Q: What is Duathlon?

A: Duathlon is a sport variant of triathlon (and an ideal platform for triathlon) that consists of two sports, running and cycling. The first part consists of a foot race, the distance varies depending on the mode, (sprint, Olympic and long distance), but the most common is sprint, which has a distance of 5 Km, followed by cycling that  is about 20 Km and finally a 2.5 Km foot race to finish. At each change of sport, ie running to cycling and vice versa we make different changes of material to carry out the activity, (changing shoes, helmet...), in an area called boxes or transition.

Q: Which of the two transitions is more complicated?

 A: The second transition is harder, because the muscles are already used to run, and when you change activity muscles notice it. Experience and training is a very important in these cases.

Q: What motivated you to practice this sport?

A: I was 18 when I passed my selectivity exams, I thought of preparing an examination to become a local police officer, in which you have to pass a physical test, so I started training running and practising with my bike, gradually I began to like it and I even bought a bicycle that costed 3000 ? with the savings that I get from the job that I currently have at weekends in the restaurant at Balneario de Archena Termalium. Someone told me to participate in a test of Duathlon in San Pedro de el Pinatar, in which I did not do very well, but I liked it and that led me to keep practicing it.

Q: In which professional category do you compite?

A: There are three categories: Absolute, which is the highest; Élite, where are the best brands, and there are four or five racers per region, and finally there are Age groups, (20-24 years). I belong to the under-23 category because that is my age. Last year was my third season as a duathlete. I am a student of psychology at the Ucam and race for the Triathlón Archena club. I got several very positive results in the 2013 season, getting on many occasions to the podium in the various regional tests of duathlon.

Q: How many competitions exist?

 A: There is the regional, national and global. The season begins in February and ends in October.

Q: In which one have you participated?

 A: This is an individual sport and overcoming. I've participated at the regional level, and got 2^nd position in the League of duathlon U23 category and regional 2^nd position in sprint distance in the same category. At a national level I got 9th position in the Championship of Spain of duathlon, held in Pontevedra in category of age group 20-24, which allowed me to qualify for the Duathlon World Championship which will be held on May 31, 2014 which will be my biggest objective.

Q: Are you on a diet?

A: During competition season I have a toast of oil with salt and juice for breakfast. For lunch I eat many carbohydrates (pasta with tuna fish and meat), and for dinner fish and boiled vegetables and I always drink water.

Q: What goals have you got for this New Year?

A: I would like to be in the Championship of Spain of duathlon which will be held in Avilés (Asturias), in April, and in the Championship of Spain of duathlon of long distance which will be held in February in Orihuela (Alicante).

Q: Who is your sponsor?

A: At the present time my sponsor is Balneario de Archena. Getting sponsored is very important because you have to travel and you have many expenses to participate in the World Championships, as the next one  in2015 that will be in Canada. I hope to have the necessary support to participate in many competitions and get better results than last season, since I could not participate in some because I had no sponsor.

We wish you the best of luck for the season that begins and all our support.