good that I became obsessed. I became obsessed with with children for for iron and I swallowed my pride and went to a master's student class sound that are and I remember My coach telling what what is your plan? What is your gold and on said well, I've probably just to be able to finish and that guy on the two points a mile swim and said, well I can I can help you with that that you have to just bring it and I said well, even if I had to drive to consuming times a week 15 miles to the next town There's to be able to attend your class and with a better swimmer that iron. Now I will do it and then I will be able to do it. I will I cried so hard crossing the Finish Line in Ironman 70.3 Galveston why what happened? Because that's a hard. I was probably about a minute away from the finish line and my memories of childhood when we said all of that. The Making art and all the training I did it all just flooded in and I was able at lost for words I was I could not believe that I was able to that I would be able and in less than five minutes I would be able to cross the finish line and I would have finished my first half our men that was throughout I felt that invincibility again that it was it was such a good education. I had I probably that the worst finish line for though because I was tortured with sufficient my first half Ironman. Wince and it happened again when I crossed in 2017. I'm not Texas of my Crowley. Minimum that I was in fact and iron and at that point in time, I told myself that so if this is the gauge of being a man than you are a man and I am not as that exactly you don't need to get punched in the face to be a man and be exactly exactly any of those guys. Did you add Iron Man if you'd like may not be Texans that Galveston one. I don't know if it was windy that I went in 2017, but the wind there is incredible on the bus for the first Iron Man for your first half Ironman to like make it through that bike with those Crosswinds like that's very impressive. You should like I hope you have that crying pink icing like great like it really such a great memory like have to bring all those things back to the Forefront right? Like how great you did? Yes. It's not concerned of the throne and Galveston. I live across Texas and never the Midland and Odessa where it's pretty much Flack. On the way over here, so we're in business. I was one of them finishing the said that I you should have done more research. I was thinking that since regalia is still our world started to put the flash. That's not a sexist. That's awesome. So, how was so, how was your race there and Victoria I've had. Persona record on both the swim and the run and that was my first terrarium. So I words are very much happy and I even have some tenderness on the shin. When I started this the rent that it turned out. Okay. I loved it. I would I would do it again and this time I will determine the hell's more. I liked it. But there's the spectators were awesome the thing with Great. Yeah, you know what? I'm a little bias, but Canadians run really good races out here listening first Earth upon about without the 30th on that and maybe put some vodka blond on my native calendar that we are very friendly. Yes. That is very true. That's really it's really exciting and been able to overcome all of these things and come to where you are. Are both academically and working with in the NICU and I know that's a hard place to that can be a very rewarding but very hard place to work because well and then to do the Iron Man and overcome all of your insecurities in regards to your physicality and you know now you're like doing half our man's and half marathons and and everything like that. That's really awesome. Yes. I do. My bad we go now, I'm hoping to before my Twilight years. I'd be able to run corner and Boston so that that's where I'm at now, but I forgot to mention is that I did I would tell you that I was ever Brandon over those words and a wall a long time ago that after finishing the first time and I decided to grab my very first tattoo and what doesn't and that tattoo and I'm very proud of it. So, where do you have it? Can I ask right, right. Calf muscle. Okay. So hopefully in the classic location the classic but because if I if I wanted to do branded it has to be something that was brought about by the dedication and perseverance. And and I think that's what it represents to me. Hey, that's awesome. Exactly. If you're going to wear a brand you might do one. That means something like you really overcame a lot there exactly now. I see that on your Instagram. You did a talk on anti-bullying. Yes. Yes. I was invited by a friend of mine to talk to the Press Airlines downtown and just wanted to they wanted to hear my story and because that the outgoing president is also a wedding triathlete. So who wanted to share the journey with olives and go? we are in and I think you know, so on our heels and our other Ironman step and close this close to himself who asked me to come speak and just a Tavern Maestro about deliver security and it was just great and I had fun percent in that and they were very enthusiastic at the end and they're just loves that anybody can persevere and if you are determined and ask your brother to succeed So I was I was thankful for that every move tool to share my story. That's wonder what do you think that something that you might like to do more often like another like in schools or in other places or I wouldn't mind I wouldn't mind doing it. In fact, I have