A pro runner and his pupils reach goals amid the lockdown

Consuelo Yarlequé is 61 years old and until May 1^st, 2020, she was 69 kilos or 152 pounds. It was not good news – she was type-1 obesity. That same day she started up a training & feeding plan. Three weeks later, during her evaluation, she noticed she has lost… 9 pounds! “I’m happy of the results,” the lady affirms. “Through all years of experience I’m running, I never had lost so much weight.”

Consuelo and other people in Piura, Chiclayo, Cajamarca, and Lima (Peru) have joined an online project called Entrenamiento Online elite (Online Elite Training, or EO as its acronyme in Spanish) powered by the marathon runner Jesús Ademir Sosa Valdiviezo, who is also a sports coach and promoter. There are plans for the initiative to expand to Spain.

The EO premise comes from the cloistering sensation and the stress provocated by the pandemic fact what many times impact on the body, and that does not bring benefits to health. The project looks for helping the people with the best online sports advisory, on live training, physical activity programs designed to provide relaxation, resistance, muscular power, and flexibility. It also provides an evaluation  for high-performance feeding and all tips you need to have a healthy life.

“Most people want to keep fit and have a healthy lifestyle, so I’ve created entrenamiento Online Elite interested to reach the folks who don’t go to a gym regularily, because they don’t have time or their daily jobs don’t allow to do a routine for keeping fit and also due to the gyms won’t open this year because they are the main Covid-19 infection hotspots,” Jesús Sosa sustained.

The reknown runner referred this has been a great opportunity: “This lockdown is very hard for everybody, however we also know  it’s a pretty good opportunity to grow, feel, dream of… To me, this crisis has been the opportunity to start up this project I was postponing so many times and the truth is that I’m very happy to contribute positively in the life of persons.”

“I want you to know of the physical activity importance as healthy habit for avoiding the sedentarism, and like an essential factor to fight the stress generated by the social isolating situation because of Covid-19,” he added.

How the Online elite Training works on

The live training is from Monday to Friday at 8:30 pm. (0130 GMT) on a Facebook private group. Sosa thinks it’s a comfortable time for everybody because someones study and others work, so the classes keep recorded and they can train later by watching the live webcasting at the time they prefer.

The athlete noticed that, for example, there are nurses during the online training, and sometimes they , when having an overnight turn, train the next day, but they don’t leave to complete their routine. And other guys who also study, if they struck on the schedule, train later the same way. The idea is not losing the continuity. All the pupuls are followed up by WhatsApp according to their goal, whether increasing muscular mass, decreasing fat index, or simply keeping healthy.

“I’d invite all the people who have the wish to start a healthy life to join this Online Elite Training project,” Jesús Sosa manifested. “Like a pro, I guarantee good results.” For more information, you can contact directly to Jesús Sosa, go to the Online Elite Training (in Spanish), or write him an e-mail.

Who is Jesús Sosa?

The Catacaos, Peru-based marathon runner, sports promoter and coach (certified by Peruvian Institute of Sports) is a Bachelor in Accountability and Financial Sciences for National University of Piura. He’s worked for Catacaos and La Arena Districts Municipalities, both in Piura Province. He speaks intermediate-level english, by the way.

Jesús is ripped. He’s 5.7 inches, 154 pounds, 10½ in shoes (9½ iin U.K, 44 in the rest of Europe).  In every competition he has participated, he reached one of the 10 first places. His up-to-date personal records (time per distance)are:

• 5 km or 3,1 mi: 16 min 15 sec.
• 10 km or 6,2 mi: 33 min 
• 21 km 97 m or 13.11 mi (half-marathon): 1 h 15 min
• 42 km 195 m or 26.18 mi (marathon): 2 h 38 min

Coming up next, all and each one of his sport achievements what this guy, his family, his supporters and contacts, his city, and the whole region are proud of.

