Extri 08: Baptism of Fire

I was fortunate enough to have another group of friends join me in Extri 08. My good buddies, Packy, Carlo V, Carlo M and Miguel had their baptism of fire in this race. Another friend, Bing, who was also my sports training colleague and an experienced triathlete joined us too. Thus, including myself comprised TEAM AG! Oh yeah, Team anything goes!

This was the craziest race so far. It included a stare down by one of our teammates to one of the elite competitors and a mental relapse on my part that caused me a chance for podium. But overall, it was fun and challenging as usual. The morning began with the usual ocean swells. I was prepared for this swim because i learned from what happened to me during the previous years. Firstly, I just have to relax. Dont panic when i hit those waves and try to breath quickly and high so that i would not take in any water. Second, sight more often or follow another swimmer. And third, ride the wave on my way back. I clocked around 25min for the swim and came out at the middle of the pack. My transition was well planned, in fact i think i registered the 2nd fastest on T1 and T2 (hehe-to justify my blogname). I always have my shoes cleated on my bike and i put them on once i hit the straightaway. So it was just my helmet that i had to put on. No more socks needed. I was off on my bike, after around 5k a couple of guys overtook me. I couldent maintain their pace and i just thought of getting them on the run. After around 8km, I overtook my buddy Bing on a steep incline and i encouraged her as i passed her. A few other Sabak riders passed me as I hit the 15km mark. They were flying. I just thought again to catch them on the run. I had a bike split of 1 hour and 2 min. My T2 was quick as I quikcly dismounted off the bike. I felt pretty tired but 10min before i had a GU so i thought that it should kick in soon and give me that push on the run of 4km. I was quickly on to the dreaded stairclimb which i walked. Then as i hit the parking lot, I started to slow jog. On the steep incline, I decided to fast walk, swinging my arms and lifting my knees for added power. I focued on my breathing but it was really tough! I was able to overtake 2 guys on the hills. Once the downhill was in sight, i just let gravity take effect and had minimal effort going down although i was extra careful on my footplant because of the rough terrain. The beach was in sight and i was excited to increase my pace. Although i already felt fatigue in my legs, I was focused on pursuing some guys who were ahead of me. On the beach run, i was able to overtake a couple of guys and it felt good. As I reached the homestratch, I saw Rizzo of Fitness First ahead of me but there was no way I would be able to overtake her because she was too far ahead. I just sprinted the last 100 meters and finished in a time of 2 hours flat. A few guys congratulated me at the finish and i felt i had a decent race. There were only a few participants at the finish and I found out that i finished 13th overall. Then it hit me, as the other runners came in, i noticed they were all wearning their helmets. Bang! I was not wearing my helmet but i removed it in transition and wore my visor! Yes, rules are rules and i quietly approached Taleng, an organizer and wife of Eric and told her about it. I honestly thought that they did not notice my error but I had to inform them just the same. She told me i was sure to have a time penalty but she did not know how much. Anyway, i was hoping it woud not be that much. As i waited for my friends to come in, I felt a bit disappointed about my blunder and thought why i had forgotten about this since i had competed here for the last 3 years. Here is what happened, during the race briefing I went back to my room to get my powerbar which i planned to consume an hour before the race. During that brief moment of 5 minutes, they discussed about the helmet issue and I totally missed it. It just slipped my mind and I even had my visor ready at transition. Hehe, thats what i get for being too confident about my preparations and for not listening! Anyways, Bing came in not too far behind then Miguel, Packy and Carlo V came in and i was happy for them. Team AG was complete except for Carlo M who suffered cramps on the swim and had to withdraw.

At the awards night, i found out that they gave me a 12 minute penalty and i came in 4th in my age group. If not for the penalty, i would have had 2nd but its okay... i was still happy with my race and tried to believe that in my heart i was really 2nd! hehe just to make me feel better. Bing garnered 3rd overall! And so concludes another extri experience. Another one for the books. Another one charged to experience. See you at extri 09!

