Tri'n Hard

A Tale of Two Steves

2011-10-07T14:55:00.002+08:00

iTri. iSad.

Steve Larsen (1970-2009)
Uber Cyclist, Ironman Triathlete

Steve Jobs (1955-2011)
Visionary, Innovator.

ICanTri for ICanServe Update

2011-07-11T15:20:00.005+08:00

I did it! It was not pretty, but I am now a 2 time IRONMAN finisher, and with your support, we are very close to our target of raising P226,000 for Breast Cancer.

Here's some kwento:

The race had been going pretty smoothly, and I was chugging along rather nonchalantly, feeling strong, until about 9 hours into my race, when my stomach had shutdown, and was resisting any form of nutrition. With more than 26 kilometers left to run, I was dead tired, dizzy, and somewhat incoherent. I gutted it out, put one foot in front of the other, and finished, in spectacular fashion - at the finish line, before entering the medical tent, I hurled in Linda Blair Exorcist style, like I had done several times on the course.

A few moments later, I was lying inside the medical tent, with an IV in my arm. My BP was at 100/70 (rather low they say), and I was a bit out of it. As I lay there, I really got to feel the reason I was there - To raise money for Breast Cancer. Ironic that I ended up (for a few hours), feeling like one - tired, dizzy and puking. I guess that had to be part of the entire experience.

Despite all of that, I was still able to improve my personal best by 30 minutes, finishing in 13 hours and 27minutes, on what they are now calling the toughest Ironman Course.

Thank you for your continued support, a lot of women will be benefiting from this. I am looking forward to doing this all over again someday - but I guess I might have to find something crazier?

For those who are still asking HOW to donate, please email me.

I've been asked a few times whether I would do it again. The answer is DEFINITELY.

Let me leave you with something from Theodore Roosevelt:

'It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.'

Til next time...

Javy Olives
Ironman Survivor, Breast Cancer Advocate

Update: ICanTri for ICanServe

2011-05-27T11:19:00.006+08:00

Dear Friends and Family,

I guess you know what they say about the best laid plans.

First The bad news: the Ironman event in China originally scheduled for this
weekend has been called off. Just weeks before the event was to take
place the organizers encountered problems with the local government. Repairs
being done in the area where we were to swim would apparently not be ready in
time.

Now for some good news. The organizers have been kind enough to give
the participants a full refund and a chance to join an Ironman event in another
destination. I am registered to swim, bike and run on July 3 in Jeju, Korea. More
importantly, I am determined more than ever to raise funds for the ICanServe
foundation. NOTHING WOULD MAKE ME PROUDER THAN to do this in honor
of the brave women that bravely fight breast cancer. Nothing would make me
humbler than having you help me realize this goal.

Donations and pledges can be sent or emailed to: javy.olives@gmail.com. For your convenience we can arrange to pick these
up too.

Thank you again.

Javy Olives

ICanTri for ICanServe

2011-04-20T08:50:00.009+08:00

Dear Friends and Family,

This will confirm what you probably already knew. I am crazy. Last year's Ironman left me wanting more, so I'm doing it all over again in China come May 29. Those gruelling thirteen hours stripped me down to my core. I learned about pain, patience, sacrifice, hope and the power of the human spirit. Best of all, I learned that nothing is IMpossible. This time around, I am psyched to swim 4 kilometers, cycle 180 kilometers and run 42.2 kilometers not just for myself, but for something much, much bigger.

Twelve years ago, my sister was diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer. She helped start a breast cancer foundation and made one vow: that women diagnosed should not go through it alone, in the dark or in shame. Today, the ICanServe Foundation provides hope and help for women with breast cancer. It promotes early breast cancer detection through high impact information campaigns and early detection programs.

In the time it will take me to complete the Ironman, 240 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 60 of them will die because of it.

I'd like to TRI and make a change in any little way I can, and I would love for you to help me. Here are some ways you can:

Donate a flat amount that feels comfortable for you and your wallet.
Pledge any peso amount for every kilometer I complete. (The Ironman is a 226 kilometer event)

If there are cancer survivors you would like to honor, let me know. I will gladly scribble their names on my jersey to remind me why I am out there that day.

Through your generous pledges and donations, every stroke, step and stride I take will help chemotherapy patients on treatment and help subsidize community-based screening programs. Like I said, no one should be helpless or clueless when it comes to cancer.

So there..maybe I'm not so crazy after all.

PS: Below is the pledge form, or you can download it from here. Please disregard my mobile number, as I am in the middle of changing numbers. I may be reached thru javy.olives@gmail.com

Half Ironman Pacing

2010-08-11T13:10:00.005+08:00

It's less than 2 weeks to go to Ironman 70.3 Philippines. I've got nothing much to say, and have a readership of about 3 people (including Hannah and my Mom - who probably just reads up to check up on me), so here's a little something for everyone who'll be at Camsur.

Good luck, Race clean and most especially, embrace the pain.

Here are some tips from Triathlon Coach/Elite Triathlete Gordo Byrn:

[1] Go out easy on the swim - the swim makes no difference to your overall performance. Use it as a warm-up for the bike. Two minutes faster on the swim can result in 20 minutes slower on the run. I ran past 250+ people at Wildflower last year. In an IM race, I typically pass 5-800 people with this strategy.

[2] Go out easy on the bike - your body will need about 6-10 minutes to make the adjustment from swimmer to rider. Take the first part of the ride easy in an easy gear. Initially drink water or highly diluted sports drink. Don't start eating until your HR has settled to your normal bike pace. It is okay for the HR to be a little high at the start but if this is the case then you should feel like you are pedalling VERY easy. Remember, it is a long day - there will be plenty of time to hammer later.

[3] About 15-20K into the bike it is time to start eating. By now you have let your HR settle and you have found a pace that feels comfortable. Personally, I will be racing Vineman at 10-15 bpm below my AT. On my first 1/2 IM I was 20-25 bpm below my bike AT. For your first race, remain aerobic at all costs.

[4] 45-75K is, for me, the crux of the bike - this is where you should be fueling up and maintaining concentration. It is easy to get distracted in this period. Maintain concentration, maintain fluid intake and EAT.

[5] Overall, the purpose of the bike is to replace what you lost on the swim and prepare yourself for the run. There are ZERO benefits to hammering - let the hammerheads go. You will see them later [if you don't then they are faster than you anyhow ;-) ] Find a steady, comfortable pace. Stay aero, hydrate and focus. Remember that good body position is golden in a long race.

[6] Now the run. Start the run SLOW - are you noticing a pattern here? Many people do 1-5 above and then arrive at the run feeling great. They then blow their load in the first mile. Remember that you are about to run a half marathon. I normally leave a frozen bottle of drink at T2 so I can have a cool beverage to start the run. I run the first two miles real slow [please use your own definition here - right Craig?]. Normally, my stomach is full of food and water from the bike. Stitches are common as is a feeling that your legs will never come right. Believe in yourself, believe in your legs and they will come right somewhere between the 3-5K mark (assuming you listened to me about the bike!).

[7] Personally, I like to think about the run as really 4 x 5K. My strategy is to run the first 5K slowly. All I want to do is find my rhythm, hydrate and ensure that I am fueled up for the real race, about to begin shortly. Don't sweat your HR. The name of the game is getting your running muscles going.

[8] The second and third 5K pieces are where it all happens. You are still focusing on running steady. Here you can use your HRM to make sure that you don't run too fast and also make sure that you are not dogging it. If you are having trouble getting your HR up then get on the sports drink or cola if available. If your HR is running very high but you feel OK then this could be a sign of dehydration - water, water, water.

[9] Somewhere in the 8-16K region, you will have a period that feels absolutely awful (at least I always do). Stick with it. It will only last about 5-10 minutes and then you will be through it. Push through these problem times and you will get out the other side. Believe in yourself as an athlete.

[10] Hopefully, you are now around the 15K mark. You are tired but a bit stoked that things have gone so well. You can sense the finish line and you can do the math to see that you are going to beat your goals. You have run a smart race to here and will achieve/exceed your goals. Now it is HAMMER TIME. If you feel like it then rev your pace up. You will know the right amount to increase. Keep it aerobic but it is OK to get a good sweat going. Remember to continue to take fluids at every aid station, particularly around the 15/16/17/18K marks. Just ask PNF about the risks of skipping aid late in the game.

[11] Once you hit mile 12 (19K) spend everything you have, or simply enjoy the tailend of the race. I have done both.

Race Report - The Bullrunner Dream Marathon 2010

2010-05-25T12:02:00.007+08:00

I hadn't been this excited since Ironman a few months ago. Perhaps it's the thought of completing an entirely new distance that fueled this excitement. Contrary to popular belief, I have not run a marathon. Yes, I completed the Ironman, which consisted of a marathon, but barely ran it. In fact, I have only 1 Open Half Marathon (Condura 2009). My longest run race was back in 2008 (New Balance 25k).

After Ironman, I took a few weeks off training, and began putting in some runs in preparation for my first marathon, The Bullrunner Dream Marathon. The weeks flew by, and before I knew it, I was about to tackle my first marathon, with Hannah, Jake, Drew, Levy and many others.

The 2am gunstart created quite a stir when it was announced, but was a welcome change, since it meant not having to deal with much heat. The day began at 12 midnight. After 'breakfast' (more like a midnight snack) and other pre-race rituals, we found ourselves at the starting line all revved up to go.

Drew, Levy & I
Photo Courtesy of Photovendo

The gun went off, and so did we...into the darkness. The first few hundred meters were quite awkward. Since it was almost pitch black, we (Levy, Drew & I) did not know where to go. We did the next best thing - follow the motorcycle (whom we assumed was a race marshall). Thank God he was.

The first 24 kilometers went by pretty quickly. After rounding thru Solenad for the first time, Drew, who had to ready himself for his Emcee duties, peeled off. I began the 2nd loop, the final 18km. At that point, I was pretty much on target. I had a decent rhythm going, and despite a queasy stomach, was feeling fine. A few KMs later was the turnoff to the bird sanctuary, a 3+km off road trail in almost complete darkness. The trail was a welcome break from the hard concrete, but traversing it in darkness meant pacing down a bit, or risking injury. As soon as I got out of the trail, I began the steep ascent. In all honesty, I was not ready for this kind of course. It was a 70m vertical ascent in 2km - that's equivalent to a 21 story building.

My pace was deteriorating badly, and so was my body. My quads were on fire, and my calves were beginning to freeze. Slowly but surely, I made it up to the highest point. The race director Neville, surely didn't let us have it that easy, as he situated the major turnaround another 2km below the highest point. This meant after climbing to the highest point, we had to run another 2km downhill, and make that uphill return, before heading to the finish line. My calves were ceasing, and I was looking less and less like a runner, and more and more like a Nordic skier. I was talking to my calves, asking them to cooperate. As soon as one calf relaxed, the other ceased.

I hit the 32km mark at just under 3hrs. At that point, I was not sure if I could break 4hrs, considering the condition I was in. I gutted it out and proceeded with caution. Running with cramp stricken calves is like treading on thin ice - go too fast and they'll lock up.

The final push
Photo Courtesy of Photovendo

With less than 4km to go, I passed thru the SecondWind zone. Hec ran alongside me for a few meters, shouting encouraging words. Those last 4km were the longest 4km I ever ran. With 2km to go, Levy strode past me. He was going strong, and I could not hang on. It was only in the last 500m that I started to relish the moment. The live band was playing 'My Hero' by Foo Fighters as I made my way thru the finishing chute. 3:57:02. Not bad. Not bad at all.

My signature headstand
Photo Courtesy of Photovendo

Sub 4!
(with one of my senseis Levy Ang)

One by one, first and 2nd time marathoners crossed the finish line. Each had their own emotion, each, their own story. It was an amazing experience I enjoyed sharing with 200 other first timers. We had done what 99.9% of the human population will never do. We had finished a marathon.

with Hannah, who completed her 2nd mary in 4 months

Props to Jaymie and her team for putting up a spectacular race. Congrats to all the Bullrunner Dream Marathoners. Special mentions to Hannah (for gutting it out), Jake (for popping his cherry) and Levy (for PRing by 10mins).

with Jaymie aka The Bullrunner, and Levy aka Happy Hour

'Don’t the best of them bleed it out
While the rest of them peter out
Truth or consequence, say it aloud
Use that evidence, race it around

There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He’s ordinary'
- From 'My Hero' by the Foo Fighters

Race Report - Subic International Triathlon 2010

2010-05-10T22:04:00.006+08:00

Honestly, this race almost didn't happen. If not for peer pressure (aka Drew), I would not have participated. Back in February, after my terrible Ironman attempt, I decided I wanted to do a marathon.

I have never run a marathon, and all those kilometers I logged gearing up for Ironman seemed wasted as I practically walked the entire marathon at Ironman. As soon as Jaymie posted The Bullrunner Dream Marathon, I immediately signed up. It was slated for May 22, and Subit was slated on May 2. This meant that the triathlon fell right smack into what would be the biggest run week. If I was to do both, one would have to take a backseat, and I decided the triathlon would.

After taking a break in March, I resumed running in April. I put in a few swims and bike rides here and there, but my main focus was logging in those miles for the marathon. Subit race day came pretty quickly. Before I knew it, I was having the customary beers with Team Super at The Lighthouse. One turned into two, two turned into three...a familiar story. My teammate Jake asked me what my race strategy would be. He caught me off-guard as I myself did not know at that point. I said it would be 'controlled aggression'. As I really did not know what pace my legs could produce, I could not really do much. Controlled aggression for me meant not holding back too much, but also not running myself to the ground.

Race Day

After some hurried setups of T2 then T1, and a few minutes of swim warmup and light stretching, I found myself toeing the startline of our wave. I gained some confidence, and positioned myself towards the front of the line, about 15 people to the left. I figured this would be a good position. The starting gun went off and so did we. I tried to put in some effort in the first 100m, and it paid off. After around 200m, there was no longer any mayhem. At the first turnaround, I found some feet...bubbly feet. When you see bubbles, you know that's a kicker - and you know that only good swimmers can maintain kicking hard for 1500m. I quickly latched onto his feet, trusted his navigation skills, and enjoyed the ride. After the first loop, I checked my watch and it was 12:40 - whoa! I quickly dove in and latched onto the stranger's feet once again. He towed me thru the backmarkers and onto a swim PR. We exited the water in just over 25 mins. Amazingly I was not huffing and puffing. I later realize that he was a UP swimming alumnus - thank you sir! You are my Bubbly Toes!

I jumped on my bike, and finally pulled off a smooth flying transition (shoes on pedals). I began the tricky part of the course, which was the climbs. This was only the 2nd time on my tri bike since IM, and I was testing a brand new position, so I didn't know what to expect. I went on a decent pace on the uphills, and tried to be as aerodynamic as possible on the downhills. As I hit the turnaround, I started to see familiar faces zooming down. This is usually the point wherein the elites start catching me and zooming by. Surprisingly, only a few people caught me on the bike. On the flats, I just maintained my position, and tried to keep a decent cadence. I rolled into T2 at around 1:15 - success!

All my races have quirks, and this one was in T2. I had totally forgotten where my rack was, since it was early and I wasn't really paying attention when I setup T2. It took a while, and a marshall finally helped me find my rack. I slipped on my shoes, race belt, and our (Drew & I) secret weapon - GSP 'Kamikazee' headbands.

Trying to pace with Idol Abe Tayag

I began running at a decent pace. My run strategy was simply to run with what I had, and try to keep pace. Early on, I felt the effects of long running - I had no speed in my legs. I chugged along and made the most of what I had. Early in the 1st lap, uber runner Martin Lorenzo zoomed by, and made me look like I was sunday walking in Luneta. My pace was slowing down every lap (that's why they call me Positive Split), and there wasn't much I could do about it. At around the 3rd lap, Abe Tayag had caught up with me, and I tried to pace with him. 1k later, I had dropped - his pace was just too much for me to bear. I chugged along the remaining laps, and finished the run decently in just over 48mins.

No its not Karate Kid, its GSP!

All in all, I had a pretty good race. 2:30 total, 20th place overall and 6th in my age group. I was able to slash 7 mins off last year, and improve my standing by 2 places - despite being in a sea of elites, former national team members and a Kona Qualifier.

Next stop, my first marathon @ The Bullrunner Dream Marathon.

Team Super Reprezent!

