R&R Pacific - March 2014

calendar of events • travel • tech • recreation • health & fitness • restaurants • culture & arts • special features • nightlife • coupons & much more

MARCH 2014

Island Focus My favorite Chamorro food

My Grandmother’s Recipe

Travel romantic Italy

Venice, Italy.

contents TRAVEL SPOTLIGHT

Italy

HEALTH & FITNESS

“White” foods

CALENDAR

March events

ESSENCE OF GUAM

My grandmother’s recipe

FOREMOST® RECIPE CLUB

Easy Beef Stroganoff

real estate

To buy or not to buy

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ISLAND FOCUS

Favorite Chamorro foods

OUT & ABOUT

Readers’ and event photos

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SPORTS

Mieko Carey

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R&R Pacific is a lifestyle magazine that features the people, culture, and activities that collectively make up Guam. We provide our readers a window into the different facets of Guam’s diverse community through vibrant photography and engaging articles.

www.facebook.com/rrpacificguam On the cover: Rachel Pablo Stone, Patricia Mesa Perry and Vicenta Sanchez Dannelly stand holding their dishes of which the recipes they shared with R&R in honor of Chamorro Month. See story page 12. Photo by Leon Guzman.

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2014

R&R Pacific/February

PUBLISHER

PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR

Maureen N. Maratita

Rosanna Dacanay

MANAGING EDITOR

SENIOR DESIGNER

Jackie Hanson

Vikki Fong

ASSISTANT EDITOR

SALES MANAGER

Jacqueline Guzman

Annie San Nicolas

REPORTERS

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Thomas Johnson & Joy White

Colin Leon Guerrero

CONTRIBUTORS

ADMINISTRATION

Leon Guzman

Janice Castro, Jessica Leon Guerrero

Carmen Rojas

Carmelita McClellan & Bernard (Mr. B) Leonen

Charlie Epperson

MANAGING DIRECTOR

CREATIVE & PRODUCTION MANAGER

Marcos Fong

Taliea J. Strohmeyer

Glimpses Publications include: Marianas Business Journal • Guam Business Magazine • R&R Pacific • Beach Road Magazine

R&R Pacific • March 2014 • Entire contents copyrighted 2014 by Glimpses of Guam, Inc. R&R Pacific is published monthly by Glimpses of Guam, Inc., 161 US Army Juan C. Fejeran St., Barrigada Heights, GU 96913.

Telephone: (671) 649-0883, Fax: (671) 649-8883, Email: assist_editor@glimpsesofguam.com • All rights reserved.

No material may be printed in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher.

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Feature///Travel Spotlight

STORY BY Jacqueline Perry Guzman PHOTOS BY Vikki Fong

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Ahh Italy, one of the gems of Europe and the country that absolutely must not be missed when traveling to the European continent.

The people, culture, history, art, music, food, opera, literature, fashion, cinema, sport, theater and countless other features make this country a boundless entity of activities and sights for eyes that thirst.

Feature///Travel Spotlight

Opposite page: a street in Florence; above photo: Venice, Italy from the Rialto Bridge.

The country’s capital and largest city, Rome, is home of the breathtaking Piazza de Popolo, or People’s Square, where “all roads lead to Rome.” The Piazza de Popolo is adorned with two beautiful fountains — the Fontana del Nettuno and the Fontana della dea di Roma, both were designed in the 1800s.

Another attraction in Rome is the Trevi Fountain. The fountain stands 86 feet high and 161.3 feet wide. It is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most well-known of all the fountains in the world. Thousands of residents and visitors toss coins into the fountain along with their wishes every year. The coins are collected by the government to help feed the poor.

One cannot miss visiting the Roman Forum, the ancient ruins of Roman govern-

ment buildings at the center of the city. It was here for centuries where public debate took place and where the most important marks in history were made. Triumphal processions and elections, the venue for public speeches, criminal trials, gladiator matches and commercial affairs all took place here.

Rome’s beloved Coliseum must not be overlooked by visitors. It was the largest amphitheater in the Roman Empire and has long been considered one of the greatest works in Roman architecture and engineering. It was used for gladiator contests and public spectacles, executions, re-enactments of famous battles and dramas based on classical mythology. You can have your photograph taken with a Roman soldier as a memento of your visit.

The historical Spanish Steps of Rome is

another attraction that visitors enjoy. The staircase of 135 steps is the widest in Europe.

Indeed the steps are a beautiful sight to see.

