Shooting a Moving Subject while Cycling :-)

Hold on Bantay

While on a bike ride this morning I saw a tricycle with a dog on top of its roof.  The vehicle was moving and the dog kept changing position from one roof to the other.  I pulled out my official camera: Nokia C3 and chased the tricycle and got this picture while I was overtaking.  Luckily the furry one stayed on the left side.  Happy Summer guys go out and explore, ride, run and take some pics along the way.

Killer Whale Swim Competition

February 12, 2012 - 200 meter swim competition

My daughter was scheduled to swim in a tune up meet for her regionals (STCAA) when her coach asked me if I would like to compete in the 200 meter freestyle event for seniors (not as in senior citizen I'm too young for that).  I promised him if I wouldn't get injured (as if I didn't have enough of it) in the February 5 Subic Triathlon I would definitely join.  When that day came I found out that I was set for the final event in the afternoon, I hate waiting games, so I decided to leave my daughter and go for a 55K bike ride before my 200 meter stint.

Waiting for my Heat

I got back just in time and as we were waiting at the briefing area I was surprised to learn that all of us were going to start from one and the same lane and zigzag to the adjacent lane after touching the end of each 50 meters just like an aquathlon without the run. There were only 11 of us yet the organizer chose to send us off in pairs.  Without diving I finished with a time of 3:15 and on that day it was good enough for a gold medal plus a cellphone, yey!

Medal plus Cherry Mobile

Workout Diary

WORKOUT DIARY.  I use my iPad to log my training and from this I gain confidence just by monitoring my progress with a particular schedule of workout. Some stuffs work and others simply don't and with a diary like this I can easily guess which ones to eliminate. There is a revised edition that includes weekly total mileage.

iPad with Apple Numbers Application

Powerade Duathlon 2012 Leg 1

March 25, 2012 - Filinvest - 6K-30K-3K

After a year of having a bike I still haven't improved that much on my cycling skills but I am glad to say that after only five months since I first started jogging I think my progress in running was satisfactory.  A month after jogging 2 to 3 times a week I ran 10K in 60 minutes.  Last week, 1 covered 12K in the same amount of time.

At the Starting Line

The first leg of the Powerade Duathlon was my second attempt at the sport.  Also in Filinvest, Muntinlupa City last January, 2012 my first duathlon was a mix bag, a good first run, a slow ride, and a run-walk-limp finish.

1:51:23 - 26th out of 84 - Male 40-44

For the Powerade Duathlon, my objective was still the same, to finish the race without getting hurt.  With almost 500 participants in such a race course I didn't think setting a PR was on most racer's mind.  

PinoyTriathlon.com meets SwimBikeRun.ph

I started from the back so passing more than a hundred runners was my priority until my bladder called for a halt.  The run was relatively uneventful compared to the 30k bike leg where some guys in front of me were shouting at each other due to aggressive overtaking.  I almost bumped into a guy as he was overtaking me on a sharp curve, and there was this biker in blue who slid down on the asphalt just as I was looking on my back.  And the mamaws who kept on overtaking us slow bikers that took some momentum from guys like me who were left to use the more crowded outer lane.  The second run started fine, by half distance there was the expected cramps so I started to walk and when I continued to run it hit me again.  When it subsided I ran slowly but got to finish line without limping, a better finish for my legs than the last duathlon.

Meal from the sponsor

Right after crossing the line someone gave me my finisher's medal and another one got the timing chip from my ankle.  Then I chatted with some participants.  I ran in with the Petron guys who were of course faster than me.  I knew them from my first triathlon at Ayala Alabang Village.  I also saw the very fast  and young Omar from my first duathlon which happened to be the classmate of my former badminton friend.  He told me he's going to ride in Lucena this coming April with his classmate and when I knew that it was with our common friend I replied that we'll definitely ride together.  And the highlight of my picture taking was with Mr. SwimBikeRun.ph himself right at his booth.

With Team Petron - Sonny, Jojo and Mark

I didn't get to eat the free meal which looked pretty delicious because I was tending to my photographer/daughter eagerly wanting to go to ATC.  And lastly before the start of the race there was this girl who was always being hounded by video cameramen wherever she went and documented whatever she did.  She must be a celebrity, and yes she was Ms. Jennylyn Mercado of Team Tri Mac.