Customary recovery BBZs at The Lighthouse

'When you move like a jellyfish
Rhythm don't mean nothing
You go with the flow
You don't stop
' - From 'Bubbly Toes' by Jack Johnson

On Shutterbugs, Big Hands & Billboard Dreams

2010-04-16T13:01:00.006+08:00

A few months ago, my cousin-in-law Paco Guerrero, a professional photographer, asked if I could be a model for him as he needed to add some sports photos to his portfolio. Naturally, I obliged. What else would it be but a swim, bike and run. I may not look good, but the photos certainly do!

His website is www.francisco-guerrero.com and his blog is located at franciscoguerrerophotography.wordpress.com. Checkout his awesome pictures. He has an interesting 'Hands Project' which I have been fortunate enough to be part of. He also has a spread in this month's Digital Photographer Philippines.

My huge Hand

Hit him up if you want some awesome photos taken!

'Day comes
Visible horizon
Right where it starts it ends
Oh and then we start the end
Day comes
A visible illusion
Oh where it starts it ends
Love like a sunset '
From Phoenix' 'Love It Like A Sunset'

Geek Tech - Tribikes & Aerodynamics

2010-04-05T07:34:00.007+08:00

Warning: This is gonna be techy and geeky as hell. You see, I'm really a geek at heart. Aside from doing math calculations during the run, I also enjoy playing Jeopardy, Trivial Pursuit and the like. I'm a Wiki whore, and often immerse myself not only in the history of things, but also in its science and art. Triathlon is no different.

I'm not at all an expert at these things. I am merely an enthusiast who loves the technical and scientific aspect of the sport - especially the bike. Let's start with Triathlon Bikes.

Aerobars does not a tri bike make. In the true sense, a triathlon bike is specifically designed to be ridden both comfortably and efficiently in the aero position (elbows on aerobar pads). Geometry is the main difference between a Road and Tri bike. The geometry of a Tri bike makes it easier to ride in the aero position. The main differences are the steeper seat tube angle (76-78 vs 73-74) and the shorter top tube, allowing the rider to be more 'forward'. Also, Tri bikes have shorter headtubes, allowing the rider to 'get lower' up front - for that more aerodynamic profile. Lastly, Tri-bikes tend to have a longer Front-Center (bottom bracket to front wheel axle), for better handling in the aero position.

Taken from Bikesport Michigan

Let's move to Aerodynamics. I'll avoid most of the technical mumbo-jumbo and try to site some real (triathlon) world dilemmas. On a flat road, drag makes up around 90% of the total rider's resistance. 80% of this drag is the rider, 20% being the bike. This means that practically speaking, aerodynamically superior bike equipment does not play as big a part as an aerodynamic position does. Simply put - an aerodynamic position will provide the most time savings. Of course, this assumes that the rider can comfortably stay in that position, generate a decent amount of power and safely steer the ship. The most aerodynamic position is useless if the rider is unable to either generate power in that position, or stay in that position. In these cases, some riders are better off riding a standard road bike, on the hoods.

Weight savings is another very popular topic when it comes to bikes. 'Lighter is better' seems to be the prevailing train of thought. Yes, in a world where I had a bottomless supply of cash, I would most probably build a barely UCI legal bike, with the most aerodynamic parts known to man, and the deepest wheels suitable to the bike course. But of course, that's not the case.

In a test Cervelo did, they pitted 2 bikes (22lb and 17lb) on the same 40km course with the same rider. They found out that the 17lb bike was ONLY 36 seconds faster over 40km. Pathetic, right?

That's the bike - what happened to the rider? Let's assume an 18lb bike, and a 160lb rider. Total weight = 178lb. This means that the bike is only 10% of the total equation. A 1lb saving on the bike, will only mean a .5% saving in overall weight. How much time will that 1lb saving get you over 40km? Around 4 seconds. Lose a pound yourself, and you've saved 4 seconds, and a couple of thousand bucks.

In a humorous, but very technically accurate article, Evan McFarlane explains how his relatively slimmer 'aerodynamic' ankles in fact, have twice the amount of time savings as a top of the line Cervelo P3 Tri Bike. Funny, but true.

So what really am I getting at? I guess what Lance Armstrong says is really right - 'It's not about the bike'. I say that every time I get passed by a 60 year old on a hybrid bike going up Antipolo, and every time I ogle at the uber bikes I cannot afford. Good thing I haven't gotten passed by that Selecta Tri Bike.

IM Proud

2010-03-03T21:38:00.006+08:00

Let me start from something from my sister's blog:

---000------000------000------000------000---

He wasn't what I initially hoped for but I soon learned a little brother wasn't half bad. He was cute as a button and I loved teasing him until he cried, or bossing him around until he squealed. Then one day. Boom! He grew up. And I couldn't push him around anymore. No one could.

with LilBro and BigBro

Yesterday, I was up at six. The boys and I bought playing cards the day before. I promised to teach them Go Fish and Crazy Eight first thing in the morning. By 6:30 I had shuffled and dealt the cards. And then the mechanics. Tato argued that if he turned the card upside down the spade could be a heart. When did he turn into such a wise ass? I guess I didn't take into account little hands couldn't possibly hold the cards together. Or that four year olds look at everyone else's cards except their own. We did breakfast, moved on to puzzles then did a little TV when I needed to catch up on some work. Lunch followed then we were off to do what felt like a million and one errands. With the sun still up we managed more puzzles, more card games, then dinner. With MacDaddy away for the week , a slumber party for three in my room seemed like a good idea. We all piled in and called it a day thirteen or so hours later.

Somewhere under the scorching heat in Langkawi, Malaysia on this very day and in the time we managed to do all of that, the LilBro had one hell of a day. And I'm sure his began way before ours did. He must have played the scene over and over in his head. Oh and the hours he put in! Unbelievable. I kept tabs through his little cyber corner over here. That little boy we used to bribe to take his shirt off while dancing to Village People was hell bent on being an Ironman. I thought he was crazy when he told me he wanted to do this. But I also know something about people and dreams. And know you'd be crazier not to chase after a dream. And so like that package from Shopbop you can't wait to get your hands on, I tracked him down on the website like a mad woman.

keeping track

Swim? Check. Sigh of relief. Bike? Done. Can exhale now. Run? All done. I could finally sleep easy. Thirteen hours and fifty five minutes later he was officially an Ironman. Amazing. And really. He is.

For my brother, who makes me want to push harder.

---000------000------000------000---

My comment in her blog reads:

'Thanks Sann. Its the thought of you guys which really kept me going. There's an Australian Pro (Amanda Balding) who, like you is a breast cancer survivor. I met her before the race, and during the race, every time we crossed paths, we egged each other on. I thought of you and what you went thru every single time. You are the original IRONWOMAN Sann :) Luvya Guys!'

What most people don't know was that I had orginally planned to do an Ironman to raise some funds for my sister's iCanServe foundation. Not that they need any, or that I would raise much, but I wanted to race for something bigger than myself.

As for the race, well it was tough. The gun shot off at 7:45 am, with U2 playing, almost unexpectedly. The swim was out and back 3.8km along the coast. It was tough as we faced a current heading out, but took advantage of it coming back. I came out of the water pretty relaxed and ready for the bike leg. This is where I slowly began to realize why they call this race THE TOUGHEST SHOW ON EARTH. The sun was starting to come up, and the hills just kept on coming. There were 2 hills in each loop wherein I was on my last gear, standing up, grinding at 30 cadence, barely moving. Most of the age groupers preferred to walk their bikes up the hill. Those hills would be on my mind the entire bike portion.

At around KM120 into the bike, I was starting to gas out. My body was rejecting calories, and so I decided to pace down and eat less, hoping my stomach would settle. I persevered thru the heat and headwinds, and came off the bike in pretty decent shape (or so I thought).

Hot Hot Hot!!!

The run portion consisted of a 5 lap 8km loop, plus 2km to and fro the transition/finish line. Coming out of the crazy-hot transition tent, I began shuffling the first kilometer. About 2km in, there was a short and steep bridge, which I decided to walk. On the downhill portion, I had resumed my jog. However, I kept thinking how good that walk felt. The blisters I had on my feet were not helping matters -- I named them Titleist and Precept since they were the size of golf balls.

I stopped in every aid station, and showered myself with sponges and water. I could still take no calories, so I relied on water and some electrolytes. I made the first loop in just over an hour. The walk-jog then started turning into more of a walk as my energy dropped to a low. Soon after that's all it was. With more than 21km left in the race, I had given up. The race had won. It was then that I had resigned myself to just finishing the race.

This journey started with a silly 5k. I call it silly because back then, that's all it really was. As the story goes, I egged Hannah into joining a 5k race, and to make the decision easier for her I told her I would run with her. And so we ran (or jogged) the Mizuno Infinity 5k, and finished in a decent 32:30. Two weeks later, I found a reason to quit smoking - triathlon. I borrowed a bike, learned how to swim, and joined the AAV Sprint Tri. This journey started with a silly 5k, and ended with an even sillier 9k.

Hannah began walking with me, in what would be the final 9km of my Ironman journey. While walking, she read text messages from friends and family. It was then when I started to realize how important this was not only to me, but to my friends and family. I had swallowed my pride, slowed down to a walk, but I held my head up high. I ran the final km, thru the chute, straight into Hannah's arms. I had failed, yet I had triumphed.

Finally Over!

In my eyes I had failed utterly, but in others' eyes, I had done something quite extraordinary. I guess what I could take from this experience, I quoted in my last blog entry -- '...at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.'

I guess there really is no shame in walking...for as long as it is towards the finish line.

For my family and friends, who have taught me how to triumph in defeat.

'And if you say to me tomorrow
Oh, what fun it all would be
then what's to stop us, pretty baby
but what is and what should never be'
From Led Zeppelin's 'What Is And What Should Never Be'

Don't Stop

2010-02-22T21:29:00.006+08:00

The past 2 weeks have been more than just 'taper' weeks. Last week, I visited my mom's hometown. I walked (and ran) the beautiful streets of Barcelona. During the first morning, fighting jetlag, I ran at 5:30 am in 1 degree cold, in the rain. It was awesome in a very, very different way. I also did alot of walking in leather shoes -- bad, bad idea!

The Sagrada Familia - Gaudi's masterpiece which has yet to be completed

During my flight, I finally finished the book Unthinkable by Scott Rigsby. It was truly inspiring, and the perfect read before my Ironman. In that book, I encountered a quote from Theodore Roosevelt which almost brought me to tears. It reads:

'It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.'

The journey has been an awesome experience. Although I was not able to train as long as I wanted, I still swam, biked and ran farther than I ever have. Yes, I swam 3.8km. However, I have not biked 180km and not run anywhere close to a marathon. I put in 5 good weeks of training, pouring in 8-10 hours a week. Not much by most standards, but quite alot for me.

This is the part where we're all anxious, wanting to do more when the program says rest, eat, sleep, rest, eat, sleep. Anxious, scared shitless, antsy, excited, proud...so many emotions and thoughts running through my head. I guess it will all quiet down once I toe the starting line. T minus 4 days and counting.

'Til then...

'Why not think about times to come,
And not about the things that you've done,
If your life was bad to you,
Just think what tomorrow will do.

Don't stop, thinking about tomorrow,
Don't stop, it'll soon be here,
It'll be, better than before,
Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone.'
- From Fleetwood Mac's 'Don't Stop'

My Other Passion

2010-02-17T01:13:00.005+08:00

My other passion has brought me halfway around the world to Barcelona, to attend the GSMA Mobile World Congress. This is not a shameless plug, I am really passionate about my work, and the industry in which it thrives. It's also the perfect way to forget the fact I'll be attempting an Ironman in less than 2 weeks.

Rewind. My passion for the Internet started way back in the late 80's/early 90's, when the world wide web did not even exist. Access to the Internet then was via direct dial-up (IDD), with a whopping 9.6kbps US Robotics Modem. The 'Internet' then consisted of Gopher Sites, and Usenets. Content was very limited but the idea of a web of networks intrigued me. Search engines back then were called Archie, Jughead and Veronica. Suprisingly, Jughead and Veronica actually stood for something - Jonzy's Universal Gopher Hierarchy Excavation And Display & Very Easy Rodent-Oriented Net-wide Index to Computer Archives, although they were chosen first for obvious reasons, then forced to be acronyms later on.

A few years later came the real Internet - the World Wide Web. By then, the US Robotics modem was a speedy 14.4kbps, and local ISPs were born. The Google then was Webcrawler or AltaVista. THE web browser was Netscape Navigator, years before Microsoft 'eased' them out in a very controversial way.

I was in highschool and began studying Internet programming as a hobby. I built my first website and got hooked. After college, I went straight into programming. Ever since, my work (and now social) life has revolved around the Internet.

Fast foward to 2010. The buzzwords here at the MWC are SmartPhones, 4G, Mobile Internet, Mobile Payment and Telco 2.0. I encountered some interesting products and solutions over the first 2 days.

What caught my eye (pun intended) was a quite amusing but very interesting product by NTT Docomo - Eye Controlled Earphones. Yes, you heard me right. Apparently, slight eye movements cause electrical differences which are detected by tiny electrodes which reside on the earphones. Volume control consisted of rotating your gaze as if it were a volume knob. Looking left then right meant a play/pause, and looking to the right twice meant next track. Wild eh? What's next?

Demo-ing the earphones

This afternoon, I caught the demo of the Windows 7 Mobile Phone. Finally, it looks like Microsoft got it right. The OS is based on the Zune platform, so it's more a Multimedia device than a Microcomputer...thank God. Who the hell wants to see that little start button on the bottom left corner in a phone? It was very Iphone-esque but added some cool features, like Wifi synching. They had a cool setup too, a giant touch screen which served as a phone emulator.

Sweet looking interface!

Other cool stuff were...

Team Highroad's Scott Plasma @ HTC booth

Team Highroad's Jersey @ HTC booth

Chicks at the CBOSS booth

Whoops! Back to work.

T minus 9 days and counting...

'Every year is getting shorter never seem to find the time.
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
The time is gone, the song is over,
Thought I'd something more to say. '
- from Pink Floyd's 'Time'

IMpossible? IM possible.

2010-02-12T11:20:00.008+08:00

They did it. Why can't we?

Team Hoyt

Scott Rigsby - Double Amputee

Sarah Reinertsen - Single Amputee

Charlie Plaskon - He's blind.

Norton Davey - Completed Ironman at the tender age of 82.

Jason Lester - One arm didn't stop him. And he didn't stop at Ironman. He conquered Ultraman (2x Ironman Distance)

IMPOSSIBLE? IM possible.

'Now my body is starting to quiver
And the palms of my hands getting wet
I've got no reason to doubt you baby,
It's all a terrible mess

I'll run in the rain till I'm breathless
When I'm breathless I'll run till I drop, hey
The thoughts of a fool's kind of careless
I'm just a fool waiting on the wrong block, oh yeah
Light of the love that I found...'

- from Led Zeppelin's 'Fool in the Rain'

*Images taken from Google Images

The Journey Begins

2010-01-14T08:33:00.009+08:00

It's been quite a while since I've last blogged. I have been busy in different ways over the past month. After the Powerade Olympic Duathlon last December, I was meaning to begin training once again. As most of you already know, I will be doing Ironman Malaysia next month. However, several bouts with dehydration, freak fevers and a really bad case of food poisoning stopped me from training most of December. I literally got rid of all the shit of 2009, as I celebrated New Year's tucked in my hotel bed, stuffed with everything from Ciprobay to Imodium to Probiotics, to even Po Chai (a Chinese remedy for diarrhea which looks like goat shit). I was desperate. 8 days later I recovered, and it took a while for me to get my strength back. Finally, last week, my Ironman Journey began.

I can't help but look back at 2009, my first real year of doing triathlons.

It began with my first Olympic Distance Triathlon back in April, during the Terry Larazabal Bike Festival. There were not many of us, but the bike route was very tough, and the run was hella hot! In that race I learned how pacing is key.

Sweating buckets, hoping to see the finish line soon at TLBF

About a month later, came SUBIT, my 2nd Olympic Distance Triathlon. Again it was hot as hell, and over 300 of us were crammed into the swim start, making it a true washing machine. It was a tough day, but for the first time, I was able to hit my targets. In that race I was able to pace correctly and find my rhythm...something which til this day I still struggle with. Equally important was the 'launch' of sorts of Team Super - my triathlon family.

3/4 of Team Super at the Lighthouse Marina Resort in Subic

Back in August was last year's biggest local race, Ironman 70.3 Philippines. We all had a blast, including my stomach which went south 3km into the run. In that race, I learned how important the 4th discipline in triathlon is - Nutrition.

With Macca, Ironman World Champion

Redemption was the name of the game for quite a handful of us, and that's what we sought after at WhiteRock in November. The run course was tough, and so was the heat, but all of us crossed the finish line with a smile on our face.

