July 3, 2009 · 2:09 am

The Inaugural Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore 2007: a milestone for Asian Triathlon

P8316958The Inaugural Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore: a milestone for Asian Triathlon

 

“Who says I can’t?”  This was the catchphrase of the TV ad which was aired repeatedly over a couple months in various cable networks internationally.  It showcased a handful of ordinary people who had a common goal: to test their mettle in the newest Half Ironman distance race in Asia. 

 

Last September, approximately 1,250 triathletes from all over the world congregated in Singapore, passing through the city’s popular landmarks such as East Coast Park, Marina Promenade, and the Esplanade.  With the help of Senator Pia Cayetano and our Pinay In Action project, I was lucky enough to be one of the competitors.  

 

I was in pretty good company—the Philippine contingent was, in fact, a perfect example of what the race organizers had intended to attract: triathletes from all walks of life who set out to challenge themselves.  Our representatives included the likes of business tycoon Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Senator Pia Cayetano, David Charlton of David’s Salon, individuals from Cagayan de Oro, Davao, some OFWs based in Singapore and neighboring Malaysia, and members of various triathlon clubs like Polo Tri, Fitness First, Team David’s Salon and Xycos, to name a few.

 703%20group%20pic

The Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore promised to be a truly unique destination race.  In the words of organizer Adrian Mok, “There are no other city Ironmans in the world – this is the only one. Others might start in the city but heads out of the city. This is more spectator-friendly as they are able to watch the action. We are especially proud of the cycling route as previously cycling on the highway was not allowed.”

 

Everybody was excited about the much hyped-up race but the question hung in the air whether the organizers could pull this off the first time around.  Having raced in Singapore repeatedly over the past couple of years, I was pretty confident they would.  But I still decided that I would reserve judgment until after the race was over.

 

The 70.3 posed a challenging 1.9km swim leg, with the rough waters creating a sea of different colored swim caps constantly bobbing up and down the length of the East Coast. There were a significant number of worried expressions from the participants as they gazed into the chop, but thankfully the first portion of the triathlon, which consisted of only one big rectangular loop, went by without any mishaps. The run from the beach to the transition was quite a way, but it was flat and the ground was carpeted, so this wasn’t really a problem.  

 DSCF6170

The designated bike course was not demanding physically, but technically, there were a lot of narrow lanes and sharp corners, so this required our total concentration. The fact that the race was very well-attended did not help as well, and even though drafting (riding very closely with other cyclists) was not allowed, it was impossible to avoid it in some segments and from where I was I could see that a lot of the triathletes took full advantage of this!  We passed a lot of scenic spots though, and I particularly enjoyed it every time we were atop Benjamin Sheares Bridge.  After completing five laps and registering 90km on my bike computer, I wheeled my bike into T2, which was at the Champs Arena.  The volunteers were quite helpful, as they helped me park my bike and handed me my run bag immediately. 

 

The 21km run was flat all the way, and we ran along the tree-lined paths with relative comfort.  Aid stations were conveniently located 2km apart so the racers didn’t want for sports gels or water.  At last, the bright yellow finish arch beckoned us on the floating platform and we crossed it, weary but truly satisfied.  Who says we can’t?”  No one. No one at all.

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July 3, 2009 · 2:07 am

Resistance Training for Endurance Athletes

Resistance Training for Endurance Athletes

By Ani Karina S. de Leon

Most endurance athletes have a very heavy training load, and a lot of the time, their career span greatly depends on their ability to stay away from injury and maintain a high level of fitness over prolonged periods.

Resistance Training

A lot of competitive coaches and elite athletes look to resistance training to aid them in this area, and here are some facts gathered from a study done by Jacques DeVore of Titan Sports Performance Center, as cited in his extensive paper, “Strength Training and Endurance Athletes: The Missing Link:”

1) Research shows that resistance training aids endurance athletes.
2) Properly managed resistance programs goal should be focused on power development.
3) Coaches should understand the correlation of resistance training protocols and the sports specific training required.
4) The ability of the athlete to produce higher overloads in sports specific training sessions is the biggest benefit for the endurance athlete.
5) Increased core strength and overall improvement in muscle imbalances helps prevent overuse injuries. This is in addition to the added benefits of power production from appropriate resistance training programs.  

