Monthly Archives: July 2009

July 3, 2009 · 1:47 am

Singapore 70.3 Race Recap

Singapore 70.3 Race Recap   Sep 9, ’08 11:51 AM
for everyone

 

just got back a while ago and can honestly say it was a good trip…had a few rookie boo-boos during my race and could have won 1st in my category if i didn’t commit those but i guess it’s another hard lesson learned.  either way i am super thankful for the podium finish.
 
swim was two laps and a bit wavy but i’ve had bumpier swims in singapore so i was happily swimming along anyway..the trouble started on my second lap when we had to overtake all the male age groupers who started 15 minutes later….it was, in a word total chaos. felt like vomiting from having to swim on top, under, beside, and diagonally over the guys…. they should change it back to the 1loop swim like last year. when i finally got out of the water and checked that i still had a decent 35min split i quickly forgot about that…haha.  
 
moving on…bike split was really slow. maybe it didnt help that i veered off-course (mistake number 1) … there was a left hand turn that we had to make which forked in two and since i was one of the first few females out of the water (we started ahead of the age group guys), i and two other girls wrongly took the left most one…there was no barricade or sign indicating otherwise, and no marshal either.  it actually led to the same major hiway but we had to pass under a bridge and when we came out we saw that we were on the wrong side of the lane…i looked across to the other lane and to my horror saw the error we had committed….the other two still biked ahead (they realized it a bit later than me) but i dismounted, crossed a south super hi way type of road (living in manila does have it’s benefits…i’m an expert traffic crosser), carried my bike across the fence, jumped across it, crossed another lane with fast-moving cars,. carried myself and my bike again over the barricade, and got myself onto the right track…still a bit shaky from my hiway expedition but was able to re-focus.  on my 2nd loop i saw that they blocked that other road so no one would make the mistake we made…my mistake number 2 was that i wasn’t able to secure my spare tubular tire very well and i had to keep stopping or else i would lose it. felt like kicking myself but i didnt want to lose an expensive and hard to find 650c tire. haha.
 
my run was very straightforward, just checking my pace against other people i knew and progressively increased my speed.  truthfully, I was feeling fresh and felt satisfied when i crossed the finish line, until i found out that: 
 
   ATHLETE                        RANK     AGE/DIV       SWIM         BIKE      RUN          TOTAL
1THOMPSON, Sarah     16/37/28  30/30 to 34    00:36:430    2:48:59  01:58:38     05:28:52
2DE LEON, Ani Karina    9/43/29   33/30 to 34    00:35:360   2:53:07   01:56:41     05:29:07
and then i wanted to kick myself for the umpteenth time that day….aaaaaaaaaaaaargh. 15 friggin seconds.  SHOULDA WOULDA COULDA. vented my frustration that night by repeating the story over and over and over to my friends who were with me there and texted my friends over here.
 
but on the plane today flying back, i knew that all was well and thanked God for the weekend.  and for all of my blessings. yes it could have been better, but it could have been much worse. and to put things into perspective, i was talking to alex bok, the manager of tbb the other day.  he was asking me how my prep for hawaii was and i answered that singapore was my last tune up race.  he said, yeah, i know, it’s just for your training, but imagine for some people it’s already a lifetime achievement. i’m glad i remembered our discussion and i know how true it is.
 
well, that’s my race story and i am sorry for the novel haha…hope everyone has a great week ahead!!!
 
P.S. like me, patrice won a slot in his category and qualified for the 70.3 world championships. we had to give up our slots though because hawaii is going to cost a lot of money and we would probably go bankrupt if we go to florida a month after…haha.
P.P.S. i know how lucky i am to have friends organizing the send off party this friday and going out of their way to support a fellow athlete.  thanks so much.  i really really appreciate it.

   
   
     

 

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July 3, 2009 · 1:45 am

Asian O3 Distance Triathlon 2008 Race Moments

Asian O3 Distance Triathlon 2008 Race Moments  Sep 9, ’08 11:39 AM
for everyone

The race (4km swim, 120km bike, 30km run) was extreme but I found myself smiling because of the following moments:

1. Anton and Rizzo leading the sing-along at the aid station as we passed them on the run
2. Pia and her kids coming out of Pancake house at every lap to cheer
3. Joel following his prior orders from moi to hand me out my coffee in can as I came out of T2
4. Doray pushing drinks on two occasions: on the run course and at the party!!!
5. My girlfriends donning different team uniforms but still cheering equally loud for me nonetheless
6. Every time I would see Arni biking or running merrily along like she was doing a fun 10k race….
7. Wayne and Stella shouting at me midway on my run telling me Wayne won 1st in his category!!! Woohoo!!!
8. I can hardly remember all of you guys, but I know that Nix, Bong, Chari, Dick, Raffy, Chito, Dain, Angela, Ann, among others, stayed on to support our very very long race….thanks so much 🙂
9. Of course I was so so proud of my training buddies Mark, Maiqui, Peter and Patrice winning first in the Overall Team Championships!!!  Well deserved.
10. Joey Torres successfully completing another long race just two weeks after doing a 70.3 in Rhode Island.
11. Running with Amanda was special and we were both lucky to have each other for that 30k run.  And we high fived each other quietly with each guy we passed…hehe, sorry macho men!
 
and last but not the least…
 
12.  He will hate me for making this public, but I was laughing for 10minutes because on the second lap of the bike, a “friend” proudly shouted at me that he peed on himself….and you have to understand that this was after a very long discussion the day before with me telling him that this is what he should be doing and not stopping at a portalet each time. He was majorly grossed out when I told him with a straight face that this is what i have been doing at every long distance race that I had to do and told me he would do no such thing. Haha!!! Well he did and he placed very well indeed 🙂

On to the next race!!!
Ani

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July 3, 2009 · 1:41 am

Ironman Langkawi 2008 Race Report

Best Finish Ever 8

Ironman Langkawi Race Report   Feb 27, ’08 9:47 PM
for everyone

Hi all,

 

Thanks so much to everyone who sent good luck and congratulatory messages. It is amazing reading all of them and seeing how some of you were able to keep track of our individual splits and race updates.  It was a really really good weekend for me and the rest of the Filipino crew in Langkawi. One of my friends asked if it was my most significant moment in triathlon so far, and I guess I hadn’t processed what had happened yet at that point, so when I looked at him blankly, Maiqui Dayrit, who was standing beside me then answered a big hearty “Yes!” on my behalf.  I had him and Mark Ellis to thank for getting me safely to the finish line (more on that later), and although the race is over, I can still feel the outstanding support I constantly receive from friends like them.