Surprisingly I still had some energy left to pull of my signature headstand at the finish

There were a handful of footraces along the way, like the Happy Run, Mizuno 15k, and my first (and still only) Half Marathon at Condura which were welcome breaks in training. There were also a few Powerade Duathlons, which were not only well attended, but were challenging in their own right.

2009 was great. Multi-sport, not only triathlon, is growing by leaps & bounds...its exciting. 2010 is here, and I can't wait.

And so my journey begins (or has begun last week). In 6 weeks I try to conquer the Ironman - a 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2 marathon run. So help me God.

With the help of my one-woman support group Hannah, my training buddies Drew, Mer and Hec, and my senseis Levy, Harvie and Makoy, hopefully my journey will be somewhat enjoyable.

'Til then...

'You call me a fool
You say it's a crazy scheme
This one's for real
I already bought the dream
So useless to ask me why
Throw a kiss and say goodbye
I'll make it this time
I'm ready to cross that fine line'
-Deacon Blues by Steely Dan

Race Report - Powerade Olympic Duathlon

2009-12-13T14:57:00.003+08:00

Remind me to NEVER AGAIN join a Duathlon if it is to be held near Baywalk/Luneta Park. Right now, the only thing I can think of were my close calls with a ton of ignorant passers-by. I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling this way as during the bike leg of the race, I was hearing Putang Inas left and right. There were two really close calls during my 2nd loop of the bike which almost forced me to quit, thinking that it may not be worth a crash since I'm about to begin training for a more important race.

Anyhoo, after the race I chatted with Tad Manas, one of the race organizers after and he shared the same sentiment, and promised never again to hold the race there. It was just downright dangerous. Thank God nobody got hurt.

Now to the actual race report:

The race was an Olympic-distance Duathlon, which consisted of a 10k run, followed by a 40km bike and a 5k run. I seriously didn't have any speed in my legs since I've been focusing more on building endurance rather than speed. My plan was simple - 'Piolo pace' for the first 10k, a decent bike, and whatever I had left for the last 5k.

As soon as the gun went off, a lot of eager beavers floored it. I tried to keep my cool and settle into a pace. At around 2km in, I finally settled with a group of 4. They eventually dropped out and I found myself running with Josh from Sunkist for the next few kilometers. The run was flat, and consisted of 2 loops (which I later verified to be 9.7km instead of 10km). I held a pretty good pace throughout the first run, and tried to save some energy for the remainder of the race. At a little more than 42mins, I was in transition.

A quick transition, probably because I had some 'pressure' - a film crew was filming my transition...thank God I didn't screw up...since I have a knack of doing that.

I was sporting my tri-bike for the first time, and so this would be a 'test' of sorts, since I am in the process of dialling in my settings. The bike was were all the action was. From tricycles, to families crossing the road, to ignorant bystanders, and oh...to a 'taong grasa' who decided to drunkenly walk across the road and plant himself in the middle of the street. Good Lord...this was THE WILDEST bike ride I have ever been in...and all of this happened in just over an hour.

I was so glad to be entering transition, knowing that I was safe. Usually, I dread T2..since it means the run is coming up...but in this case, I couldn't be happier.

Off to the 2nd run I was. Early into the 2nd run, I caught elite runner John Lozada who appeared to be cramping up. I maintained a steady pace throughout, and as I turned off into the finishing chute, Meyo Rodriguez (who dropped me with 2km left at WhiteRock) ran up beside me. He was gracious enough not to sprint me, as we crossed the finish line together in 2:18 and change.

Whew! That was tiring, in a different way. Dodgeball meets duathlon...that's what it was.

On a side note, I'd like to make a plea to the race organizers - Let the age groupers race AS age groupers, and let the Pros race AS pros. They are in a different league...there is no doubt about that.

Happy Holidays!

Unthinkable

2009-11-27T06:31:00.005+08:00

Unthinkable is a new book by Scott Rigsby, the first double amputee to finish in the Ironman World Championships in Kona in 2007.

Unthinkable can also be used to describe what has transpired over the past few weeks...

About a year ago, I featured Scott in my little article called Who You Callin' Tough. A few weeks ago, I got an email from Scott saying that he had read my blog, and would like to send me his book. I was in shock. At first, I thought it was a prank. Anyhow, he asked for my address, and I gave it to him.

Last night, to my surprise, I received the book!

The book and the package

Handwritten by Scott Rigsby himself

A personal note. It reads:
'Javy, Thank you so much for your support. All the very best on your 'Unthinkable' journey. -Scott Rigsby'

Back Cover

Truly Unthinkable. Thank you Scott Rigsby!

Race Report - White Rock Half Ironman

2009-11-12T11:57:00.014+08:00

I really didn't know how to start this report...perhaps a good starting point would be right after Camsur. Two bad things happened at Camsur - pacing and nutrition. I vowed I would try my best to stop these from happening again so when I resumed training post Camsur, I focused on my running. I did not want to walk again. Also, with the help of Harvie (Hammer Nutrition Philippines), I was able to improve my nutritional plan. Upon analyzing my Camsur race, I realized that I took in too much fluids, and possibly overhydrated. Lesson learned.

In all honesty, all my focus was on running better. I've read so many articles about race day performance, and all say one thing - THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A GOOD BIKE, AND A BAD RUN. It's a bitter pill to swallow, but I did. I began admitting to myself that perhaps I paced too hard on the bike in Camsur, which may have caused me to tap out early in the run. So in White Rock, the plan was simple - A relaxed swim, a controlled bike, which would hopefully leave enough energy for a decent run.

Race Day came quick, and getting inked, all setup even quicker. Since there was very little of us, it was less hectic and more relaxed. For the swim, I decided to sit behind Harvie since he was a left side breather. The counter-clockwise swim posed a problem for most of us right side breathers.

The gun went off, and so did we. Right off the bat, I got stuck behind a group of Sabak boys. Got hammered and kicked a few times, and finally found some space. Rounding the bouy and heading back for the first of 3 loops was tough, since the sun was staring straight into our faces. I could not make out where to go, and tried my best to swim as straight as I could. Exiting the water for the first time, I spotted Harvie right ahead of me, and as we re-entered the water, I tried my best to keep at his feet. I did...for the next 2 loops..and we finally exited in just over 25mins...WHAT???? (We later found out that the bouys were stolen overnight and the course had to be redone and ended up shorter by 300-400m.)

Rolling out of T1

T1 went smooth and slow...I hopped on my bike, and I was off. Apart from passing Hiro, and Jomak and Kap Rayzon passing me...the first 60km was awfully lonely. I was riding solo with nobody in sight for almost 2 hours. At around 60km, Jumbo rolled up beside me, and I decided I would try keeping with him for the next 30km. We rode legally for the next 30km, and despite traffic in the last town, rolled into T2 in pretty good shape.

T2 was even slower, as I took time to put on socks, compression socks and my running shoes of course. Jumbo and I exited transition at the same time, and began running together. Our first few KMs went pretty quick, and without any drama. I was actually relaxed, and had a rhythm going...the complete opposite of Camsur. Then the hills came. On the first set of hills, I was able to keep up with Jumbo. However, on the second ascent, I began slipping back. Entering SBMA was a relief, knowing that we would have at least 7km of flats. The group of Makoy, Joyette and Matt were a pleasant sight as well. I made the run turnaround in just under an hour, and figured I was doing alright. I dared not push the pace knowing that I would have to encounter the same hills headed back.

Rolling into T2 with Jumbo of Tri-Clark

As I was exiting SBMA, Roy of Team Timex rolled past me. I tried to keep up but I was running out of steam. On the first set of hills, Amanda ran straight thru me. Again, I could not keep up. Little by little I was slowing down. I just kept telling myself 'It's only 5km left'. Heck, that was the longest 5km of my life. When the hills were done, there was about 3.5km left, and I was a dead man shuffling. In the last 2km, Meyo and Larry ran past me, and I could not stride with them. My pace was 8:12/km. Yes, that's close to a walk :P

Managing to Smile on the Run inside SBMA
Photo Courtesy of Ria

I entered White Rock and tried to surge (and look good for the crowd and my wife) but my legs were locking, so I shuffled along. I never felt so good to cross the finish line. I made it (again)...and this time it was better.

Finishing with a Smile...alot of us did.

Hannah had a gig in the evening so right after the race we had to drive back to Manila. We missed the party but I heard it was fun. Congrats to George for finishing first, and Jomak and Kap for their strong finishes. Congrats also to Roy & Jumbo for podium-ing in our age group - I hope one day I can stand alongside you guys. And congrats to all the others who posted great times - Levy (podium finish), Ting (Champion), JP, Erick, Hector, Harvie, and all the other White Rock Warriors.

Headstand at the finish
Photo courtesy of JC Pineda

Thanks to Hannah for forever covering the race. Congrats to the Extribe group for once again, a great race.

Weight and Motivation

2009-10-16T09:49:00.004+08:00

It's that time of the year again...time for the dreaded Annual Physical Exam (APE). Last year, my APE was horrible. I was classified as Stage 1 Obese. I was well over 185lbs, ate very bad, drank quite alot of alcohol and smoked like a chimney. It was then when I realized I had to make a lifestyle change.

I started with boxing...and then started running because of Hannah. Part of that story is here. A month later, I literally and figuratively dove headfirst into my first triathlon. Since then I have been hooked. What started with a plan to lose weight and become healthy,has turned into somewhat an obsession.

My APE results came in last week, and it was not good. From being Obese Stage 1 a year ago, I was now classified as Overweight. I had high levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) which, as the doctor said, may lead to heart problems. He also said I should watch my diet and put in some exercise. This was not what I was expecting at all. After all the hard work and mileage I put in over the past year, I thought I'd be at least at the 'Normal/Average' range. Looking at the brighter side - I no longer smoke, drink...and I am no longer obese.

Oftentimes I find myself watching 'The Biggest Loser'. I guess you could consider it my guilty pleasure(aside from Dr. Love). I draw inspiration from the show, as I can relate with the hardwork that the contestants are putting in. My own 'Biggest Loser' Before/After is chronicled here. Just last weekend, during the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, the 2005 Biggest Loser winner, Matt Hoover, completed his first Ironman. Although he missed the 17 hour cutoff by just 3 minutes, He completed the distance. This is indeed an incredible feat for someone who lost half his body weight.

Another inspiring story at this year's Ironman World Championships is Rudy Garcia-Tolson, a double amputee (above the leg) and paralympic champion. After a great swim, he struggled to finish the 180km bike leg, and missed the bike cutoff. Unlike other above the leg amputees, Rudy chose to ride a normal bike instead of a hand cycle, which meant he had only his gleutal muscles to move himself forward. His quest to be the first above the leg double amputee to complete the Ironman ended prematurely, but he will be back.

I guess it is that time of the year...time to HTFU and work my ass off and try to be a BAMF like everyone else. I will be back, and at next year's APE, I hope to finally make the cutoff.

Race Report - Powerade Duathlon (3rd Leg)

2009-10-06T21:15:00.006+08:00

This race report is going to be totally different, simply because it's not mine. As soon as the 3rd leg of the Powerade Duathlon was announced, I egged Hannah to make her debut in multi sport. She said she would consider, assuming she could do well enough in some key workouts which would indicate her being ready to tackle the 7.5km run followed by a 32km bike and a 3.5km run.

Fast forward 4 weeks later and Hannah was not only just finishing the event, but finishing strong. She strutted her stuff, 'chicked' some men and even managed to grab a podium spot, finishing 3rd in her age group.

I figured an interview of sorts would provide some insight into first timer's experience.

PositveSplit: How long have you been running?

Hannah: I've been running for 2 years. I started with a few minutes at a time, and eventually graduated to 5ks early last year. After a few 5ks, then came some 10ks and 15ks. Since then I have done 3 Half Marathons and a 25km race.

PS: How did you prepare for this race?

Hannah: Main workouts mostly consisted of brick (actually double brick) workouts, and runs off the bike. Since I was somewhat comfortable with the run portion, I focused on the run off the bike, since that was a totally new experience.

PS: Did you enjoy those bricks and double bricks?

Hannah: Most of them were tough, but the feeling and sense of accomplishment afterwards made it all worthwhile.

PS: What was you strategy for the race?

Hannah: The first run (7.5km), I planned to run in a steady pace, which is slightly slower than my 10k race pace. On the bike, I was nervous about riding with alot of other riders. I just planned on maintaining a steady pace. Once I was off the bike, it was a matter of just completing the last run with whatever I had left.

PS: What was the most difficult part?

Hannah: The last run. The sun was up, and it was already very hot. My legs were already fatigued from the first run and bike segment. Thankfully, I only had 3.5km left to run. I took advantage of all the aid stations and managed to grind it out.

PS: What was the best part?

Hannah: Suprisingly, I really enjoyed the bike segment. The last 50 meters to the finish line was also great. I also enjoyed very much the constant cheering coming from the circle of triathlon friends we have made in such a short span of time. (You know who you are.)

PS: Would you do it again?

Hannah: Definitely. Hopefully next time I could improve on my bike time and run times. Also, I hope I can learn how to confidently drink water whilst on the bike.

PS: Going back to running, what is your favorite running distance?

Hannah: None really. Each distance poses its own difficulties. Shorter ones demand a higher effort while longer ones push one's endurance. However, most of my runs range from 10-12km.

PS: What's next on the list?

Hannah: I hope to do my first marathon in the upcoming Condura Marathon in February 2010. I would have never imagined myself doing one. Hopefully this will be the first of many to come.

*Photos c/o PositiveSplit. (Finally!! Haha!)

Race Report - Ironman 70.3 Philippines

2009-08-26T16:47:00.009+08:00

Finally Aug 23 had arrived, and everyone was pumped. I'm not gonna talk much about the other stuff like registration and other pre-race activities. The only thing I will say is that it was nearly perfect - Kudos to the production team for really putting on a show!

Fast Forward to Race Day

Surprisingly I got to sleep pretty well. I only woke up 2-3 times during the night, and lulled myself to sleep by playing the race in my head. By around 3:45AM, I was already up. After getting dressed and fixing my gear, I proceeded to have breakfast. I boarded the bus headed to CWC, and the next thing I knew was I was already getting inked.

We had already checked in our bikes and T1 and T2 bags, so there was nothing much left to do than pump my tires, put fresh bottles and do last minute bike checks. Shortly after, I proceeded to the lake and did a short swim warmup, and some light stretching afterwards. The energy in the start area was amazing, and so was the anxiety. After the Pros were introduced, 7am was looming and the race was ready start.

Swim - 1.8km

I positioned myself on the outside left, thinking that if I swam relatively straight, I would be taking the shortest route to the turnaround, which was around 600m away. When the gun went off, so did everyone. For the next 400m, it would be about finding space. Constantly getting tugged at the feet needs getting used to, and you must really have the patience not to let it affect your rhythm. Nearing the swim turnaround, I finally got some space and was working some kind of rhythm. Visibility was near zero (I couldn't see past my spearing hand), and so taking someone's feet was more difficult. Heading back, I found myself veering off course, most oftenly to the left. This was the same problem I had in Subic. I adjusted my rudder and voila...I started swimming straight (Joke!). The swim back was mostly uneventful, as I just concentrated on swimming as straight as I could and maintaining a good rhythm.

The Washing Machine Live at CamSur

As I got out of the first lake, I glanced at my watch and it read 23mins...right on target. A short jog over to the small lake, and I found myself trailing my training buddy Drew. This 2nd lake posed a problem, since it was a counter-clockwise swim, and I was a single side (right) breather. However, 50m into the swim, I had a eureka moment. The 2nd lake was a wakeboard lake, hence there were cables which pulled wakeboarders through the course. For some strange reason, the idea of following the cables (sighting it on my right) seemed like a good idea. I followed my instincts and proceeded to guide myself around the lake following the cables. It worked perfectly!

I exited the 2nd lake at around 35mins...a pretty good swim.

T1

I picked up my bag, entered the tent, sat on the chair and emptied out the contents. I had been playing this transition in my head for several times... Put nutrition in back pocket, put on headband, put on helmet, put on watch, put on shoes, put on shades....done! In the middle of all of that, a foreigner beside me was struggling to put on his tri top (he swam bare torso) and asked me for help - Note to self: It's hard to put on tight clothing when you're wet. I was off...

