April 2025

The past month was nothing but thrilling and filled with blessings. Leaving Mexico, where I lived a deeply rewarding and memorable adventure, and getting back to my home in New Jersey, was a mix of emotions that widened my perception of the abundance in my life. Learning to adapt to changes in my environment and routines, developing my newly discovered abilities for coaching, completing new fitness challenges, reconnecting and bonding with family, renewing my mind and strengthening my faith in the season of Lent and Easter, have all brought joy to my day-to-day journey, facilitated growth, and increased my sense of gratitude.

TRAVEL

Going back to New Jersey in the middle of last month brought my long-term travel to a temporary end. Besides getting to be with my family again and re-immerse myself in the warmth and comforts of home, I have had a serene opportunity to reflect on the life-enriching adventure I got to live in the past 12 months. Adapting to life in four different states around the United States and lastly in Mexico, for 2 to 3 months at a time, was an invaluable journey of self-discovery and growth. Volunteering at hostels, farms, a school and small neighborhood, taught me a whole lot about myself and led me to see the capacities in which I can serve others. I was able to develop new skills, harness my gifts and talents, and widen my horizons. Apart from all the self-fulfillment and personal enrichment I experienced, travelling slowly through each location gave me the privilege of meeting some incredible people and creating new bonds. I realized that the overall perception of a place is largely enhanced or diminished by the quality of its residents, and I was blessed to have been part of communities filled with kindness and generosity. Of course there were also undesirable aspects everywhere I went, but ultimately, one has the freedom to decide whether to see the light or the darkness in the world. I chose the first, and I couldn’t be more grateful for having crossed paths with the human beings I engaged with in my day-to-day exploration.

Leaving the small neighborhood of Xcanatun in Merida, Mexico, and saying goodbye to the community I got to be a part of for 3 months was difficult, especially separating from the children and teenagers I taught and coached every day. Despite all the challenges that working in education presented me with, overcoming them patiently, and building a relationship based on trust with the kids was highly rewarding. It was amazing to see the evolution of my interactions with the students and athletes as we kept getting to know each other. While they were more reserved at the beginning, over the last few weeks many of them became more open and at ease with me. Taking the time to converse with them a bit before and after classes and training sessions, asking them questions and learning about their extracurricular activities, as well as opening myself up to them regarding my personal life, was fundamental to building healthy rapport. Subsequently, I also noticed that establishing a deeper level of connection with the kids translated to improved behavior, cooperation and participation in the classroom and on the field.

Chatting with the boys and girls was such a pleasure and a unique way to acquire further insight into the local culture. By inquiring and expressing my genuine curiosity about their interests, customs and day-to-day lives, they went above and beyond to share their hobbies and aspirations, the places they enjoyed going to, their favorite traditional foods and eateries, and even made recommendations for me to explore. At the same time, through these spontaneous conversations the kids became less hesitant to find out more about me. They freely asked and dug further into who I am, where I come from, and what I enjoy doing; and gladly allowing them to know the person behind the teacher or coach I was to them, opened the door for them to even request advice or suggestions on aspects they may have wanted to improve on. For instance, how to build endurance and run long distances, and what to do to feel less tired and have more energy in the afternoons.

     Living in Mexico, in such a humble neighborhood, surrounded by warm-hearted people, feeling welcomed and integrated into the community was a profound and inspiring chapter in my life that I will always cherish. Making a return is certainly a consideration I have for the future, and even though ending my time there was quite touching, I had much to look forward to as I headed back to New Jersey; including running the Jersey City marathon, taking soccer coaching courses, and competing at a HYROX race for the first time with my brother Fernando. This last one involved making a trip to Atlanta, Georgia – a place where I had never been before.

Despite spending only three nights in Atlanta, exploring it and getting to see some of its major attractions – as well as its less attractive side – was a fun and wholesome experience. For me one of the main highlights of the trip was interacting with lovely people everywhere I went. Everyone, from the Uber drivers, the cashier at the grocery store, the waiters and waitresses at restaurants, the HYROX staff, to even strangers walking on the street, was friendly, welcoming and had a positive vibe. Moreover, strolling around Centennial Olympic Park in the heart of downtown, and checking out the Georgia State University area on a light run were activities I found enjoyable and noteworthy.