• 04/07/2019: 1st place in National Triathlon Championship – Cathegory Posts, Peru.
• 02/14/2019: 1st place in posts, Colan, Peru (2019).
• 01/29/2019: 8^th place in Miami Marathon, Fla.
• 01/31/2018: 2nd Best Ranked Piura-native in Piura City Half Marathon, Peru.
• 11/25/2018: 3rd place in 5K Race for the National Police of Peru’s Anniversary.
• 11/10/2018: 1st place in Máncora Triathlon – Cathegory Posts, Peru.
• 09/08/2018: 3rd place in 8K, Peruvian Institute of Sports.
• 09/01/2018: 1st place in Punta Sal Triathlon – Cathegory Posts, Peru.
• 10/14/2018: 1st place in Los ejidos Triathlon – Cathegory Posts, Piura City, Peru.
• 07/02/2018: 1st place in Pacasmayo International Marathon, Peru.
• 06/03/2018: 2nd place in Chiclayo City’s Half-Marathon, Peru
• 05/20/2018: 11th place in Movistar 42K Marathon 2018 (among more than 20,000 participants), Lima City, Peru.
• 04/29/2018: 1^st place in 8K, Chiclayo City 183^rd Anniversary, Peru.
• 02/10/2018: 1^st place in posts, 17^th Triathlon in Colan, Peru, homage to Peruvian Navy.
• 01/28/2018: 11^th place in Miami Marathon, Fla. (2018)
• 12/09/2017: 1st place in 7K, Montelima Race.
• 12/02/2017: 1^st place in Peru’s National Police 5K Race.
• 11/26/2017: 1st place in Ferreycorp 4K Pedestrian Race.
• 11/12/2017: 1^st place in Los Tallanes Pedestrian Race, Sullana Anniversary, Peru.
• 09/16/2017: 1^st place in Punta Sal Triathlon, Peru – Cathegory Posts (2017).
• 07/23/2017: 2^nd place in 8K, Peruvian Institute of Sports, Trujillo, Peru.
• 07/02/2017: 1^st place in Pacasmayo 42K International Marathon, Peru (2017).
• 06/18/2017: 1^st place in Catacaos 7K Race, Peru (2017).
• 05/21/2017: 10^th place in Adidas 42K Marathon, Lima City, Peru.
• Classified, Miami Marathon, Fla. (2017)
• Classified, Boston Marathon, Mass. (2017)
• Classified, New York City Marathon, NY (2017).
• 02/14/2017: 1st place in Colán Triathlon – Cathegory Posts, Peru (2017).
• 07/09/2016: 1st place in Vías Integradoras Marathon.
• 07/03/2016: 1st place in 21K, Pacasmayo International Marathon, Peru.
• 06/25/2016: 1^st place in 6K, Udep EcoChallenge, Piura City, Peru.
• 06/12/2016: 1^st place in 8K, Peruvian Institute of Spors, Piura City, Peru.
• 04/15/2016: 15^th place in 42K, Adidas Marathon, Lima City, Peru (among 15,000 competitors).
• 12/31/2015: 9^th place in San Silvestre International Race, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
• 07/05/2015: 1st place in 42K, Pacasmayo International Marathon, Peru.
• 05/16/2015: 1st place in 5K, Piura Open Race, Piura City, Peru.
• Classified, San Silvestre International Race, Sao Paulo, Brazil (2015).
• 02/07/2015: 1^st place in 15K, Querecotillo, Peru.
• 04/28/2015: 1^st place in 21K, Chiclayo Half-Marathon, Peru.
• 04/18/2015: 1^st place in Piura For Life Race, Piura City, Peru.
• 08/12/2014: 1st place in 5K, Pacasmayo Marathon, Peru.
• 05/31/2014: 9th place, Energizer Night Race, Lima City, Peru.
• 05/18/2014: 16^th place in 42K, Adidas Marathon, Lima City, Peru (among 15,000 competitors).
• 03/30/2014: 2nd place in Chasquis Race, Athletism League of Piura, Peru.
• 07/07/2013: 2nd place in 10K, Pacasmayo International Marathon, Peru.
• 06/30/2013: 1^st place in 5K, Country Club Olympics, Piura City, Peru.
• 06/23/2013: 2nd place in 6K, Olympic Day, Piura City, Peru.
• 05/04/2013: 10^th place in Energizer Race, Lima City, Peru (among 10,000 participants).
• 03/09/2013: 1st place in 5K, Talara, Peru.
• 02/17/2013: 1^st place in 5K, Colán Triathlon, Peru.
• 12/31/2012: 1^st place in Piura Half-Marathon – Cathegory Young, Piura City, Peru. Best Piura-native.
• 10/05/2012: 1^st place in university Olympics, Piura City, Peru.
• Best Piura-native 2011.

Remember that you can contac Jesús on his Facebook personal account, his proffessional fanpage, you can join his race group, and you can follow his stories on Instagram.

The photos of this entry were provided by Jesús Sosa.

Freddy Pozo’s 7 big challenges

This athlete reveals what made him to hold on a sport career despite the obstacles.

 

 

All photographs provided by Freddy Pozo.

 

Freddy Daniel Pozo Guerrero was born in Piura City, Peru, on October 7^th, 1982.  When he still studied at San Miguel School, in this city, he premiered as an athlete in 1994 School Games. He was recruited because of his talent into the so-called Achievement Poles promoted by Cuban trainers.

 

In 1997, he classified to a Peruvian Northern tournament. He got a place that same year for a nationwide’s else.

 

Since 1999, he began to train with Jose Bonilla Cortez. The next year, he won marathons in Piura City, Trujillo (both in Peru), and Macará (Ecuador). His achievement as a top athlete allowed him to enter directly the university in Trujillo, in 2001, where he highlighted in the 5K, 10K pedestrian tests, while he got high scores  in lane – 800 meters, 1500 meters tests.