What sports is really all about...

Today I am writing out of the box. I want to write a little bit about tennis. But not really about the game but what happened after Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer in this years Australian Open. I was not able to watch the match. I was only able to catch the awarding ceremonies. After I witnessed what happened, I was pleased enough to have caught this part and missed the game itself. Although, as a tennis fan, i would have definitely appreciated the five set battle. And, i realized that the effort and heart put in by both champions had contributed to their dispositions at the end of the match. In summary, both men exhibited true class and respect for each other. In defeat, Roger showed his true emotions and he could not hold back. As a true warrior who wanted to win surely not for himself but for his family, the people around him, and for his fans, he felt that he had let them down. Yes, he wanted to win his 14th grand slam but not for himself. Roger Federer is a champion because of his heart and goodwill and he does not win for personal glory and fame but for the love of tennis and for how he can inspire others. He is adored in Australia. And when the fans began applauding for his effort he broke down....

Rafael Nadal, for his part, at 22, has truly showed maturity way ahead of his age. Such compassion and empathy. In his comments after Federer had showed his disappointment, Nadal looked up on his opponent and praised him for being a great champion. And then he gave hope for the fallen soldier by saying that he is certain Roger will achieve another grand slam title. Nadal showed empathy by saying he understood what Roger was feeling at the moment because he has experienced it before. Nadal steps inside Rogers shoes and uplifts the man's spirits by saying "don't worry brother i am here with you... i know how you feel, its okay". Nadal then gives Federer a hug as a true brother. Now if this is not what sports is really all about then I don't know what is... I cannot be more moved by what transpired between them. These two gentlemen are great examples. They have showed true sportsmanship. They are who we all should try to emulate as sportsmen and as persons. They are humble champions.

Thinking out of the box, sports is really there for us to serve as a venue to gain friendships. In the end of the day, we try our best to be the best we can be for our sport. And after working as hard as we can and offering our efforts to the One who gave us life, we strive to help others achieve the same success. When one sees another achieve greatness in his field and not just in sports he is looked up to. He gains respect and is admired. He can now become a positive influence to the well-being of others. This is how friendships and camaraderie are fostered. And after we recognize the positive values that sports brings us, we can use these values to help our families and friends reach their goals.

Extri 07: The improbable swim

Alas! I was headed towards my second individual extri. After the Alabang triax, Alf and I were both excited to be back on our mountain bikes but this time on the trails. It was a stormy evening as we touched down the night before the race. We were hopeful that the weather would cooperate the next day but at the same time we expected the worst as well. The morning came and the winds were pretty strong, on my estimate around 20-25 knots. I could see white caps form on the waves. This indicated that the winds may even be stronger out at sea. What to expect? This was going to be a rough swim. The race briefing began and our race director cut the swim to 2 loops instead of 3 due to the harsh water conditions. We were quite relieved to hear that but just to get through one lap seemed quite a challenge. I did a warm up swim and as i got farther away from shore the swells got even larger. I did one out and back swim and i thought i was ready to go. I started out at the left side of the pack which was not a good idea. As i headed towards the first bouy, I scrambled to get a good clear path. It was fierce, and i was losing my stroke. As i hit the turn and swam against the current, I knew this was going to be a toughie! Every breath to my right and i was welcomed by a swell in my face and salt water through my lungs. Bilateral breathing which is breathing on both sides would have helped alot. I could not go further. I held on to the ropes and i saw a few other guys hold on too. Phew! I was not alone. I dragged myself a bit just to move forward, doing so only made me tired. I gathered my bearings and swam breaststroke. So far it worked, and i moved at the same pace as a few guys who were doing freestyle. So i thought i was not losing ground. My concern was my kick. Doing this style exerted alot on my legs although i was able to breath normally and not take in any water. So i just continued until i hit the turn back and rode the waves and immediately switched to free. That one lap alone which was about 350 meters took alot out of me. I was spent. I just dug deep and went for lap two. It was like "do i really have to go through this near drowning experience again?" Doubts started to creep in. Its tough to be mentally tough. But after going through this swim it should make one tougher. I completed 2 laps and my legs were overused. Too bad because i had wanted to conserve my legs for the bike and run. A mistake i made was i did not connect the toe clip on my pedals so i overworked my quads on the bike. The first few kilometers on the bike was really heavy. A few riders overtook me and i just couldent keep up with their pace. At kilometer 12 of the 25km bike leg, i began to really feel my quads burn. Lactate acid must have accumulated due to muscle fatigue. I was pretty slow on the climbs and i just made up for it on the short downhills. As i reached transition two, most of the bikes were already racked into place. This was not a good sign. I headed up the hill and it was really steep. My heart rate did not slow down. I walked uphill and ran slowly downhill. As i reached the beach, i saw a couple of guys up ahead. They were my targets. Although i could not maintain a steady pace, i seemed to have bridged the gap. I was able to overtake one fellow but the other one was out of reach. Just a kilometer away from the finish, i sensed someone breathing down my neck. It was Wayne, the aussie who i passed on the bike. With around 500 meters to go he overtook me. I just tried to stay on his back. We approached a rocky bend and he seemed to take his time manuvering through the rocks. I took advantage and skipped and jumped my way through. As i passed him, he said something like "Hey, thats unfair mate..". I just looked back and smiled a bit. Around the bend and i could see the finish line. I dashed through forcing my way with a strong finish. Yes it was over. I met with Alf at the finish line and found out he did well although he blistered his foot because he did not wear socks on the run. Alf finished first in his age group! For me, it was another learning experience. Hopefully, in extri 08, things would turn out better : )