TRAINING

The final two weeks leading up to the Jersey City marathon, I had to unexpectedly adjust my training in terms of running volume, to weightlifting, calisthenics and walking. Toward the last few days of the week when I completed 56 miles of running, I started feeling mild pain in my right ankle. Heading into the 14 days prior to race-day, I had planned to finish my preparation with one last week of 61 miles, followed by 7 days of tapering and recovering. Although I could run through the discomfort in my ankle, I decided to stop it completely to prevent worsening the injury. Therefore, I ended up focusing on strength workouts and low intensity cardio via walking. The thought of cutting off running within two full weeks of a marathon made me uneasy, but I knew it was in my best interest to do so. I certainly struggle with this; nonetheless, I believe learning to listen to one’s body and letting go of the ego are truly humbling practices and essential for building self-discipline. Fortunately, the tenderness on my ankle subsided entirely when the day of the race came, I felt strong and fresh, and I was able to run from start to finish without major issues.

Two weeks after the marathon, my brother Fernando and I went to Atlanta, Georgia, to participate in a HYROX competition. The first week after the race I focused heavily on doing a stretch and mobility routine every day, restricting my training to daily (3 to 4 mile) walks followed by short, moderately intense, weightlifting and calisthenics sessions. Feeling recovered enough, 5 days going into HYROX, I resumed running and I was able to comfortably log 29 miles. In addition, 3 days prior I did a high-intensity circuit workout consisting of burpee broad jumps, farmer’s carries, walking lunges, thrusters, push-ups and pull-ups, with a 1-kilometer run in between each exercise. This was relatively tough and gave me somewhat of an idea of how it would feel to perform the entire workout on the day of the event. In fact, since my body has not been adapted to such kind of stimulus, I had muscle soreness for the next few days, but it luckily dissipated just in time before stepping at the starting line.

Enduring a HYROX race for the first time, especially as a doubles team with my brother Fernando, was an absolute blast and I was certainly inspired to compete on future occasions. Both of us went into the workout decently prepared and put in a great effort, finishing it strong and in solid shape. Overall, I felt the race was highly demanding, I had difficulty with some exercises more than others, such as the sled pulls and wall balls, and although I am well-seasoned, running on heavy legs was also a unique test.

Having had the opportunity to test my fitness capacity in two different sports competitions was a fulfilling undertaking. Apart from any objective results, I believe simply committing to an event, then going all in on the required training day after day, is one of the most powerful ways to develop one’s character, gain confidence and self-esteem, as well as grow appreciation for staying healthy and physically active.

NUTRITION

Going back to New Jersey during the last month impacted my nutrition to an extent. First, by stepping on the scale after a while, I saw I was about 5 pounds under my ideal body weight of 160 pounds; and second, at home I get to enjoy some traditional Paraguayan food that my father makes.

Having experienced the adverse effects of undernourishment in the past, holding less than my ideal body weight is a warning sign that I try to address immediately, by simply increasing the quantity of the foods I normally consume. Therefore, I have been eating slightly larger portions and added a snack to the three meals I typically have in a day.

Giving myself permission to have food I regularly wouldn’t, because I consider it unhealthy, has been a significant struggle for me, and I continually grapple with it trying to adopt a more reasonable mindset. Looking back, there was a period in my life when I became inflexible and totally avoided any food containing ingredients I didn’t believe to be nutritious. This meant I stopped enjoying the traditional Paraguayan dishes made at home on special occasions. While listening to an episode of the Chasing Excellence podcast, I once heard about the 80/20 principle in nutrition. It essentially promotes having a more realistic perspective by encompassing the idea of striving to eat cleanly and holistically 80% of the time, while also allowing indulgences 20% of the time. Having internalized this concept and exercising it, helped me to loosen up my grip and become less restrictive with myself; plus, I recognized aiming for perfection is not only unsustainable, but also stressful.