The steps are between the Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Trinità dei Monti at the bottom and the Trinità dei Monti church at the top.

One would be remiss not to visit the Vatican City while in Rome. In the Vatican, you must visit St. Peter’s Basilica to see the world’s most renowned work of Renaissance architecture. It is also one of the holiest sites in the Catholic tradition. It is one of the world’s largest churches and is the burial site of St. Peter.

It would be a shame not to visit the Sistine Chapel to witness one of the world’s greatest works of art and the official residence of the Pope. The ceiling of the chapel, painted by Michelangelo makes the chapel

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Feature///Travel Spotlight

Clockwise from left: Sistine Chapel in Vatican City; St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City; Statues at the Piazza della Signoria, Florence; Leaning Tower of Pisa.

perhaps the most famous of all churches in the world.

The Vatican Museums are the museums of the Vatican City. Inside are the displays of the Roman Catholic Church throughout the centuries. Here can be found some of the world’s most renowned classical sculptures and masterpieces of Renaissance art.

People often visit Pisa to visit the famous tower and to see how it leans. The tower of the city’s catherdral has a tilt that began when construction started and it is believed to be due to soft ground. It is truly a marvel and has since had renovations and restructurizing in the late 20th century.

Feature///Travel Spotlight

Clockwise from top: Roman Forum, Rome; inside the Coliseum, Rome; Doges Palace, Venice.

The city of Florence has a multitude of attractions and so much to do. Florence is the home of the Uffizi Museum, one of the oldest and most regarded museums in the Western world. It houses some of the most important works of art the world has ever known, including the Ognissanti Madonna by Giotto. Florence is also home to the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence’s main church. Its breathtaking beauty and design remind you this is no ordinary basilica. You must also visit the Piazza della Signoria, the public square with the statue of David and others. At the entrance is a copy of David while the original, by Michelangelo, is being kept at the Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts, in Florence. Other statues include “Perseus with the Head of Medusa” by Cellini and “Judith and Holofernes” by Donatello.

It would be a shame to travel all the way to Italy and not stop at the watery city of Venice. The city of Venice is on a lagoon and most of the traveling is done on the water by vaporetto and gondola. The streets

made of water are strewn with romance and charm like no other.

While in Venice, you must visit the Doge’s Palace. It is a landmark of the city of Venice and a museum built in Venetian Gothic style. The detailed ornamentation throughout the palace is extraordinary.

Another attraction in Venice is the Rialto Bridge or the Ponte di Rialto. It is one of the four bridges that go across the Grand Canal in Venice. The bridge’s detail and ornamentation is exquisite. It is 24 feet high and 75.1 feet wide.

A trip to Venice would be incomplete without a stop to Piazza San Marco where it is known as “the Piazza.” The architecture, design and detail are remarkable and are worth traveling across the world over.

Whether you are seeking divine inspiration, cultural nourishment, artistic consciousness, culinary delight, breathtaking beauty or all of the above, there is hardly another destination than the country of Italy and its three wondrous cities to push you over the top.

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Feature///Health & Fitness

R&R is...

HEALTH & FITNESS.

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH “WHITE” FOODS?

By Carmen Rojas

You may have heard about a new diet or nutritional suggestion based on limiting the consumption of “white foods.”

But what are white foods? Why are they so bad? And if the white foods are bad, does that mean that colored foods are good? Keep reading to get the answers to these and other questions about your food rainbow.

• First, “White foods” refers to the

refined sugars and flours often found in things like white bread, table sugar, white rice, etc. When you think about it, the closer to nature your food is the more “color” it has in it. Fruits and veggies, grains, etc. have some color to them. Processing foods usually involves removing the things that contain color.

Also, the fiber, vitamins, and minerals are tied to the “color” parts and when the processing removes the color the fiber, vitamins, and minerals are removed along with it. So, when you see terms like “Enriched” and “Fortified”it’s marketing speak for adding back chemical substitutes for the natural nutrients removed by processing.

• Second, white foods present numerous problems but can be a part of a nutritious diet if kept in balance.

The first problem is the lack of fiber.

Grains (wheat, corn, rice, etc.) naturally contain fiber. It’s the “brown” in brown rice, and the texture in wheat bread.

As I said above, when we remove the color and create white rice, white bread, etc., all the fiber is removed as well. The problem is that fiber plays a key role in digestion. When the fiber is removed food is absorbed faster which makes the person feel hungrier sooner. And chances are this person will consume more calories than is needed to feel satisfied longer. Fiber also helps remove impurities and particles from the colon which keeps us healthy. The vitamins and minerals play a key role in the functioning of our internal systems

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especially things like vision, blood, immune system, and lymph system.

