The Team in Training team after our last sprint before the Big Race on Sept. 29th (From left to right Julio, Stacey, Alicia, JC, Me, Fernando)

"I HATED EVERY MINUTE OF TRAINING, BUT I SAID DON'T QUIT. SUFFER NOW AND LIVE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE A CHAMPION!"
Muhammad Ali

I made it!!! On Sunday September 29th, 2002 I completed my first Olympic Distance Triatlon; and I did it in less than 3 hours. I can not find words to express what I felt when crossing the finish line but I can tell you that it was the greatest feeling I have ever had.
After four months of training, of waking up at 5:30am including Saturdays, of swimming in choppy waters, riding steep heels and running at a 100 degree weather, we are done!! and let me tell you that I am going to miss it. I am going to miss those early mornings when everyone of us seemed so "motivated" to be training; I am going to miss the group meetings every Saturday, the dirty beach were we used to swim; the steep Key Biscayne bridge and the suffering when we were running.
I want to thank all of you who followed me through this journey, your words of encouragement and your donations meant a lot to me. I want to thank my team; you guys are all great,CONGRATULATIONS; and last but not least I want to thank our HONORED HERO -ERIC JOHNSON; Eric whitout you we would have not make it!! Thanks a lot!!
I can't wait until next year. I am planning on doing the 1/2 Iron Man in May and trust me I will keep you all updated. So please include The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on your 2003 budgets.

Thanks Again!!!

"WE MAKE A LIVING BY WHAT WE GET BUT WE MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT WE GIVE"
Sir Winston Churchill


Manuela C. Mantilla
Dade TNT Triathlon Team- Fall 2002