the teacher found that they have dropped hints about in speaking to her and kids that we will see. Yeah for sure. I won't mind. I think whether he liked it or not. Bolin is still very much about and prominent in the world today. So every blessing that we can do helps to eradicate that would always has nice told send them had experienced it talk about it because a lot of the kids may be able to really and the more we share the more we reach out to Attitude for the hopefully it'll lessen the stigma and this is the parents wanted will go through I work now have start Director of Education for a dresser with Regional Medical Center. And one of the things that is at the Forefront of the hospital's initiatives was to make sure that we lessen the number of suicidal incidents and hospitals in the community and it's very frightening to know. Oh that we have kids as young as nine seven year old who are thinking of suicide and that's very frightening. And though sure that a big factor of that of those thoughts of suicide can be attributed to the building. Yeah. It's very sad. I know my daughter comes home from school my youngest one comes home, and she's very sensitive and shall say Mommy. I feel really bad this kids. Our class always bully this one boy and things like that. And and and it's I'm like, well what what are the teachers doing? I know exactly who it who is helping and and it's very like they're walking this fine line of well mummy his his his mummy are his mummy is on the board and they donate lots of money and I'm like, well, I don't know how true that is. But and if it's not but it it may be and and so then you know, what do we say? A to this kid and it will is parents pull out the funding and then this kids getting bullied and she feels really sad and they said well did you say anything and she's like no because there will be me too. Yeah, and you're like, okay. So how do we get this to stop? It doesn't matter how many assemblies we have wrapped, you know, and how many times you wear the pink shirt assembly day. It's if you're not going to like take action on it or have you know a be at a school and take action on these kids who are bullying like like, how do we get this? Stop and the cyber bullying especially with girls is just brutal. Yeah, and and and sometimes we adults don't even realize it that will become an abler self of Boolean and words hurt kids move met or not. Met Adult Swim unit. I know for a fact that in my life some adults mean the billion that they did that a lot. It's because who they enable it and that needs to stop I agree. So what would you say, you know, if you had some boys and girls that are currently built being bullied now what advice might you give to them and regards to like take the next step like okay, they're being bullied. They're really upset like especially with your education programs. Like what what kind of advice would you give to those kids in terms of what to do to start? Whoops out, which I hope And communicate tell somebody tell tell their parents that way people will know that you are able to do that the worst part of doing the road is how a worm it feels how how people have seen how you experience that people have turned their backs on roof. But if you if you try to reach out and tell somebody and hopefully that's embedded can get some help that would that would let a lot of people know that it's this is happening and this is not all right. And it needs to stop and that might give the bully a little less power because now people know what he's doing. Yes, because we don't we don't have to like no Fatal Five Years to be able to say buildings Look at me now. We don't have to wait 35 Euros. Yeah, just reach out and and talk to somebody and tell them what's happening because if you don't let's learn grow and learn. Rare, and we don't want to say so doctor totally consumed. Yourself pressure I'm sorry. I'm still on this because I think it's so important. But yeah, like I look at you and you know and and there's differences. Everyone's got a little bit. They're a little bit different. I was actually going to ask what your opinion because so many people are very different. So I'm very different from you. You know, somebody else may be different from you know, obviously from other people and as a 1 7 year-old or eight year old or 10 year old that's being bullied can take a very different path and their life then the path that you were able to take even though you had to overcome that bullying. What what do you think was the I don't want to sing the trick. It's not that a trick. But what was it that allowed you to be able to overcome that bullying and and move forward in that education path and And still, you know make a really great life have a good partner. Have a great job a good education versus say someone else who's bullying and like you were talking about at the hospital have those thoughts of suicide and and and in despair, I feel I think I would like to think that my support system go my nuclear family and an only child my mom and my dad I would think that they were very significant. They never close communication with the server the writings on that wall. So they know what I was going through. I didn't need to tell them that I was being rude so they did everything to help. Make my childhood as normal as it can be so with that out. I am very thankful and I'm coming here and and while that part of my life as I close that part of my life with that did durable that the triathlon community