Race Report - Powerade Olympic Duathlon

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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