Ironman Chronicles - The Beginning

Yorlliry G Moreno is organizing this fundraiser.

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Years ago, with my dad’s encouragement, I signed up for my first triathlon in an effort to get in shape as I was a bit on the heavy side. My dad had been racing in triathlons for a number of years, even being a Pro-Triathlete himself. Tri's quickly became a passion that we both shared. We raced in several triathlons together enjoying the camaraderies it brought, the friendships I was able to build but also the love of competing against each other. It was after a long bike together that we decided that once I was out of school (College) and felt I might have a fighting chance, that I would battle my way to becoming a Pro-Triathlete. An Ironman comes in two distinct distances, a Half Ironman or Ironman 70.3 made up of a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike, and a 13.1 mile run. Then there is a full ironman or Ironman 140.6 made up of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 run, all in order without breaks. Each athlete must complete the course in a given time or is to be disqualified. My goal is to become a Pro-Triathlete in the 70.3 distance first and in the near future prepare myself to jump to the 140.6 distance and eventually make it to the world championships in Kona, Hawaii.

Unfortunately, my dream of becoming a Pro-Triathlete is becoming more and more difficult each and everyday. The most painful part is not because of discipline or my abilities, but because of resources. My limited personal resources sadly do not make up for the short-comings that I frequently face. I currently still live at home with my parents to help with the bills, take care of my sister and them as much as I can, and also save for my racing. I work full time (40+ hours) as a wellness coordinator in beautiful Sun City Hilton Head and train 24+ hours a week in three different disciplines. That's not including prepping my meals, planning for training and races, and taking care of myself, work, friends and family.

I have sacrificed greatly for my dream and will continue to do whatever it takes to make it possible. Getting sponsorship always has been a difficult thing to obtain. That's not saying I will stop looking to represent my community and home with the acquiring of sponsorships. I plan on being the best I can be and in doing so, I believe that if I am able to compete at world stages I will be able to represent all that I stand for. These upcoming seasons (2015-2016) are an ideal time for me to make my move in trying to become a Pro-Triathlete, as I am coming off my most successful season ever. This past year has helped to motivate me and has made me even more enthusiastic than before. I am sure with your financial support and my hard work I can make this coming season even better than the last. Please keep in mind that this money will go to supporting a young athlete that is thriving to become successful.

As you may or may not know the sport of triathlon is pretty pricey. Race registration costs can range between $250-$500 depending on their location and popularity. Additionally, there are other expenses including: equipment, gear, travel, food, lodging, nutrition, training camps, and literally anything in life that gets thrown straight at your face! As you can see, costs can add up quickly. Remember that all of your generosity/support will ONLY go towards my IRONMAN journey.

The money that I receive in donations from all of you will be automatically saved in an Ironman account and would ONLY be used for my Ironman journey. My goal for the year of 2015 is to compete in 5-6 Half Ironman Triathlons (Florida 70.3, Augusta 70.3, Raleigh 70.3, Venice FL 70.3, Williamsburg 70.3, and hopefully Hilton Head 70.3). These races will allow me to compete for professionalism. I am looking to raise as much money for them as soon as possible because a lot of these races sell out within hours of opening.