Recently, in October 2012, we visited Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i to see our dear friend, Beto Navarro compete.. that is a whole blog in itself! We traveled with all our running gear, Biking gear and Tri-Bikes, swim gear, scuba gear.. etc.. It was an athletic filled two weeks! WE continued our training for our first half ironman (11.11.12) in Miami.. We didn't want the thrill of vacationing in Hawaii get in the way of our training. Here are a few pictures of that trip, our bike workouts/etc.. Training here truly was an experience! Swimming alongside Chrissie Wellington, Biking along the same Queen K highway as all the big name athletes and staying at the same hotel as Crowie, Craig Alexander were some of the highlights of this trip! We had never biked hills like the hills of Hawaii.. I'll never forget Kaleopapa street... woah baby! that was no hill! it was a steep mountain! lol

Welcome to our Journey! We're glad you're following us! This blog is dedicated to all athletes who face daily personal and training struggles just to achieve their dream of having their name called out at the ironman finish line. We are Ali Lahens and Gabriel Lapica, married 12.10.05 in Miami Florida. We got married at a great time of our lives. We were skinny, young and energetic. A year after our wedding, the "couch potatoe" syndrome infected our lives... a year after our wedding, the weight started to pile on... it wasn't pretty. At 220 and 190 pounds.. nothing is pretty. Depression hit.. social drinking.. social eating...happy hours... etc... not pretty at all.. After about 5 years of weight issues, Gabe was curious about run/walking the Corporate Run in downtown with his firm. I joined in as a spectator.. Gabe was HOOKED when he crossed that finish line!!! Gabe decided that it was time for a change. He trained for his first half marathon (ING) Miami with TEAM FOOTWORKS. shortly after, I, alina, joined TEAM FOOTWORKS too for training of my first half marathon, the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon! After about a year of half marathons and doing our first MARATHON together at DISNEY in January 2011, we were both.... HOOKED on that finish line feeling... (pictures of above soon to be posted)