IMWA 2007 360

From the items mentioned above, we can gather that resistance training is an effective tool for endurance athletes.  But it is very important to note that their studies also specify a certain type of resistance training suited for the said individuals.

So, what consists of a good resistance training program for someone involved in endurance activities?  Mr. DeVore goes on to conclude the following:

“The real measurement of a good resistance training program for a cyclist or other endurance athlete is that it creates a platform for the athlete to produce greater power output during sports specific training sessions.  This allows the athletes to have greater overloads in their actual sport specific training.”

Sounds really good, but how do we apply these theories and incorporate them into our routine?

Circuit Training

Good old circuit training, which dates back to the 1970s, have been greatly downplayed in the recent years, but unjustly so, in our opinion.  Circuit workouts are modest in length and they are beneficial not only for the muscular system but also for the cardiovascular system, and scientific research through the years has backed up these claims.  Individuals who were tested made progress with their VO2max values and treadmill endurance times.  They improved muscular strength, and since possessing this seems to decrease muscular fatigue during exercise, it allowed the athletes to exercise longer.

According to the authorities at Peak Performance lab, “the continuous nature of circuit training tends to keep heart rate and oxygen consumption high throughout the workout. You are always doing something, so the muscles keep using oxygen to furnish the necessary fuel, and the heart keeps pumping oxygen to the muscles. High heart rates and oxygen-consumption rates during workouts tend to heighten VO2max.”

Sample Workout

The following routine was developed by Peak Performance, and is perfect for endurance athletes.  It is an excellent workout in the sense that the athlete can perform it comfortably anywhere he/ she is training as there is no need for it to be done inside the gym.

Warm up with 10 to 15 minutes of easy jogging, swimming or cycling, and then perform the following exercises in order. Move quickly from exercise to exercise, but don’t perform the exercises themselves too quickly (don’t sacrifice good form just to get them done in a hurry). The idea is to do each exercise methodically and efficiently – and then almost immediately start on the next one.

1.  Run 400 metres at current 5-K race pace (if you’re a swimmer, swim 100 metres at high intensity; if you’re a cyclist pedal for 1600 metres at a high rate of speed)
2. Do 5 chin-ups
3. Complete 36 ab crunches
4. Perform 15 squat thrusts with jumps
5. Do 15 press-ups
6. Complete 30 body-weight squats (fast)
7. Run 400 metres at 5-K pace again (if you’re a swimmer or cyclist, see step 1)
8. Do 12 squat and dumbbell presses (with 10-pound dumbbells, or if outside the gym, use two equally-sized, filled up water bottles)
9. Complete 10 feet-elevated press-ups
10. Perform 36 low-back extensions
11. Do 15 bench dips
12. Complete 15 lunges with each leg
13. Run 400 metres at 5-K pace
14. Repeat steps 2-13 one more time (for two circuits in all), and then cool down with about 15 minutes of light jogging, swimming, or cycling.

 George Run

References:

1. Strength Training and Endurance Athletes: The Missing Link.” Jacques DeVore, Titan Sports Performance Center

2. Peak Performance Website.

3. “Resistance Training For Endurance Athletes.”  Mark Kovacs, High Performance Training.

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July 3, 2009 · 2:03 am

Swimming Without Lanes: Braving the Open Water

Singapore 70.3 2008 (41)

Swimming Without Lanes:  Braving the Open Water

By Ani Karina S. de Leon

 

I blame the Hollywood film Jaws for generations of petrified individuals who don’t even want to venture beyond waist-deep water while swimming in the ocean.  Make a quick survey and people will most likely state sharks as the reason for them not wanting to be more adventurous in the water and in the process enjoy a myriad of water sports and other delightful aquatic activities.  This is such a shame, because of all the open water racing I’ve done locally and internationally, I have yet to hear about a shark attack or even a shark sighting.

