Ivan Blazquez, M.Ed., Acsm-Ep (2026)

12/01/2025

My Master's thesis just got cited a 19th time and now spanning 9 countries (United States, Germany, China, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Canada) 🙏

24/09/2024

Placed 2nd overall (2/16) at the Yak-A-Du race this past weekend (9-22-24). Ran first 2M run at a 7:52 pace, then set a new PR with the 2M kayak in 21:32 (5.57 mph). Towards the end of the kayak, I "wash rode" behind one of the kayakers who passed me and it was an interesting opportunity to experience. Interesting research showing one can save 18-30% energy when "wash riding" to gain a hydrodynamic advantage. Finally finished the last 2M run with an 8:07 pace. Didn't feel like this was my "A" performance, but it was a good solid "B" performance. The second run didn't feel as fresh fleet-footed as I'd like it to feel, but the goal didn't change either, and so I pushed through and finished on empty basically. Yet it was exhilarating feeling crossing the finish line and being done. Weather was beautiful with sunny skies at 80-87° and the river was calm. Also really liked the shirt design. Overall, a grueling

13/09/2024

Research study stories I've posted past few months. Always knew oatmeal reduced cholesterol by reducing the bile acid pool, and it was neat to learn about one of those specific bile acids (glycocholic acid) from this 2020 paper. The next study was on coffee and some of the non-polyphenols that play a role in glucose control, which has anti-diabetic effect. The 3rd study was on leafy green intake. And these include the humble romaine and spring mix greens. It doesn't need to be kale all the time, although kale is obviously included in the study's findings. The last study was on soymilk and how it can help play a role in muscle hypertrophy to support exercise training.

06/09/2024

Placed 3/58 overall and 1/6 in AG at the Pelican triathlon (8-24-24). Best ever race placement to date! This is a fun flat and fast race. Swam 200Y in 3:15, biked 5M in 19.3 mph and ran 2M in a new PR 7:42 pace. The run was the highlight of this race. I really like this run course too. It's a fast, flat course that's very shaded throughout, which is fairly atypical for a triathlon. Either way, it sets up to be an awesome gut-busting 2M run time trial, which it ended up being today. I went out fast and knew it would hurt, but also knew it would be over sooner too. The bike was fast (20.5-22.0 mph mostly), but the turns reduce average speed, which is fine because everyone has go through it. The swim felt good and fast enough. I'd recommend this race. Very well run with great swag and a fun race location.

01/09/2024

Placed 29/90 overall and 4/6 in AG at the Cultivation Nation triathlon. The weather was uncertain (30-60% rain chances) going into this race. Thankfully, the rain held off just long enough, although it started to drizzle off-on during the bike and then became like a rainforest rain during the trail run, which kept it cooler, which was nice. It started to downpour literally minutes after I crossed the finish line. I swam the 600Y in 12:48. Biked 17M moderate hilly course with an 18.7 mph and ran the 5K in 24:12 (7:47 pace). The run was the highlight of this race.

2020 (5K Run): 9:05 pace
2021 (5K Run): 8:32 pace
2022 (5K Run): 8:32 pace
2023 (5K Run): 8:13 pace
2024 (5K Run): 7:47 pace

What was fascinating were the splits. For the first 2.5K, I ran it in 12:56 (8:20 pace), but for thr second 2.5k, I ran it in 11:16 (7:15 pace)! I knew I had a strong run going when I saw 12:56 at the halfway turnaround. The Hot shots (capsaicin & ginger shot) were key at keeping any potential muscle cramps at bay and they worked wonderfully once again. The swim was good enough and it felt good to freestyle the whole way and also trying to keep a straight line by keeping the buoys as close as possible. The bike was decent. It's always challenging on this hilly course and I simply didn't want to burn my legs out too much before the run or increase the possibility of muscle cramping. Overall though, it was a well balanced race. After the race, I leaving and the race director told me someone wanted to interview me. Ans being that this was the 10th year race anniversary, the post-race party and awards were held in downtown Wiggins at The Pine Irish Pub. I was interviewed by Morgan, who was wanting to promote local tourism and saw some of my YouTube videos of this race from past races. She filmed the interview and I got to hold a cool mic 🎤 throughout 😊 I enjoyed the interview and hope it helps the cause.

28/08/2024

Had the privilege to have a bod pod test done at this past Friday (8-23-24). The BOD POD uses Air Displacement Plethysmograph (ADP) to determine your body composition (the ratio of fatty mass to lean mass). I was very pleased with my results and it was motivating! I really liked having a high muscle mass for my frame at 91.7% fat-free weight (FFW) along with a resting metabolic rate (RMR) of 1,641 cal/day. My bodyfat being 8.3% was 2 T-scores below the average male bodyfat. Also really liked the significant progress made from last year's test. Went down 9.7% to 8.3% bodyfat and muscle shoeleed a nonsignificant increase from 62.619 kg to 62.713 kg. It was a wonderful learning experience and I was grateful for the opportunity! 🙏

28/08/2024

Had the privilege to have a bod pod test done at this past Friday (8-23-24). The BOD POD uses Air Displacement Plethysmograph (ADP) to determine your body composition (the ratio of fatty mass to lean mass). I was very pleased with my results and it was motivating! I really liked having a high muscle mass for my frame at 91.7% fat-free weight (FFW) along with a resting metabolic rate (RMR) of 1,641 cal/day. My bodyfat being 8.3% was 2 T-scores below the average male bodyfat. Also really liked the significant progress made from last year's test. Went down 9.7% to 8.3% bodyfat and muscle shoeleed a nonsignificant increase from 62.613 kg to 62.714 kg. It was a wonderful learning experience and I was grateful for the opportunity! 🙏

