EDUARDO RAUDEZ
Eduardo Raudez has a lofty goal: to qualify for the world famous Kona, Hawaii Ironman Triathlon in October 2011. While he was there just last year after being randomly selected in a lottery, things didn’t turn out like he’d planned.
“Over 90,000 people applied and only 150 were selected,” says Raudez. “I was thrilled to be there, but after 70 of the 112 biking miles, I developed severe leg cramps and ended up crashing on the side of the Queen K Highway, so I was forced to drop out. I entered my name in the lottery again for 2011, but wasn’t selected. Now, I’ve set my sights on the Ironman Cozumel this November and hope to qualify by time for the 2011 race.”
By day, Raudez, 29, is a prevention specialist for a nonprofit organization teaching an alternative curriculum to high school students at several H.I.S.D. schools and a number of charter schools.
“The curriculum focuses on topics affecting teenagers, like substance abuse, gangs, HIV/STD education, teen dating, domestic violence and self-concept. I am also starting a non-profit agency called Advocates for Today’s Youth, which embraces the same concepts. I am incorporating new things into the agency, however, like mini-triathlon camps and health and wellness training for lower income communities in Houston.”
Raudez was born in Nicaragua, but has lived in Houston since 1984, and attended Sam Houston High School and the University of Houston Downtown. Three years ago, after a very close friend ended his own life, Raudez committed himself to becoming the best endurance athlete he could be.
“Losing my friend had a big effect on me. He was a better father figure to me than my own father was. He always motivated me, even when I doubted myself. Three years ago, after his death, I became an endurance junkie. I do as many triathlons, marathons and decathlons as I can physically do.”
The six-foot, 184-pound Raudez got hooked on exercise 10 years ago and started his own personal training business after working as a fitness director at Bally Total Fitness. Raudez says he got his can-do, never give up attitude from his parents.
“I come from humble beginnings. My mother and father emigrated from Nicaragua and they both worked multiple jobs to support me and my three brothers. Their hard work gave us so much more than they ever had themselves. I got involved in sports in middle school and high school. I played football and basketball, and ran track and cross country. I enjoyed doing as much as I could because it gave me a positive alternative to what a lot of my friends were doing. I wanted to make something of myself and be a productive part of society when I became an adult.”
Raudez also works as a counselor for Community Family Centers and collaborates with Team CoCi and Advocates for Today’s Youth to help kids train for triathlons.
“Over the past five years I have trained hundreds of people and have dedicated myself to helping people achieve their personal goals. I continue to work as a trainer while teaching.”
Raudez trains between two and five hours a day, seven days a week, rotating between weight training, swimming, running and cycling.
“I have also learned to cook more, although I have always had a pretty clean diet. After increasing my workout load, I realized I needed to become even more strict with my diet so I could provide my body with what it needs to stay healthy and avoid injury.”
—Lisa Malosky
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