Having debunked that myth, I am not here to declare either that open water swimming doesn’t come with its own set of challenges, but armed with the proper tools and know-how, it can be one of the most fun things that you can learn to do.

 

 

Saltwater, Fresh-water, Pool water

Some important tips: Saltwater is denser then pool water or fresh-water, so you are actually more buoyant when you are in the ocean.  In other words, your body floats more easily, which is always a good thing!  Swimming in the ocean however, requires you to use a different technique, as the water is denser and thus will give you more resistance when you pull.  It can also be more turbulent, wavy, and sometimes extremely cold or warm, but for me that is all part of the package.  In general, it is a good idea to know a bit more about the environment you are swimming in and to try it out at least once before your event, ideally at around the same time as your race start.

1 (25)

The Waves Beckon 

 

Dive right into a systematic plan of action with the following pointers:

 

  1. Navigation.   Incorporate sighting into your swimming regimen, as you will definitely need to do a lot of it outside the pool.  Sighting doesn’t necessarily men lifting your full head and upper torso out of the water, as long as the waves aren’t strong and the water is calm, you can afford to lift it up only until the level of your eyes, make a quick sight of your destination point, and then bring your head back down again.  Every time you tilt your upper body higher means your lower body will sink, which directly translates to kicking more.  Find a good sighting rhythm, say, every 6 strokes, and practice to be comfortable with it.  As a group you can position turn around points like buoys or small rafts and bunch up together as if in a race.  This can also make your workouts less monotonous.
  2. Equipment. Sunscreen is a must, no if or buts about it.  Find a good swimsuit that will not cause too much drag, and this would mean it fits you snugly, nothing too loose for water to pass through as this will slow you down.  For training it is a good investment to purchase a durable fabric such as Speedo’s Endurance line, as this will last you for years if you take care of it properly.  For racing, a thinner and smoother surfaced suit like the Fastskin line is better as this will ensure better hydrodynamics.  Figuring out the pair of goggles that best suits you is priceless as you cannot afford them to come loose when someone kicks you in the face and you are in the middle of your race.  Different facial types prefer specific shapes and sized goggles, so don’t be afraid to try everything out in the store.  It is best to test them in the water of course, to make certain there are no leaks.  A lot of people also benefit from using lubricants like petroleum jelly to prevent chafing on certain friction points, the armpits for example.
  3. Entering and Exiting the Water.  A lot of races start off from the beach, and this requires running from sand to gradually or rapidly increasing water levels.  How does one determine at which point to stop running and where to start swimming?  The rule of thumb is that if the water is still below your knees it is still better to run, and when it is in between your knees and your waist you can start dolphining, and then when it is at torso level you can already start swimming.  Dolphining is a very very fast and efficient way to go through the water, and mastering little things like this could make or break your goal to stay with the pack initially.  To dolphin means to jump in a forward arch like movement the way real dolphins do it.  To exit the water, just reverse the steps above, so from swimming, you dolphin, then you start running in the water and onto the beach.  I must warn you that the change in body position from swimming (which is horizontal) to running (which is vertical) creates a sudden rush of blood in your system and might throw you off balance if you are not expecting it.
  4. Drafting.  Whether we like it or not, we are going to have to swim around people in a race, and a lot of times it could be frustrating not being able to settle into a pace that we prefer.  Eventually though, after the initial riot of the mass start, you will end up finding a couple of people swimming just a little bit faster than you and it is best to stay on their feet if your goal is to save energy.  The ideal spot is directly behind a person, although a significant advantage could still be gained from staying just bit behind where their arms finish off to the side.  Drafting behind people slower than you would make no sense, so always be aware if you are being smart or just being lazy.
  5. Group Training.  Pool swimmers used to having a nice still lane of their own can be momentarily thrown aback when faced with a mass open water start of, say, maybe five hundred people, and this too, can be prevented.  A couple of simulated workouts with friends will help familiarize you with the intensity of the actual race start.  Even if there are only five of you, for example, just make sure to stay in one lane and try to practice swimming together.  Do a couple of laps at high intensity and a couple of laps at slower paces, just to get the hang of it. 

