Purpose and Enjoyment – ElPropósito3 min de lectura

When not everything has a deeper reason

Half Ironman, El Paredón 2022

I’ve just finished a triathlon on the beaches of El Paredón (half an Ironman: a 1.9 km swim, 90 km on the bike and a 21 km run) as part of my preparation for another full Ironman already on the calendar. It was tough and complicated from the day I first considered it. Yesterday afternoon, as we watched the sunset by the sea, my wife Adri asked me, "Something’s off. What’s wrong?" I told her I didn’t feel ready for the race, that I was missing the purpose, the reason I was doing it, that one reason that keeps me chasing a goal until I reach it. This race was meant to train, measure and check my progress toward the bigger goal, but as always I felt I needed a deeper reason. Adri answered, "Not everything in life has a reason. Otherwise there would have to be a reason why Juan Diego (our second son) is no longer with us (a reason I don’t think I’ll ever find). Maybe this is just one of those races to enjoy." That idea, that not everything has a deeper reason, stayed with me, and it’s why I’m writing this short post, because honestly I’m exhausted. I promise to tell the full story of this race and what I learned next Sunday.

All that’s left is to thank, from the bottom of my heart:

1. Adri, my wife, for her unconditional love and ALL her support. She is my greatest strength in the happiest and the hardest moments of my life
2. Rodrigo and Gabriel, for cheering me on and for inspiring me to live my purpose
3. My coach, Diego Olivieri, the greatest of them all. Thank you, Coach, for pushing me to do it. The run was brutal, so let me know what you think
4. A special thank-you to Ana María Sosa and her husband Julián De León for their generous gift of Ironwks Energy-1 for my hydration and nutrition plan. They make great products and I can’t wait to try them all. Thank you so much, you are wonderful people
5. The Más Deporte Guatemala team for putting on a truly PRO race. There’s a team behind you that makes things happen, and congratulations to all of you. The year has about 50 weekends, so you should put on 50 of these races, one every weekend. Thank you for organizing this great event with BI and all the other companies that made it possible
6. Carlos de León, for rescuing me in the last 5 km. Carlos, as I told you during the race, you’re an angel on earth. God bless you, and I hope to return the favor someday. A huge thank-you as well to all the women who got me through those terrible two kilometers when I felt like I was dying. I’m sure life will repay you many times over, and we’ll meet again soon. Thank you to everyone who helped me
7. Everyone who, directly or indirectly, was looking out for me and for us (my two families and my friends). I love you all and always carry you in my mind and in my heart
8. Next Sunday I hope to remember more of the people I’m so grateful to

Author: Rodrigo Baccaro

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