With Omar, one of the 'Mamaws'

Sights from the Rotary Fun Run 3

March 18, 2012
Pacific Mall

Starting Line ...duh

Cheer dancers

The Organizers: Rotary Club

Face of the Day: yun nasa left :-)

Raffle Draw

Raffle Winners

Largest Contingent: PULIS Runners

My Daughter Camille at right - 8th place

12K run in exactly 60 minutes: good for 47th place

Ateneo Aquathlon Bull Riding

When I joined the Ateneo Aquathlon 2012 I also participated in their bull riding contest.  The longest time to beat was 1 minute 31 seconds.  I never managed to get close to his time.  The winner got a brand new cellphone.  Yey! And I got battle scars ouch!

Powerade Duathlon Map Course and Reminders

Date: March 25, 2012

RUN COURSE:
- Be prepared for unpredictable weather conditions; hot and humid, or windy and/or rainy.
- Racers will be sent off with a mass start.
- The first leg will consist of 2 loops while the second leg will only be 1 loop.
- There are water stations situated along the course and 1 water station at the transition area.

Run Course

BIKE COURSE:
- The course is relatively rolling with tight corners. Whether you are an experienced or a beginner racer, it would be wise to slow down when cornering.
- This is a drafting race. We would like to emphasize that everyone take necessary precautions when riding in a group, especially if you're using aerobars. Always be aware of surroundings and the people around you. If you are not used to riding in a group, it would be best to avoid it and ride at your own pace.
- The bike leg will consist of 6 loops; it is your duty as a racer to keep track of your loops!
- Water station in the transition area only, none along the course. Bring water bottles for hydration.

Bike Course

SCHEDULE:
300am Claim race packs & timing chips/Body marking/Opening of Transition area
530am Race briefing
600am Race start
900am Awarding of Winners
930am Cut-off time

Ateneo Aquathlon 2012

Photo Opp

It was almost a year ago when my daughter first joined an aquathlon event. And here I am following in her footsteps har har! I was a decent swimmer in my elementary days but that was 30 years ago. Right now I'm too lazy to get back into shape but one thing I've learned is that technique or lack thereof never go away easily. As far as running is concerned I started jogging on November, 2011 and although I didn't run far and fast, my 25 minute run plan seemed to work for me.

Loyola Schools Short Course Swimming Pool

I signed up for Ateneo Aquathlon to accompany my daughter Camille. The assembly place where we got our race packets and body marking was at the covered courts of Ateneo Loyola Schools right beside the covered swimming pool. Food stands like Yellow Cab Pizza were located at one corner and sponosor's booths lined up along them. The FAST Ateneo Swim Team put a mechanical bull for a rodeo contest at the center of the court, my first time to see one :P. The stage,the computers, and the finish line were also in the covered courts.

Mio Watch Booth

The race was pegged at 600 meter swim plus 5 kilometer run. A loop in the pool equals 200m so we have to do it three times and the run was an easy 5k course. I was in wave 3 of my age group. The time gap was short and I wasn't prepared when it started, I was still putting my cap and goggles and trying to see if my stopwatch had started. My apologies to the guys on my back for being a human barricade at the start. I overtook a lot of racers from my wave on the first loop and after the third loop I was able to overtake some more from the first wave. It was hard coming from the last wave as I find it quite difficult to pass. Swimming was over in just over 12 minutes and transition took a little bit more than a minute. Oh yes! I was getting better in transition. I was about to take it hard and fast on the run but mr. side stitch prevented me from doing so. I managed to clock a 25 minute 5k for a total of 38 minutes on my first aquathlon, a distant 10th out of 39 athletes. Wow I never thought the word 'athletes' would sound that cool.

View from the Spectator's Area

Finish Line

Then back to the mechanical bull, I couldn't resist the temptation to ride even if my wife and daughter objected to the idea. They were calling for a last contender when I came forward and raised my hand. The time to beat was 1 min. 31 sec., I never came close and worse I got nasty wounds on my left knee from riding too tight to the bull. The amateur organizers were great. At 500 Php entry fee it's just too good to be rare.

Bull Riding Disaster

Triathlon Mass Start Video

I was able to get up close thanks to a floating raft at the 2011 Cobra Ironman 70.3 Triathlon. Watch how amazing it looked.  Made me wanna say 'Cool, maybe I'll try that someday' woot woot.