It has been 5 years since I got into the crazy sport named Triathlon. I began doing it, because it was challenging and different. I usually competed against myself and couldn't believe I would be someday on the podium, and never thought of getting where I got. Last year I qualified to the ITU (International Triathlon Union) World Championship I was so exited, I never thought I would get there.

Since July 2015 to September 2016 I trained and sacrifice myself a lot, had a very strict diet, had to wake up at 3 in the morning to ride my bike alone and later to go for a swim and later to work, had to sleep very early about 8 or 9 pm, I had no social life, more than once I got sick and tired and wanted to quit, I screamed, got a lot of blisters on my paws, had to go to massage (but not the nice ones, this ones hurt), I got judged by my family that I didn't care about them, that I didn't go to family weddings or reunions because I had a competition or go to a family vacation or weekend get away because I had a important training to do. Even at Anthrocon 2015 and 2016 I went to the gym or for a run, so if you someone at the Westin Hotel gym or pool around 6 am, that was probably me.

Many people asked, why you do this, this is killing you, you should give it a rest. I do it because I want to inspire people to believe in their dreams, believe that if you work hard you get there, and that is not going to be easy but worth it. Before I got into triathlon i weighted 120 kg/ 264 pounds (I lost some weight before I got into the sport).

So after a year, the time came. I got to Cozumel, Mexico for the Open Ceremony in which I participated wearing my fursuit. I had a blast, but it was very hard without a handler.

I spent a couple of days before my competition training, watching others compete, getting ready. Until last Sunday it was my turn to compete. It was nervous and exited, I couldn't believe I was going to compete with the best guys in the world.

Before my I start, I tried to turn on my watch, and it was dead, I felt stupid because I usually charge it before a competition, but it was a good thing, because I took some pressure off. I told the coach and told me to turn it on when I start to run so I could see my pace.

The swimming leg started, there was a lot of current so the shortened the course to 1250 mts instead of 1500 mts. I was doing great, and felt great. Later on the 40 km bike leg was also doing great rinding my bike very fast, good sensations, but I was penalized by drafting, which I am really sure I wasn't but I was not going to argue with the ref, so I went to the penalty box and had to wait for 2 min there. Then the running leg, that is always the hardest part for me and where I loose a lot. I start running, feeling good, the first 5 km but it was a really hot, humid and sunny day, so i kept fighting doing my best, moving my feet as fast as I could go without fainting (lots of people fainted that day, even one the pros) Coach and a teammate were running by my side cheering me up. Lots of friends and my parents where there, and the crowd also cheered me up, I was so happy and that helped me a lot, beside all the mental work I had to do, so I wouldn't stop, thinking in everybody that was cheering me up, that believe in me.

Finally I crossed the finish line with a time of 2:27:03 my best personal record. I was happy, even I finished in place 59 out of 75. But I know I did my best, I fought the good fight. I know I need to train harder, I have a long way to go and hopefully I can qualify to next year World Championship at Rotterdam.

I don't know how many miles I have swam, cycled and run through this year, but it had thought me so much.

What is next? Trying to qualify to the next World Championship, also planning on doing 2 Ironman 70.3, one at Galveston, Texas and at Delaware, Ohio.