A Year in the Making

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 Last year I can hardly run 12 minutes without stopping or walking in between jogs, today my desire to race triathlons brought me to get pass that barrier.  There are a lot of things I've learned about myself and triathlon from joining races and here are some of those:

1.  I have learned that my running is better than my cycling fitness... or I just suck on the bike.
2.  That I can run a sub 45 minute 10K just because I'm light. Perks of an ectomorph I guess.
3.  My slow heart rate is good for endurance races... I'd like to think.
4.  I'm a jogger not a runner.
5.  It took me a year before I got a running shorts.
6.  A triathlete seldom swims.
7.  On my first duathlon I thought 'side stitch' meant the side of my legs were hurting.
8.  I change attire at every transition.
9.  I haven't done a long run workout.
10.  Every triathlete except me is fast on the bike.
11.  I don't consume energy gel or bar.
12.  Still don't have a trisuit.
13.  Still using running shoes on the bike.
14.  I won't have lighter skin in the near future.
15.  I easily get hungry when I jog at night or late afternoon.
16.  My daughter writes better than me.
17.  Can't wait to overtake runners.
18.  Feels good to finish fast... still working on the 'fast' though.
19.  A comfortable lighter pair of shoes is faster than a lighter bike... or something like that.
20.  Body's immunity is low after a hard race. Way too low.
21.  I rest 2 days before an event and consume buko, dalandan, and bananas.
22.  You can't shoot for the moon but there are certain goals you can aspire for on your first year of triathlon - sprint 1k-30k-7k = sub 2 hours,  standard 1.5k-40k-10k = sub 3 hours,  half IM = sub 6 hours.
23.  I look good when I smile for the camera at the finish line.
24.  Still looking forward to my first century ride..., first 21K run..., marathon..., IM distance tri :-)
25.  Lots of races make me happy... and broke :D
26.  I obsess on race result numbers.
27.

OUTBREAK: Enchanted Kingdom

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October 31, 2012
5k scary run
Enchanted Kingdom, Sta. Rosa, Laguna
by: Miss HolaSamuel

Have you ever thought about a zombie apocalypse actually happening? Imagine yourself running for your life with a gun in your hand and then horde of zombies suddenly appeared in front of you. You have been ambushed by zombies (those sneaky bastards)  and you only have three bullets with you. Will you run? Or will you die with honor  getting eaten by zombies? Hold on to that thought while I share to you my experience being chased by zombies. Zombies who are hungry for your flags (yes, it does suck that they’re not after your brains)

A participant in a scary costume

Okay, so I registered for this fun run. Quick question, is Outbreak Manila a ‘Fun Run’? well in my opinion it is not. Because you walk, run from zombies who are in the way, then walk again if you get tired or something (well at least that was what I saw most people were doing). But let’s call it a Fun Run because it is indeed fun.

This time, Outbreak Manila was held in Enchanted Kingdom. A Amusement Park. or Theme Park if you prefer calling it that. The thought reminds me of a computer game I play. Where there are zombies and your goal is to survive. There’s  this level  that’s in the Circus. The sound effects seriously creep me out. And the clown in the game! Don’t get me started with the clown. 

So back to the run, We arrived at Enchanted Kingdom at about 6:00 in the evening. It is said that we should arrive an hour before our gun start. This run has tons of waves. I’m in wave 4 so I get to finish early. Too bad the zombies are still full of energy at that time.

At the starting line, We are separated into three courses per wave. The appetizer, The Main Course and The Dessert. Few people go into the line Appetizer/Dessert. They like to be the Main Course, which is hot and crowded. Trust me, I know because I experienced it first hand.

This, is where we started running for our lives


So after the gun was shot (or the sound that makes us go forward in races) we’re supposed to run in, like a field where zombies are scattered. It’s like the zombies are playing patintero with you. When you reach the entrance, you can see that the zombies are blocking the way inside. So it’s good to stick with crowds.