• Finally, the more NATURAL color in a food the better the food is for you. I say natural because you have to be careful for the food coloring added to your food. Many have been proven to be cancer causing and are banned in other countries. Get plenty of bright and darkly colored food into your diet.

Eat lots of red peppers, spinach, berries, kale, carrots and other foods. Carbs are good for you in moderation, and in their whole grain form. Read the label before you buy “wheat bread”. If you are not sure if it is really whole wheat bread compare the label of the mystery bread to that of white bread. If the first three ingredients are the same… it’s white bread made to look like or be marketed as wheat bread. Believe it or not, “wheat” is of the considered to be a flavor and not a physical ingredient.

Balance is key. Reducing the amount of white foods in your diet and replacing them with a colored variety will add more nutrition to your diet and improve your health. You don’t have to go cold turkey. You can start small and keep looking for more ways to substitute the refined and processed parts of your diet with natural and healthy substitutes. You can expect to lose some weight, feel more energetic, and be healthier all around, all by eating from the nutritional rainbow.

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MARCH

R&R is... family fun.

events

March 1

March 11

60 Years of Mardi Gras University of Guam Charter Day events

Guam Women’s Club Time: 6 p.m.

Location: Hyatt Regency Guam Price: $70 Tickets can be purchased at Salon Paradis or from a GWC member March 1

26th Rainbows For All Children Guam 3.5 mi Race for Youth Registration: 5:15 a.m.

Show time: 5:45 a.m.

Go Time: 6 a.m.

Location: Macy’s, Micronesia Mall March 6 to 15

10th Annual Tumon Bay Music Festival Presented by the Guam Territorial Band Location: various venues in Tumon Bay For a schedule of times, events, and locations visit: www.tbmfguam.weebly.com March 8

Bank of Guam Ifit 5k Run Show time: 5 a.m.

Go Time: 6 a.m.

Location: Bank of Guam main branch, Hagatna Price: pre-race -$10 person and $35.00 per family of four. Race day registration - $20 per person.

March 8

Annual Japan Club of Guam Arts and Crafts Fair Location: Hotel Nikko Guam

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featured event

Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: UOG Campus Free Admission March 14 and 15

University Music Spring Concert Featuring University Singers and University Jazz Ensemble Time: 7 p.m.

Location: University of Guam Fine Arts Theater March 15

Pay-Less Kick the Fat 5k

MARCH 28, 29 & 30

6th Annual Malesso Gupot Chamorro/ Crab Festival

March 18

The Merizo Mayor’s office and the Merizo Municipal Planning Council in conjunction with the Guam Visitor’s Bureau offer two days and one evening of entertainment, games, competition and food dedicated to celebrating the crab. Events include crab catching contest for the kids, coconut husking and grating competition, talaya throwing competition, a canoe race, a jet ski race, a car club show and of course stuffed crab and crab cake cooking competitions. The festival will also feature live cultural performances and performances by Joyce Perez and the Latte Stone Band, the Sabana Band, the Bright Eye Dancers and much more.

Inarajan Village Fiesta

LOCATION: Merizo Pier Park Grounds TIME: 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. (March 28); 10 a.m. - midnight (March 29 & 30)

Showtime: 5 a.m.

Time: 6 a.m.

Location: Chamorro Village Early birds: $7 per Runner • $25 Family of 4 (2 adults max) Race day: $10 per runner

March 19 & 23

I Got Rhythm – The Music of George Gershwin Gala Guam Symphony Society Location: Sand Castle March 21

Chamber Music Series 2: Music of Gershwin, Mozart and Dvorak Time: 7 p.m.

Location: UOG Fine Arts Theater

March 22

March 29

12th Weddings in Paradise Show

2014 XTERRA Guam Championship

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Location: Sheraton Laguna Resort March 23

Guam Ko’Ko Kids Fun Run Time: 7 a. m.

Location: Governor Joseph Flores Memorial Park, Ypao Beach Features a 2K, 3K and 5K Fun-Run for children ages 4-12 years of age

Time: 7 a.m.

Location: Port Authority Beach, Piti Course features a a 1.5km swim; an 34km mountain bike up Nimitz Hill, into the technical terrain atop Mt. Alutom and then down to Mannengon Hills before returning to the transition point at Port Authority Beach; and finishes a with a 8.2k trail run.

