OH SWITZERLAND!! You are a huge deal to me. Probably a turning point in my life. I just don’t know where to begin with you. Most people would say, start from the beginning. I just don’t know where the beginning is. Lets SEEE!! Well! While deployed I have spoken about you and your famous IRONMAN 70.3 in Rapperswil-Jona. Deployed made it tough to focus on 3 disciplines. First I had to recover from a broken foot. Then I decided to work on total body strength and running. OH! I also did NOT want to carry 205lbs. As a Medevac Pilot and the Senior Instructor Pilot, it’s impossible to go to the main gym. But, because of the demanding hours and restrictions to leaving the hanger, we had our own little box put together by one of our crew chiefs and a small cardio room dedicated to us. So that’s exactly what I did. By the end of the deployment, I had dropped 20lbs and ran my 1st 10 miler, which I had never done before. Arriving back to Germany, I only picked up the pace. Not having swam for almost 2 years, I had lots of catching up to do. Not riding my bike in almost a year and arriving in the winter; I knew I had to get use to riding indoors in order to get my bike time and distance. Motivational and music videos to keep me entertained. I had a total of 6 months in order to get all 3 disciplines ready for your Ironman 70.3. I even signed up for all kinds of races to see how much I have improved or where I need to improve. Invested lots of time in YouTube and books. You also helped me learn about meal prepping and proper dieting. Six months are not a very long time to prepare, especially never having done nothing more than a Sprint Triathlon in 2013.
It’s June 4th, 2015 and I’m all packed up and ready to go. After numerous inventory checks, there is no way I could have forgotten or lost anything, other than my mind and THANK GOD that’s attached. But first, I have to meet and pick up Heather in Zürich, my best friend. Switzerland, it’s no wonder Zürich is one of the most famous cities known. It’s not just your history and your financial status but your exquisite unique beauty. Nestled between the Alps and wooded hill sides to your left and right. Lake Zürich fitting perfect in your nook. Heather and I decided to walk your streets and join you for dinner. Heavily influence by Italy, we decided to try what I wanted to call SWISS ITALIAN! SO SO GOOD!! In the morning we also decided to
take one of your river cruises. Skirting the hill sides north to south, the calm waters, like glass. The views, breathtaking. It was time to head to Rapperswil-Jona, check in and pick up my race packet. But, not before stopping your Lindt Chocolate factory. As soon as we walked in the doors, it felt like walking into a piece of heaven. For those who know me 
well, I would have stayed the entire day smelling and eating all that chocolate till passing out LOL!
Arriving at the IRONMAN EXPO, it’s still a bit unreal to me. I can’t believe I am actually doing this, I’m actually here. I put in so much work into preparing for your IRONMAN 70.3. Now its time to find out if it was enough. Every race, every hike, every day for the past 180ish, I was working towards you. Walking towards the swim start, seeing the inflatable, had me with out words. The Pasta Party, HAAH! That was awesome. Good way to introduce the race. But now its time to go see Rapperswil-Jona.
Like Zürich, there really isn’t much to add. You are just as amazing in your own ways. Also nestled with 
Lake Zürich at the opposite end. Full of medieval alleys, rose gardens adding up to or over 30,000 roses and history to talk about dating as far back as 5000 years. Not sure if it was the Italian influence but you did have some if the nicest people I have come across in all my travels. You were just an awe. You’re just one of those places people need to see for themselves. It’s time to say good night. We have an early wake up for a big day, IRONMAN 70.3 RAPPERSWIL-JONA SWITZERLAND!
Race day morning and I’m tired but not tired. I just barely slept anything. Excited, nervous, I don’t know! I do know this, I have never felt this way EVER! SWITZERLAND!! I am about to race across your historical Lake Zürich for 1.2 miles (1.9Ks). Ride my bike through your amazing alps for 56 miles (90Ks). Run through the ancient, medieval Rapperswil-Jona for 13.1 miles (21Ks). OF COURSE I’M NERVOUS!! But I am ready. As much as she wanted to hold it in, Heather was just as nervous for me. Someone had to hold their composure, It wasn’t going to be me LOL!!! No matter how much I tried. Racers everywhere, from the 1st timers to the professionals. All with the same feeling, all with someone next to them to keep them planted. The IRONMAN starts in waves and soon it will be my turn. The closer it gets the more calm I am ironically.