Bike - 90km

The bike leg was amazing. Kids lined the streets holding flags and screamed 'Go, Go Ironman'. It felt like the Tour de France! The support on the streets definitely pumped me up. Aside from the occasional cheers, I got the usual 'Hey Joe' despite wearing the Philippine Flag on my chest. Maybe now's the time to finally have that 'Tangina mo, Hindi Joe ang pangalan ko!' jersey made :P

Still happy entering T2

The course was an out and back, roughly 90km total. They said it was flat, and most of us believed them. As I approached the turnaround point, my watch read 1:17...I thought to myself...this could not be possible...I was flying! Then it dawned on me...we must have been going downhill or had a tailwind. Sure enough, a few mins later, I found myself grinding out...barely making 27kph. The way back was tough, but again, the crowds on the streets (some said there were 90,000 people) kept us participants going. Before I knew it, I was on the main road, with less than 10km left to T2. I was feeling great. I made it to T2 and I was actually around 5 mins ahead of my target.

T2

T2 was much less complicated. After racking my bike, I walked to the change tent with my T2 bag, which had already been positioned at my rack. I changed from cycling to running shoes, took off my helmet and replaced it with a visor, and put on socks. As I was about to exit, Drew came in. I decided to wait for him so that we could run together.

Run - 21km

Drew and I began running at a pretty good pace. However, around 10mins in, I had to stop to pee, and told him to go ahead. There was not a cloud in the sky, and reports said it was pushing well over 40 degrees. It was close to noon then, so I made sure I stopped at every aid station, pouring as much water over my head, and getting some water and Gatorade into my system. About 3km in, my stomach felt really bad, and it seemed to be rejecting something. I stopped and proceeded to the side of the road, where I ended up puking. Everything came out, including my breakfast. A member of Sunkist Tri-Hard, which I later found out was Sec. Noy Andaya, briefly stopped to make sure I was alright, and handed me a bottle of water. This gesture of sportsmanship is what this sport is all about - thank you Sec. Andaya.

Drew and I starting the 21km hot run

I knew I needed to recover somehow, so I started walking for a few KMs. Once I felt a little better, I managed to alternate between jogging and walking. My race had gone south, and I couldn't stop thinking about it. As I was ending my first loop, my wife screamed 'Dig Deep!'. I then realized that this was what I have been training for. I needed to just suck it up and make do with what I had left. I shuffled the remaining 11kms, quads dead and calves locked-up. I walked every hill, and took my time in every aid station. I wanted to make sure I made it home.

With a few mins to spare to break 5:50, I finally crossed the finish line. The last 20m, running through the chute, and hearing your name is simply amazing. The sense of accomplishment makes all the pain worthwhile. At the finish, I was greeted by my wife Hannah and my teammate Drew. It never felt so good to be done.

Ironman 70.3 Finisher

I'll end here and save the learnings for another blog. It was a great experience and I have to thank Hannah (for not only the excellent race pics, but for all the support) and my teammates, especially Drew (for pushing me in every single workout).

My facebook status says it all...

See you all again next year. It was a pleasure. Congrats to all who started :)

With 2007 Kona Champ Chris 'Macca' McCormack

With the uber photographer and race journalist

T minus 6 days to Ironman 70.3 Philippines

2009-08-16T18:59:00.014+08:00

Today's training day consisted of just 7km, with plenty of hills and under the hot noontime sun. I figured a good way to prepare myself for next sunday's big race was to not swim, bike or run.

The beautiful view from Hole #1 from Wack Wack East Course

I have to admit. My game started rough. I dubbed my first shot, something which I have not done in years. I went on and managed to scrape a bogey on the first hole. I was able to gain some rhythm after that. My drives were decent, my irons were blazing hot, but my putter was ice cold. I made two birdies and managed to shoot a decent 79. Not bad at all for my first round in over 3 months.

For those who do not know me too well, I'm really a golfer trying to swim, bike and run. I come from a family of golf addicts. The kind of addict that head to the golf course during a typhoon, hoping the skies would clear out. The kind of addict that wakes up at 3 or 4am, to catch the Masters, British or U.S. Open.

One of the many ditches and water hazards in Wack Wack' East Course

Golf and triathlon are almost complete opposites. Golf is almost purely mental, and triathlon all physical. However different they are, they share some striking similarities. Golf has taught me so many things through the years, here are some which I'll be taking to next sunday's race.

Relax and focus
Concentrate on the task at hand
Find your rhythm
Make the most out of the situation you're in
Play it smart
Avoid taking unnecessary risks
Enjoy

The Pagoda at the 18th hole

It took over 4 hours to complete the 7km, 18 hole course...lousy by any running standards, but a great way to spend a sunday afternoon. The work is done, and there's nothing left to do than relax and recuperate. Good luck to all those who will be competing in Camsur.

VMO Stregthening

2009-07-07T08:23:00.006+08:00

What the hell is a VMO???? That was exactly my reaction when Doc Randy Molo (an avid cyclist and budding multi-sport athlete) explained to me what my problem was.

Rewind to 12 years ago... Back in college I was playing both UAAP tennis and soccer for Ateneo. During soccer practice one day, I was slide-tackled and what happened next, even I have a hard time explaning. My left leg got caught behind with the tackle but the rest of my body kept moving forward. Eventually, I was in a full split (hurdler style) and my knee landed head first into the ground, just under my ass. It's very difficult to explain how I sat on my knee.

I could not walk off the field, and my cousin had to drive me home. The next day, I went to see a sports doctor. Almost instantly the doctor said I had torn both my ACL and my miniscus. He suggested I undergo surgery right away. I was not ready for that. I had never undergone surgery ever (well, ingrown toenail surgery doesn't really count does it?). I wanted a second opinion. I saw Dr. George Canlas, and he said the exact same thing. However, he said if I opted for no sugery, I would be able to somewhat strengthen the muscles around my knee and function somewhat normally.

I did not undergo surgery, and also did not return to competitive soccer and tennis. From then til March of 2008, I avoided sports wherein there was alot of lateral and quick movement, as my knees were not up to it. I would play the occasional company basketball, volleyball and badminton tournaments, with my 'robocop' hinged knee brace. I stuck to golf, and kept telling myself my knees would not let me run.

Last march 2008, however I accompanied my wife to her first 5km race, and have been running since (See story here). However I was not pain free. My knees would give way at around the 6-7km mark of each run, most especially over concrete. It came to a point where I could not even bike pain free.

Forced to wear my knee brace
With Hannah, Jody & Jaymie (theBullrunner) @ the Happy Run
Photo courtesy of Jaymie Pizarro

I was desperate, and seeked the help of doctor once again. Upon examination and X-rays, the doctor said that I was suffering from PFO (Patellofemoral arthritis). In short, my knees had aged much faster than I have. I was a 30 year old man with 50 year old knees. There was good news and bad news. The good news was that I could swim, bike run and not further 'damage' my knees. The bad news was there was no cure.

Several weeks later, I encountered a cyclist and Sports Doctor Randy Molo in the Pinoy Roadies forum. I went to see him at his clinic, and upon examination, he was surprised to notice that despite my old injuries, my knees were quite stable. He then lectured me about VMO strengthening and how it might help me.

Taken from www.sportsinjuryclinic.net:

"VMO stands for Vastus Medialis Oblique (sometimes called obliquus). This is part of the Vastus Medialis muscle which is one of the four Quadriceps muscles of the thigh.

The fibres of VMO have a more oblique alignment than the other fibres of Vastus Medialis (hence the name!). It arises from the tendon of Adductor Magnus and converges to join the other Quadriceps muscles inserting via the patella tendon, to the tibial tuberosity at the top of the tibia (shin bone). The picture on the right shows the relative position of VMO, just above and to the inside of the knee cap.

VMO is an active and dynamic stabiliser of the patella. In healthy, pain free individuals the fibres of VMO are active throughout the range of movement. In patients with Patello-Femoral Knee Pain (Chondromalacia Patella) the fibres contract in phases, inconsistently and fatigue easily.

The specific role of VMO is to stabilise the patella within the patella groove and to control of the 'tracking' of the patella when the knee is bent and straightened. Mis-firing and weaknesses in the VMO cause mal-tracking of the patella and subsequent damage to surrounding structures and aching pain."

Finally, some hope! I googled more and found exercises to do... (Courtesy of http://www.ualberta.ca)

VMO Leg Lift - Sit holding the unaffected knee to the chest, with the affected leg straight forward. Turn the foot out at a 45 degree angle, lift the toes to the shin and contract the quads hard

VMO Leg Lift Start Position

VMO Leg Lift End Position

VMO Leg Lift End Position (Front View)

VMO Wall/Ball Squat - Lean against a sturdy wall with feet shoulder width apart and about 12 inches from wall. Squeeze a ball, roll or other firm object of similar size between the thighs.

VMO Ball Squat Start Position

VMO Ball Squat End Position

In the last few months, I have been virtually pain free! Thanks Doc Randy, you're a savior :)

Trivia - between my cousins and I, we have over 10 torn ACLs, 8 reconstructive surgeries, and a ton of knee stories.

Race Report - Powerade Duathlon

2009-06-30T08:41:00.013+08:00

In all honesty, after SUBIT last May, I have been slacking off. I've hardly been riding, and have toned down my runs and swims. The weather hasn't been cooperating since, and I have been finding reasons not to train. Over the last few weeks however, the pressure of Camsur 70.3 has finally gotten to me. It's less than 2 months away. HTFU Javy!

I was excited for this duathlon for several reasons. First, I had not done a duathlon since November last year. Secondly, I have been experimenting on a TT setup for my bike and I needed to test it. Also, I have not done a brick in months, so this would be a great workout. Lastly, the members of the national team would be present, as well as a lot of the elites of triathlon.

I racked my bike, setup my shoes and helmet, and I was set. Did a few hundred meters of warmup and I was good to go. Levy and I agreed to pace together. As I was not sure what kind of pace my legs would give me, I was planning on 4:30-4:45/km pace for the first 7km.

With one of my Idols National Team Member George Vilog

Run 1

The group started off at a frantic pace - of course, the national team members led the pack. About 2km in, there was some confusion and runners ended up doing a little loop. Amidst the confusion was our top National Duathlete August Benedicto, who seemed to have lost his way, and lost ground to the front pack. After clearing out some things with Coach Melvin and the Marshals, he continued on his way.

After about 4km, I found myself pushing a decent pace with Bombie of Tri-Clark. Later on, we caught up with Carlo of Timex and another Tri-Clark member Edward. I held on and finished the first run in 31:30 - right on target.

With Carlo during Run 1

T1 is never smooth for me. In almost every race, I screw up T1, and this was no exception. Right as I was mounting, I realized my cleats would not engage. I checked my shoes only to see my cleat covers still on - a rookie mistake! Note to self: Check shoes in transition :)

Bike

I didn't have much of a plan on the bike. As my setup was only days old, I just wanted to give it a good go and get a feel for it. The course was nice and pretty flat. Apart from a delivery truck parked in the middle of the bike course, it was a pretty good route.

With Deo of Tri-Pilipinas during the Bike Leg

I settled into a pretty good rhythm early. After a loop or two, I was in a pack with a tall kid and Edward of Tri-Clark. We took turns taking leads (not drafting). After the designated 5 loops, I checked my cyclometer and it said 25km. I didn't give it much thought, and proceeded to make another bike loop. The advertised distance was 7km - 30km - 4km, so I really did not doubt my decision. On my way back, I started noticing alot of people already on the run. That's when I realized that I might have made a mistake.

I entered T2 after 32km, and had averaged just a tad below 35kmh - well above my target. The setup seemed to be working! I racked my bike, slipped on my running shoes and visor, and off I went.

Run 2

The 2nd run was much simpler - it was an out and back. I settled into a pretty decent pace, and just thought of holding that pace all throughout. I was feeling pretty good as I tailed Joyette towards the finish line. I finished the 2nd run is just over 17mins, totalling 1:43.

I later on found out that I did, in fact, do an extra bike loop. Many other participants had made the same mistake. I'm not a loop counting person, so I rely on the accuracy of the information provided. Perhaps in the next race, I would be more diligent in asking the race director the exact distances of each leg, so that there would be no confusion.

Next stop, Camsur :)

*Thanks to Hannah for the pictures

Looking Back - Happy TRIniversary!

2009-06-15T08:35:00.007+08:00

It's been a year and Oh what a year It's been.

A year ago today, I participated in my first triathlon. It was the Independence Day triathlon in AAV. It was a sprint distance, which I rushed into with only 2 weeks notice. I did everything almost completely wrong that day, apart from the fact I had a pretty decent swim.

Tapped out! @AAV Tri June 2008

I walked in with just a bottle of water, a borrowed bike and running shoes. I wore swimming jammers and a cut-away cycling jersey. No gu, no gatorade, no extra water bottle...WHAT WAS I THINKING??? I walked out of there beaten, yet happy. I was hooked.

@JalaJala

Since then, I've done a few more triathlons (including 2 Olympic distances), duathlons, aquathlons, long rides, a road race, a criterium, a bunch of half marathons and a whole lotta 5, 10 and 15k races. It's been a long and sweaty journey but a great one so far.

With my training buddies Drew & Mer

I've gained alot of new friends, and have been fortunate enough to be part of a great team (Team Super Ahem!), who not only trains hard, but also parties harder! Talk about balance :)

With Half of Team Super @ SUBIT May 2009

Making 'sundo' Hannah @ Condura March 2009

Look who's on a roadie!

It started off with a silly 5k...seriously :P

Happy TRIniversary to me!

Next stop, Camsur :)

I am Ninoy

2009-06-10T08:39:00.009+08:00

Several weeks ago, my teammate and co-member in the IamNinoy Runners group, Jake de Guzman, delivered an inspiring speech at the MOU signing between IamNinoy Runners and the 5775 Reverse the Education Crisis.

With his permission, I have published it here.

Grab a box of tissue paper, and enjoy.

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I Am a Runner

My name is Jake de Guzman. I am an Entrepreneur, A Father, A Triathlete, A Teacher, and a Runner.

I started running in 2002 with a group of friends. I was about 160lbs, very pale, and lived a stressful work life without any exercise. I remember the first few runs were painful: my lungs hurt, my shins hurt, my lower back hurt, and all I could do was 15 mins until I had to walk.

After a month of trying to jog, I made it past the 15 minute pain threshold. And once you cross 15 mins, it gets easier to reach 30 then 45 then an hour. And then it starts to feel good. You breathe easier, you feel lighter, and there’s satisfaction that comes from working your muscles to propel yourself forward.

Driven by the need to measure your new found fitness or set a new motivating goal, we decided to join a 10 k race. And for someone who’s never run 10k, it seems like an impossible distance to cover on foot. I remember thinking, the race starts at 6 am, will I be done by lunch kaya? So I trained and ran and ran and the night before the race I couldn’t sleep: I had images of crawling on Roxas Blvd, my clothes tattered by the wind and sun, and me gasping for breathe and dying of dehydration.

I woke up on race day and realized I didn’t know what to eat. So I ate a bowl of cereal, an over ripe banana and 2 cups of coffee. By the time I got to starting line my stomach was rumbling and asking for some attention. All I can say is I had two races that day. One was 10k that I did in 1:08:38 and the other was a 200 meter sprint to the bathroom. To this day I’m more proud that I made it cleanly to the finish in that second race.

There have been many races since then and many more days of just running. Some days are good days and some days are bad. I remember my first 25k half marathon that I wouldn’t have finished without the support of the 2 friends I was running with. I remember my second half marathon that I proudly did faster than the first partly because I didn’t want to stay too close to Zorro. I also remember how my knees ached right after the race and I had trouble just standing up. I remember immediately bonding with a guy in the 10k run of the Subic Triathlon. We said no words but we pushed each other and gave each other strength. We shook hands as we reached the finish together .

I have run to mark special moments.

I ran before my wedding and cried and cried for reasons I didn’t understand. I ran after my best friends father passed and something about the distance I was covering and the constant rhythm of foot on pavement seemed to connect me to his loss and his grieving.

There are days when running seemed easy and the time and distance passed quickly. And there were days that you fight the voices that tell you to stop and you push yourself to just get to the next lightpost, or to put one foot in front of the next ...just to get to the finish line.

So what’s the connection between running, 5775 and the I am Ninoy?

The theologian Karl Rahner once said, “There are certain things that are understood once you have suffered through them.”

As Runners, we understand the power of transformation. No matter our size, fitness level, or experience... We understand how small things done in great ways can create change and be empowering. We understand how important it is to build a base in order to move forward or how nutrition affects the ability of the mind to understand and the body to perform. We understand how long difficult tasks can be accomplished by just putting one foot in front of the next. And we understand how together we give each other energy,motivation, and endurance no matter how long the day or difficult the task.