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July 3, 2009 · 1:53 am

Ironman Langkawi 2009

Ironman Langkawi 2009 Mar 23, ’09 1:50 AM
for everyone

Ironman Langkawi will always have a special place in my heart.  It was my first ever WTC Ironman Distance race and my first ever Hawaii qualifier…among other things 🙂

It was a good race for me..I was very happy with my swim as I honestly do not feel that I trained for it properly, and was quite satisfied that I timed in at 1:04, similar to my split last year.  Nothing much to it as I started on my bike leg, which in my opinion was much tougher than last year.  I bet they used a real Tour de Langkawi climbing route….I had conditioned my mind to execute the bike course last year, which also had a sprinkling of rolling terrain but no real climbs.  So I did less hill work than I should have (wrong move on my part anyway), not knowing they would change the course two weeks prior to raceday….and of course by that time it was a bit too late….I had a time goal of 5:45, and I did 5:58, but it’s still below 6hours so I took a little consolation in that.
 
The saving grace of the day was that the heat did not manifest at all, and am glad for that….I was having major back and tummy problems starting the run leg and could not take in anything for around 10km at least….so imagine if I were sweating like crazy and I could not replace anything then I would have bonked big time.  I told Patrice I never had to struggle so much for the marathon leg of an Ironman.  We had to go up and down that loop five times, and pass the bridge ten times, and i just wanted it to be over.  I had wanted to beat my run time in Kona but only managed to do 4:35….but it’s okay.  I also knew that I was in the second position in my age group and had I at least done my Kona run time I would have been able to chase her, and I saw her each lap at the same exact place, which meant that we were running similar times, but try as I may that was all I could manage for the day.   I am aware that I still had a podium finish and that is always something special. I was happy at the finish because I knew I had given it everything–and that’s when I can pat myself on the back for pushing it to the limit.  My hotel was only 1km away from the finish line but I pleaded Patrice to get me a cab as I could not stand up anymore….haha.  It’s funny how one can run 42km but cannot even manage a kilometer walk. But that is the human brain for you 🙂

Joining a couple of bike races and focusing on coaching the Kids for Yokohama World Youth Triathlon for now…till next time!!!
 
Ani

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July 3, 2009 · 1:48 am

Ex-swimmer takes world’s toughest triathlon test

Ex-swimmer takes world’s toughest triathlon test Sep 14, ’08 9:00 PM
for everyone