Until I enter the water. For a split second, I forgot how to swim. Calm down Juan! you’re not even at the start point so get a grip and stroke! LOL!!
The count begins, the gun goes off. I had a plan and I was going to do my best to stick with it. Start in the 
middle and try not to get kicked or punched in the face. Tough with 300 other racers in my age group. So staying in the middle of the pack was tough after getting kicked and punched, I did find my gap and stayed there as much as I could and held my pace. Just hold this pace Juan! You’re doing good. It felt like an eternity. Did they measure this right? How come I’m not done yet? Just keep going and shut up!! These are just a few of the thousands of thought that were going through my head. As I come out of the water and head towards transition, I can hear Heather cheering me on. Transitioning is tough and an entire discipline in itself. But I manage and take off on my bike. This part of your race had me at awe. I wish I could have stopped to take pictures. Riding through your farm lands. I would look right, into the distance and see your snow-capped mountains. Felt like I was in some commercial. I think the entire city followed the entire bike 
route. Even up your treacherous mountain. OH! be the way, YEA THANKS!!! That about killed me. Maybe it was the people dressed up in witchery yelling OP OP OP OP! giving everyone more strength. Who, in their right mind would ever ride up such a long and steep mountain. But coming down the other side was exciting. I even touched 47MPH before I had to slow down. Another nerve recking moment but so much fun. Of course Rapperswil-Jona, you couldn’t keep this ride simple. You had to make it a 2 lap bike route. So lets repeat this all over again. I HATE YOU!! HAHAHA JUST KIDDING!! Heading back to transition for the run, MANNNNN! I was tired and still had 13.1 miles to run. But, I was ready. This is what I trained for right? YUP! Just not the 90+ degree weather. HOLY COW DID IT GET HOT FAST!!! How do you wake up with tempts about the 60s and by mid afternoon, tempts be in the mid 90s? As painful as it was to start that run, about 3 miles in, the pain started to go away and I was on my way. Running through fields and rose gardens. Running through OLD TOWN RAPPERSWIL-JONA. Made the time just dissappear. EXCEPT!! What you wanted to call the “STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN”. Felt more like 
the STAIRWAY TO HELL!! Only you would put 3 stories of steps as part of your race up to the oldest church. OK I GET IT!! Still hurt! With all that being said, Old Town, rose gardens, medieval alleys, the pier and most of all your people, made this a run to remember and talk about. The closer I go to the finish the more I kept telling myself, “you’re not done till you cross that finish line”. Just a couple more miles. With every last stride, feeding off the cheers, cause god knows you have nothing left, the finish line comes closer. The turn comes and I see your black and red carpet with the IRONMAN symbol paving towards the finish line. OMG! Did you just? NO WAY!! Is this really happening? Who cares about the time at this point. Just a few more strides. OMG!! I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING! You did it Juan!! You finished the IRONMAN 70.3 RAPPERSWIL-JONA SWITZERLAND. Now where is my beer?
Heather knows me all to well. Of course, what does she have in her hand waiting for me? A BEER!! Don’t know who was more excited, me or her. Doesn’t matter, this is just as much her accomplishment as it is mine. From day one, from when she help me decide on your race, to race day, she help me in so many ways to beat you. We just made a good team. This team needs to rest and recover.
Its time to part ways. Switzerland, you have been truly an amazing experience for both me and heather. I dropped Heather off at your train station in Zürich to venture off on her excursions. I drive off, continuously looking through my rear view. Replaying every moment from Zürich to the finish line. If I could repeat you I would. You have no idea what you gave me. To sum it up, you gave me…… I’ll just tell people 1st hand, it’s easier. This I will cherish.