and getting to the people that that I have not shout out to my partner Steven my my life them since the brawn. Now you entitled this a family here and my children teens I think because they never questioned who I was and who I sleep with then what would persons were they open their arms are open? They never question my sexuality they accepted me for who I am now my team Asylum My fortune to endurance and my breasts accessible sales, I think because I felt accepted I think that swept the quote-unquote the trick have been having having a good support system. Not a lot of kids are really no not have that and that's that. That is the sad part because it's real big boom you feel so alone and we don't reach out and let people know that that's what you're feeling. then then you would rather get some help and if you if you have the support and the love unconditional love of your family when I think you will be able to transition into adulthood where the last cars probably sucked into both for something to strive for but at least you won't you don't necessarily take your life because of our Factors, like bullying in your life. Absolutely. Thank you don't think so. Thank you for sharing that there really is like everyone deals with this in some way or form as a child or as an adult and or as a parent, you know, and it's really nice to go to bring awareness to it and that there are ways of overcoming and moving forward, you know, yeah, I think yeah, they always sing when you're that young know when you're a child. Sort of pulling sort of erodes your sense of worth, which is very very crucial obviously for you wanting to to leave, you know, and that's why you have those thoughts of suicide and whatnot. But so ideally obviously speaking the more important it would be for you to be okay with yourself. All right you something very very hard to do. Sometimes when you were a kid, right because you see don't you have Linked enough to to understand that but but it always helps not only obviously the first is yourself but it always helps for your for the next layer, which is your direct family, you know in the case. Now you have it. I believe that you have seen you have the full support of your parents and your partner, which is like you're sort of central core of your family and I think that is has incalculable value. I think you mean I would personally in this chemical and and they say Full serve the people that I have met through through this Sport and through the support of trying to say that void of physicality. So I as I always say to my mighty notes, I was I was never the the Iron Man before I was never that that those portal is never the longer. In fact, I own seven that I was always last to be we picked so they try and they they see that the dedication that the fire in your eyes and and without knowing their to just over spec and and the big part of it is that when we show that you can do it and that we make it totally doable and we're supposed to be having fun game that you don't realize that you get to inspire people and I was able to answer twist several of my friends to actually grow in the field of giraffe. Mom and some some are slow did order others don't move. They're not that there were able to say that at one point in their life. They finished the Sprint triathlons and that movie is enough of than that if your mother shark moves and telling them that her as I will do it and I was listening overwhelmed and I'm this bad wherever I'm going to show you. Can also repair that's totally doable. That's right. Exactly. Yeah, and sometimes I think well, I mean, especially if it's for any sport, I think we sort of feel a bit the victim of of comparing ourselves with with what we see in a bubble. And in this case the bottle can be raised in an environment right begin. Sometimes you can say. Oh, well, you know I finished in Hours and 30 minutes my God, I'm almost the last people were like waiting for me to close down and to turn off the light. But but if if you take a step back, it's like hey, wait a minute, you know what the percentage of people in the exactly globe and other planets with all the aliens and all that have actually finished and Iron Man. Yes, so and I think that is something that needs to be communicated not to socialize and understood by the person as well to step out of the bubble as well. Sometimes in any any sort of field in life. No, we are in that mobile and it's it's not good. It's not good for the person that I've always. I've always thought that the only competition that I have in the sport is myself and sometimes that even the worst part because you get to be so hard on yourself and I'm very sure Sheila that you feel that way get file with no matter how good you did something perspective of others for yourself with able-bodied that you could have done better if that's that sometimes I would literally and figuratively punch myself because sometimes I should I should have been happy because we always rather than serve and how you would train for like sometimes when when we think of it to March and that We can risk whether it's truly are where the hardest on ourselves. Yeah. Yeah, very hard and it's just like, you know, it doesn't matter you did Victoria. I'm sure there's some things there that you you were not happy with for your own ranks of specific. I said Trump law and there was some things I'm kicking myself like God, why did I know it like ride my bike before I got here and then and now even my friend today who race