 

Those who are close to me know that joining Ironman Worlds in Hawaii has been one of my fondest dreams for many years now, and a year ago I decided I couldn’t shelve it any longer. I didn’t mind the heat too much considering my genetics so it was either going for it in Langkawi or a lottery entry.  I’m not ashamed to say that I tried both ways, but now I can see why God never intended for me to win in the Hawaii Sweepstakes draw when I entered it! 

 

Crossing the finish line wasn’t an easy feat, and I had to fight hard for that slot. Although I am a veteran triathlete, I am a beginner to this distance and had a lot of doubts during the course of the race, particularly the latter end of the bike and the run leg.  I had to stop at every single aid station (a total of 41) just to pour water on myself because otherwise I would have overheated, and I still don’t regret taking the time to do that.  I had blisters from lap 1 because I would rather have wet socks and shoes than get dehydrated. I knew I was leading in my category and I also knew that the Frenchwoman from Reunion Island was chasing me down.  It’s one thing to have someone breathing down your neck for 10km, but for 42km, it is extremely stressful.  It was a fine balance of sticking to my plan and known limits and not trying to be reactive to her—I didn’t want to push too hard too early and then crash.  She kept gaining on me, and from a lead of almost 20min, I only had 3 minutes on her at the very last turnaround with 7km to go.  It didn’t take a genius to compute that she would soon overtake me if I continued with my pace. It was then that a switch suddenly turned on inside my head and I started running like a madwoman.  I knew I could handle running fast for that remaining distance, and I could not leave anything more to chance.  I wanted that Hawaii slot, and there was no way I was going to hand it to her. From then on it was only a hurried sip of water and defizzed Coke from the aid stations.  I was now getting annoyed at the narrow run path and having to overtake people when earlier on I was happily cheering for them.  At 1.5km to go I spotted Mark and Maiqui, and realized I had just whittled down the 6 minute gap they had on me so I was even more encouraged.  I caught up with them with 1km to go.  They were startled but happy to see me, only to quickly discover that I had no intentions of staying with them for a merry chat.  In between breaths I explained and apologized profusely that I was leading but someone was closing in on me, so I had to go, NOW.  They immediately took in the weight of the situation due to my panic-stricken expression and decided to pick up their speed too.  Mark said later on that he didn’t realize that his legs would follow his brain’s command in switching from a 7minute/km pace to a 4:30/km pace just like that.  They were my saviors in that last, long kilometer to the finish line.  It was a frenzy of shouting, panting, crying, and egging each other on.  Mark, who was obviously still the best runner among us, ran in front and took on the role of rabbit.  I kept asking Maiqui to look at the back to check if anyone was there, and he would say “no one Ani, no one”….that is, until the last 300meters, when he said, “I think someone is at the back, let’s pick it up some more,” and the turn to the finish couldn’t possibly have come sooner.  When we finally

made it to the chute, I burst into tears from relief, joy, fatigue, and gratitude….the three of us crossed the line in a tight embrace, and our faces in the finish line pictures will say it all.  Mark was jubilant, I was crying, and Maiqui was just plain happy.  The person immediately behind us turned out to be someone else, and the girl second to me ended up finishing more than a minute behind.  We made it.  It was more than I could have ever hoped for, and I had done it with my friends.

 

I didn’t embark on this journey alone, and I definitely felt that my angels were with me leading up to Langkawi and that they worked even harder to give me strength on race day.  My fellow Pinoys in the race course and family and friends who were praying from back home gave a steady stream of great energy so I cannot ever claim to have accomplished everything by myself.  The Fitness First Tri Team–Mark, Doray, Joel, Maiqui and Gianina, Ige, JC, Chari;  the Tri Clark Gang and their families, led by Abe, June, Rico, Jumbo, Raffy, Chris, Abby, Tintin (also of David’s Salon); the Tri Hard Boys—Vic, Vinny, Greg and Paolo (also of TRIADS); Retzel, Alex, and Leo, were the finest bunch of people anyone could ever train, travel and race with.  My dear friend Vera and his trusty group of Thai triathletes took good care of me and my bike the whole weekend. Just so I could prepare better, Pia offered a room in her house to me in Alabang without my even having to ask for it, and I cannot possibly repay all the support that she and the rest of the Cayetano family have provided me.  My own family, especially my mom and sister, put up with my many absences and remain very patient and understanding to my chosen sport. 

 

Well, that’s my post-race report for now, sorry I couldn’t make it shorter.  Let’s cheer for our racers this coming weekend in Taupo, NZ…Manda, Jonjon, Andy, Deo, Cris, and Rune, hope they will have happy stories to bring home too! 

 

Ani

 

Female Age 30-34
Place Bib Name Nat Cat Swim Chg1 Bike AftBike Run Total
1 625 Ani Karina De Leon PHL F 30/34 1:04:49 0:02:21 6:01:11 7:08:20 5:07:05 12:21:17
2 624 Soizic Coudiere REU F 30/34 1:06:27 0:02:36 6:20:34 7:29:37 4:49:43 12:22:40
3 637 Emma Penver MYS F 30/34 1:45:55 0:05:58 6:25:43 8:17:35 4:33:42 12:59:15

  

Thanks to Jumbo for compiling this:

Pinoy Finishers Total time
Tayag, Abe 11:07:15
Oracion, Leo 11:21:02
Bautista, Alex 11:27:55
Kit Jr., Rosalino 11:48:07
Dayrit, Marco 12:21:16
Ellis, Mark 12:21:16
De Leon, Ani 12:21:17
Ayson, Enrico 12:47:02
Tayag, Jumbo 13:13:21
Ouano, Paulo 13:14:49
Munoz, Joel 13:17:52
Ellis, Rhodora 13:22:50
Orquiza, Retzel 13:37:42
Zapata, Jose 14:34:47
Tongson, Vincent 14:47:03
Ongyanco, Chari 14:36:32
Tongson, Vincent 14:47:03
Navarro, Christine 14:48:27
Magno, Victor 15:53:43
Manas, Johann. 15:12:15
Nepomuceno, Chris 16:17:55
Banzon, Gregory 17:06:03

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July 3, 2009 · 1:18 am

Confessions of a Triathlon Drama Queen

I wrote this in January 2008, A month before my first WTC Ironman Race in Langkawi:

Confessions of a Triathlon Drama Queen

Ani Karina S. de Leon

 

 

Preparing for an Ironman* can be a bit tricky. I remember, among many of the jampacked days that I have, one such night wherein this thought crossed my mind.  It was the last week of December.  It was almost 9:30pm and I had yet to start my designated workout for the day, which was a 2 and half hour run.  I wasn’t very happy about having to do it so late, but it was the only opportunity I had.  Ironman Malaysia, the race I had set out to do, was going to be in February, so I had to train through the holidays (not a simple feat if your social life is high on your priorities—luckily for me, it isn’t).