Another writer and runner, John Bingham, known in runner’s circles as the Penguin because of the way he waddles during a run, says it much better than I can:

“So many of us have changed our own lives through running that it makes sense we would want to change the lives of others the same way. We can take the drive, ambition, and dedication we used to transform ourselves from couch potatoes to athletes and channel that into making a difference for someone else."

When that happens, we'll truly understand the words of the renowned anthropologist Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Thank you.

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To date, the IamNinoy Movement has raised close to P500,000.

Sign up and be counted as a Hero.

The Toughest Race on Earth

2009-06-05T12:18:00.010+08:00

I've heard and read the phrase 'The Toughest Race on Earth' many times, describing many different athletic pursuits. I often wondered, what really is 'The Toughest Race on Earth'?

You decide.

Here are some candidates, in no particular order:

1. The Iditarod - An Alaskan trail sled dog race wherein 'mushers' and their dogs race close to 2,000 kilometers in as little as 8, or as much as 15 days. 'Normal' weather conditions are way below zero, but when blizzards set in, racers have to endure temperatures as low as -70 degrees Celsius.

2. Badwater Ultramarathon - Dubbed 'The World's Toughest Footrace', this Ultramarathon (a footrace covering a distance of more than a marathon - 42km and above) takes ultra-runners 215 kilometers from Badwater Basin, through Death Valley ending at Whitney Portal. If running 215 kilometers wasn't tough enough, take into consideration the over 8,000 vertical feet (2,500m) which the runners have to ascend. And Oh, I forgot to mention, it's hella hot too.

3. Enduroman Arch to Arc Triathlon - 'An ultra-distance triathlon. The triathlon starts with an 87-mile run from London's Marble Arch to Dover on the Kent coast, then a cross-channel swim to the French coast, and finishes with a 180 mile bike from Calais to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The clock starts at Marble Arch, London and stops at Arc de Triomphe, Paris. Only five athletes have ever completed the challenge, the current record being held by Enduroman's Eddie Ette and currently standing at 80 hours and 5 minutes.' (Wikipedia)

4. World Deca-Ironman Championships - And you thought an Ironman was tough? What about 10 Ironman distances non-stop? 38 kilometers of swimming, 1800 kilometers of biking and to top it of, 10 marathons (420 kilometers of running) constitute a deca-ironman. Need I say more?

5. Le Tour de France - One of world's most popular cycling races, takes cyclists close to 4,000 kilometers in 3 weeks, around France. Over the duration of the course, cyclists climb as much as 100,000 vertical feet - that's climbing Mount Everest three times!

Not to forget, there are other multi Ironman distances like the Ultraman (2x Ironman), Triple Ironman and 5x Ironman distances. Who would have thought the Ironman is not enough?

Any takers?

*Photos c/o Google Images

Race Report - Subic International Triathlon

2009-05-20T08:43:00.011+08:00

My race weekend began quite early. On Saturday morning, my best bud Elmer and I rode up to Dungaree Beach to watch the Women Elites and those who joined the Sprint and Mini-Sprint Events.

After a very quick swim, two Chinese athletes led out of the water, with a chase pack of about 4-5 athletes, including our very own LC Langit. While they headed out to the bike route, we rode back towards boardwalk, to catch their bike and run loops. We were surprised to see a Japanese athlete leading the way on the bike. The chase pack was around 2-3 minutes behind, led by LC Langit.

In ITU races, the elites are allowed to draft on the bike. I'm not a big fan of this 'rule' for several reasons. First, it practically negates the bike portion of the race, turning the race into a virtual footrace (with a 1.5km swim and 40km bike 'warm up'). Secondly, any swim or bike breakaway is 99% useless, as the chase pack has the advantage of group riding, and most often will catch the breakaway. Last, not everyone wants to take their turn up front, there are some who tend to conserve energy, resulting to wheelsucking.

As the women elites hopped off their bikes in T2, the Japanese was slightly ahead, with the chase pack only a minute behind. After the first of 4 run loops however, LC suffered from stomach cramps, and got dropped. I later found out that she did most of the work on the bike. Props to her for finishing 5th overall. She will be a force to reckon with in a few years. You made us proud, LC!

Race Day

The day started VERY early, probably due to the fact my best bud Elmer, was tossing and turning the whole night, and finally got up at 3am. I don't blame him, as about a year ago, I could not sleep before my first race. At around 3:30am we finally got up and started our morning routines. After breakfast, off we were to T2 to setup, and finally to T1 for final bike preparations.

I had very much been anticipating this race since this is THE Olympic distance race of the year. I was very much excited to be swimming, biking and running amongst the who's who in Philippine Triathlon. I was stoked! Add to the fact it was Team Super's coming out party - with our TriSuits and all!

Me, Drew, Ann, Jody, Elmer & Jake

It was a long wait. The first wave (Elite Men) started at 6am, followed by the Women Age Groupers at 6:30am. Ironically, after the two waves disappeared, the number of people around seemed to increase. I had already been anticipating a crowded swim, but it was only then that I really realized it wasn't going to be pretty. There was almost 200 of us in our wave.

Last Pee break before the Swim Start

I did a short warmup in the water, and light stretching. Before I knew it, we were already being called to the starting line.

The Swim

The swim consisted of 2 750m loops, rectangular in shape. It was a beach start, and Drew and I found our starting position in about the 3rd row, near the bouy line. Although I did not think this was a good idea, I figured it was still better than having to swim sideways through the pack.

200 angry men diving into the water

The horn sounded and we were off. It's hard to explain what the swim is like. It's a constant struggle. You're just getting hit from every angle. I tried my best to push forward but there was just no space. I tried to find a rhythm, but I couldn't. I just focused on surviving, and finishing the swim. As I got out of the water after the first loop, I checked my watch, only to find it hanging, about to fall off. The pin must have been knocked off in one of those encounters. I took my watch off, slipped it under my tri-shorts and finished off my 2nd loop.

The 2nd loop was a bit easier, as the pack had already thinned out. I came out of the water in 28:30 - not my best, but I'll take it. I was happy to be out of the water.

At T1 with Jomac of Team Herbalife

The Bike

My transition started off pretty smooth. I slipped on my helmet, put on my shades, moved the watch from my shorts to my back pocket and began pushing my bike out to the mount area. As I hopped on my bike and began pedalling out, I kept missing my shoe, and it kept scraping the floor. I had to mount-dismount several times before I finally got going. A rookie maneuvre. Note to self - practice transitions more!

The bike route was slightly easier than TLBF. It consisted of an out and back route (Dungaree - Ocean Adventure), then flats to boardwalk, and a last 10km loop around the CBD. My strategy was quite simple - conserve on the uphills, hammer the downhills. The climbs are tough, especially when you're recovering from the swim and still have a 10k run to think about.

Riding behind National Duathlete Augusto Benedicto

On the first few climbs, I was being passed by veteran riders (mostly Fitness First cyclists). On the downhills however, I caught them. Going downhill is about the only time I like the fact I am a hefty guy. After the turnaround, it was a few climbs back up, before the last downhill back to Argonaut. Somewhere in that stretch, I rode beside my idol Abe Tayag, who looked mean in his CEEPO. I probably managed to keep up because I could be more aggressive on the quick turns on my road bike, as opposed to someone on a Tri bike. I was starstruck, and said a quick hello, before he sped away.

As I got back to the CBD, I was relieved to know even though I had around 20km more of cycling to do, it was all flats left. I tucked into my 'aero' position on my miniTT bars, and tried my best to maintain 30kph. After passing T2 for the first time, I had 10km left, and I tried to maintain a good pace. It was a headwind heading out, and a tailwind coming back. Cheers were coming from teammates, friends, family and even from construction workers (I think they were there to watch the women). As I ended my bike leg, I had a big smile on my face - A Chrissie moment. However, a hot 10km run was looming.

I slipped my feet out of my shoes heading near T2, and dismounted at the line. As I pushed my bike along, my shoe dragged (Again!), and snapped off. I carried my bike (ala Cyclocross) into transition. Good thing a marshall picked up my shoe and gave it back to me. I slipped my running shoes, put on my race belt and visor, and off I was to the run.

The Run

The run consisted of 4 loops of 2.35km, plus a mini 600m loop to the finish line. The route was flat all the way, and had some shade. My plan was to try to hold a pace between 11:30 and 12:00 per lap, giving myself a shot at breaking 50 mins. I had never officially broken 50 mins in a 10k race, so I had been wanting to do it in a Triathlon. My first lap went pretty smooth, I crossed my marker at 11:28 - on the dot! I let no aid station pass me by. Each one, I took 2 cups - one to drink and one to pour over my head. Also, I bathed in the water shower every loop, just to keep my body cool. Second lap came - 11:30. I was doing pretty well. I felt like i was slowing down, and by the time I passed my marker for the 3rd time, I had slipped back by almost a minute. I had around 3km left. I sucked it up and tried my best to push my pace a tad faster. I managed to squeeze a bit more pace from my shuffle, and finally crossed the finish line.

Hot Run!

My finishing time was 2:37, and I had managed a 49:33 run split! I was ecstatic! I finished 22nd overall and 7th in my age group. The field was pretty deep, and it was an honor to be racing with these vets.

I spent the next half hour catching my breath, and cheering on my friends and teammates, as each of them crossed the finish line, mostly setting personal records. By the time all were done, we were famished, and retreated to The Lighthouse for a sumptuous lunch and recovery drinks.

The Lighthouse

The race was very well organized, and certainly is a must-do. I can't wait to do this one again.

Congrats to Elmer (for finishing his first Oly with a great time), Jake, Jody, Levy and Ann (for setting new PRs), Drew (for his podium finish) and Migs and Packy (also for setting PRs).

Tired, Sweaty, Hungry but Oh So Happy - That's team Super for you!

Thanks to Zed & The Lighthouse Marina Resort for the accomodation and food, Hannah, Ady, Vince, Makoy, Alf & Ivy for the race coverage and cheering.

Race Report - Speedo Aquathlon

2009-04-24T07:52:00.011+08:00

Rewind

12 years ago to the date (April 19), my closest cousin died in a tragic car accident along South Superhighway. He was on his way home from his girlfriend's place, and was somewhere between Sucat & Bicutan, when his tire blew, causing the car to go out of control, and unto incoming traffic. He died instantly.

Mikel and I grew up together, born only months apart. We spent summers together, and had the same passion for sports and the outdoors. He moved from Bacolod to Manila to attend college at the Ateneo, where I was too. Instead of sleeping at his dorm, he preferred rooming with me. We shared a room and a bed, amongst alot of other things.

Growing Up

Both of us loved sports. Mikel represented La Salle Bacolod HS in Soccer and Basketball. In high school, I represented Ateneo in Tennis, Golf and Track & Field. Miks was one hell of an athlete.

It was because of Miks that I rekindled my love affair with soccer. I remember waking up early on saturday and sunday mornings, heading to Ateneo to kick around, and maybe play a pickup game or two. During afternoons, we would head to San Lorenzo, and play 7 or 8 aside. It was something we shared.

During the summer between 1st and 2nd year college, we had both made the team which would represent Ateneo in the Under-19 Nationals. We had a blast.

I vividly remember that fateful morning. My mom frantically woke me up, I looked at her face, then at Miks' side of the bed. It was then I realized that something bad had happened, since the sheets were cleanly tucked, and the pillows untouched. All my family convened at my Granma's house. All but me.

A few days later was the finals for Under-19 Nationals. In Miks' honor, the entire team wore a black band with his number '16' on it. During the start of the game, we had one minute of silence to honor him. I was filled with too much emotions, and could not finish the game without breaking into tears.

Fast-forward

On the way to AAV for the Aquathlon, I was accompanied by Hannah, Mikel's younger sister Ines, and my best friend Elmer who married her - talk about making the world smaller. Elmer was there to join the Triathlon Mini-Sprint - his first.

As I was driving along south superhighway, at just about the point and time exactly 12 years ago where he had met his untimely death, all the hairs in my body stood up. I felt him - and he was smiling at us. I was dedicating today's race to him.

The Race

As expected, the race was gonna be short and not so sweet. The 750m swim + 3.5km run was going to be quick and tough. I saw some familiar faces, and figured if I wanted a medal for Miks, I would have to work for it.

There's not much strategy in a race like this, it's just pedal-to-the-metal from the get go. The swim was tough, and for the first 250m, I was swimming alone since the faster swimmers had already packed a lead. Then I felt someone beside me, I glanced over and saw Tony Welsch. I let him pass with the hopes of taking his feet. What I didn't realize was Jon-jon Rufino already had. I tried to hang on to them for as long as I could.

Transitioning to the run, heart going bonkers

Shortly after, we were getting out of the pool and it was time to run. I quickly put on my running shoes, took a sip of water, put on my singlet and off I was. I came out of the water in 7th, and got one guy in transition (he chose to put on socks). So I started running in 6th, and knew if I wanted to place, I needed to advance a place, without losing one.

Finishing not so strong :P

I kept a pretty even pace, and finally settled into 5th place after a kilometer or so. I tried to keep up with Tony, but he was just way too fast. I eventually was trailing TI Coach Nonoy Basa, but did not have enough to chase him down. I held on crossed the line in just over 30 mins, in 5th place. My work was done - that was for you Miks!

With Ironman Ani de Leon

I quickly caught my breath, and headed over to the pool to support my best bud for his first triathlon. He managed a decent swim, an excellent bike split, smooth transitions, and a good run - finishing 10th overall (despite there being elites).

Mer finishing strong!

All in all, a good day. We miss you Miks!

Congrats to Lee, Ian, Deo and the rest of the first time finishers! Thanks to Hannah once again for the full race coverage :)

'Time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin
Into the future

I want to fly like an eagle
To the sea
Fly like an eagle
Let my spirit carry me
I want to fly like an eagle
Till Im free
Oh, lord, through the revolution'
- Steve Miller Band

Race Report - TLBF Olympic Triathlon

2009-04-07T08:04:00.009+08:00

Exactly a year ago, I was very unhealthy, weighing more than 185lbs, and drank alcohol almost every night. I smoked alot, and did not exercise one bit. Alot can change in a year. Just a year ago, I ran my first 5km. It was tough, especially on my ego. It was at the Mizuno Infinity Run, and I had 'joined' to support Hannah, who had started running a few months back. I promised her I'd run alongside her (or just try to keep up). We finished in 32:30, and that's how the story began. Shortly after, I quit smoking, cut down on my drinking and dedicated my life (at least the rest of it) to being fit.

A year later and there I was staring down my first Olympic/Standard distance Triathlon. An Olympic/Standard distance Triathlon consists of a 1.5km Swim, a 40km Bike, and a 10km run. It is the official distance on the ITU Circuit and was formerly referred to as 'Olympic Distance' because it is the distance used in the Olympics.

I was very nervous, for several reasons. First, it was my first open water swim. All this time, I had been training and racing in the pool. Open water poses alot more problems, the biggest of which being navigation. Second, the bike route was downright masochistic! Popo & Thumbie said the bike route had 'moderate hills', when in fact there was more than 1,000meters of vertical gain in 40km. Note that in most triathlons, bike legs tend to be flat(ter). Lastly, it was hot! Hydration was key. And oh, one more thing posed a problem - the transition area - which was not only as tight as Embassy on a saturday night, but was on the beach...sandy feet anyone?

My race strategy was quite simple. For the swim, I just wanted to get a rhythm going, and finish comfortably in under 30mins. If I could catch some draft packs, then well and good. For the bike, it was to go easy on the ascents, and hammer the descents. I have ridden parts of the course in the past, and have fallen victim multiple times. One thing was for sure - I had to respect the bike course. For the run, it was basically to do as much with whatever I had left.

A short race brief, a few swim warmups, and we were ready to go. The gun went off and the elites dashed forward, and began hopping over the water and dolphin diving. It was almost 25m in when I finally found space and began swimming. Right off the bat, it was about getting space. Getting kicked, elbowed and shoved takes getting used to. Around 100m later, the pack began to thin out, and finally there was some space.

Beach Start

The swim consisted of 3x500m loops, straight out and back. A bouy line separated the to and fro. I began swimming close to the bouy line so as to navigate better, however, I found myself hitting the bouy multiple times. I tried to adjust by trying to swim slightly away from it, but then found myself about 20m off to the side - a total waste of effort. It doesn't take a genius to know the shortest distance between two points is a straight line - quite simple eh? I struggled to navigate, and did my best. Exactly 27 mins later, I was out of the water and off to T1. Swim, Check!

Drew & I - syncrhonized swimming (Yes Alf I missed you!)

I leisurely hobbled over to T1, and stopped at the Gatorade booth with Drew prior to getting to our bikes. How I wish there was always a Gatorade booth in transition. A quick transition, and off to the bike leg I was - sandy feet and all.