with me. Had a phenomenal like she did wonderful. She's not a swimmer either and she made it through the lake. It's freezing. The lake is freezing. It's well, it warmed up a little bit but it was 63 degrees Fahrenheit. Oh my goodness that's like that and it was only nine degrees Celsius outside during the morning. So they taken into consideration the temperature of the water and they temperature the air in the morning. And so the race was wetsuit mandatory for everyone and they were like, Where you're needed in cops, if you have am like do all that and she made it to the swim. They kept this from the full length because yesterday they cut the swim for the Olympic in half because the water was so choppy Zone and you know, she did phenomenal on this bike course, which is Beautiful and brutal all together the same time and then you know, she struggled on around but they're rotten is very very hilly. So she's beating herself up on the Run being very hard on herself. And everyone was like you did. So awesome. It's that the eyes of others what we have done was already phenomenal. We're just say hide critics of ourselves. Exactly. Yeah, we really Yes. Yeah, and I'm sharing too Charles. You just did your hair older and I know you had a few things that you weren't really happy about it either except that you're on your way to number 12. It's coming and that's the builder ever wrote. That's a good way of it because that's why we train them. That's why we race of them because we wanted to also have that that perfectly' the race that you could actually say. Well I did everything that I did to move. Get as as the best as I can and I was able to do it and I think that's the that that is what makes this sport very very Farmers because there's always something that you could improve on yourself. Yeah, and yeah, there's always something you can improve on and I think the ultimate goal is to say, you know, what I was satisfied with that today. So for me Alan is Spinner. Yes, sir. After yes, you sound like a military. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir, Charles. I was gonna ask you what your what Your what your coach like for? Mr. Allen is subpoena. So after doing all have the you have achieved so far right you have done? All your 70.3 so you managed to call yourself or be won't be called by by Mike riding, which I also had the honor to be called an Ironman one senior at least once in your lifetime like you did it. So what's next for you? What are your plans? Are you going to go continue hardest sport that you're going to achieve more Iron Man's or or are you going to act like we had this? I guessed from Malta a couple of months ago weeks ago who is doing double and triple Iron Man's or surprise like this. Dorothy had was incredible. But are you gonna go that route or you going to go back to your other ambition? You want to say maybe you want to become a doctor by the time you're 50. So what is next for you? Don't try to put my ideas about a double triple Ironman examples exist. Rico I think in a vendor I want to be that guy they can at least do some science this year and then I plan to either do a Florida man at where I can say that it was not a one-time Duo that I do trained and related to do it either slow down Cozumel is in the books for me. I haven't signed up for it, but I think that's where so I'm getting mad. I still want to pursue that doctor and philosophy. I'm shifting that I think this is such a lifespan pursuit of greatness. So I will keep at it as long as my body would take care of it. And of course hopefully along the road at the river to say that I was able to run Boston. I got ultimate random and dream and doing better in school now also that still had still had to work up a lot earlier and do better children. Do not So efficient. I know it's a lot of work to do but to get to Cole now in Boston that I'm ready for it and I will strive to be better and that's not Quest now. That's that's the that's a mood ring. Nice. I have no idea what this island this bloody island has this effect on people because like Kona is this thing that is so desirable not everyone wants to go to college. I have no idea actually, but I had the opportunity to visit Kona just as a tourist. I went last year and at least favorite. I don't know if there's something that you cannot explain or some sort of mysterious efforts. Would you like some sort of like Magneto from the X-Men? It's very very complicated to explain. But yeah, I understand what you're saying. Well before we we sort of finalize the our episode number 51, by the way, we tend to have a sort of wrap up questions which are very interesting. I really like those questions. That's what Neil has created. So we will of course put you through them. Don't worry. Okay, very user-friendly. So first of all, what message would you want people listening? It is to take away from your story. But sometimes words hurt so we had to what do you watch what we're saying because you never know when I thought you might not do billions and I do but when they're filled up a balloon and that's not cool. That's my message would do just the truth. Everything would count bus and that's it in terms of the sport. I know that it's sometimes very Hard to Fathom the distances that one has to do but if this I was able to do it then it's totally doable. You had to work for it, but it's totally doable. Yeah, indeed and are there any people or and or brands that you would like to give a shout-out to today? Just the