Meet this month's Athlete Spotlight -- Roberto Bessudo! Roberto is coached by Coach Mark, is a part of group swim and run practices, and stays busy with his businesses and family when he's not training. He's a jokester but a serious competitor. Give him an obstacle and he'll overcome it. Check out the Q & A with Roberto!
Age: 46
Occupation: Businessman
How long have you been swimming, cycling, running, and/or doing triathlons?
I started exercising in 2016, before I did nothing but golf. It's kinda weird story how I got into triathlon. A friend of mine, who by the way doesn't exercise a lot, once invited me to a spinning class. I thought it would be maybe rude to decline the invitation, so I accepted and against all my will I woke up very early one Monday morning and went to class. When I finished the class I felt so good I wanted to repeat it, so I signed up to the studio (it's like Soul cycle) and started going twice a week, then three times and then daily. Another friend who also does triathlons, told me that if I like spinning, I should try riding a bike outside, so again I took the offer and immediately got hooked into cycling.
I was doing a considerable amount of training by then, so the same friend told me that I should get in touch with a coach and a nutritionist, so I contacted a coach in Puebla. I told her that I was just doing this for fun and would never want to compete in a race. Some months passed by and I got the interest in swimming, so I asked my coach if she could throw in some swimming work outs. She asked me how long do I swim. I obviously had no idea but got offended by the question, as I felt that she was implying that I did not know how to swim, so I threw myself into the pool, and hired a swimming coach. I clearly remember that I first tried to swim 1 length and I was dying. Hahahaha.
So I contacted my coach again and said that I could not swim a full length. She replied, when you are able to swim 500 meters non stop you tell me. That really hit my ego and within probably a month or so I was amazed. Now I was swimming 500 meters non-stop hahahahah. After that, the journey of Olympic, half and full IRONMAN races are in my books.
What aspects of training and/or racing do you enjoy most?
I enjoy the challenge of getting faster, fitter and the adrenaline that racing and crossing the finish line gives me. I have found a second family in triathlon where we are all friends and each one of us is every day training and trying to get better.
What has been your favorite training or racing event, and why?
IRONMAN Des Moines - my first full IRONMAN. It was a very scary moment and when I finished I am still unable to explain the feeling, it's just wonderful.
What is your favorite post-workout or race meal?
Chocolate Core power Hi Protein Milk Shake, and cold watermelon slices. Yummy!!!
What is one recent accomplishment you are proud of?
First and foremost, my wonderful family. I am the proudest father of the world. I have a fantastic woman at my side and she is my accomplice in whatever I do. She supports all my crazy endeavors. And she has given me 3 amazing children which I live for. That is definitely what I'm really proud of. In terms of a specific personal goal, finishing a full IRONMAN, and obtaining my pilot license.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
The best example I can be to my family and friends. I want to keep striving to be a better person, athlete, and father.
What is something no one knows about you?
Pretty much nothing. Sometimes I'm very open and don't hide much. Well maybe yes, when I was younger I wanted to become the president of Mexico. I guess I was blindfolded.
Why do you race/train?
I race to reassure myself that I am able to achieve whatever I want if I have the discipline and patience to do so. I am very impatient, so I have to do something to remember that life is not a straight highway from point A to point B. It's more of a rural road full of obstacles to overcome and once when you think you have jumped and mastered every obstacle, a new one comes up. Same way in triathlon. It's not just getting stronger and fitter, sometimes life throws in stuff that you need to juggle, suffer, have the mental strength and be able to survive in discomfort to obtain what you want.
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