Quick stop - Hydrate!

During the race brief, they mentioned that the bike leg was draft legal. I guess they decided so because the streets were not closed, and parts of the course were tight and technical. Not much of a woo-hoo there since drafting uphill is like driving a Ferrari on EDSA during rush hour. Keeping to my strategy, I took it easy on the first bike loop. Right off the bat, it was a climb - a 180m vertical ascent in 2.5km. After about 6km, it was a right turn at IDESS, and 3km of technical downhill, followed by the opposite. There was hardly any flats in this course, so it was either you were resting (or hammering) on the downhills, or suffering uphill.

I was feeling quite good on the bike, and ended up riding with Drew on the second loop. We rode shoulder-to-shoulder as we do in training rides. Drew even commented that it felt like a training ride since we were relaxed and chatting. On the last ascent, I no longer could keep up so I rode the final 10km alone. I came into T2 just under 2hrs, and knew that I had a shot at breaking 3hrs.

With my feet out of my shoes, ready to dismount at T2

I racked my bike, ditched my helmet, grabbed my running shoes and headed out. Yes, I ran barefoot til the road - where I decided it was better to put on my shoes, rather than risk having a lot of sand in my running shoes.

The run route consisted of three very flat, yet hot 3.4km loops - making 10.2km. There were 3 aid stations along the way, and a Fire Truck providing some rain. I was feeling quite good off the bike, and started at a pretty good pace. My goal was just to keep an even pace, and probably push a bit more (if I could) on the last loop. I let no aid station pass, about 9 times, I drank water and poured another glass over my head. It was probably around 40 degrees out there, with absolutely no shade.

During the VERY HOT run

I pushed, but I didn't have much left, and ended in 2:48 - my longest race to date. I was very happy with the outcome, and I'm very much looking forward to the next. Another first for me - Olympic Tri, Check!

Thanks to Zed Avecilla of The Lighthouse Marina Resort for providing us with THE LIGHTHOUSE, as well as great food and drinks. Lovely place, great food, great service :)

Yes, we stayed INSIDE The Lighthouse

Congrats to Drew for bagging 2nd place in his AG and 10th overall. Congrats to my fellow virgins Pao, Migs, Packy & Ting for a job well done!

Drew of Team Super Bagging 2nd Place in his Age Group

Thanks to Hannah for the solid race coverage and beautiful pictures :)

Falling Short

2009-03-24T20:34:00.012+08:00

We all fail. It's bound to happen at one point, and when it does, what matters most is how it affects us, and our outlook.

It has happened to me quite a lot of times, and in the past few months, there have been races where I felt very disappointed with my performance. In the past, I dare not voice it out for the fear of coming across as impudent and snooty. But what the heck. I'm sure its happened to you too.

During the XRC Criterium last December 2008
Photo courtesy of Vince Corpus

I keep a log of races I join. Post-race, I jot down several things, like what went well, what went wrong, and possible points of improvement. More important than what went well, is actually what went wrong. There's just so much to learn from shortcomings and failures.

Last Sunday's Condura Half-Marathon was a clear example. I set quite a hefty yet somewhat achievable goal for the race, and fell flat. I bonked with more than 5km left. No excuses. I truly lived up to my URL - Positive Split.

However, inspite of it all, I was extremely happy that by running, I was not only able to contribute to saving the whale sharks, but also support the iamninoy movement.

The shirt says it all...
Photo courtesy of Rapa Lopa

Leo Babauta, author of the Zen Habits blog, beautifully narrates in this article how we should celebrate our mistakes. Disappointment can be a great motivation. For me, it's a huge kick in the arse. Looking on the brighter side, perhaps falling short is a gift.

With Hannah, who, for all intents and purposes - made her target
Photo courtesy of Mark Parco

'The winner takes it all
The loser has to fall
Its simple and its plain
Why should I complain?'
-ABBA

P.S. - For those interested in joining the iamninoy runners, register here.

What's Your Powersong?

2009-03-04T08:13:00.000+08:00

"What's your power song?" is a question you hear quite often nowadays. Running has gotten so popular, that it can even serve as a pickup line. Props to Nike+ for making the buzz phrase 'Power Song'.

As for me, I have none.

I prefer to run without music. Don't get me wrong, I am a BIG fan of music, but when it comes to working out, I prefer to do without. When people ask me "So, what music do you listen to when you run?" they are not expecting "Nothing" as my reply. More often than not, the follow up questions are "Why Not? What keeps you going? Don't you get bored?".

For me, working out (be it a swim, a bike ride or a run) is alone time. My mind is not at all quiet tho. Depending on the type and intensity of the workout, there can be a ton of things up in my head.

Long rides are easy - its just about enjoying the wind, the sun, and the scenery - even in the rain. Most often, I'll be chatting it up with my riding partner. Towards the end of the ride, conversations usually start shifting towards food, or about where and when the next long ride would be.

View near the top of Bugarin

Running is much more punishing. I don't think most people, towards the end of a long run, would be thinking about how much they are looking forward to their next. Probably, they are counting down the miles, hoping it will be over soon.

During runs, my mind is filled with alot of things. Most often, I am playing numbers games. I like computing pace, and finishing times. It keeps me busy. Sometimes I do multiplication tables. I haven't quite yet reached the point where I have tried to recite the periodic table of elements. Recently, I ran with my Garmin and got so bored. The damn thing did all the computation for me! I was left with nothing to do. Next time, I'm leaving the Garmin at home.

During hard runs and races, I mostly find myself thinking about technique. While struggling to keep pace, and watching my breathing, I constantly remind myself of certain things, hoping it will help me run better - 'Run in a straight line', 'Light feet', 'Keep your head up', 'Don't slouch', 'Maximize the stride', 'Pump the arms' among others.

Silence is my Power Song...what's yours?

Race Report - Ateneo Aquathlon

2009-02-24T08:53:00.009+08:00

As I had already an Aquathlon under my belt (3 weeks ago - Speedo Aquathlon), I was not as nervous as I would have been. After checking in, I proceeded to do some warm-ups with Alf & Jody. I learned that there would be no swim warmup, so I warmed up for a good 20 minutes or so, and did some light stretching.

This Aquathlon was 'tough' in another way - it was a relatively short (600 meter) swim, but in a 25 meter pool. I find it's much more difficult, and time consuming to be zig-zagging under lanes, and getting in and out of the pool so many times. During a swim leg of a multi-sport event, you want certain things - space, calm waters and a nice straight route - none of which are present in a 25 meter pool. The run was a 2 loops, out and back towards the Moro Lorenzo Gym and back to the Blue Eagle Gym. Light Hills, but alot of trees :)

A quick race brief, and we were let through the gates of the pool complex. As we were escorted to the pool, I realized one thing - that we were going into the pool while the other female age groupers were still completing their last 200-400m. We were asked to enter the pool, and 15 seconds later, we were off.

Me and my teammate Alf, once again performing our 600m synchronized swim

Over 30 angry men, crammed in 1 lane of a 25 meter pool - absolute mayhem. I always pick the inner part of the lane, so that I have only the right side to deal with - a technique which I thought of seconds before my first Aquathlon. The first 100meters was just about getting space. After about 100-150 meters, I finally got space. However, it was at that point that the our pack had caught up with the women. After reviewing photos taken by Hannah, I realized that when the mob arrived, the women proceeded to hang on to the lane markers, as they were being trampled upon. I hope the organizers take note of this, and next time, allow the wave to finish before another wave is let in the pool.

Swim-Run-Dive-Swim-Run-Dive-Swim and 600meters later, I found myself getting out of the pool. Lo and behold, I came out of the pool with PMI Team Captain Rayzon Galdonez. I guess the traffic held him back. A quick transition - slip on running shoes, ditch goggles, sip some water later, and off I was to the run.

During the run

I went on cruise control and enjoyed the run very much. It was nice to be back in the Ateneo, and once again pouring sweat - but this time, in another sport (or 2?). The trees provided alot of shade, which was very pleasant, and the tranquil surroundings, some peace and quiet during the run. I did not push on the run, as I've been nursing a knee injury. The race was about finishing without injuring myself further.

Around 37 mins and 6 seconds later, I crossed the finish line. It was a success in my books, as I had been able to run the 5km run quite comfortably. Somehow, this race felt easier than the Speedo Aquathlon (950m-3k), perhaps because of Ultra's hills. All in all, a great race :)

Team Super's Alf, Myself and Jody

Except for the running over the women part, and the fact that I do not appear in the Race Results, the event was very much a success. There were over 300 participants, and everyone looked happy, albeit tired looks and panting. Kudos to the Ateneo Swimming team for putting out this event.

Me with Ivy, Alf, Jody, Ting & Bobby

'Til next time. Keep Brickin!

*Once again thanks to trigger happy Hannah for the race pics :)

The Bucket List

2009-02-19T11:27:00.007+08:00

I've always had a Bucket List - a list of things I want to do before I die. Being the sports and music loving person that I am, majority of the list has always dominated by either sporting events or concerts I'd want to see.

Here are my Bucket Lists, for both Sports and Music - in no particular order.

Sports

Wimbledon - hopefully a semifinal or final match, maybe Nadal vs Federer?
Summer Olympics - I'd like to witness the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics, and watch as many sports as I could
The Masters (Augusta National) - On a Sunday, with Tiger 4 strokes back, and Mickelson, Els and Singh in the lead
Ironman Hawaii - Duh?
World Cup - An epic match between Italy, Germany, Netherlands, France or any of the powerhouse African nations
Tour de France - Laid back in a nice chair near the top of the Alpe d'Huez, with a view of the descent, sipping on nice brewskies, or a single malt scotch
UFC - Any UFC event, better if its a Randy Couture rematch against Brock Lesnar
Special Olympics - This must be an awesome experience I would like to be part of, either as a spectator or a volunteer

Music

U2 - Need I say more? U23D was a rush, I can imagine what a real concert would be like!
The Police - Haha! I can actually scratch this off my list - Saw them in their Reunion Tour
Dave Matthews Band - I don't mind seeing them again
Led Zeppelin - There are talks of a Reunion Tour
Foo Fighters
Radiohead
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Eric Clapton
A Woodstock or Glastonbury type Music Festival

What's on your Bucket list?

'We live, we die, and the wheels on the bus go round and round.' Jack Nicholson as Edward Cole in 'Bucket List' (2007).

It's Official - Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines

2009-02-11T08:42:00.006+08:00

Finally! I'm lovin' the logo already.

Can't wait to tri...

Here are some articles:

http://ironman.com/mediacenter/pressreleases/ironman-70.3-putrajaya-and-cobra-ironman-70.3-philippines-announced

http://ironman.com/events/ironman70.3/philippines70.3

Race Report - Speedo Aquathlon

2009-02-02T06:46:00.009+08:00

I had been nervously waiting for this race for the past week and so, at 4:30 am, I was up. Not any amount of water, milk or sheep counting would put me back to sleep...so like a true Web Junky I did the next best thing - I surfed the Internet.

Finally, my alarm went off. I prepared my typical pre-race meal - Peanut butter sandwich.

By the time I arrived in ULTRA, the SuperTriKids were about to start. It's a blast watching these kids compete. Even better, is watching their stage parents egging them on, or running beside them hoping they'd push harder. Watching them made me wish I had started at a much younger age.

This little girl took full advantage of a quick transition - she put on Crocs! Howver, She got caught by that little boy

Shortly after, Coach Rick conducted his race briefing in waves. He detailed both the swim and run portions - making sure nobody would make a mistake.

The swim was a typical TRAP pool swim - we were to tackle 950 meters. This consists of getting in and out of the pool several times. The 950m were broken up in 3 segments - 350-400-200. After the first 350 meters of zig-zagging across lanes, you have to get out of the pool, run down and re-enter. Then, after the next 400 meters, you once again exit, make a dash and re-enter for the final 200 meters.

The run would be short but testy. It consisted of 2 loops within the ULTRA complex then the final 600 meters inside the track oval. There were 2 hills within the run route, which meant we would be tackling 4 hills in just 3km.

By the looks of it, it was gonna be a short and fast race. Pedal-to-the-metal, redline, HRM-beeping-Zone-5-all-the-way kinda race. Not a bad way so start a Sunday.

We 'middle-aged' (30-49 yrs old) were the last wave to be let off. It was about 8am by then - oooooofff HEAT! Our wave was led off by National Swimming Coach Guy Concepcion, who obviously posted the day's fastest swim time of 13:00 - DAMN!

The riot swim start

And we were off - I stayed in the inner lane, so as to avoid some of the confusion brought about by a pool start. That way, I would only have to worry about someone on my right - unless of course some daredevil skims the stainless steel lane dividers.

After a lap or two, I felt the group thin out. I was in a pack of 4-5 swimmers then, consisting of Paolo Diaz (I could tell by his Phiten Tape), JonJon Rufino (I could tell by the full body suit), Tony Welsch (PoloTri) and 2 other guys. I knew these were all good swimmers, so I hung on for as long as I could.

Its actually Swim-Run-Swim-Run-Swim-RUN!

Finally, 17 and a half minutes later, I was getting out of the pool. A quick transition, sip of water, and off I was to the run. The hills were tough, especially that one right before the pool. I felt like I was on a stair climber. Just as you were recovering from that one, there was another one waiting. I just held on and pushed to finish the race.

At the top of that testy hill right in front of the Pool

I finished in 31 minutes and change, well within my target. Shortly after came JonJon Rufino (PoloTri), Hector (Pinoy Ultra Runners), Jody (Transition One) and Paolo. The race was what I expected - short, fast yet tough. There is no recovering in a race like this. Like a 5k race, its a hard push from start to finish.

Short, but Sweet!

In the absence of the elites, I was lucky enough to post the 9th fastest time of the day, and bag a podium spot in my age group (30-34). What a surprise :)

'Til next time!

With Paolo and my teammate Jody (who finished 3rd)

*Thanks to Trigger Happy Hannah for the photos

Why You Should Swim, Bike, Run or Tri...

2009-01-13T13:27:00.007+08:00

There's no better reason to Swim, Bike, Run or do whatever exercise, than to be healthy. I need not explain the benefits. For me, it's quite simple...

BEFORE

Over a year & 30 pounds ago (This appeared in YES Magazine)

SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN

After my first Triathlon last June 2008

AFTER

Not quite there yet, but on the right track (November 2008)

'Nuff Said!

Race Report - XRC Subic 2008 (Part 2)

2008-12-22T07:55:00.006+08:00

The morning after the road race, I woke up and felt like I got hit by a truck. No, I did not have a hangover, but perhaps I would have preferred one compared to the pain I was feeling in my lower back and neck. No excuses tho, I'm was pushing through with the criterium. You see, I am resigned to the fact that we (as athletes) are never really 100%, and so, we must fight through the pain, especially during races.

A short drive, breakfast...and shortly after I found myself warming up around the track. The criterium was held at the Subic International Raceway, a track which hosts the Philippine Touring Car Championship, and some races in Formula 3, Vintage Cars & 'Run What You Brung'.

Right before the start of the Criterium

I was familiar with this course in a different way. The last time I raced here, my baby (a JDM spec EG6 Honda Civic), came home in a trailer after a downshift at the back hairpin caused the valves and pistons into a permanent french kiss. Almost 10 years later, I find myself riding the same course (backwards tho) using my own pedal power. I guess that's what you call getting old.

My 'Little Mouse' on the road to Subic on that fateful day

During my warmup, Joyette gave me some tips. I promised her I'd try to hang on for as long as I could. I knew this was going to be tough.

Joyette sharing some tips with me during our warmup

A criterium or 'crit' is a relatively short bike race, usually held in closed-off city streets. It's fast and technical, and favors powerful cyclists who have good drafting skills, and a sprint finish.

Before I knew it, we were off. Almost instantly, I found myself at the back of the pack. My strategy was to hold on to the peloton, for as long as I could. It was difficult because of the accordion effect. Since the course is very technical and tight, the peloton is forced to thin out at every turn. Riders in front ride at a constant pace, with little or no braking. Riders toward the rear are forced to slow down, then accellerate out of the turn to chase the group. This accordion effect happens on every turn, so you can imagine how many times one would have to accellerate to chase the pack.

The accordion effect in full bloom

Yours truly, and other riders chasing back the peloton after the hairpin

About halfway through, I, along with half the number of participants had already been dropped by the peloton. We formed little groups of 3 or 4, trying to maximize the effects of group riding. The main straightaway was pure hell as a 35kmh headwind sucked the energy out of us riders every single lap. Pedalling all out only amount to a speed of about 25-28kmh.