just the folks that I am very thankful of of course my mom and my dad who lives wouldn't even Texas and then my partner Stephen. Thank you for for being for accepting me for who I am. Levin you unconditionally and my friends claim Asylum forth and to invariance the rest excess gazelles. They've been instrumental in helping to do where I am. Now one timer for our men and five half islands with another half Ironman mixability. So wish me luck about to those that I'm very thankful for Since people do because they've they've helped me grow and they made me realize that that the potential that I didn't think I had. Hmm. And before we ask our last question, okay, and you really still everyone listening. Where can we find you online? Oh, where can you find me online? I will do you have Facebook profile? I've already read this book and an Instagram that my Instagram handle is uska And I'm Jude and it's yes Konig and you can find them on Facebook members. Aaron asked you not to St. Ina that that's that's that's where I am on the net. Awesome. I found you and most importantly. Why do you try? Whoo, well, I tried This I was able to find myself. I'd still try because I know that. Continue doing what I've completed so far is not yet the end product for me. I know I can do more I can help others try to be the best they can do and this is a lifelong journey of for pursuing goodness, and everyone has greatness in them and it's just a matter of helping them finder and breath out and help others find that greatness will bring them and I'm going to do it. They don't card and on twister for nothing. I didn't know you say you're called the armed with its yesterday, but have this nickname now for me because I did that at this downtown dragons talk. It's able to get to folks from that group to try and say that for that stone Triathlon making here so it's a game. That's a great name. I think you should add to your handle friends. Everybody will do that. Yeah. Yeah, but thanks for the clarification because I also have the house clean every concern like on Twitter was like, whoa, what's going on? My friends did our first stuff mother because we love to race obstacle course races to there's this one saying that we would always Worse and it says when was the last time you did something for the first time and that Perez months to every time I meet somebody new and get them to train I were to run to do obstacle culturing sin or even to drive to boost triathlons. When is the last time you did something for the first time and that seems to get people it is very true. So, thank you so much for being on the show today. It was really a pleasure to have you on and and inspire all of us today. I feel very inspired after talking to you. Thank you so much for your love. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you trials for inviting me and and used respect for him to be able to tell everybody my journey and to at least do do a little to stop and radical building and they're literally can absolutely no. Thank you. Thank you very much Alan for coming today and Sharing with us sending very very good messages and for Sheila myself having a blast with you here for one hour while I'm sitting in the in the United Kingdom and she dies in camera and you are in Texas or this is technology. Fantastic, honestly, yes. Yes appreciate that folks, don't you so much for inviting me. Thank you very much. And you guys thank you very much for listening and next week will come with the More Humans of triathlon so forth Now good fight and good night. Thanks for listening everyone. Thanks for being a part of this humans of triathlon Community. Hope you're enjoying the show and the content make sure to join us again next week here on the hot podcast where we'll bring you another amazing guest and story from this Audrey, but extra Audrey world of triathlon until then everyone keep trying.
Being smaller than his peers, Allan Espina was the object of bullying growing up in the Philippines. He got heckled, called "limp-wristed", & vividly remembers seeing the word “Faggot” scribbled by his cousin on a wall. At 7y.o, this was torture. He excelled intellectually to make up for what he lacked physically. At 38, he immigrated to the US having just completed his 2nd Master's degree & working a great job. After a spark from a co-worker, Allan completed his first Sprint after 4 months of prep, not having competed in any sport before. The high from the event gave him a new goal - he wanted to hold a doctorate degree & be an Ironman before 50. He chose to pursue the IM goal first and achieved it before turning 43. He says that he wanted to show that he may have been “limp-wristed” growing up, but now, he's done something his bullies have only dreamt of. That maybe this was a way for him to prove that he was a man after all & an Ironman at that. Although he knows that sounds kinda shallow if he could travel back in time to tell his 7y.o. self that it gets better - he would in a heartbeat. - ALLAN'S SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram | Facebook  - SUBSCRIBE, RATE & REVIEW: if you've enjoyed the show, it would mean a lot to us if you could leave the show a positive review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. It would help us out a ton! - H.O.T SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram | Facebook | Strava | Website  - HOSTS: Swapneel Chouhan, Sheila Treleaven, & Carlos (Charles) Galan  - INTRO/OUTRO MUSIC: produced by Vasil Zguri at SoundPulse 