08/24/2026
Habanero 135 was brutal.
Hot. Long. Sandy. And a lot harder than it looks.
7th overall. 6th male. 1st in Masters.
I’m proud of how I managed the race and kept moving, especially when things got really tough. But I couldn’t have done it without my crew, pacers, family, friends, and everyone who supported me along the way.
When you’re that far into a race, you realize how much you rely on the people around you. Every bit of support matters.
Brutal from start to finish, but I’m proud of this one. 💪
08/20/2026
One of my favorite race essentials is my ForeverTri shirt.
Made this one for this year’s Habanero 135 Trail Racing Over Texas and getting it ready for race day. After all the training and preparation, it’s almost time to put in the miles.
See you tomorrow. Let’s see what we’ve got. 💪
08/12/2026
LISTEN.
That sign behind Andy Hiller says a lot.
I have had the opportunity to coach Andy for IRONMAN, and one of the things I respect most about him is that he listens, learns, asks questions, does the work, and shows up when it matters.
Andy already completed an IRONMAN in an amazing way, and now he is continuing the journey toward more IRONMAN races and, hopefully, the World Championship stage.
As a coach, this is what makes me proud: not only the result, but the process behind it.
The consistency.
The trust.
The discipline.
The willingness to keep improving.
Congratulations, Andy. Proud of you, my friend.
The work continues.
07/21/2026
I almost lost Swedeman before I touched the water.
Not during the swim.
Not on the bike.
Not on the mountain.
Before the race even started.
A missing bike.
A last-minute airport drive.
Cold water.
A shifter button flying off mid-race.
16 hours of decisions, support, mud, rain, ice, false summits, loose rocks, and a mountain we knew was there but did not want to believe was ours.
This story is about Swedeman Extreme Triathlon, but it is not only about racing.
It is about what happens when the plan breaks and you still have to keep showing up.
It is about support, pressure, fear, preparation, work, family, and making the next useful decision when everything feels heavy.
Read my full story here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/race-started-before-start-line-fernando-lopez-mba-pmp-bz3nc/
Race photography: Ariel Wojciechowski
07/07/2026
The best support crew ever. I couldn’t have finish Swedeman without Andrea and Armando…so thankful!!! Swedeman Xtreme Triathlon XTRI World Tour® ❤️
07/07/2026