I did my share of the work. This taken at the main straightaway, where we faced a 35kph headwind

With about 3 laps left in the race, I was forced to retire, as the leaders were about to lap me. I exited the race track, into the pits. Literally, into the pits. I was humbled, but content.

Great shot, Vince :) I look pretty fast :P

I learned alot in this weekend of racing, and gained a few friends along the way. This was the perfect way to cap the 2008 season. 'Til next year...

Pics c/o Vince & Leian

List of Triathlon, Duathlon & Aquathlon Races for 2009

2008-12-16T13:07:00.010+08:00

Updated from TRAP:

Jun 28 - Duathlon - MOA
Jul 5 - SPEEDO NAGT 3rd Leg - Sprint Distance - Cebu
Aug 23 - Ironman 70.3 - Half Ironman - CamSur
Sep 20 - SPEEDO NAGT 4th Leg - Sprint Distance - Cagayan de Oro
Sep 20 - Duathlon - MOA
Sep 26 - Gabriel's Symphony - STK - AAV
Oct 4 - SPEEDO NAGT 5th Leg - Sprint Distance - Los Banos
Oct 18 - SPEEDO NAGT 6th Leg - Sprint Distance - AAV
Nov 15 - Philippine International Duathlon Open - Standard Distance -Subic Bay
Nov 28-29 - Anvaya Cove Triathlon - Standard & STK - Anvaya Cove, Bataan
Dec 13 - Davao Mayor's Cup - Standard Distance - Davao

Race Report - XRC Subic 2008 (Part 1)

2008-12-11T07:56:00.008+08:00

Yes. I was ready.

This year was full of firsts for me - Foot Races, Triathlons, Duathlons. This weekend of races was no different - another set of firsts - my first road race and my first criterium...a great way to end the year.

It's not often I enter a race knowing what to expect. However, this one was quite different. I knew exactly what was heading my way. I knew there was going to be pain, but of a different kind. You see, in triathlons, duathlons and foot races, you are really racing against time, against yourself. You decide on your pace, you get comfortable, and you hammer out. In a road race or criterium, you don't. You try your best to hang on to the peloton - or else you'll be riding solo.

I also got a lot of tips from veteran riders like Joyette, Makoy & Winston, along with the wealth of information available on the internet. I wasn't ready, but I knew more or less what I got myself into.

This was a crash course in drafting for me. Since I mostly train alone and ride in non-drafting races, I am oblivious to its effects. Tests show that the the 2nd rider in a draft line uses around 25% less energy than the lead rider. The 3rd and succeeding riders use 33% less energy. In huge pelotons, middle-of-the-pack riders can be using 60% less energy. That's a whole lot.

Riders in a perfect Draftline

There we were, about a hundred strong riders, awaiting the starting gun (or shout) of the 70km road race (which turned out to a few KMs less). We were starting on an uphill (can you believe that?). The first few kilometers were to be ridden in a controlled pace - thank God!

And off we went. Being a newbie, I stuck to the back of the pack. As much as I had wanted to try to be in the middle of the peloton (to conserve as much energy as I could), I chose not to, since I was new at this. During the first descent, I rode beside some Team David's Salon riders, an all girls multisports team. They had their coach riding with them, telling them what to do, and firing out tips left and right. I liked the idea, so I stuck with them for a while. I rolled up beside their coach and said 'Coach, kung ayos lang, makikinig ako ha?'. He chuckled and smiled, so I figured it was no problem at all. I learned quite a few tips about cornering and braking. I found some of the girls to be a bit twitchy, so I decided to push forward to avoid any mishap.

A few kilometers of cruising (at over 30kph) and the pack was let loose. There I was, at the back of the peloton, pedalling my heart out. It felt different...it felt great. Around 5-10 kilometers later, the peloton began to thin out, forming different groups. I settled into a group, hoping to maximize the effects of group riding.

The route consisted of 2 laps - out to Ocean Adventure and back. It was a hilly route, with as much as 2km ascents, and a fair share of descents. The descent from Legenda down to the main highway was pretty technical (at least for me).

There were alot of good samaritans along the way...allowing me to take their back wheel, pouring water over my head, and even offering some water (Thanks Winston). There were alot of people handing out water bottles - though those were obviously team support - a privateer like me had none of that help. In hindsight, I should have carried a third water bottle, or sports drink. About halfway through the 2nd lap I was out of water.

Around 2 hours later, I found myself pushing up the last half kilometer ascent to the finish line. In that last kilometer, I passed a few riders who appeared to have been suffering from cramps. They had parked themselves at the side of the road, had their legs stretched out, and were massaging themselves. I kept asking each rider 'Ok ka lang?' as I passed them by. They all said they were alright, so I didn't stop to help. I had the cramps too...but I knew stopping would only make it worse. I had to finish...it's all I came here to do.

The organizers, in true sadistic fashion, figured that it would make for a nice uphill finish. Yes, it makes for an interesting finish, but it's downright sadistic! I crossed the finish line in around 2:06. Not bad, said the pig.

Yours truly making the last ascent to the finish line

I spun for a few minutes more, in the hopes of letting my legs recuperate. When I settled, my buddy Vince and I exchanged some stories with Joyette (who won 3rd place in the race and 1st overall for the season), Makoy of PR, Winston & Ave of XTerra, and Robby of Rikulau. I also enjoyed drooling over the nice bikes these executives were riding.

Joyette Jopson (of Team David's Salon) & Makoy 'the Legend' Almanzor

A guilt-free lunch at Gerry's Grill consisting of Bagnet & Chicken Kebab followed. Vince & I spent the rest of the day drooling over gear in The Bike Boutique, and fixie hunting in the Olongapo bike shops.

Pictures c/o Vince

---End of Part 1---

Top Ten: Who You Callin Tough?

2008-11-25T15:59:00.012+08:00

Awhile back, I chanced upon an article on Sports Illustrated entitled 'The 25 Toughest Athletes'. Toughness, in the context of the article, pertained to anything from grace under pressure, to the ability to overcome injury and personal setbacks, to fighting through pain or just utter domination. This is certainly a bar-room type conversation which nobody really wins, but proves to be interesting nonetheless.

The article included some of the obvious ones like Tiger Woods (whose mental game is second to none), Kobe Bryant (who can dominate when he wants in Michael Jordan fashion), Rafael Nadal (he's just a grinder. Period) and Allen 'The Answer' Iverson.

There were a few more interesting names like Anderson 'Spider' Silva (Current UFC Middleweight Champion, best pound for pound MMA in the world), Fedor Emilianenko (One of the toughest MMA Heavyweights) and Floyd Mayweather (#1 Boxer in the world) - real world tough guys. The rest were a merry mix of athletes, who were mostly american football and hockey players. The lone Triathlete was Chrissie 'Chrissie Who' Wellington, 2 time defending Kona Champ.

Although up to a certain extent, I agree with the article, I'd like to make my own top ten of the toughest triathletes. The elites will always be elites, and there's no doubt how tough they are so I have chosen to highlight the ones who finish in the dark (most of them).

It'd be tougher than completing an Ironman to cut the list down to 10, so just allow me to pick some of my favorites. Here they are, all inspiring...in no particular order.

1. Dick and Rick Hoyt - Together, they have completed over 200 Triathlons, 60 Marathons, and inspired millions with their story. For the runners out there, Dick and Rick have the following personal bests: (Marathon 2:40, Half Marathon 1:21, 10k 35:48, 5k 17:40). Need I say more?

2. Sister Madonna Buder - She's the 'Nun on the Run'. The oldest woman to complete the Ironman Triathlon (at age 76). She has completed over 20 Ironman Triathlons since she started in 1982 (at age 52).

3. David 'The 100 Mile Man' Goggins - This weightlifter transformed himself into an UltraAthlete in months, won Ultraman (triple Ironman Distance) on a rented bike! Daily workouts include 20-30 miles of running, 50 miles on the bike and 90 minutes of weightlifting.

4. Jonathan 'Blazeman' Blais - Fighting ALS, he completed the Ironman at Kona in 2005, and became the first person with ALS to complete the Ironman. Although he did not need to, he log-rolled over the finish line, an act which those who race in his support, continue to follow. The next year, he returned in a wheelchair, and was only a spectator. In May 2007, he died.

5. Scott Rigsby - The first Double Amputee on prosthetics to complete the Ironman. Having no legs didn't stop this man from Tri-ing. Through his racing, he continues to inspire amputees and double amputees to look beyond their physical disability.

6. Brian Boyle - From Coma to Kona! It's difficult to sum up in a few words what this young athlete has done, but he escaped death a few times, and came back, learned to walk again, and eventually became an Ironman.

7. Sarah Reinertsen - The first female amputee to finish the Ironman Triathlon. She holds or has held world records at 100m, 200m, 400m, Half Marathon & Full Marathon distances. She is also the youngest member of the U.S. Paralympic team.

8. Jason Lester - Already an Ironman, Jason persisted through many obstacles, which included the loss of his family and a near-fatal accident which left him with one arm. He will be taking on a more difficult challenge this year - Ultraman Hawaii - a double Ironman distance held over a few days.

9. Marc Herremans - This once Elite athlete has bagged two top ten finishes with a best 6th at the Ironman World Championships. A near fatal cycling accident left him crippled from the waist down. Keeping his Kona dream in check, he transformed himself, and in 8 months captured the Ironman World Championship in the Handicapped Division.

10. Julie Moss - Julie's crawl towards the finish line at Ironman Hawaii in 1982 will always be remembered as one of the sport's most inspiring moments. Competing as research for her thesis in Exercise Physiology, she found herself in the lead but severely dehydrated with 2 miles left in the race. Her body had given up, but her mind and heart had not.

Now...who you callin tough?

Love/Hate. This is the New Balance

2008-11-16T16:00:00.007+08:00

LOVE/hate. Love Running More. This is the New Balance. New Balance could not have put it any better.

Six months ago, I hated running. Six months ago, I had never ever run for more than 15 minutes. Six months ago, I did not think my knees would hold up ... and yet this morning, I found myself staring down my very first 25km race.

The LOVE/hate relationship between running and I began as early as 6, when I started playing competitive soccer and basketball. I simply hated it. Fast-forward through grade school...high school...college - nothing changed. You see, I was more of the 'let's skip the warm-up and drills, and get right to the scrimmage' kinda guy. I loved sports...but I hated running.

A few months ago though, things changed, as I guided Hannah through the gates of her first 5k. A few triathlons, duathlons, an a ton of mileage later, and here I stand - a convert. Yes, I love running.

This morning's New Balance Power Race was very well organized. Extribe did an excellent job. There were aid stations galore, and the route was simply excellent. Kudos to the organizers for putting up possibly the best race of the year!

I have never run 25k ever, so I did not know what to expect. It's a good thing my buddy Drew promised we'd run together. We started off pretty slow, but as the crowd began to thin out, we began to pickup our pace. To pass the time, we were exchanging stories and goofing around with the people around us... before we knew it, we were at the halfway point (at 1:11:45 on my watch). At this point, I knew that even with a positive split, I was on route to make my 2:30 target. Drew, on the other hand, is Mr. Negative Split...which only meant one thing - one of us would have to budge assuming that we were to stick to our plan.

Long quick downhills and a few aid stations later, we found ourselves at the 21k mark (at 1:59). My legs were starting to shutdown at this point, and my knees were starting to feel the pain, but we pushed on. We went on to post a negative split and finished in 2:20 (unofficial - my watch). Mr. Negative Split got the better of me today - Thanks Buddy!

I used to hate running. Sometimes, I still do...but things change.

Here's one of the New Balance Ads - the LOVE/hate campaign - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kviG6cGzpTU

Play it Forward

2008-11-10T08:22:00.013+08:00

I originally wanted to call this blog 'Play It Forward', this blog being about sharing experiences, hoping that readers would be able to take something from my experiences, and learn from it. Someone had already reserved the URL, so I just ended up with Positive Split.

This year's triathlon and duathlon season is coming to an end, and has been very fulfilling. Diving headfirst into the world of triathlon is no joke, and it would have not been possible, without the help of my fellow athletes. This entry is my way of P(l)aying it forward...giving back. I am no expert, but I have learned alot the past year, and I'm hoping you would too.

Here are some of my favorite tips & tricks, which are a culmination of what I've read (in books, magazines or on the Internet), what I've learned (through my experiences) and what others have taught me.

Learning

Research, research, research! There are a ton of sites and forums on the net, and a ton of Tri-bloggers to learn from. Also, there are always friendly people around who are always ready to give advice (sometimes unsolicited) - so don't be afraid to ask. See bottom for my favorite sites
Experiment! Don't be afraid to try out new things. Not all you read or hear will suit you. Also, if something works for you, however alien it may be, stick with it - for as long as it will not put you, or your body in danger.

Training

Make a plan and commit yourself to it! There are alot of training programs available on the Web. At the start of the week, plan out your training schedule, and try your best not to miss a workout.
Resist the urge to Overtrain! Although volume can do wonders, doing too much too soon will only result in overtraining. Resist the urge, listen to your body, and take a break once in a while. If you're following your program, chances are you're doing alright.
Mix it up! It may get boring and monotonous at times, so try and change things up. Swimming/Biking/Running the same distance at the same speed every time won't really help speed you up. Incorporate some Interval and Speed Sessions in your training program. Try Brick workouts too.
Join a Master Swim Class, Group Ride or Running Group! There's alot to learn from these people, and you will benefit most from a few workouts with them. Better yet, join a Triathlon Team.
Incorporate stretching, yoga and core workouts.
Maintain a training log - Jot down your workouts, what you ate, and even what you wore - it might come in handy one day

Equipment

Get a good pair of running shoes! Have your feet, old shoes and gait checked, and make sure you buy a shoe that's right for your foot
Get bike-fitted, or if you already have a bike, have a bikefitter adjust your bike so that you will pedal and ride efficiently, and avoid the aches and pains that is a result of a mis-fit.
Get a tri-suit, or worse case, a 2-piece. It will not only save time, but it will be comfortable. If you're not commited, you can start with trunks, and a top.
Get a road bike! You MAY not need a triathlon specific bike (contrary to what most people say), especially if you are targetting short distance triathlons & duathlons (with bike legs 40km or less). Research, ask for advice, then decide. If you have to borrow a bike for your first triathlon, do so.

Racing

Taper the week before the race!
Relax, and enjoy the race! You've done the work, so enjoy the race. Don't be too hard on yourself, especially on your first race.
Hydrate! Make sure you drink enough fluids (and have some Power Gels if need be). Even if you are not thirsty, drink water or Gatorade. For a Sprint Tri, have at least 2 water bottles on your bike, and make sure both are empty before you begin the run.
Finish strong, and smile! It may be difficult, but it will be worth it.

Keep on Tri'n Hard...and P(l)ay it forward!

Favorite Sites/Blogs:

Everything/Everyone on my Blogroll
SlowTwitch
Runner's World and Bicycling
Beginner Triathlete
Mark Allen Online
Total Immersion Swimming
TriFuel
FirstwaveTri & PECA Yahoo Groups

Please feel free to provide your own tips & tricks :)

Lovin' the Lunars

2008-10-28T20:24:00.011+08:00

I love my Nike Lunars...I really do.

In my recent trip to U.S., I brought only two pairs of shoes - a pair of Converse Chuck Taylors (my wedding shoes) and my Lunars. I figured, they're all I really need. In fact, I was in my Lunars 90% of the time - partly because 10% of the time I was airing them out :P

Hannah & I, In our Wedding day Converse Chuck Taylors

Call me silly, but I love my Lunars so much, I decided to take a few pictures of them.

After the Men's Health Miracle Run - It's first road race

At the Red Rocks - As close to 'Home' the Lunars can ever get :P

At the Twin Peaks, the highest point in San Francisco - Lovin' the View!

At Golden Gate Park - How I wish I could run here everyday! (Lucky you Wayne!)

I visited the Nike Shop near Union Square and saw the Livestrong Nike Lunars....Gorgeous! AbsoFFFFINlutely gorgeous. I can't wait! Apparently Lance Armstrong wore them when he ran a two sub 3 hour marathons (Boston & NY if I'm not mistaken). Dammit! You were 'retired', came from stage 4 cancer, 7 TDF victories, and you can still run a 2:47 marathon???

Lance, finishing the boston marathon in his Livestrong Lunar Trainers

To date, I have put 178 kilometers on my Lunars (running that is). My nifty online training log www.logyourrun.com not only keeps track of your workouts, but also your shoe and bike mileage. Why is that important...you might ask. Apparently, even though our running shoes seem to be in 'good condition', they should be replaced every 600-900km.