 

I had efficiently and consistently stayed away from most of the Christmas parties and reunions, but I couldn’t miss the ones my own family was celebrating.  Normally, I enjoyed prolonged gatherings with them and would even volunteer to shuttle my nieces and cousins around, but at that moment I was just agitated at having so little time to fit in anything else aside from my work and training, which I could barely put together as it was.  As I drove to the safest place I could run alone in at such a late hour, I dwelled on having to run till midnight and successfully built up a foul mood in the process.  I knew that it was nobody’s fault though, and couldn’t really get mad at anybody in particular.

Ani_de_Leon[1]

Taken for Sense & Style Magazine

 

As I got out of the car, I saw a lone runner just finishing his own workout.  Well, somebody else trained late today, I thought, but still earlier than me!  He walked to the parking lot and we recognized each other. It was an athlete that I had trained when he just a beginner.  We chatted for a bit. He was also preparing for another Ironman race, later in the year.  I was happy that he was so excited about it.  He asked me for advice and kept marveling at the fact that I was still trying to carry out my run even though it seemed absurd to do so given the circumstances.  I secretly worried that I was setting such a bad example with my stubbornness, but it seemed to have a positive effect on him.  He continued on to praise me and said nice things, like, “you inspire us with your determination and perseverance,” and “you make us proud with your accomplishments.” 

 

He finally left and I set out on my route.  Amazingly, I felt very light and my disposition became sunnier in spite of the dark night sky.  My friend’s words had reminded me of how far I had gone and how blessed I had been to be given the opportunity at all to do such things.  My whole life, I had been gifted with excellent health and a fitness level which enabled me to do diverse challenges, sometimes on a whim.  I suddenly felt ashamed at having been such a drama queen.  I had nothing to complain about.

 

Earlier in the day, some of my teammates also did the same 2.5 hour run, but at different times and in different places.  Ige, similarly, had high aspirations and the accompanying pressures and expectations to do well, but also had a lot of work commitments. He ran in between his appointments.  Maiqui ran while his family was vacationing in an inconvenient training venue—through sand, hills, and hard terrain.  Mark had to run in the sweltering heat, and because he was Caucasian and suffered more than us Asians in these conditions, had almost given up but didn’t.  Joel, who has two lovely daughters, had to run tired as he was constantly looking over various architectural projects and seldom had enough room to recover.  Doray, who always had to juggle between a highly demanding job and her family aside from focused training, actually had the flu and hadn’t been able to run at all, but did so the next day, as soon as she could get out of bed.  I didn’t really have to look far for inspiration.  All around me were my friends, still trudging on, still completing their task without much hype and hesitation. 

 

All the same, I guess I will always allow myself to have a bit of drama in my life.  I was raised by my parents to be an artist anyway, and that’s my excuse.  Like most people, I listen to upbeat tunes in my iPod, but I do insert some sentimental or operatic tracks too, and wholeheartedly let Sarah Brightman’s or Maria Callas’ mournful singing take over my emotions as I bike along the rice fields and watch the sun rise.  On some occasions, I missed JJ, my old training partner who is now based in France, and wished that he were still here.  We trained for our first Ironman distance race together more than 5 years ago, when we didn’t really know what we were doing, and now that I’m racing it for the second time, it would’ve been nice for him to be there as well.  Plus he would’ve kicked ass.

 

My mini bouts of sappiness are not a genuine cause of concern though.  Recently, I gained even more motivation to do well in the Ironman.  Joan Cadelina, a woman I met through another multiple Ironman finisher, Geraldine Santiago, is going through her treatment for breast cancer as I write this piece and needs to generate funds because of this.  I have decided to help her in my own little way by dedicating my race to her and women just like her, and will gather pledges for their benefit through our Pinay In Action** Network.  There is no more room for whining on my end, because Joan’s sickness is as real as it can get.  Where the acting up stops, random acts of kindness begin.

 

I’m aware that true-to-life stories don’t always turn out to be comedies or chick flicks.  But I believe there are always heroes and heroines out there who have personal tragedies to contend with but demonstrate courage nonetheless.  And like a typical girl, I always hope that everyone will eventually have the happy ending they deserve.

 

 

*An individual long distance race covering 3.8km of swimming, 180km of cycling, and 42.2km of running.

**Visit pinayinaction.com for more info.

**Mark Ellis, one of the athletes mentioned above, is also gathering pledges from friends for Gabriel’s Symphony Foundation, which continuously supports deaf, mute and cleft-lipped children. Visit gabrielsymphony.com for more info.

 

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July 3, 2009 · 1:13 am

Surviving Carrera Habagat: My first foray into the World of Multi-Day Adventure Racing

Picking out boatsSurviving Carrera Habagat: My first foray into the World of Multi-Day Adventure Racing

Ani Karina Sarabia de Leon

 

When Miguel Lopez (a.k.a. Ige) first broached the subject of forming a team for the Carrera Habagat, I didn’t even pause to blink and said yes to him right away. 

Of course, I was going to join as a complete beginner and had little idea on how demanding this undertaking would be.  We were talking about the toughest adventure race in the Philippines—it covers the largest area and takes the longest time to finish.  But I had always wanted to do it, and knowing my schedule, I may not have another opportunity to try it out, so I decided that it was now or never. 

 

Our team was to be composed of Ige, Paolo Defensor (a.k.a. Def), James Tagara and I.  I had known Ige and Paolo for a very long time, but this was the first time that I was going to meet James.  All three of them were members of the Ayala Mountaineers.  I wasn’t a mountaineer, and my only qualifications were these: I was an experienced triathlete and I had climbed a few mountains and I was exposed to the mountaineering scene because my sister was a prolific climber of UP Mountaineers fame.  I specifically warned them that outside my taxi cab driver-like knowledge of the maze that is Manila, I wouldn’t know how to plot a map in the wild and what to do with the bearings on my compass. On the other hand, I was willing and able to do extremely difficult challenges. Def and James were avid adventure racers but this was their first multi-day race too. Only Ige had joined it twice before.

 

We were all very hopeful and optimistic nonetheless, and thankfully we found very supportive partners in AVAYA Communications, The North Face, Ige’s own T1 active wear, Promax, Accelerade, and Endurox.  We also signed on Manny Torralba and Atoy Jamilla to be our official support crew—they were both veteran mountaineers and adventure racers.  I didn’t own a single piece of adventure racing gear, and I was so grateful to have Tricia Chiongbian, Thumbie Remigio, Rizzo Tangan, and my sister Sinag help me out.  Aside from this, Ai Eway from AVAYA and Toby Martin from AMCI also expressed their desire to assist us in any way they could. This certainly helped us firm up our resolve.  So we registered, bought the plane tickets, and headed to Surigao.