Ex-swimmer takes world’s toughest triathlon test

By Francis Ochoa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:13:00 09/11/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Anyone who had caught a glimpse of 9-year-old Ani Karina De Leon staying up way past her bedtime and feverishly adding the final touches to “a sketch or story made up of drawings” before finally surrendering to sleep would have known even then that she was the type who finished whatever she started.
“I did not care what time it was,” recalled the now 33-year-old De Leon. “I just felt like I had to finish the sketch.”
Whatever that indistinguishable impetus was, it has served her well—even if it didn’t exactly serve the artist in her.
The former University of the Philippines swimming standout is now the country’s top female triathlete after accomplishing what no one else before her has: Qualifying for the Ironman World Triathlon Championships in Hawaii.
The event kicks off on Oct. 11.
For the clueless, triathlon is a lung-crushing sport that demands a mastery of three disciplines—swimming, biking and running. In extended distances.
Basketball’s NBA
The Ironman version of the sport is the mecca of triathletes. It is a basketball player’s NBA.
“Doing the Ironman version of triathlon is always at the back of any triathlete’s head,” De Leon explained. But not all triathletes take it seriously.
After all, Olympic triathlon is already as tough as it gets. After swimming in open, oft-choppy waters for 1.5 kilometers (that’s like swimming 30 laps in an Olympic-sized pool—during a 5.0 earthquake), you mount a bike and pedal like the end of the world is near for another 40 kilometers (Manila to Malolos, give or take a few Ks).
As if that’s not enough, when you dismount from the bike, you have to run another 10 kilometers (Manila to Pasig).
To those competing in the Ironman World Championships, Olympic triathlon has a simpler term: Warmups.
The Ironman version calls for a 3.8k swim, 180k bike (Manila to about 20k short of Lingayen, Pangasinan) and 42k run, which is equivalent to a full marathon.
Competitive
So what’s a weaned-on-the-arts gal whose name means “harvest” in English doing in a sport that after you compete in makes you feel like someone is wrapping rose stalks around every muscle in your body?
“After graduating from UP, there was no masters competition for swimming and that was hard for me because I’m really such a competitive person,” said the interior design major.
“That’s why my sister and I, along with some friends decided to try triathlon, which at that time, was new in the country,” she explained.
When “at that time” came around, Ani and her sister Sinag (They have a brother named Diwa) had finished competing for the UP swim team in the UAAP. Ani had also carved her own niche in a four-year stint at the Palarong Pambansa. But the rush of competitive juices simply refused to be quelled.
“Since I already knew how to swim and I was pretty confident I could handle the bike part because my sister and I used to ride a lot when we were kids, I was pretty confident that I could do triathlon,” recalled the butterfly specialist. “I played a lot of games when I was a kid so I figured the run part would be easy.”
So easy that even when she was a newbie in the sport, De Leon plunged into competition right away, participating in the 1994 Subic International Triathlon event.
The result?
“Put it this way: After I competed there, I didn’t want to do it again,” she said, laughing. “I didn’t even run the whole way. There were parts when I simply walked.”
But where the body yielded, the competitive spirit kicked into high gear.
Borrowed bike
“I just decided to train harder, and this time, train properly,” said De Leon, recalling she was ill-prepared for the Subic tilt that she even rode a bike she borrowed just five days before the event.
But those days are behind her now. She has competed for the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games as a triathlete in Manila (2005) and Thailand (2007). She also was in the 2003 team to Vietnam, but as a cyclist.
And now, after topping her age-group in the Malaysia qualifying last Feb. 28, she’s headed for Hawaii.
“I’m just excited because not a lot of people get the chance to do this,” she said, conveniently forgetting that not a lot of people would even think of trying.
Her time when she ruled the 30-34 women’s age group was 12 hours and 21 minutes.
“That’s still too far from the times of the best women triathletes in the World Championships,” she said.
And then there are other problems. Triathlon being a new sport, financial support doesn’t come easy for those who participate in it. De Leon has had to rely on sponsors who help fund her trips abroad.
In fact her benefactors are hosting a hula party on Thursday at the Mag.net Cafe on Bonifacio High to raise funds for her Hawaii stint.
And when she finally gets to the World Championships, a little reality check helps her put things in perspective: De Leon’s time is about two hours slower than what the top female triathletes in the world have accomplished in the Ironman championships.
Not only that, her opponents have well-funded year-round training.
Singapore race
De Leon, on the other hand, makes do with what she has. For warm-up, she recently managed to sign up for a Singapore race which is half the length of the Hawaii Ironman event.
She finished 15 seconds behind the eventual winner—and she even took a wrong turn on a forked highway, carrying her bike past whizzing cars in the freeway just to get back on course.
“I have no illusions,” said De Leon. “I still have a lot of work to do and for me, just being able to race against the best and at the same time learn how to compete in the Ironman is really a big, big thing.”
So cross off expectations of podium finishes.
They mean little, after all, to Ani Karina de Leon, the once energetic 9-year-old kid who would squeeze every drop of wakefulness from the late hours to finish an even meaningless sketch and in the process, learned to value the art of making it to the finish.

 

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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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