Pinoy Triathlon

Tri United 1 2013

Race Report by Camille - draft

Yep. This is really a report of my dad’s race. Sorry if I’m kinda late, it’s our finals week anyway.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Woke up at 4 in the morning. Didn’t even bother to shower or anything, just switched my pajamas for trousers (look! I just used the word trousers!). Dragged myself out of bed and went to the car to sleep again.

Senator Pia Cayetano waiting for gunstart

Woke up at 5:38 AM to find that I’m already at Dungaree Beach (The venue for the race). Slept again.

Woke up again at 6:39 AM to find my mother shaking me from my dream about creepy Japanese horrors. Found out that I missed the start of swimming but that’s alright cause the fee for entering the beach is way expensive if you’re only going to watch the race. It’s 200 pesos by the way.

Racking up the bike at Transition Area

Waited beside the transition area so I can get a picture of my father basking in his own awesomeness ;)

Oh I almost forgot, I saw Melai of PBB there. Ambushing triathletes with “HEY!” just like Jennifer Lawrence in The Silver Linings Playbook. I even passed by Erwan Heussaff. But don’t worry, I didn’t go snapping pictures of him like a mad man. I kept my cool and discreetly took a picture of him.

Matteo Guidicelli being interviewed after the swim

Waited some more and there he is. My father. Basking in the glory of his awesomeness.

I ran to the finish line when I saw my dad starting to run. So you know, I’ll be able to take a picture of his finale.

The sun was shining down on us and it was crammed over there so I can’t help but feel annoyed because I despise the hot weather. I prefer the weather of London. Even though I haven’t experienced it first hand, I just know okay?

After waiting for a long time --of course it’s a long time, it’s 10 kilometers guys!-- my dad finally came and he didn’t even show mercy on the guy in front of him.

With a time of 2:37 Paps placed twelfth in his age group.

2:37!

Hydration Stations: Typical multi-sports race where water and energy drink is abundant.

Route: The venue was moved from Laiya, San Juan, Batangas to Subic Bay Freeport. The swim at Dungaree Beach was a nice starting point, the bike route was relatively flat along a scenic seaside drive and the run route was an easy 10k beside the airport with the bay as our view.

First few meters of run route

Cheering: Triathlon is usually a big family event where members cheer for the participants and teammates and this was no different but the addition of the presence of ABS-CBN talent Melai holding the mike, it’s really crazy fun out there.

Celebrity: Not sure but here goes.. Isabelle Daza, Erwan Heusaf,Drew Arellano,Matteo Guidicelli, Paolo Abrera

Traffic Management: Great.

Marshals: There were enough at every key area.

T-shirt: Awesome black Tee

Medal: Excellent

The pink band was worn after claiming the race kit, medal is TRIangular :D

Injuries: None.

The Bad: My heartfelt sympathy and prayers to Mr. Raymond Cruz and his family. I was taking pictures of my dad at the transition area when the ambulance was called and it sped in front of us.

Resolution

Last year was a learning experience for me with more than a handful of different races that I joined. The knowledge gained was a lot and some of it led me to think of the values of fitness that multi-sports has given me. As I move forward hoping to get faster and race longer there are certain things I vow not to do this 2013.

Duathlon is brutal to my legs... gotta take care them legs

1. I won't try to run fast on fun runs with distances going over 10K. - I find running a bit hard on my body more so on parts that already went through some nasty injuries when I was younger so running hard or fast is kind of counter productive to my health goals.

2. Chasing personal records is off the book for now. - It gave me tons of satisfaction whenever I achieve a new level of 'being fast' but sometimes it is the best recipe for disaster and again this ain't a healthy option.

3. No duathlons for now. - This sport is excruciatingly painful for a wimpy triathlete like me. ITBS and all.

4. I'll be choosy. - Maybe not the kind of choosy that comes to your mind. I'll choose the races that will complement my ultimate goal whatever that goal is. Last year I wanted to do good at White Rock Triathlon and my injuries from a tune up fun run limited me in some ways... so maybe it wasn't the run but how I got carried away with the tune up.

...to be continued

Views from My Current Training Ground

draft

50 meter pool beside the track where I usually run

An irrigation source from my recent ride training for Tri United 1

Mt. Banahaw as seen from an Avida Subdivision where I run with my daughter

PhilHealth Nationwide Fun Run

by Camille

I’m supposed to get used to fun runs by now. But I guess not. Phil Health held a fun run in Greenfield City yesterday (February 17, 2013) and right now, my legs are screaming at me for not taking it easy on them. Of course not literally since legs can’t scream, you know what I mean.