 

Traveling from Manila to Surigao City with 8 people, dozens of baggage and equipment plus 5 mountain bikes (Ai brought hers too) was no mean feat in itself. We flew into Butuan City and from there took a multicab, a bus, a jeep, and finally hopped onto our bikes for the last 5km towards the lodge.

 

The night before the race, the organizers gave us several maps of Surigao, Bucas Grande, and Siargao.  The names of certain towns and baranggays were erased and we were given basic directions on how to get to the checkpoints.  We had to get from Checkpoints (CPs) 1 to 25 in the proper sequence, and we could only see our support crew at three Logistics Points (LPs).  The boys, particularly James, stayed up late to plot out the course and everyone in the team packed the necessary gear.  Boy, and I thought readying triathlon equipment was tedious.

Day 1: Now what?

 

Seventeen teams were bold enough to join this year.  Our Team, T1-AVAYA, was the only team flying in all the way from Manila. We were instructed to bring our bikes, Personal Flotation Devices (or life vests), and trekking gear.  We would have to go through 7 Checkpoints before the first Logistics Point.  These were the coordinates and clues:

 

CP 1 N 09 32 31 E 125 50 20 Port of Hayanggabon
CP 2 N 09 35 52 E 125 54 47 Sohoton Tourist Center
CP 3 N 09 35 35 E 125 55 15 Inside a lagoon
CP 4 N 09 36 39 E 125 56 18 In a barangay
CP 5 N 09 37 28 E 125 55 13 Near a barangay
CP 6 N 09 39 06 E 125 55 17 Near a small pier
CP 7 / LP1 N 09 37 02 E 125 57 57 In a town

 

We were all quite good in biking, and we were actually swapping the lead with the Dumaguete Team for the first 76km leg, but unfortunately, James got a flat tire (our first of five!) and we watched helplessly as the other teams passed us.  The boys fixed it as I cheered them on, trying to keep our spirits up.  We got back on the muddy dirt road and we managed to arrive in 4th place at the Port of Hayanggabon.  We were still feeling quite jolly and energetic. 

 

The next thing we had to do was paddle for a couple of hours to the next few checkpoints.  James and I shared an outrigger and Def and Ige paired up in a bigger one because the smaller one seemed to be an awkward fit.  Admittedly, paddling was our weakest link as a team because we never really practiced it, but we agreed that we would be fine. 

 

Well, we spoke too soon.  To get to one of the checkpoints in Tinagong Dagat (Hidden Sea), we had to pass a tunnel-like cave. We were warned beforehand by the local fishermen that the current was strong inside, and at this point it was already night time.  Def, who was the tallest among us, had a hard time avoiding the stalactites because of the low ceiling.  James and I continued rowing a little ahead of them. After a few moments though, we looked back and they weren’t there.  We thought they were just mucking around.  It was dark already so James decided that while we were waiting he would put on his headlamp, so he opened his dry bag.  It was then that we heard the two of them calling out to us in panicked voices.  We headed back towards the cave and saw that they were trapped in one corner because of the strong current.  We didn’t know any better, and by the time we realized that we shouldn’t even go near them we got swept by the current too.  James and I were now in an even worse position than they were, and it was only a few seconds afterwards that our boat capsized underneath theirs.  It was complete chaos.  I realized that my mobile phone, which had been our emergency line, was swept away along with James’ stuff because he had left his pack open when we went back for our teammates.  I was pissed and lost my composure for the first time during the race.  We were in the middle of nowhere and couldn’t paddle out. Now what???

 

It cost us almost two hours but with some intervention from the locals we were able to get our boats back upright, sans two oars and some of James’ gear.  That left us with one small paddle for each outrigger, which of course slowed us down again.  But we went on, docked the boats, and scaled a treacherously jagged surface towards the next CP.  Once we where on higher ground, we got lost and went back and forth as we were debating on which direction to follow.  This wore us down and we found an empty basketball court wherein we decided to sleep for 30 minutes.  The boys found it easy to sleep whereas I had a very hard time because my shoes were wet and my socks were grimy, I was covered in mud, cut by rocks, bitten by giant mosquitoes—and frankly, I am still a girl who likes to be clean.  I know I signed up for it but that doesn’t necessarily mean that I would adjust to the hygiene issues as easily.  I probably slept for a total of 6 minutes.  The Mt. Everest Girls had advised me to bring a lot of socks in a zip lock plastic bag at all times and I was glad I listened to them. I changed my socks and left the filthy ones in the basketball court.  We trudged on through the night and at around 7am we made it to LP1.  I was happy to see Manny, Atoy, Ai and Toby.

Day 2: Dry Land, Water, Dry Land, Water.

 

CP 8 N 09 41 32 E 126 00 17 Near the coast
CP 9 N 09 43 56 E 126 02 37 In a baranggay
CP 10 / LP 2 N 09 45 26 E 126 03 10 In a town

 

Today we trekked and swam the whole day.  We were now ranked as the 7th team, and since the top contenders were hours ahead, we decided to change our game plan and just enjoy and finish the race. The main highlights of this section:  Bushwhacking and trailblazing amidst tall cogon, swimming from island to island in the dark with equipment in tow, getting horribly victimized by a bed of sea urchin and losing my trek shoes in the ocean.  We get to LP2 around midnight.

 

Day 3: The Bike Ride That Wouldn’t End + Time Space Warp at CP 19 + WAR!!!

 

CP 11 N 09 46 33 E 126 03 11 Near a community
CP 12 N 09 47 08 E 126 09 20 Near a market
CP 13 N 09 46 08 E 126 07 32 Near a coast
CP 14 N 09 49 15 E 126 03 12 Near an intersection
CP 15 N 09 57 32 E 126 00 20 Along the coast
CP 16 N 09 56 40 E 126 02 20 An inland baranggay
CP 17 N 10 03 32 E 126 03 10 In a beach
CP 18 N 10 01 12 E 126 04 28 Near the coast
CP 19 N 09 59 03 E 126 03 12 Near a baranggay
CP 20 N 09 56 42 E 126 06 07 Along a beautiful coast
CP 21/ LP 3 N 09 51 52 E 126 05 59 An old town

 

After napping and replenishing our packs with food and drinks, we pedaled stealthily into the blackness like some obscure renegade group on an important mission.  I was really anxious because my headlamp was damaged from being submerged underwater and I was very very new to mountain biking.  I could barely manage going through obstacles in broad daylight and now we had to navigate single track trails at a fast speed.  I knew I was taking numerous risks following my teammates blindly, but I had to trust in them—I really had no choice.  It was an unbelievably lengthy sixteen hours that I would be spending on the saddle, a personal record by far.  My butt was really hurting now, and my patience was running thin because we kept getting lost.  We had started biking just after midnight and at 4pm I was so glad we could chuck the mountain bikes away.  We climbed a wall and rappelled downwards, and this was by far the easiest and most fun part of the race for me.  It was almost a gift. 