Thank you Nike for giving me my Lunars :)

P.S. - Not many people know it, but Converse is actually owned by Nike. In 2003, Nike bought Converse for $300+ million dollars. Remember that - one day it will be a Jeopardy question. And Oh...Sinatra was not the first artist to record and release the song 'Fly Me to the Moon', contrary to popular belief. He's probably just the most popular one.

Fly me to the moon
Let me sing among those stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars...

Race Report - Philippine International Duathlon Open

2008-10-20T10:39:00.007+08:00

I arrived in Clark the day before the race (Saturday) as Hannah and I were lucky enough to crash in one of her friend’s places just outside the base. To kill time (yeah right), we drove the bike route. It was very picturesque, and with rolling hills, trees and lots of greenery. I took time to appreciate its beauty – since, when you’re crawling up a hill at 10kmh on your last gear, panting, legs cramping…its quite hard to appreciate the beauty around you. I was ‘bitin’ with the drive – I wanted to try out the bike route, just to get a feel of it…so off I went.

The bike route for the standard distance consisted of 5 loops of this 8km course. The route starts off with a slight incline and a few twists and turns around the parade ground, until the main road is reached. From there, it’s 2 small hills, then a short downhill – and that’s where all the fun ends. The next 1.5 kilometers is uphill all the way to a place they call the ‘ruins’. How apt! My legs (and ego) were ruined each time I reached its peak. However, just as you are about to curse the course, it quickly becomes your best friend.

Luckily, what goes up, must come down. Its pretty much downhill all the way back from there. Big-ring-small-cog kinda downhill. 60kmh-put-your-head-down-grab-your-drops-tight and pray-you-don’t-hit-a-pothole kinda downhill. After about 1.5km of that, a slight uphill, a few turns and you’re back in the parade grounds.

I didn’t bother running the run course as I was hoping to save all the energy I had left for race day. I had been nursing a cold, and have not been feeling well since the AAV Triathlon last sunday.

My targets for the 10km-40km-5km Run-Bike-Run course, were 55mins for the first 10k, 1:25 for the bike leg (adjusted it after I surveyed it) and 28mins for the last 5k, plus change for transitions. Those targets would have brought the total to about 2:50.

A loooooong day was ahead.

Race Day

I woke up very early, had my usual pre-race meal (peanut butter sandwich) and went off to the parade grounds. As usual, got inked very quickly, got my race number, and fixed my transition area. It felt weird having practically nothing in the transition area – just my bike and my helmet. I kept having that ‘what did I forget’ feeling – perhaps it was just another case of start line stress.
A quick warmup, race briefing and before I knew it, I was at the starting point of my very first Duathlon.

Right before the starting gun shot off – I found Levy. We talked for a bit, and in the process, he told me not to be surprised if the run times were very quick, as the course was uphill one way, but downhill the rest. Thank God he told me this – otherwise I might have paced myself too much!

A around 6:40, the starting gun went off…and so did we. After the crowd thinned, I found Levy and a few other participants. I decided to hang on for the first 10k (or the most I could) . We were going at a pretty good pace, and before I knew it, the first of 4 laps had gone. Lap after lap I hung unto his back (Levy, I hope you did not mind), and fortunately I made it to the end. We ended our first 10k in about 48:45 – which is tremendously fast for someone like me.

Me pacing with Levy aka 'Happy Hour'

A quick bike-to-run transition, and off to the bike leg. What followed were five laps of pure heartache and bliss. Heartache one way, bliss the other. Heaven and hell shared the road in this one. My planned race nutrition consisted of a bottle of water, Gatorade and 2 packs of GU. Tri-berry (w/caffeine) on my 2nd bike lap, and Espresso Love (w/ 2x caffeine) towards the end of my bike lap. By my 4th lap, I had already run out of all fluids. Its either I drank too much, or brought too little – at that point I was hoping it’was the former. My calves were already cramping during the last climb, so before the descent, I did some of my on-bike stretching. I ended my bike leg in about 1:24 – which was decent in my standards.

At this point I realized that my 2:50 target was well within reach. All I needed to do was fight through leg cramps and a sidestich and finish the last 5k. A run-shuffle made up most of the final kilometers. I was running on pure pride – hopefully it was enough. Apparently it was – my last 5k was just under 26 mins.

Bonked with 5km to go!

I crossed the finish line in 2:41:45. I made it…well within my target.

Shortly after, I found out that Philip aka ForeignRunner suffered a puncture during his first bike loop – causing a DNF. Sorry to hear that bro. Next time! You would have schooled us – we know it!

Me,Philip aka 'Foreign Runner' and Levy aka 'Happy Hour'

Thanks to Hannah (for all the support and race coverage) , Vince(for the pictures), and Levy(for all the advice).

Good job to Vince, Paolo, Marga, Harry, Hubert, Annie and all the other first timers ☺ Props to Coach Rick and the rest of TRAP for a very well organized and fun event. We should have more of these ☺

Next stop : New Balance 25k

P.S. – The top 5(consisting of the country’s top Triathletes and Duathletes) all finished under 2:00. Damn! Arland Macasaeb, a two-time Ironman finisher, and one of our premier triathletes, finished in 5th.

Of leotards, unitards, spandex,lycra and other skin-tight garments...

2008-10-17T17:17:00.013+08:00

Triathlon Gear Lesson One - Tri Suits

A Triathlon suit usually comes in either of 2 designs - a 1-piece or 2-piece. They are made from very stretchable, but breathable materials - which usually ends up in a merry mix of Lycra, Nylon, and other proprietary 'skins' which have their own claim-to-fames. Tri-suits usually have zippers - some in front, some at the back - which, at the end of the race, are most often zipped down and stuffed with all sorts of sponges to help fight dehydration.

I just recently found out why, in longer distance events (like a Half Ironman or Ironman distance), racers prefer to wear a 2-piece - simply because it is easier to take a leak.

On your right is a sample of a Cervelo 1-piece Tri-suit. Lovely.

A tri-suit IS NOT A LEOTARD. It is ALSO NOT A UNITARD. For those who don't know any better, here's the 411 on UNITARDS and LEOTARDS...

According to Wikipedia a Leotard is a 'skin-tight one-piece garment that covers the torso and body but leaves the legs free. It was made famous by the French acrobatic performer Jules Léotard (1842–1870), about whom the song "The Daring Young Man on the Flyin g Trapeze" was written.Leotards are worn by acrobats, gymnasts, dancers, thespians, and circus performers both as practice garments and performance costumes. They are often worn together with tights. There are sleeveless, short-sleeved and long-sleeved leotards. A variation is the unitard, which also covers the legs.'

Although some triathletes have been known to be acrobats in the water, and have been seen dancing whilst crossing the finish line, they DO NOT wear LEOTARDS.

A Unitard, on the other hand, is 'a skin-tight one-piece garment with long legs and sometimes long sleeves. It differs from a leotard in that a leotard does not have long legs. Superheroes are often depicted wearing unitards.

Although some triatheletes may be considered superheroes, they DO NOT wear UNITARDS.

A cycling bib is a 'pair of cycling shorts that are held up by a bib (integral suspenders/braces) instead of an elastic waistband. Pro and serious riders tend to prefer bibbed shorts over non-bibbed shorts, due to the discomfort that often occurs with an elastic waistband, such as tightness (digging into skin) and chafing. The bib part of the short is made of spandex and polyester with large sections of netting to help cool down the rider.'

Although some unitards may look like cycling bibs, cyclists DO NOT wear UNITARDS.

As a side note, Freddie Mercury (the legendary frontman of Queen) was known to wear alot of Unitards during their concerts (or were they really Cycling Bibs? :P).

Was Freddie Mercury an avid cyclist? How can we forget his song 'Bicycle Race' which came out in the album 'Jazz'. In the same album, he tells 'Fat Bottom Girls' to 'Get on your bikes and ride'. Avid Cyclist? Perhaps.

I want to ride my bicycle...I want to ride my bike...

Talk the talk, walk the walk. Next time you talk to, or about a traithlete or cyclist, do us all a favor and DO NOT use the words LEOTARD and UNITARD. Unless, of course, you want us to call you a RETARD.

End of Lesson One ;)

PS: Not all people look horrendous in UNITARDS and LEOTARDS. See below...

AAV Triathlon - October 12 2008

2008-10-13T14:07:00.001+08:00

I arrived in AAV early, and had the chance to survey the 'famous' Ocho-Ocho bike route - which caused more than half the participants to be disqualified last Animo Tri. It was quite simple after all, that is, if you could keep track on which part of the bike loop you are on - fatigue does not help matters at all.

Got inked, got my race kit, and all was set. Luckily, I was given a corner spot - this somehow makes the transition area 'roomier' and makes it easier to locate. After preparing my transition area, all I needed to do was to warm-up (which I did not do). 'Start line stress' got the best of me, and the bathroom beckoned.

I started off in front - hoping to break away and miss some of the kicking and shoving which usually comes with a packed start. I got my rhythm after a few laps, and was in the zone (which is rare because I dread the swim). I had a perfect swim, except for the fact that I had to wrestle Alf for over almost 500 meters. I got out of the pool in just under 17:30 - way quicker than my usual swim time. Maybe the wrestling helped.

A quick transition, and off to the bike leg. I was riding my Cervelo Soloist (aka Sandy) for the first time (built the bike day before the race). I had not been training on dropbars for the past 6 months, so the feeling was alien to me. Levy aka 'Happy Hour' passed me during the last lap of the bike leg - I had been waiting for him to pass me all along. Except for the humps and the fact that somebody was drafting off me on the bike (You know who you are - Mahiya ka! Have some pride!), the bike ride was good. No excuses tho, I hit my target, finishing the bike leg in 1:00 flat.

Another perfect transition, and off to the run . I was feeling a bit dehydrated at this point, and I was beginning to fight cramps and a side stich. About a kilometer or two into the run, Phillip 'Foreign Runner' passed me too. I was certainly struggling. It was at this point that I realized my 'dream' of breaking the 2hr mark was not within reach. I dug deep but it was not enough. I bonked...

A run time of 42minutes brought the total to 2:04. I managed to finish 5th in my age bracket, and 23rd overall. What suprised me was that I posted a the 7th fastest swim split. I cannot complain about my time since it was decent, considering the fact that I had spent the past month vacationing.

Thanks to Hannah for full race coverage (despite her aching legs from her previous day's Half Marathon). Thanks to TEAM SUPER for support as well! You guys really ARE SUPER! Thanks to Vince for the parts :D

Congrats to the Winners, Suzi for finishing 1st in her age bracket, Levy for finishing 3rd and Phillip for finishing 4th in their age brackets.

Top 10 Rock Remakes

2008-10-13T13:30:00.002+08:00

Here's an article I wrote way back in 2004. It was published on YourInternetLifestyle a subsite of Yehey!. Yes, despite having read less than 3 books in my life, I have work that was actually published. The Music section of the site has been taken down, and so I chose to post this before it gets lost forever.
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A lot of times i find myself chatting with my good buddy Barry Jive about music. Movies and Music. As we have the same musical influences, we get into deep conversations about an endless array of songs and artists. We often think of lists, like that of John Cusack, Jack Black and Todd Luoiso did in the movie High Fidelity. Constantly trying to outdo each other with each contribution, the list gets better and better and oftentimes we find ourselves having to painfully cut it down.

Here's my Top Ten Rock Remakes, and at the bottom, you'll find a list of artists i'd like to personally mutilate for desecrating great songs. Although these are in no particular order, my favorites will tend to be in the upper portion of the list. Enjoy !

1. D'yer Mak'er - Sheryl Crow:

Sheryl Crow's acoustic rendition of Led Zeppelin's reggae-rooted masterpiece was superb. She wasn't quite Jimmy Page or Robert Plant, but she certainly did a great job at keeping the song intact as well as polishing it with her signature style.

2. Dancing in the Moonlight - Toploader:

My #1 get up and go song, both Toploader's remake and King Harvest's original version never fails to put a smile on my face and makes me wanna dance.

3. All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix, U2, Dave Matthews Band:

How can a rock list be complete without a dose of Bob Dylan? Over the years, numerous bands have remade this song, but these three versions stand out. Three distinct styles, three beautiful interpretations. From Hendrix' hard rockin' to U2's wave-rock style to DMB's deliberate, acoustic rock version, its obvious this song is a true classic.

4. Brown Eyed Girl - Everclear:

Everclear's version of this Van Morrison classic is very much like the original... light and trippy, with a little alternative touch from vocalist Art Alexakis. Another perfect get up and go song!

5. Knockin' on Heavens Door - Guns n' Roses:

Gan en ross!!!!!!!!! This hard rockin' rendition of Bob Dylan's slow rock song tipped the charts during the early 90's. Anthem like in stature, i wouldn't be surprised if some people even forgot it was a remake. How about Parokya ni Edgar’s ‘Nakaw ang wallet ko’, which was inspired (maybe perspired) by this rock classic.

6. War Pigs - Faith No More:

Faith No More did justice to this Black Sabbath classic. Drummer Mike Bourdin, vocalist Mike Patton and guitarist Jon Hudson worked in synch to maintain War Pigs’ classy funk rock rhythm.

7. Come Together - Aerosmith:

Finally a Beatles’ song enters the charts ! This rockin’ rendition was great! Tyler did a great job on the vocals, and the rest of the band turned the very beatly rock n’ roll classic into a hard rockin’ song worthy of a headbang.

8. Baby I Love Your Way - UB40, Big Mountain, Mr. Big:

Here are three different versions of a beautiful song originally done by guitar legend Peter Frampton. First released in 1974, its obvious this song is legendary as it has been remade numerous times, these three versions being my favorite. Oooh baby I love your way, everyday!

9. Big Yellow Taxi - Counting Crows feat. Vanessa Carlton:

This Joni Mitchell original was released in 1970. Although some lyrics changed, the rock-duet rendition of Counting Crows and Carlton is a great song.

10. Mrs. Robinson – Lemonheads:

Originally done by Simon and Garfunkel, this song re-entered the Billboard top 20 of 1992 with the help of the Lemonheads. Here’s to you Mrs. Robinson …

Tangkilikin ang sariling atin! Here’s one to add to the list. My favorite rock song remade by a local band. South Border’s version of You Can Call Me Al, a Paul Simon original, is great! It’s a shame Razorback, Wolfgang and the like never released any of their Hendrix, Sabbath, Zeppelin covers.

As a special mention, the I Am Sam OST and Encomium tribute to Led Zep albums contain numerous songs worthy of being on this list, but I’ve decided to mention them as a whole. Otherwise, they would have filled up the list on it’s own.

On a last note, here are some blasphemous renditions of rock classics:
1. The Corrs – Dreams (Fleetwood Mac)
2. N Sync – More than a Feeling (Boston)
3. Britney Spears – I Love Rock n Roll (Joan Jett and the Blackhearts) & Satisfaction (Rolling Stones)

Allow Me to Introduce Myself

2008-10-13T12:53:00.001+08:00

Hello. This being my 'first' blog (I used to blog on Multiply, but have decided to change formats), I would like to introduce myself to those who will chance upon this blog.

I am Javy Olives. By day, I am a corporate slave, working as a Product Development Manager for Chikka. By night, I am a roadie/P.A. to my wife Hannah and her band SessionRoad. Somewhere in between, I find time to surf the net, listen to music, watch movies and sweat.

Sports has always been a huge part of my life. I have been competing since I was 6 years old. I have been fortunate enough to represent both La Salle Greenhills (during Grade School) and Ateneo de Manila (High School and College) for Basketball, Soccer, Tennis, Track & Field and Golf. I have been fortunate enough to train under great coaches and compete alongside top-notch athletes, whom I respect very much (Save this for another blog).

I love music - especially 70's rock. I married a rockstar, just to make sure that when I have kids, they would have some musical talents (no offense to my family but we DO NOT have musical talents).

Around 10 years ago, I was forced to quit competitive sports before what would be my last UAAP season. I had torn my ACL and miniscus on my left knee during training. That was the end of my sports 'career'. I chose not to have it operated. Somewhere along the line, I had also torn my right ACL. Simply put, both my knees are screwed!

Over the past 10 years, I have been doing less strenuous sports - like Golf, and the occassional ABL season.

A few months ago, I decided to accompany my wife, Hannah, to her first 5k run - the Mizuno Infinity Run. I promised to run alongside her, and I did. Since then, I have 'forgotten' (more like disregarded) the fact that I have bum knees. Since then, I have been swimming, biking and running my way to a healthier future.

I now join road races, triathlons & duathlons. I also quit smoking and drinking heavily :P

This is me. Welcome to my Blog!