All in all, seeking to gain some body weight and treating myself to some of my favorite Paraguayan dishes – traditionally made on Holy Week – are circumstances I have tried to deliberately navigate in the past couple of weeks. Modifying my eating routine in terms of quantity, and savoring foods such as mbeju, chipa, sopa paraguaya and mandi’o shyryry without any guilt, have surely been valuable challenges in my approach to nutrition.

READING

Jesus Calling – Enjoying Peace in His Presence – by Sarah Young

A phrase I read last month deeply resonated with me and I believe it’s worth sharing. Gratitude is an everyday practice I began several years ago, amidst one of the most trying chapters of my life, and it gradually revolutionized my mindset. My outlook on life has completely shifted, and rather than fixating on scarcity I decided to see the abundance that I’m always surrounded by. This continually allows me to experience my daily existence with greater joy and freedom, regardless of my circumstances. The excerpt reads as follows:

“Bring Me the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Take nothing for granted, not even the rising of the sun… When you focus on what you don’t have or on situations that displease you, your mind becomes darkened. You take for granted life, salvation, sunshine, flowers, and countless other gifts from Me. You look for what is wrong and refuse to enjoy life until that is “fixed.” When you approach Me with thanksgiving, the Light of My Presence pours into you, transforming you through and through. Walk in the Light with Me by practicing the discipline of thanksgiving.”

Soul Shift: The Weary Human’s Guide to Getting Unstuck and Reclaiming Your Path to Joy – by Rachel Macy Stafford.

I started reading the Spanish version of this book – “El Arte de Vivir Plenamente” – as it was brought to me as a gift by my aunt who lives in Spain. I have been thoroughly enjoying every chapter of it, as the major themes of self-exploration and transformation are highly relatable to me. I love Rachel’s vulnerability when describing her awakening to the pretentious life she was leading, and her moments of weakness. I appreciate her openness in sharing the persistent mistakes she made, and how she learned to recognize them as opportunities for self-reflection and improvement, as well as her useful practices for living more intentionally and in better alignment with her true values. Presence, self-esteem, letting go of perfection, being kind to oneself, and being one’s most authentic self are fundamental subjects that the author delves into. She provides useful perspectives, ways to navigate them more consciously and effectively, and encouragement to progressively develop practices that would yield intensified levels of joy, love, and peace.

Among all the profound quotes I have read in this book so far, there are two I found valuable wisdom in, and are quite meaningful. The first having to do with the power of being fully present and connecting, and the second regarding the importance of being kind to oneself.

“Your capacity to connect in a crisis, without a manual, without a map, is the most direct form of love and comfort that you can offer in times of uncertainty.”

“Stopping to breathe is not unproductive; it’s necessary to survive.

Recharging energy is not a waste of time; it’s how you weather the storm.

Asking for help is not a weakness; it’s having wisdom to recognize that life shouldn’t be lived alone.

Taking something off your plate is not irresponsible; it’s knowing your limits.

Giving yourself a breather is not foolish; it’s how you’re able to step into shaky ground”

PODCASTS

RECOVERY

Within the last month there were a few conditions that impacted my body and required me to adjust my recovery routine as best as possible. Getting a minor ankle injury 14 days prior to running a marathon forced me to suddenly modify my training and prioritize healing. Also, moving from Mexico back to New Jersey had a substantial effect on my sleep schedule. My regular 9pm bedtime and 4am waketime were completely thrown off, and becoming flexible to push them to a couple of hours later has been challenging. Lastly, competing in a HYROX race two weeks after finishing a marathon tested my ability to rest adequately and carefully manage training loads in a relatively short period.

The weeks and months leading up to running a marathon (or attempting any sort of personal goal) I believe are the most growth-promoting and character-building times anyone can endure. By showing up and training every day, despite feeling motivated or not, I got to discover so much about myself, especially to better know my body. Two of the most important lessons I learned over the years, while preparing to compete in sports events, are to listen to my body and to appreciate the vital role of proper recovery. Pushing through discomfort and aggravating a minor injury was a mistake I have made in the past; therefore, whenever I start to feel any kind of pain nowadays, I take it as a sign of suboptimal rest. Finding myself with mild ankle pain at the beginning of last month was unexpected, but I immediately lightened the intensity and volume of exercise by walking and doing short strength workouts at the gym. In addition, I concentrated on sleeping a bit more at night, and during the day by taking naps when possible. Fortunately, this strategy was effective, and I got to the day of the marathon completely pain free.