At Paseo de Sta. Rosa

I ran five kilometers and it felt amazing. We started just as the sun began to rise and it was beautiful mind you. The sky changed into different colors until it settled into blue. The wind was just fine, cool but not the biting kind of cold. There was not much to see but trees and tall grasses swaying in the wind but that is just the type of image I want. I had no problem while running. My lungs seem to agree with me for the first time because every time I join fun runs I’ll feel nervous and that is not good for my breathing.

Long lines at the photo booth... and everywhere

Throughout the run, you will see plenty of water stations for five kilometers. Well at least it’s enough unlike the last fun run I had. They didn’t even put up a water station! Such liars. So let’s go back at the topic at hand. They didn’t start right on time, they started too early which is very wrong. Many were late starters because of that. If they agreed on a certain time, well they should follow it. It only confuses people if they don’t. Marshalls were there to guide us so the direction was clear. Many booths were planted on the field filling them with people lining up for something. My only real problem was the finish line. After you finish, someone will give you a paper with a number written on it stating your place among the finishers. When you get the paper, you will crowd around some poor guy writing your place and race number. Sweaty people crowding around him. It kinda looks like this

Oh yeah, I’m the one crawling away while they’re busy with the guy (AMCtv.com)

All in all the run was okay. Loads better than last year's Nat Geo fun run.

National Age Group Triathlon 2013 Leg 1

draft

February 3, 2013
Subic Bay Freeport
1.5K-40K-10K

A very calm sea at exactly 6:01 a.m. - a prelude to fast swim time

Getting some tips from Chad of Team Fitness First

The one and only half-naked redhead

triathlon: it's more fun in the philippines

27 minutes later

1:23 bike split on a relatively easy bike route... transition time included equals a slow biker

After a 45 minute 10K run on a very flat course by the seaside

Free breakfast at Dungaree Beach after a well organized race

My traditional pose at the transition area

By The Numbers: SUBIC National Age Group Triathlon

February 3, 2013
Standard Distance Male Age Group
Average of Top 3 Finishers

was your age group well represented?

In this fast race course a time of 2 hours and 30 minutes will not get you to the podium. Few triathletes came to race but each group's top 3 were still crazy fast. Thankfully at 2:36 I managed to improve on my last year's time by 32 minutes. Unfortunately I was still way too slow compared to the top finishers.

I won! I won!

Yes I won a running event but in contrast to the size of the trophy the race is exclusive to parents and students of my daughter's tiny school. The distance is also a short 3.5K. But still I enjoyed the company of a police motor escort all the way to the finish line. I'm not fast but when the field is thin... even I can win.

3.5K in 14 minutes

What I Learned: Part 5 Cycling

I've never been to a cycling event but from the bike leg of a triathlon race I've learned quite a few things.

Isdaan, Calauan, Laguna

1. I'm a slow biker dude and I'm trying to change that.

2. Training can be a family treat. I tried going to a dining place about 70 kilometers away and let my family meet me there.

3. Triathletes spend close to half the time on the bike during races.

4. I'm not comfortable with clipless pedals so I'm back with a pair of platforms.

5. Bike trainer bores me to sleep.

6. Bike rides make me appreciate the beauty of different places. More so when doing trails.

7. I think I gained 7 pounds for having more bike muscles. Yey! Maybe I'll improve now and I won't be chasing a hundred guys on the run.

8. Unlike swimming and running, cycling needs a lot of my time to see some progress. This is where raw training beats technique so if you like to enhance your bike fitness you really have to spend quite some time on the saddle.

9. My bike weighs 22 pounds.

10. I wear easy to spot colors for safety reason.

11. Bento box is my friend during races. . of course when filled with foodies.

12. I'm hooked on using heavily padded gel insert on my saddle and don't see myself taking it away soon.

13. I hate upgraditis, I obsess on some bike stuff but I can't have it.
14. I'm missing my mtb days. It gets fewer when races are near.
15. Having a good bike mechanic is a must.
16. Don't attack a hill right from the start, wait to get close to about 12 to 18 meters from the peak before standing on your bike to get some momentum for the down ride.
17. When trying to sprint to make some progress or to overtake someone, finish it in 18 seconds or less and if you can't, return to your maintaining speed.
18. If you don't have a bike just buy one that fits you, you'll enjoy it... promise. :p