These zombies are really hungry for flags

When you get pass the entrance. That’s where the fun starts. But unfortunately, the fun ends quickly because when you’re out of life flags, zombies won’t even bother to look at you. So you’ll get to walk freely at EK with no zombies bothering you, which is boring. So thank goodness for white flags! It saves you from boredom. Because flags = zombies running after you

HolaSamuel and her cousins after 50 minutes inside the park

White Rock Triathlon 2012

October 27, 2012
Olongapo City
2k-91k-20k

After months of joining a lot of races - maybe more than twenty races if you'll let me include the fun runs - I think it's normal to try a mid distance race like white rock triathlon especially at this time of year when I'm in tip top condition having been a part of so many events.

Contrary to what I've read in some internet posts that training for this particular distance demands a lot from an athlete, my training for this distance was not filled with punishing workouts and long training weeks consisting of days of long runs and long rides.  To tell you the truth I never had a long run nor a long swim workout.  I only had 3 mid distance rides before the event - 60+, 70+, and 80+ kilometers.  What I had that made me feel confident was the repeatability that I enjoyed with my scheduled workouts.  That and the light weight of my body.

I was reviewing the course I plotted using mapmyride.com and I foolishly came up with my list of target times to be used to pace myself and it went like this: 
note: the description at the right side was what actually took place

Swim + T1         0:45    rough water - 0:48
Bike U turn        2:15   hydration station with bananas and hospitable volunteers - 2:14
Bike 70k            3:07    strong headwind
Bike 91k            3:51    heavy traffic at Subic town - 4:02
T2                      3:56    can't find my medicine - 4:08
Run 6k               4:27    dead man's hill, itbs acting its part to the T
Run U turn         4:46     went to toilet of yellow cab pizza at kilometer 8
Run 13.5k          5:05    more walking and butt kicks on dead man's hill      
Finish                5:41    felt lucky to strike the bell as my name was announced - 6:06

At the midpoint of my bike ride I was still true to my target time and had a long stop at the bike U turn to replenish and rest a bit.  When I started on my way back to White Rock Beach I felt good until the 55th kilometer where the strong headwind started sapping my energy.  I was way off the target when I arrived at T2 and at kilometer 2 of the 20k run I felt my nemesis (itbs) acting up again.  I was left to choose between running hard until my legs totally breakdown and apply run-walk method to increase my chance of finishing.  I took the latter and run-walk for a 1:58 run split and a disappointing yet satisfying (did I just contradict myself) overall time of 6:06. To give you an idea how slow I was, the fast ones are more than an hour faster than me - ouch!

The event was well organized and I would like to thank the race marshals and volunteers who made the race possible especially those who were at the center of the towns we passed. I just wish there could be more participants the next time around.


Step 1: consultation with a doctor on October 26

Claiming of race pack and loot bag

Race briefing: I was a little bit late as my bike's tire got rejected upon checking in 
so I hurriedly changed tires before going to the briefing room

Race day weigh in started at 5:30 am

Marking

15 minutes before gun start

Showtime's Coleen watching her BF Gab

I think I was the only one wearing a real swimming trunks

After a 91k ride.. now with my cycling shorts, blue muscle shirt, and black running shoes

Starting my run in a new attire.. now with a singlet and a brand new blue shoes

After 1 hopia, 2 pandesal, 1 pack Sport Beans, 2 bananas,
lots of water and Gatorade I just lost 3 pounds and finished the race

With Peter and Chad at the finishers' hut

A cowbell for my effort


Subic Weekend for White Rock Triathlon

October 26-27, 2012
SBMA and Olongapo Seaside


We arrived at SBMA by lunch time and proceeded to Racks to fill some hungry bellies

After a hearty lunch we checked in at White Rock Hotel and looked at the setup
of the organizers and got my race pack and loot bag

Went inside SBMA along the bayside and got some group pics there

...and more pics along with my clan

Had some fun at Tree Top Adventure

After the race briefing and bike check in I rendezvoused with the kids at Harbor Point Mall

Before going to sleep I reviewed the map I created before I wrote my target times
so I can pace myself properly

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