EVENTSCALENDAR

MARCH sun

mon

tue

wed

thu

fri

sat 1 • 60 Years of Mardi Gras Guam Women’s Club • 26th Rainbows for All Children Guam 3.5mi Race for Youth

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Guam Discovery Day

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5

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• 10th Annual Tumon Bay Music Festival (thru March 15)

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MOVIES

300: Rise of an Empire Mr. Peabody & Sherman The Grand Budapest Hotel premiere at Regal Cinemas

14 MOVIES Need For Speed Walk of Shame premiere at Regal Cinemas

• 35th Annual Research Conference • University of Guam Charter Day events

In March 1923, New Orleans, LA. began selling the first 6-box Coca-Cola cartons.

8 • Bank of Guam Ifit 5K Run • Annual Japan Club of Guam Arts and Crafts Fair

15 • University Music Spring Concert • Pay-Less Kick the Fat 5K

• University Music Spring Concert

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18 • Inarajan Village Fiesta

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• I Got Rhythm ­- The Music of George Gershwin Gala • Guam Ko’Ko Kids Fun Run

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21 MOVIES Muppets Most Wanted Divergent Bad Words premiere at Regal Cinemas • Chamber Music Series 2

• I Got Rhythm ­- The Music of George Gershwin Gala

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MOVIES

Noah Sabotage premiere at Regal Cinemas

22 • 12th Weddings in Paradise Show

29 • 2014 XTERRA Guam Championship

31 “The Coke Side of Life” campaign is introduced in March 30, 2006.

SPONSORED BY:

For showtimes: Call 649-1111 or visit www.regmovies.com Proudly serves refreshing

*Event times and dates may change without notice “Coca-Cola” is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company.

beverages.

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Cover Feature///Essence of Guam

My grandmother’s recipe STORY BY Jacqueline Perry Guzman PHOTOS BY Leon Guzman & Vikki Fong

Many of us cherish the recipes handed down by our grandmothers and revel in every chance we get to dine on them. During Chamorro Month, R&R Pacific wanted to focus on and share some favorite Chamorro recipes from some grandmothers, but also from some of our locally owned businesses where you can order some of those dishes almost every day.

Elaine Fejeran of Linda’s Coffee Shop.

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Section///Spotlight

Clockwise from top: Vicenta Sanchez Dannelley with Kelaguen Katne; Egglplant with coconut milk; Rachel Pablo Stone with her dish.

Vicenta Sanchez Dannelley

Rachel Pablo Stone

Kelaguen Katne (Beef Kelaguen)

Eggplant with coconut milk

2 lbs flank steak sliced 2 bunches green onions sliced thin Donne’ (red hot peppers) to taste 10 calamansi Salt (to taste)

8 long eggplant 1 can of coconut milk 2 green onions cut fine 1 and ½ lemon juiced (juice only) Donne’ (red hot peppers) to taste Salt to taste

Tamuning

Combine ingredients, toss and enjoy!

Serve with rice or tortillas.

Serves 5 – 6.

Talofofo

Poke eggplant with fork four or five times to release steam. Barbecue the eggplant until it is soft to touch. Prepare a bowl of water to blanch and remove skin from eggplant. Remove the flesh from the eggplant with a fork and discard the stem. Mash up the eggplant.

Add coconut milk, lemon, salt, green onion and donne’. Reserve some green onion for garnish.

Serves 5 – 6.

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Cover Feature///Essence of Guam

Clockwise from top: Patricia Mesa Perry; Chamorro Cake; Hågun Suni/Spinach with lemon and coconut milk.

Patricia Mesa Perry

Christina Toves Perez

Hågun Suni/Spinach with lemon and coconut milk

Chamorro Cake

Mongmong

1 (1lb and 10 oz.) family size package of frozen spinach cooked and drained well Salt to taste Donne’ (red hot peppers) to taste ¼ cup of lemon juice (more if desired) 1 tsp of turmeric (more if desired) 1 can of coconut milk Return spinach to stove top and combine all ingredients except coconut milk. Bring to simmer and adjust flavors. Add coconut milk last. Enjoy.

Serves 5 – 6.

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Main Street Delicatessen & Bakery

2 cups softened butter 2 ¾ cups sugar 6 eggs 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 ½ cups evaporated milk Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream the butter and sugar together until smooth and add eggs slowly. Slowly add the flour and baking powder alternately with the evaporated milk until smooth. Bake in a 9 x 13 inch baking dish that has been buttered and floured at 350 degrees until toothpick comes out clean, about 35 to 40 minutes.