 

When his sport career was rising, the first difficulty came in. An injury forced him to break it all. He lost the scholarship.

 

He had to return to Piura where he entered another university. His body seemed to react again as much as he was an athletics university champion between 2005 and 2007. One of his major achievements was winning in Cuenca (Ecuador) amid his category.  He covered 44.4 miles  in 6 hours.

 

Despite he was the Best Piurano in Piura’s Half Marathon, he decided to leave the sport and focus in his studies in 2008. Then, he faced his second big difficulty. He looked for sponsors but no one granted him. “Sports are not profitable because you have  to train 6 daily hours,” he tells. Aside the time, he might invest in feeding and supplements. There was no money.

 

This decision carried him a third difficulty. Freddy is 5.5 feet. In 2008, he was 123 lbs. Breaking suddenly made him to increase 88 lbs, slightly .

 

A fourth difficulty returned him to athletics but not in a competitive level. His mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2016. In the beginning, she survived it, and the physical activity was part of the treatment. Freddy turned her coach.

 

He lived a fifth difficulty with his mother. An apparent medical negligence caused her to pass away in 2019.

 

Freddy sheltered in the sport. He went out running in the mornings, he went to the gym at nights, beginning himself in Olympic discipline – powerlifting, very different to bodybuilding, because the first one addresses to hold on a weight in the air the most time in the less number of moves as possible, the second one basically addresses to model the muscles.

 

“Many people remembered me from my time as an athlete,” Freddy comments.

 

It was when the sixth difficulty came in. Somebody used a pesticide to poison one of his colleagues. Somehow, Freddy got poisoned. His central nervous system was under attack causing him a temporary paralysis that has turned a fibromyalgia –defined by Mayo Clinic as generalized muscular pain and sensitiveness—through the years.

 

In freddy’s case, it turned him off some flexibility. As the physical therapies were very expensive, he had to learn applying them. Even, he opened a specialized center but he might close it because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Here we have the seventh difficulty.

 

During the lockdown, he studied handball and volleyball which he graduated as a technician. The interesting is he never has done any of them in his lifetime. “I’m a little self-taught,” he affirms. “What I have learned was by my own.”

 

Up to this date, Freddy Pozo coaches handball teams in sub-13 and sub-17 categories, he’s 135 lbs, he believes the sport helped him to overcome every difficulty. It rejuvenated him,even: “The training and the lifestyle make me looking like a 27-year-old dude,” he assures.

 

Do you have a similar story? Tell us on X | WhatsApp | chulucanasgym@gmail.com

  

Rules are also equal for athletes

 

While the world hopefully looked at the vaccination like a wway to diminish the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact, the laureate Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic decided not to immunize. Like him, there are many people who consider the vaccines as hazardous stuff for human health, although the medical evidence has proven effectiveness to prevent or reduce the symptoms of several health conditions two centuries ago.

 

The Djokovic’s denial for vaccination ccosted him not to play the Australia Open in January 2022. This is one of four Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP)tournaments that allow to add scores to make the world ranking which the tennis player is one of the leaders. The Australian politic authorities ruled to prohibit the entrance of any person without full vaccination as a health measure for avoiding new outbreaks.

 

But Djokovic’s rejection was not the only thing playing against him. Before trying his entry to Australia, it was revealed he have been positive to the infection and that being infected, he gave an interview to a medium in France – he even posed for photos not using a mask, one of the preventive barriers against the virus. Ultimately, a court took the tennist out the nation of kangaroos and koalas, and he was legally prohibited to enter for other more three years.

 

France, the next ATP’s destination, also issued a prohibition for any non-vaccinated athlete to enter. As well, the U.S., other place where the tournament is played, issued it. Djokovic’s homeland Serbia has protested alledging a world conspiracy against its champion and it’s called him symbol of freedom because he held his denial for vaccination.

 

 

Although as a general rule, any athlete’s organisms have a better immunologic response due to the training and the whole lifestyle, this doesn’t mean they are physiologically invulnerable to any disease. In fact, it’s probable the own care reduces the aggressiveness of symptoms compared to a person who doesn’t work out or doesn’t have a healthy lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean they can elude those issues, rather if their own activity or lifestyle exposes them to risk situations.

 

Otherwise, whether the discipline any athlete does, there are rules ordering each procedure, each winning way, and even each penalty once any fault is proven. And every athlete knows he has to submit them for his participation to be in equal conditions regarding other contenders.

 

And when it’s avout coming out the own country to contest in other one, every athlete knows once the national territory is left, the country’s rules are over the sport rules – the reasonable is submitting to them. If you don’t agree, you can quit unless the country gives a special treatment to each case and allows the access. But while that prerrogative is not used, the land is flat for everybody.