 

After this, our team got a second wind even as we heard the news that the first team, Davao Eagles, had already finished.  We didn’t mind.  We were confident that we would be accomplishing the same thing in just a matter of hours. 

 

Alas, it was not to be, and my patience would have to be tested more in the succeeding checkpoints.  We ran around in circles in search for CP 19 and were again clueless on where to go next, even though, incredibly we had already passed it earlier in the day en route to another checkpoint.  We felt like we were stuck in a Time Space Warp and we were getting tired.  I was the first to snap.  I screamed my head off because I felt (wrongly) that the boys were largely responsible for the poor navigation.  I couldn’t understand why we couldn’t locate it, and I was extremely frustrated at having to do so many unnecessary kilometers.  We were running around like headless chicken and bickering like schoolchildren.  Fighting was quite unnatural for us as we all liked each other very much, and after a while, we laughed at ourselves and our strange predicament.  We loosened up a little bit and agreed to work more closely as a team from then on.  Not coincidentally, we found the infamous CP 19 shortly after that.   The CP 19 volunteers were kind enough to let us doze off for a few minutes in their tiny hut and even serenaded us with their guitar.  Their CP was worth looking for after all.  It was nearing dawn when we woke up and it was like a Death March towards the last LP.

Day 4: Breakdown: Peeling the Onion and Digging Way, Way Deep.

 

CP 22 N 09 51 40 E 126 00 52 Near an airport
CP 23 N 09 50 51 E 126 06 35 River mouth
CP 24 N 09 50 33 E 126 08 16 Facing the pacific coast
CP 25 N 09 48 28 E 126 09 52 Near a good surf spot

 

 

 

 

At LP3 we picked up our bikes again and even though my saddle sores were painfully fresh I had to add on to them again for one more day. I had never had that much friction on my sensitive parts before because as a road biker everything is just smooth sailing on asphalt and concrete.  I didn’t have that luxury now, and we were desperately under pressure to finish today because it was the last day to do so.  We were cutting it really close. I had had very little sleep (some by the side of the road, some on a concrete bench, some under a coconut tree) and was burning the last few strands of my candlestick.  I was near the breaking point.  The boys were nice enough to let me be but gently reminded me of our goals.  I could see that they were tired too.  I summoned all my mental strength and shut down the rest of my bodily functions which were irrelevant to riding a bike.  I felt like I was in a dream-like state but my body knew what to do because I had switched it to Automatic Bike Mode. 

 

We were nearing the end and I knew that we could make it soon.  But the Spirits of the Carrera Habagat Race had a few more ordeals set up for team T1-AVAYA.  Just when we thought we had arrived at CP 23 and had only 2 more CPs to go, we discover that in our rush we had missed CP 23 and were actually at CP 24.  We had to backtrack yet again.  I was incensed.  I could not imagine going back and forth another time.  My bike shoes had given way long ago and were just being kept intact with duct tape, and of course my underside was still hurting. In my mind I had done my last cycle leg for this race, but now we had to do two more as a result of our mistake.  It was too much.

 

It was never a question though.  We had to do it. I had to go back.  They couldn’t finish the race without me. And I couldn’t bear to let my teammates down. I was sobbing and yelling angrily at the same time.  “JUST FIND IT!!!! JUST F—–N FIND IT, OKAY!!!!!!!!!”  I had a sudden rush of adrenaline along with my outburst and pedaled like a madwoman, speaking loudly to myself for motivation.  Ige was telling me there was another team catching up with us.  I looked wildly at him and said, “Am I not here, and am I not trying the best that I can??? Just leave me alone!!!”  Oh dear.  This is what happens when you try to make a team player out of someone who has been competing in individual sports for most of her life. 

 

Finish Line!!!

 

FINISH     At a Beach Resort

 

 

We all got our acts together eventually since we understood that it was crunch time.  We found CP 23, went back to CP 24, and swam and ran to CP 25.  Surviving Carrera Habagat and finishing it the first time around is unforgettable, and my teammates and I soaked it all in.  We had gone through so much together the past four days and were the 8th team to come through.  We were blessed enough to see the beauty of this part of the Philippines in a way that no tourist ever could. This race revealed our character like nothing else ever could. I smiled at Ige, Def, and James, and silently thanked them.  They were excellent athletes and human beings and it was a privilege to have done this with them.  This race was by far the hardest one I have ever had to do in my whole life, and mind you, I have raced a lot.  But in my opinion, joining a race that isn’t challenging at all is just a waste of time, and in this respect, Carrera Habagat was time spent very well indeed.

Team T1 AVAYA boys speak up!

 

1. Describe the race in three words:

Ige: Wild! Intense! Solid!

Def: Solid at palaban (and a challenge)

James: ONE LONG ADVENTURE

 

2. What was the hardest part of the race for you?

Ige: The navigation part at night where you’re tired, sleepy, hungry and your minds playing tricks on you.

Def: You always have wet socks, so blisters will be hell. They multiply and grow bigger everyday – and still lots of trekking and running to go.  Locating the CPs accurately. Not hard, but a major hassle was bumping my right leg into a colony of sea urchins!

James: Blistering and chafing. Plus catching up with my teammates.

 

3. Any memorable moments?

Ige: Hmm…each part of the race was memorable but my fave would be the super race pace mountain bike leg on the last day going to the last CP.  We were there BUT not quite…yet!!!

Def: Where do I begin??? Swimming at 10:30pm for hours to get to another island; our huge bangka being sucked underwater in a dark stalactite cave; eating 5 star style; trekking while sleeping or sleeping while trekking; and of course our motto: ‘how bad do you want it???’ There’s

more but I’ll save for when we go partying! haha!

James: The inter-island swims. I would never do that except if my life depended on it.

 

4. Tips for aspiring Habagat joiners?

Ige: Training should be a lifestyle and always enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Choose your teammates well and physically and mentally prepare much much more than you would expect.  Learn to give and take for the sake of the team. This is definitely not just one of your ordinary urban races that you see in reality TV.  

