CHANTAL PITARCH - First woman to finish Ultraman KOA515

On the 19th, 20th and 21st of May, the Valencian lands witnessed the bravery of seven triathletes who took on KOA distance's main event, KOA515: 10km swim, 420km bike and a double marathon, spread over three days, the equivalent of the Ultraman distance.

• Day 1: 10km + 150km cycling +1750m
• Day 2: 280km cycling + 3550m
• Day 3: 84km, the equivalent of two marathons.

We are talking about Chantal Pitarch, our secondary school physical education teacher, who has become the ONLY woman to finish this event where athletes face real endurance challenges over three days, testing their strength to unexpected limits, because of the distance, the gradient? But also, according to Chantal, one of the most beautiful races you can take part in.

A race that requires not only a specific physical preparation and a lot of dedication, but also a race where the mental and psychological factor plays a crucial role. Chantal starts her training at 6:00 in the morning in the swimming pool of the school and combines it with her classes with her students.

Friday is the first day of competition with a 10km swim in the open sea and a 144km bike ride through the Calderona with 1800m of elevation gain. But this is just a warm-up for Saturday, when the distance on two wheels is 277km with 3500m of elevation gain, to finish with the double marathon on Sunday that runs through the Albufera natural park.

To be able to take the start, there are a few requirements to be met. Taking on this challenge is not for everyone and you need to have finished a long-distance triathlon (3.8k swim + 180k bike + 42k run) between 2019 and 2021.

Chantal tells us about her philosophy of life:

“Life is meaningless if we don't set ourselves challenges (whether sporting, professional or personal). Challenges are meaningless if they don't take us out of our comfort zone.

Life is about overcoming, it is about feeling self-satisfaction for achieving things that we thought were unattainable. It is embracing discomfort, accepting adversity and moving forward.

Life is about being, every day, a little bit better than the day before. Overcoming ourselves is what gives meaning to this life.

For me, that's what life is all about...

Striving to be better every day, setting myself challenges that unsettle me, that make me dizzy... and working on them day by day until I achieve them.

My greatest driving force is the satisfaction of achieving what once seemed unattainable, but with perseverance, perseverance and enthusiasm becomes a reality.”

Chantal starts her training at 6:00 in the morning in the swimming pool of the school facilities and combines it with her classes with her students.

WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU, you are a great example for all our pupils and for the whole Agora Lledó educational community.

CONGRATULATIONS!