 

And above the rules, every athlete, as his image grows up, turns into a reference for hundreds, thousands, or millions of followers. Then, what he does or he leaves to do, although he doesn’t want it, influences. So, part of his responsibility consists in measuring and caring the impact of his behavior. This doesn’t mean he lives obsessed by the sanctions but he lives convinced of it’s the right way to act.

 

It’s not a better athlete who gets more priviledges but who wins the recognizement of everybody based upon humility, perseverance, and positive attitude. Obviously, Djokovic is not the only case of this kind but the one that caused more controversy globalwide in the last times. Nevertheless, the lesson applies to the previous cases, the other actual ones, and what could emerge today to up.

 

This is a Good topic to talk about with the trainer, other athletes, and, why not, the community in general. Even, we propose you to dialogue and discuss it in the comment box below or on our Twitter account. You also can write us at chulucanasgym@gmail.com 

Dive, then save lives

A swimming school and some female volunteers have joined in Piura City, Peru, for raising funds against cancer. They’re Berenson Academy and the Association of Ladies Supporting the Patient with Cancer.

The idea is gathering much money as possible to help patients with cancer but without resources. Also, it looks for educating on prevention of this disease, and sports are one of the most effective, cheapest methods to achieve it.

The procedure is simple – every 100 meters or 330 feet you swim, you have to donate 10 soles (about US$ 2.70). If you don’t know to swim, the promoters look for a swimmer who represents you for swimming the equivalent distance to your donation. The participation can be individual or in group.

The activity began in 2019 but it had to pause because of Covid-19 pandemic. 300 people in Piura, Chiclayo, and Trujillo swam that year, covering about 200 km or 150 miles in total. For 2022, the activity was called for May 28^th from 10:00 in the morning to 7:00 at night.

Peru’s National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases detected about 17,000 new cases of cancer across that nation in 2021. Only in piura Department, Regional Direction of Health counted 2930 new cases of cancer in 2019.

Do you use sports to support social campaigns? Tell us on our Twitter account or at chulucanasgym@gmail.com

  

“I do it to feel good to myself”

One of the most becoming-frequent answers in persons who begin any type of training at gym, home, or outdoors, is “I do it because I want to fffeel good to myself.” And they mark aa very clear posture  compared to who go with the evident intention of building muscle or simply keeping fit.

 

The profile of the ones giving this reason is usually professional people with much job or family load, empowered during Covid-19 pandemic, which stress levels are high. In this bunch, there are also who lost relatives or quite beloved people due to the plague that passed away dozens of million lives around the world.

 

There’s no much to explain from the mental health’s perspective. The power of physical exercise as an emotional balance generator is pretty proved because of the simple reason that the training makes your hormonal segregation to be more efficient, especially that avoids or controls conditions like depression or anxiety, and rules your metabolism.

 

“I already sleep once now from 11 at night to 6 in the morning,” a 30-year-old accountant tells us in Tambograndé, Peru, requesting us to be anonymous. If he has played soccer during much time, the untreated anziety has betrayed him almost without warning. “I ate any time, I didn’t sleep good.”  From 154 pounds, he raised to more than 220 pounds! And he’s just 5.6 feet height.

 

After entering a bunch training gymnastics and functional, he is losing weight (he’s around 187 pounds), he has noticed his physical & mental health has improved, add to this that his mood passed from anger to laugh and calm. However, when we asked him to pose for some pictures, he declined: “No, thanks – I just do it because I wanna feel good to myself.”

 

It’s also like a media specialist in Piura, Peru, 31 years old, 6 feet height, who from 220 pounds, today it’s 198 pounds… and decreasing. “I don’t work out for the people to see me or to admire me but because I feel better to myself,” he repeats. And every morning, he attend to the gym for his dumbells-&-functional routine. And testimonials like theirs repeat.

 

If you’re a trainer, you’ve already noticed it. Perhaps it disappoints you that, unlike other pupils who really want to improve their physiques whether for competition or simple vanity, this bunch doesn’t put that goal foreward.

 

Don’t get wrong interpretating they are not interested in growing as visible, what they are really interested in growing inside. Your job, instead criticizing them for not being like the others or mistaking to compare them to the pretty muscled pupil of your class, is raising their personal motivation levels, encouraging them to be a better version of themselves. Maybe sometimes they need to talk to heal, so we remind you how to proceeed in these times.

 

As much as they receive this kind of feedback, it’s probable that you progressively  go stimulating their sport-competitive spirit, and themselves to be who go adding greater exigency levels until reaching similar or better results than your competition pupils or who work out to look fit. Don’t get surprised if someday themselves ask you to prepare them for the next tournament.

 

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