Def:Train hard, and keep fit all year round. Pick good teammates. During the race, keep an open heart and an open mind. Never say die! And it can be done =)

James: Train, train, train to be confident on what you’ve never done before.

 

5. Say something about each of your teammates.

Ige: Ani- Newly baptized multi day adventure racer!  Solid foundation, definitely an asset to teammates and a threat to opponents in future adventure races to come. James- Silent James, dependable and soft spoken.  Will rise to the occasion if needed. Paolo- The Erik Dekker of the team!  Hardworker and never say die attitude!  The perfect energizer beast on multi day races.  

Def: James – silent but deadly; the man you want to consult when you’re lost haha! Ani – she knows how to dig very very deep; nice to have that woman’s care amidst the tough adventure. Ige – high spirited; fighter; wouldn’t do it without him – he gets my jokes!

James: Miguel- Strongest in the team, overall. Always composed. Always had that extra energy if needed from him.  Ani- Has the heart of a real champion. Will step up to lead the team at any given point, without hesitation. Paolo- Always charged. Loud talker. Keeps us on our toes. Always know where the food is.

 

6. Would you do it again?

Ige: Where do I sign up?

Def: Heck yeah! Can I have the same team?

James: DEFINITELY!

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July 3, 2009 · 1:10 am

One Chance

 One Chance

“Our spaceship known as Earth does not have any passengers.  As residents of Earth, we are all crewmembers of this spaceship.” – “Give the Planet a Sporting Chance,” Japanese Olympic Committee Sport and Environment Commission

 

The great thing about living on this planet is that we all have a choice.  We can forge our own path and if we are lucky enough, figure out what it is which makes us happy and actually have the opportunity to do what we are most passionate about.  As competitors, our sole focus is that of the next big game or race.  As working individuals, an ongoing project, as homeowners, preparing for the family’s meals—all of which are important functions and which definitely contribute to making our world better and more interesting. 

 

We also make a lot of mistakes along the way, which we hopefully learn from and which are, of course, part and parcel of the human experience.  Personally, I love my life so far and I feel extremely blessed on so many occasions.  I get to do what I like best and work and play with people whom I can relate to best—athletes.  Just like everyone else, I make many boo-boos, but I recover from them and most of the time get another shot at improvement, which is a most convenient and beautiful process in my opinion.

 

But there are times that we only get one chance to do things the right way.  And when we fail, there is just no way to go back and rewind the clock.  Like when you neglect your hydration during one of the biggest races of your life, cramp up, and miss a spot on the podium by mere milliseconds.  Even if you play the scene over and over in your head, it is done and you cannot do anything about it anymore.  Tough, but that’s how it is.

 

I went to Tokyo and other parts of Japan last November for a Study Tour Project for Leaders of Asian Youth Sports organized by the Japan Sports Association.  My friend from the National Rowing and Wushu Team, Jercyl Lerin and I were sent there by the Philippine Olympic Committee to interact and exchange knowledge with 27 other Asian representatives.  Our main topic of discussion was Sports and Environment.  All of us were asked to present something which was relevant to our country with regards to the subject matter.  We reported on what our own nations were doing (or not doing) to better the state of our environment.  We showed beautiful pictures of progress and painful portraits of destruction.  Our Japanese hosts were tremendously sincere in sharing their well-thought of programs and instilled in us a strong sense of urgency and advocacy primarily as citizens of our planet as well as influential sports leaders.  Needless to say, I was moved beyond expectations. 

 

Personally, I have always viewed myself as someone who did her part, however tiny, in helping to save the environment, even before it became a “trendy” thing to do so.  I joined HARIBON Foundation in my university and we planted a couple of trees and did some clean-ups here and there.  I have a habit to reject plastic bags from the cashier when I shop and just put the items in my purse when possible.  We have a compost pit in the backyard. 

 

But now I feel the burden and a burning desire to play a more active role in this campaign.  If I were to bring back home a single nugget of insight from this particular trip of mine, it would be this:  whatever your profession may be, it is your business to save Mother Earth.  You cannot ignore Global Warming just because you don’t have snow in your country and cannot see that it is melting.  You cannot ignore the denudation of the forests just because you live in the city and do not think that it is relevant to you.  You cannot keep wasting water just because you are far removed from the desert and have an abundant supply of it for now.

 

What I love most about my sport, triathlon, is that I get to see some of the most magnificent places on this planet.  I love swimming in azure waters and traveling to the most exotic beaches.  I love feeling the wind on my face and rolling on unique terrain when I ride my bike.  I love breathing fresh air and discovering new trails when I run.  I never take these for granted, even for a minute. 

 

Sadly though, most people do.  We have become too preoccupied with trivial things to even bother with something huge but isn’t really concrete to us.  But the fact is, environmental degradation is real, and it’s here.  And it involves each and every one of us. 

 

We only have One Planet—there is no Planet B.  And we only have one chance to do it right for our children and future generations.  Don’t be a spectator.  Be an MVP for Mother Earth.  You’ll be rewarded with more than just a trophy.

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July 3, 2009 · 1:07 am

Halfway Between Pain and Pleasure

Halfway Between Pain and Pleasure Nov 21, ’07 11:27 PM
for everyone

Last night, as I was trying to execute a complicated pose in my yoga class, the instructor mentioned something that caught my attention.  She said, “find that point between pain and pleasure in your stretch.”  A few of us gifted with more lively imaginations giggled, but it was the perfect way to describe that asana, and that got me to thinking what a very thin line it was between the two. 

 

I also recall reading a study published in a magazine a few years ago about the so-called, elusive “runner’s high.”  Curiously, it could only be achieved at a pace that was neither too easy nor too difficult for the person running.

 

Is this how it should be?  Is this the key to finding balance in everything we do?  Is this why the Buddhist teaching which shows us “The Middle Path” so important for us to understand?

 

In sports, if you slack off and have too many easy days, you can’t expect a good result.  But if you push way too hard, you can either get injured or will be just plain tired on the day of the big event and can’t perform as well.  And if you still insist on doing this over and over it would surely lead to extreme fatigue and burnout.

 

When is enough enough anyway?  Sans a heart rate monitor, speedometer, power output meter and other training devices, are we all equipped with an inner alarm that tells us when to keep pushing and when to stop?

 

Of course we are.  We are the masters of what is good for us.  Now if only we would listen.  I myself have wasted many a racing season because I would foolishly ignore my intuition and follow what others are doing because it sounded like it worked for them.  Comparing yourself to other people too much can be detrimental.  And this goes both ways—for I discovered that for me to do well I would have to do more than the normal share of long workouts, whereas for some people, short and sweet seems to do it for them.