Let cool and enjoy.

Cover Feature///Essence of Guam

Clockwise from top left: Kelaguen Katne; Estufao and Kadun Mannok from Linda’s Coffee Shop; Christina Toves Perez at Main Street Delicatessen & Bakery.

Elaine Fejeran

Estufao Mannok (Chicken Stew)

Kadun Mannok (Chicken Kadu or Chicken Soup)

Chicken half breast, wing, drumstick and thigh Splash of vinegar 2 Tbsp of soy sauce ½ tsp of garlic minced Quarter of a small onion

Linda’s Coffee Shop

Chicken half breast, wing, drumstick and thigh Quarter of a small onion Splash of lemon juice Water Salt and pepper to taste Quarter of a head of cabbage Two small potatoes

Boil all ingredients until tender and serve with steamed rice.

Serves 1 – 2.

Boil all ingredients until tender and serve with steamed rice.

Serves 1 – 2.

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Special Feature///Real Estate Spotlight

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PHR Ken Micronesia Gives Relief!

By Jacqueline Perry Guzman PHR Ken Micronesia Group presented a check in the amount of $6,000 to the Philippine Consulate for Super Typhoon Haiyan relief at the Philippine Consulate office on Feb. 11 at 10 a.m.

Feature///Island Focus

One dish to rule them all: Favorite Chamorro Foods

BY Joy White

At a fiesta table it is protocol to follow the line, starting with the red and steamed rice, and ending with the desserts. But if you could start with anything, what would you start with?

Everyone has a favorite Chamorro food they gladly pile onto their plate first. For example, kelaguen is a popular and well known Chamorro dish. There are different kinds, including fish, beef and even deer. Chicken kelaguen is a particular favorite for Alice Abueg, 41, of Dededo.

the case for Andrew J. Borja, 54, of Sinajana. “My favorite is the Chamorro bistek if it’s done right. It has to be choice chuck steak, not sirloin which a lot of people use. The chuck steak has the right amount of fat. I’ve compared it to the Filipino bistek.

The only difference is the cut of meat and the sauce. It’s good, but it’s a different version. My mom, when she was younger [made it].

Now my wife had to learn from her to make it just right,” Borja says. Bistek, or bisteak, is panfried seasoned beef.

Alice Abueg “I would have to say my favorite is chicken kelaguen. It seems healthier, because it’s like a salad.

I like the lemon flavor. No one in my family makes it; usually at fiesta is where I get the chance to try it,” says Abueg.

Andrew J. Borja For many their favorite Chamorro dish has to be prepared to perfection. This is

Carlos Conception & grandson

It would be great if you could eat your favorite all the time, but what if you had to wait for a certain time of year? “My favorite Chamorro food would have to be venison fritada,” says Carlos Conception, 64, of Santa Rita.

Fritada is a dish cooked from the blood and intestines, and is usually made from pig. Conception adds it is rare because you can only get the venison if you hunt deer or have a friend that does and when it’s open season.

“It tastes good, it’s not fatty. It has a vinegary smell. I even like the gamey smell. My friends make

it and my sister-in-law makes it good. It’s my favorite, no doubt about that,” he says.

Ashley Quichocho Food also has a way of bringing back good memories, as well as being tasty. “Tamales Gisu [is my favorite] because it has a spicy side and a regular side for those who don’t like it. It’s cream of rice on one side and the other side has donne’ peppers so it’s spicy. I usually get it at fiestas. My grandma made it when she was still here; she died when I was younger.

Now whenever I see it, it’s like ‘Oh, that’s the one my grandma made me try’ and so it’s my favorite,” says Ashley Quichocho, 19, Dededo.

in Dededo recalls eating fanihi (bat) and spam when he was growing up, but his favorite is a special kind of sausage with a Chamorro twist. “My favorite is Chorizo Espanol. I like the taste.

It’s natural and it’s up to you to make it spicy. I even eat it raw, out of the bag. If you barbecue it, it tastes good too. It’s not recommended for diabetics. I’m diabetic but I still eat it. Nothing can keep me from it,” he says.

“My favorite Chamorro food is probably Hågun Suni. It’s spinach with coconut milk. I love vegetables, first of all. And it’s a dark leafy vegetable. It’s in the mixing of it. Sometimes people spice it up with donne’, so it’s pika [spicy],” Angie Drilon, 61, of Agat tells R&R Pacific Magazine. Drilon says

Angie Drilon

David Guerrero David Guerrero, 65, originally from Barrigada but now residing

her Auntie Chensa’ made the best Hågun Suni. Since her aunt passed away at the age of 102, Drilon looks for her favorite dish at fiestas. “It’s good on anything, hot rice, any kind of yam or sweet potato. It depends on who makes it,” she says.

