Rudy Garcia-Tolson

I always wanted to do an Ironman since I was a kid, because it's a unique endurance sport where you battle yourself for hours. It teaches you how to control your mind and put things into perspective. If you're interested in trying it out, start small with a triathlon or Sprint and work your way up to the Ironman.
 
Transcript: "You know, for me, I always watched Iron Man on TV as a kid. It would come on on Sunday or on Saturday, on NBC and it was a two hour special. And from that from watching The Iron Man on TV. And seeing those guys out there, professionals finishing eight hours, some of the longer people, you know, finishing, 15, 16 hours, and it just seemed like it was impossible. And at the moment, you know, when I first saw that I was a young kid and I probably would never had random, not on Mi let alone. Marathon or even ridden a bike for longer than, you know, 10 miles. But for some reason, I always knew that this was something that I would be doing one day because I just love the sheer. I guess you can call that the endurance sport is something unique against other sports, where it's you and only you. And when you're out there for 16 hours, you you tell yourself every little thing. To try to try to finish the try to quit maybe and just drop out, but it's that constant Battle of set of being mind over matter. And really, you know, telling yourself no is very valuable because it transfers over to a lot of parts of your life. And so now that I have to finish an Ironman took me 16 hours a lot different than, you know, my swimming events which take a few minutes, you know, to two-and-a-half minutes tops for my man. Event. It's just a, you know, it's a great way to train your mind. I think and you know, I think everybody should do at least one Ironman one time because it really puts things in perspective. And you know, when you think you're having a bad day, you know, you all can always look back and think, man, I did an Ironman, what do you mean? This is a bad day. This is not a bad day. So you know, it's one of those things that always appealed to me racing and and endurance racing and you know there's definitely Some special in there. So if you have any thoughts about trying, it start small. Do a triathlon. Do Sprint. Go to Olympic distance. Go to a half Ironman and then get to the Iron Man. But it takes time, you got to be patient."

Unfortunately, there's not much you can do if you get pressure sores on your legs before a race or triathlon. It's best to practice good hygiene and try to prevent them as much as possible. If they're really bad, then it might be recommended to pull out of the race. However, if you don't mind a little extra pain, then stick with it and push through. After the race, make sure to take some time off your legs or chair to allow the sore to heal.
 
Transcript: "Hey Amy. Great question. How do I deal with pressure sores on the legs when I have a running race or a triathlon? Well, the short answer is. There's nothing you can do you just kind of got to suck it up and push through the pain. But you know, this is really where, you know, you pay attention to your body, especially to three weeks before the race and you start to, you know, take the appropriate precautions to not get skin. Is to not get pressure sores, but then, you know, we do all we can. But still at the end of the day, things happen, especially if you got to get in your chair, if you got to put your legs on, you know, it's sometimes it's out of your control. And so, yeah, I would say if it is race day and there is a sore or Pro or something going on, not much you can do about it. I mean, you could pull out and if it is bad, it's definitely recommended. But if you wouldn't mind a little extra pay, Pain. Then it's stick with it and push through but after the race definitely get off the legs or out of the chair for a while to get that arrested because you know, that could really set you back pressure sores and blisters. You know, that can set you back months if not years. Some time, so be very careful with those practice. Good hygiene and hope all is well, thank you."

Growing up, I never wanted to become a role model, but now I've come to understand that as someone in the adaptive sports movement, it is my responsibility to pass on my knowledge and experience to the younger generation. Being a role model is a very humbling experience, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help inspire others.
 
Transcript: "You know, growing up. I never wanted to be a role model. I didn't want to be, I don't want to be famous, I didn't want to. I just didn't see myself as a role model. I just thought of myself as doing what I love, but one thing that I've grown to appreciate and and, and really understand is that there's power and motivating and power and inspiring people. And, you know, for me growing up, I didn't have too many role models that I could. I was able to look at And talk to and figure things out, how to swim, how to run, how to bike, how to skateboard. I kind of had to do all that by myself. So I feel that it's a definitely, an important role that that myself and other challenged. Athlete challenge athletes are in a position of being role models. And and you know, leaders for some of the younger kids who might need some guidance and you know, it's definitely a very humbling experience. But to me, it's A responsibility to give back to the Next Generation because, you know, when were when were old and retired, these guys are the ones who are going to be breaking our records and you know, winning gold medals on TV. So I think it's important that we continue to grow the Adaptive sport movement here in the United States."

Hi, my name is Rudy Garcia. I'm a five-time Paralympic swimmer and 2012 paralympic track and field athlete who recently turned 33 and lives in San Diego, California. I work for the Challenged Athletes Foundation, helping to grow adaptive sports in Southern California. My goal is to compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris and then at the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles.
 
Transcript: "Hi, my name is Rudy Garcia. Tolson, I am a five-time paralympic swimmer, five-time medalists. Also 2012 paralympic track and field athlete and Iron Man finisher. I am 33 years old. I'm a 34 here in a few days and I currently live and work in San Diego. California. I work for the challenge athletes foundation. And I am lucky enough to to help help evolve. Alvin help grow adaptive Sports in Southern California. And, and I've been involved with the challenge a police foundation since I was a little kid, so it's a great fit for me and definitely looking forward to continuing to train. And my hope, my goal is to get to the pears 2024 for paratriathlon and then end up in 2028 here and on home soil in La. So nice to meet you, talk to you soon."