24/08/2024

Placed ?/? overall and 1/1 in my AG at the Sunrise triathlon back on July 14. This race, in it of itself, is a very nice race. This is my second time doing it and the main draw is the unique opportunity to compete in both a bodybuilding show and triathlon in one weekend. Last year, this race was a bit of a challenge for the following reasons: Being unfamiliar with the course, having trouble sighting the buoy and cramping badly on the run. Fast forward to this year. The race director did a wonderful job this year by adding more swim buoys and they were bright yellow. The bike went significantly better since I was familiarized with the course. And with the recent addition of Hot shots, I was able to avoid cramping on the run this time. It was definitely a much better overall performance for both the bodybuilding show and triathlon. For the show I came in a lot more conditioned and I was able to get through all of the strenuous judging rounds while still recovering in time to not only compete in the triathlon, but avoid cramping. Last year I cramped badly and it was a less strenuous division (men's physique). This year, I competed in a more strenuous division (men's classic bodybuilding) and did not cramp the following day during the triathlon. It was a great overall experience.

20/08/2024

Placed 17/71 overall and 3rd in AG at the Tarpon triathlon. This race is the hottest run of the year because you get a double whammy with the sun heat coming down and the stored heat coming up from the road with not much shade. Knowing this, I tried some new strategies. I wore a cooling vest beforehand and then wore my ice cap with Florida water, 2 ice bags stuffed in my jersey and wore a light colored jersey. All helped, but still felt hot. The extra water station definitely helped too. All that said, the run was the highlight of this race.
2022 (3M Run): 9:24 pace
2023 (3M Run): 9:12 pace
2024 (3M Run): 9:01 pace

I didn't even realize I PR'd the run until after the race. The 150M swim was good enough at 2:46. The bike was a little short of my goal at 19.9 mph, but the road did seem a bit bumpier than last year along with the wind condition possibly being a little bit different perhaps than last year. Overall though, it was a well balanced race.

20/08/2024

Great time at the MPCS triathlon last weekend. Swam 200Y in 3:20, Biked 8M at 20.0 mph and ran 2M in 8:19 pace. Swim started nice and quick enough. Good T1 I felt going into the bike. This bike course always challenges me due to the mild ascents, bumpy roads and multiple turns. All of these eat up speed and something new I learned today is that it's more about the energy expended accelerating the bike back up to speed coming off turns that makes it fatiguing. Right calf started to cramp a little bit towards the end of the bike and I knew I needed to throw down some Hot shots (TRP channel agonist) during the run. And just as experience has revealed in the past, both calves started to flicker as well as the right hamstring early during the run, but the Hot shots worked phenomenally at preventing it from ever becoming a cramp and I was able to run full speed most of the way. Ran the first mile in 9:03, which was not what I was aiming for, but I ended up nicely negative splitting the second mile in 7:44! Very pleased with my overall (15/181) and age-group (4/26) placements. I forgot how intense this race can be due to the short course nature of it, which sets up for a higher intensity effort. Felt the heat wasn't a big factor today, but I also used my ice cap so either it wasn't as hot or it was and the ice cap made it feel cooler. Either way, it never hurts wearing it because it does help me run faster in the heat.

20/08/2024

Great time at the MPCS triathlon today. Swam 200Y in 3:20, Biked 8M at 20.0 mph and ran 2M in 8:19 pace. Swim started nice and quick enough. Good T1 I felt going into the bike. This bike course always challenges me due to the mild ascents, bumpy roads and multiple turns. All of these eat up speed and something new I learned today is that it's more about the energy expended accelerating the bike back up to speed coming off turns that makes it fatiguing. Right calf started to cramp a little bit towards the end of the bike and I knew I needed to throw down some Hot shots (TRP channel agonist) during the run. And just as experience has revealed in the past, both calves started to flicker as well as the right hamstring early during the run, but the Hot shots worked phenomenally at preventing it from ever becoming a cramp and I was able to run full speed most of the way. Ran the first mile in 9:03, which was not what I was aiming for, but I ended up nicely negative splitting the second mile in 7:44! Very pleased with my overall (15/181) and age-group (4/26) placements. I forgot how intense this race can be due to the short course nature of it, which sets up for a higher intensity effort. Felt the heat wasn't a big factor today, but I also used my ice cap so either it wasn't as hot or it was and the ice cap made it feel cooler. Either way, it never hurts wearing it because it does help me run faster in the heat.

04/08/2024

Placed 17/71 overall and 3rd in AG at the Tarpon triathlon today. This race is the hottest run of the year because you get a double whammy with the sun heat coming down and the stored heat coming up from the road with not much shade. Knowing this, I tried some new strategies. I wore a cooling vest beforehand and then wore my ice cap wirh Florida water, 2 ice bags stuffed in my jersey and wore a light colored jersey. All helped, but still felt hot. The extra water station definitely helped too. All that said, the run was the highlight of this race.
2022 (3M Run): 9:24 pace
2023 (3M Run): 9:12 pace
2024 (3M Run): 9:01 pace

I didn't even realize I PR'd the run until after the race. The 150M swim was good enough at 2:46. The bike was a little short of my goal at 19.9 mph, but the road did seem a bit bumpier than last year along with the wind condition possibly being a little bit different perhaps than last year. Overall though, it was a well balanced race.

Ivan Blazquez, M.Ed., Acsm-Ep

12/01/2025

24/09/2024

13/09/2024

06/09/2024

01/09/2024

28/08/2024

28/08/2024

24/08/2024

20/08/2024

20/08/2024

20/08/2024

04/08/2024

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