 

Lance Armstrong (and just when you thought I would go through this whole article without mentioning him, eh), while being interviewed for a major international publication once, was asked what sort of pleasure he derived from all that hard work which he put into his training and racing.  He couldn’t understand the question and requested for it to be repeated a couple of times.  It wasn’t till later that the interviewer realized—pain was Lance’s pleasure.  Again, very thin line.  Driving himself onto this extremely high threshold makes sense to him though, and we all know that he has reaped huge successes for believing in himself, trusting in his instincts and ignoring the naysayers who kept telling everyone what could not be done. 

 

Find your balance.  Strive to be the very best version of yourself because you just might be surprised how far this will take you.  Testing your limits can be a truly rewarding endeavor. But most of all, take pleasure in the whole experience.

 

And if doing what you like the most means eliciting stares from strangers who conclude that you are one of the crazies from your weird whooping and grunting sounds on the treadmill, then so be it.  Hey, they called Galileo crazy once but he was on to something wasn’t he?

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July 3, 2009 · 1:05 am

The Flip Side of the Coin: A Tale of Two Wheels

The Flip Side of the Coin: A Tale of Two Wheels  Aug 6, ’07 11:14 AM
for everyone

The Flip Side of the Coin: A Tale of Two Wheels

 

It was one of those days.  You know, when you just have sooo much to do, are swamped with deadlines, barraged by phone calls, plagued with pending matters.  And then you end up being too overwhelmed to accomplish anything.  Aarrghh.  Just as I was staring blankly at my computer, my good friend and training companion sent me an SMS, at 9pm, to be exact.  The message read: “Hey, you wanna go mountain biking early tomorrow?” I read it one more time just to be certain.  After which I blinked, and without knowing the details, replied, “Sure!”

 

The thing is, we weren’t even mountain bikers, nor did we own mountain bikes.  We knew how to bike, yes, but we were roadies.  For the sake of those who can’t distinguish one from the other, roadies only cycle on paved road (asphalt and cement), and mountain bikers ride on all sorts of rough terrain.  Huge difference. In terms of bike frame type, wheels, the presence/ non-presence of shocks, apparel choices (earth-toned versus screamingly vibrant jerseys) among other things.

 

But I had great trust in my friend and knew that she could pull this one off and that we would be able to borrow two complete sets of gear and equipment just in time for that group trail ride.  So there I was, up at 4am, having resolved to ditch work the night before, with just about two and a half hours of zzz’s.  Such are my decision-making skills sometimes—not exemplary, really.

 

To my defense, in my experience, behind every crazy plan lies an equally inspired and wonderful opportunity to have fun, and this simple formula of mine may not be risk-free, but 99% of the time, it works out, and I end up having a blast.  And it was tricky at first, what with me tensing up on the brakes and falling, and my friend squealing when we passed a slippery path and each time we had to go over complex single track trails.  By the end of the ride though, even if we were both definitely still amateurs, we got the hang of it and I honestly couldn’t believe that I had waited that long to get on that mountain bike trail. It was like learning to ride again for the very first time—I felt like a kid.  Rolling through yellow green cornfields and red earth under the clear blue sky drastically changes ones’ state of mind, and mine was a far cry from the frazzled shape it was in just a few hours back.

 

A typical roadie group ride for me nowadays is more of the controlled kind—we have our set speeds, cadence, and routes.  We time everything, we are aware of our caloric and fluid intake, our wattage, our heart rates, and when we are done all is nice and neat and mud-free.  Nothing wrong with that, and the truth is, I can’t deny that I do love speed, I love riding in the peloton (a big group of cyclists), and I love the sound of carbon wheels zipping by smoothly.  That is who I am, and part of what makes me happy, and I wouldn’t know what to do if someone stole my road bike from me (oh, hello, someone actually did, but I digress).

 

For once, however, it was so refreshing to see how “the other side” does it.  Yup, you read it right—a lot of you may not be aware of it, but mountain bikers and road bikers come from two different cultures, and in a lot of cases do not even like each other.  For example, I’m the type of cyclist who normally says hi to other riders, but (and am not proud of this) if a fellow on a mountain bike passes by, I do tend to ignore him and if I don’t, I am not as enthusiastic in my greeting.  And it’s not only me, that’s just how everyone else behaves.  Why? I don’t know.  

 

Maybe it comes from not knowing enough about the other.  To everyone else who isn’t really into cycling, it seems like a cyclist is a cyclist is a cyclist.  Right? Am afraid not. People judge one another.  Because of hairstyle, skin color, fashion sense, and other petty things—in our case, it’s the choice of ride.  It really does sound strange and inappropriate, written clearly like that.  Your wheels define your personality type, and therefore you are automatically boxed into a certain category. 

 

I think all this is but an extremely minute sample of how we earth-dwellers should learn to co-exist and respect one another.  If BMX bikers, mountain bikers, and road bikers, can learn to share their love of two wheels together, they can learn to play together.  In the recent ESPY Awards, the Peace Players International, whose advocacy is to eliminate the warring Protestants and Catholics in the UK, stated that if people can learn to play together, they can learn to live together.  And they use sports activities as a vehicle to encourage the two sides to interact.  It appears to be very simplistic, but on a grander scale, applied to states, nations, and continents, you can see that it does have its place in paving the way for reconciliation.

 

As for me and my friend, we’re just gonna hop on our rides, let our hair fly freely, hang with our new-found bike buddies, and keep exploring new terrain.  Because so far, we like the view on the other side too.  Peace, man.

 

*Thanks to Anthony and Tony of Kanin Club in Paseo de Sta. Rosa, Poch, and their very accommodating mountain biking group for taking Pia and I in so readily.

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July 3, 2009 · 1:03 am

A Week of Ice Kacang, Futsal, and Five Colored Rings*

A Week of Ice Kacang, Futsal, and Five Colored Rings May 21, ’07 2:29 AM
for everyone

A Week of Ice Kacang, Futsal, and Five Colored Rings*

By Ani Karina S. de Leon

 

There are certain things in a person’s life that tend to create an impact on how he lives the rest of it.  These catalysts or triggers could be significant events, exciting places, or special people.  Or, if you’re really lucky, it could be all of the above at once.

 

Last month, I was fortunate enough to represent the Philippines in the 10th National Olympic Academy Session in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  There were around 70 participants, half of whom flew in from all parts of the world and half of whom were Malaysians.  Each one of us was below 35 years of age, was a sports leader or training to be one, and most importantly, each one of us was eager to make a difference for the betterment of sports in our respective countries.  An idealistic and formidable task, sure, but since we were all young and energetic I suppose it came with the territory.

