Break the Obstacles.

An athlete expects to encounter obstacles during training and events; it is the nature of Sport. Blisters, muscle spasms or shoe malfunctions are easily dealt with, but what is to be done about more serious issues….the barriers raised by some people out of fear and ignorance?.
How does the athlete overcome discrimination based simply on who he is or what he knows? How does the athlete leap the hurdles placed in his path by bureaucrats in charge of inadequate facilities?
How does the athlete maintain his love for Sport when the majority of people around him do not respect or even understand what he does?

Keep Dreaming.

First, he does not lose faith in himself, nor does he lose sight of his dream.
Second, he trains. He never stops training, even if he has to swim on dry land, bike in steep mountains, or run in busy city streets.
Third, he surrounds himself with people who share his outlook on life.
People who DO understand his ideas and who not only SAY they will participate but actually SHOW UP on event days. Maybe they want a healthier lifestyle or a return to the active life they once led. Maybe they want their children to grow through the discipline of Sport, with opportunities to meet new friends, learn about other cultures and countries, and reach their full potential not only as athletes but as citizens of the world. Whatever the reason they are THERE….they are enthusiastic….they are priceless.

NO Enforced Rules for the Swimmers.

For an athlete accustomed to training at ultra distances, one hour a day of swimming is not even a warm-up. The pools available for the four hours daily swim necessary to complete the 1000 hours goal are public pools with no separate facility for lap swims, no lane dividers, and basically no enforced rules for the swimmers. This makes for challenging training, since the athlete has to watch out for other people crossing his path: he will not be able to swim on autopilot. The outdoor unheated pool is 25m in length, the indoor pool is 38m, and both are at an altitude of 7600 feet above sea level.

Very Rough Trail & Mountainous and Total Climb.

There is not one specific site for the walk or run portion of the 1000 hour event. The four hours daily will not be spent making laps around a city park, but will be spread over 5 different levels of terrain and surfaces, at altitudes from 2200m to 4461m. The explanation of the terrain scales is as follows:

Tilt

1 flat or nearly flat

2 rolling, total climb up to 50 feet per mile (2500 feet in 50 miles)

3 hilly, total climb between 50 and 150 feet per mile (2500-7500 feet in 50 miles)

4 very hilly, total climb between 150-250 feet per mile (7500-12,500 in 50 miles)

5 mountainous, total climb more than 250 feet per mile

Surface

1 paved or smooth surface

2 mostly groomed trail or dirt roads

3 trail or dirt road with some rocks

4 trail or dirt road with substantial rocks, roots and/or ruts

5 very rough trail

Source: Ultrarunning).

Lack of Driver Education.

The four daily hours of biking will be the most demanding simply because of the lack of driver education in this country. There is no respect for cyclists, no special bike lanes on the streets, and in many areas there are speed bumps every 100m or less. Roads are winding and narrow, muddy or rocky at altitudes ranging from 2,200m to 4,461m. Speed under certain conditions can reach 20 miles per hour, especially down the steeper hills. But because of dangerous cars, stray dogs and other hazards, the average maximum speed is expected to be 10 miles per hour.