My days living in Mexico I fell into a consistent sleep pattern, mainly because all my activities ended by 5.30pm and I had the remainder of the evening to myself. This allowed me to be in bed by 9pm (at the latest) every night. Life at home in New Jersey confronted me with a different reality and I have had to adapt accordingly. Not having a set work schedule or time commitments in the morning has enabled me to sleep until later hours. At the same time, I have gotten into a rhythm of going to bed as late as midnight. Although it has been a struggle, particularly the first few weeks, I have intentionally adjusted to this for the sake of spending time with my family. Coming from a Paraguayan culture, my family has always kept the norm of eating a late dinner, between 9pm and 11pm. For the past several years, ever since I got into the habit of waking up as early as 4am, I hardly ever shared dinners with my parents and siblings, as by the time they were sitting at the table to eat, I was going to bed. Not being so rigorous and simply letting myself embrace a new sleeping time frame, rather than stress about it, has absolutely been worthwhile. It has allowed me to be present with my loved ones and connect with them in the only part of the day we all get to be together, as well as get an amplified sense of gratitude.

Having just two weeks to spare between running the Jersey City marathon and racing at HYROX Atlanta was a situation I was a bit cautious about, but also excited to go through. Uncertain whether it was ample enough time to fully recover, I took it day by day, stayed in tune with my body and experimented accordingly. The first full week after the run, I mainly walked 3 to 4 miles and did 30+ minutes of a stretch and mobility routine daily. In addition, I slept at least 7 hours per night and took 30-minute to 1-hour long naps when I could. Remaining consistent with such practices throughout the 14 days between competitions, undoubtedly helped me. Going into HYROX I felt fresh, and I was able to give it my best effort, finishing it strong and having thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Connection

Returning to New Jersey after travelling for the past twelve months felt particularly special. I have never been away for such an extended period, and this undoubtedly augmented my appreciation for my family and the environment I get to call home.

When it comes to my family relationships, I have admittedly had a hard time in the past with the rigidness I maintained around my routines and neglected the daily opportunities I had to be more present for them. In the spirit of connecting more with family members, since I got home, I have made a conscious effort to not take for granted the moments I get to spend with them, even if I may be slightly derailed from my norms. For instance, I have been more receptive to eating late dinners, watch a show on tv with my brother, go to the gym with my mom and brother until late at night, and eat some of the Paraguayan foods my dad makes.

Other aspects that I surprisingly learned to treasure through distancing myself for a while are the environment and nature I get to be surrounded by in New Jersey. On my travels, I have had the privilege of living in states with amazing natural scenery such as Colorado, Washington and Hawaii. While each place had its own distinctive beauty and I was able to truly enjoy it, the atmosphere at home is uniquely wonderful to me. Going on runs – my favorite way to simply be out in nature – has felt different ever since I got back. Although it’s a familiar environment, my perception of it has been magnified. I have gotten a greater sense of joy and have felt a deeper connection with my surroundings. Running again through the neighborhoods, parks and trails around the town where I live, has been pleasantly serene and incomparable.

Lastly, looking back at the 40 days of Lent this year, I realized how transformative it was for me. Having spent every day but the last few in Mexico – serving a lovely community with my skills and talents, discovering and developing new facets of me, facing daily challenges and learning to adapt – was such a powerful test of faith and an amazing way to strengthen my relationship with God. The overarching purpose the Lent season – living in self-reflection, repentance, forgiveness and self-sacrifice, in preparation for new beginnings through the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday – had a profound resonance with me. Extremely blessed to be at home again just in time for Holy Week and Easter, marked not only the conclusion of a 40-day time frame in my life, but of an entire year. A period of nearly 365 days God gave me the gift to see through, to explore His perfect plans for my life, and to grow my trust in Him. By giving me the opportunity to travel and volunteer, God challenged me to let go of comfort and certainty and muster the courage to follow Him in a journey that has led me to continually renovate my mind, increase my hope, and gradually transmute into a renewed self to fully accomplish God’s will through my life.