 

So what was the objective of bringing us all to this convention?  Quite a lot, in fact, but the main aim was to imbibe the ideal of OLYMPISM into our hearts and minds, and from thereon the rest were details.  Honestly, I didn’t even know that such a word existed, but upon learning that it did, it was unsurprisingly easy for me, being an athlete for most of my life, to recognize the concept.  As a matter of fact, as I got to understand it more, I knew that I was very familiar with it because I had been practicing it throughout my career.  And for the first time the session gave it value, and for me this mattered a lot.  You see, I always tend to make analogies between sports and life experiences simply because it is something that I know best to do.

 

According to Mr. Chua Ah Tok, NOA Director of Malaysia, sporting education is the best and most effective tool available to educators the world over to help in forming morally and physically robust adolescents (and eventually adults), and that the age old motto of Olympism- Citius, Altius, Fortius, applies not just to sports but to everything we do. 

 

Citius: faster, not only in running, but also in the sense of swift perception.  Altius:  higher, not only with respect to an inspired aim, but also in the sense of setting a superior benchmark for the individual.  Fortius: stronger, not only in contest, but also in the struggle for existence.

 

Such is the magic that the Olympic Games can cast upon us, and for those particular two weeks every four years, we are spellbound. The five rings which display our racial and multicultural diversity are at the same time the glue that binds us together. For a moment, it doesn’t really matter where you come from—we are all the same.  Why is that we are so affected when we watch our athletes achieve unbelievable sporting heights?  We admire them because they too are fellow human beings who went beyond their so-called limitations and are able to realize their full potential as individuals.  If they can do that in sports, well then, we can do it in “real life.” 

 

Raise your standards.  Find your path, and do not live in mediocrity.  We are here on earth for a reason, and you may not be an Olympian athlete, but you definitely are built to be an Olympian in something else. 

 

P.S. Thank you to Ms. Gina Calaguas of the Philippine Olympic Committee, Mr.Chua Ah Tok, Mr. M.P. Harridas, Ms. Mae, Dr. Mean, Nick, Li Neo, Benny, Melissa, Chan, Sean, and all the other moderators and staff of the Olympic Academy of Malaysia.  All my love to Kiki, Quyen, Jamie, Nazroff, Katsuya, Petri, Udesh, Eddie, Elaine, Parissa, Jess, Jack, Kenny Roger, TEAMPLAY members, and all my wonderful batchmates in the 10th NOA Session. 

* From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1. Ice kacang or Ais kacang (Chinese: Hanyu Pinyin: hóngdòu bing; literally “red bean ice”), is a dessert served in Malaysia. It is also known as air batu campur (ABC) in Malay. It is sweet-tasting and is ice primarily served with sweet flavoured syrup and jelly. The word Kacang (note that kachang is an old spelling) is a Malay word for bean, and the word “ais” is a translation of the english term “ice”. Other Asian Variations Include: Bingsu: Korean, Bàobīng:Taiwanese, Halo halo:  Filipino, Kakigōri : Japanese.

2. Futsal is an indoor version of football (soccer). Its name is derived from the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol sala/de salón, which can be translated as ‘indoor football’.

3. What do the Olympic rings signify?  According to most accounts, the rings were adopted by Baron Pierre de Coubertin (founder of the modern Olympic Movement) in 1913 after he saw a similar design on an artifact from ancient Greece.  The five rings represent the five major regions of the world: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Every national flag in the world includes at least one of the five colors, which are (from left to right) blue, yellow, black, green, and red.  It is important to emphasize that Pierre de Coubertin never said nor wrote that the colors of the rings were linked with the different continents.

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July 3, 2009 · 12:59 am

The Fun Club

The Fun Club Apr 26, ’07 3:01 AM
for everyone

The Fun Club

By Ani Karina S. de Leon

 

I have to be honest-I am as much a fan of sports as I am an athlete.  At the very basic level, I think this is a requirement if you want to succeed in what you are doing—you have to be in love with it first.  Truly, madly, deeply. 

 

This is also of course applicable too in the realm of sports.  You act like a crazed telenovela addict and schedule your life around the airtimes of the games that you want to catch on TV.  Your wardrobe is dictated upon by the colors of your favorite team.  Your walls or desktops are decorated with various pictures of your sports heroes and you talk about their stats and details of their love life as if they were a family member or a close friend of yours.  You surf the internet endlessly on any information you can gather about them and actually own an account complete with user name and password on their website.

 

I’ve had a couple of phases over the years wherein I would cry (and this is really painful for me to divulge) if my basketball team (Purefoods, just in case you were curious) would lose to the opposing side.  I kid you not.  I hated having to show up in school the next day just to see the gloating faces of my classmates who supported the other squad.  Ugh.  The agony I had to go through. 

 

I once worshipped Michael Schumacher and Lance Armstrong so much that I would buy all the magazines I could find that had them on the cover.  Of course this proved to be a very expensive pursuit for me so I had to give it up and just accept that it was taking up too much of my time worrying if I had checked every issue of F1, Bicycling, Procycling, VeloNews, and the occasional Sports Illustrated and Outdoor Magazine Covers. 

 

People close to me know of my tendency to fanaticism.  A cycling buddy of mine relocated to Guam a couple of years ago and as a result had to leave most of his stuff behind.  During that period I lived and breathed the very thought of Lance and he bequeathed me with a door-sized hard mounted poster of the 7-time Tour de France Champion as he was distributing his belongings to his friends.  I placed it immediately in front of my bike trainer and would actually talk to the picture every now and then.

 

Being a genuine supporter, though, is even a step further than being a mere admirer.  I am aware of this because throughout my involvement in sports I have seen race volunteers and personal crews of different athletes toil much harder and longer than the participants themselves.  They have to wake up as early, baby their charge, forgive them for their grouchiness about the pettiest of things, and look after them when they are finished because they are the stars of the day—hence the royal treatment. I have been both at the giving and receiving end of this so I know what I am talking about.  My dear, dear friends once surprised me with a banner which said “Ani’s Fun Club” (pun intended).  I was so touched—if only everyone could be so lucky.

 

We like to classify sports into individual and team categories.  I say there is only the latter kind, and every triumphant athlete recognizes this.  Even the lone marathoner has at least one or more of the following: a spouse or partner, a coach, a training companion, a masseuse, a therapist, an agent, a manager, a sponsor, a psychologist, etc.   

 

No man or woman is an island, and in what we do it is no different.  The more you acknowledge and thank your devotees, the happier they will be to take care of you in every way they can. And the sooner you realize this, the faster your performance will progress.

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