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OUT&ABOUT R&R is...

DIVERSITY.

out & about

Photos courtesy of GFT

The Guam Federation of Teachers Martin Luther King Day Festival was held at the Agana Shopping Center on Jan. 19.

GFT members displayed booths to talk to prospective members and the audience was entertained by performers from Urban Fitness Dance & Studio.

Photos by John Calvo and Brandon Lee Cruz

The Our Islands are Sacred Ans Hinasso Community organized a procession on Feb. 1 to Fouha Bay/Fouha Rock in Umatac to honor the spirits of Chamorro ancestors.

TO SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS FOR OUT & ABOUT, EMAIL HIGH-RES PHOTOs to: rrpacificguam@gmail.com

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PLEASE INCLUDE: - CAPTIONS (NAMES, DATE, EVENT NAME AND LOCATION) - YOUR NAME AND VILLAGE

OUT&ABOUT

Photos courtesy of McDonald’s of Guam

McDonald’s of Guam held its 15th annual 5k/2k event benefiting the Guam Crime Stoppers on Jan. 25.

Photos courtesy of Dr. Thomas Shieh

St. Lukes Medical Center and members of the Guam Medical Association traveled to Tacloban on a Medical Mission to serve victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan, known locally as Yolanda in the later part of January 2014.

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Feature///Sports

An Interview with Mieko Carey, professional triathlete

By Charlie Epperson

GSPN’s Charlie Epperson interviewed Mieko Carey, a professional Guam-based triathlete and winner of multiple XTERRA championships, both here and abroad.

CE: Mieko- thanks for taking the time to share your experience on a career that is nearing 10 years. Where are you originally from?

MC: From Saitama, Japan, (just 40 minutes from Tokyo station by train).

CE: Before you got into competitive triathlons, did you play other sports? What is your athletic background?

MC: I grew up swimming. I started swimming when I was three-years-old. I attended college at a sports instruction school.

After that, I worked at a popular gym teaching swimming, weights, aqua aerobics and cycling.

CE: What brought you to the CNMI originally and how do you enjoy training on Guam since moving over?

MC: Originally, I came to the CNMI to be a Clubmate at Pacific Island’s Club in Saipan. My dream was to work overseas. I really enjoy Guam because of all the great athletes and competitions held here.

CE: You are one of the few professional athletes living and training on Guam, tell us a little about how you plan out a season and decide your races?

MC: I try to do all of the Asian races because most of my sponsors are from Japan. I really try to push to race all the Saipan and Guam races. I want to represent Guam well.

CE: You have a wide breadth of experience in racing swimming, road, and offroad triathlon - what is your favorite style of racing?

MC: I enjoy off road triathlon. It is more challenging than road racing. You never know what is going to happen during the race.

You really have to push yourself.

CE: Most memorable experience from 2013 race season?

MC: I have to say Japan and Malaysia XTERRAs. I won my

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fourth Japan XTERRA and I finished second in Malaysia in a stacked field.

CE: What are your goals for 2014 and who are your sponsors for this season?

MC: I would like to finish in the top three in the XTERRA Asian Championship in Australia. I compete for Team Aloha Racing and our primary sponsors, include; Storck bike, Coeur Sport, Catlike, and Salomon. I’m also lucky to be sponsored by IT&E, Zoot, and Suunto.

CE: Do you have any nutritional secrets or staple items you use every race?

MC: I eat whatever I want because I burn so many calories. I enjoy having a beer after long training. I usually have a peanut butter and banana sandwich before training and race mornings. Days before races I eat a lot of carbs and protein and hydrate. No beer.

CE: Going back to when you first got into the sport, what lessons or mistakes did you learn along that you want to share to upand-coming triathletes?

MC: Overtraining can take you out for a long time. Your body needs to recover every three or four weeks. I didn’t listen to my body and I thought I had to push hard every day. I could barely get out of bed for a month because of that. I lost my motivation and was completely exhausted.

CE: When you are done with racing on the professional level (hopefully that is many years away), what is your next challenge?

MC: Coaching and personal training are my background. I would like to coach or help young kids get into the sport or help people in the sport now to achieve their goals. I want to share my experiences with others.