Alabang Triathlon 07

As we continued to enjoy our great mountain biking adventures, Alf and I contemplated that there was still something missing. Our hearts were yearning for something greater. We just had to do a triathlon, and one that we would both prepare for. I had previously joined extri although this would be my first standard triathlon. Thus, we trained and geared up for the annual National Age Group Triathlon Series in Ayala Alabang. Our journey would not be complete if we did no try to convince another good friend, Cmap, to join our escapade. Without hesitation and just for the sake of brotherhood, he agreed to join. And so our new adventure began. Fast forward four months of training and the three of us were gathered at the eve of the race. We were fortunate to stay overnight in Alabang so that we could get enough sleep. Little did I know that this strategy would backfire. I was unable to foresee that fact that when these two good buddies get together it was difficult to hold them back from their jokes and pranks. I slept alone in an adjacent room and i really wished that the walls were alot thicker. None stop bursts of laughter, which they tried to control, could not escape my ears. Oh well, its was a good thing that i read an article which said it was not the night before the race that one had to get quality sleep but two nights before. Well, being half asleep was not too bad.

Raceday came and before we knew it we were racking our bikes in the transition area. We all had mountain bikes at that time. I was fortunate to have slipped on slick tires for this race. Thank you Mark for lending me your tires. The distance for this race was a 950m swim in the Zobel 50m pool, a 4-loop 30km bike around countryclub avenue, and a 1-loop 7.5km run around the same route. We were separated into different starting waves depending on our age group. The start was fierce. There were around 20 of us in our age group who all battled to get ahead as we squeezed ourselves along the lanes. We had to swim a total of 19 laps. That meant at the end of our 7th lap we had to exit the pool and jump back into lane one. And after we exited the pool for a second time we then had to re-enter the pool back at lane five to complete the 19 laps. I finished the swim with a time of 0:23:23. We then had to do a 100m barefoot run to the transition area. On our mountain bikes, i did not really expect to have a fast time although i hoped the slick tires would give me some advantage. The course featured a few moderate climbs, steady inclines, and a fast portion but the numerous humps were somewhat a momentum deterrant. As expected, the roadies has a hay day overtaking the moutainbikers. I finished the bike leg with a split time of 1:10:07. The run started out slow as i struggled to put one foot ahead of the other. Yes, the brick feeling. Leg fatigue had settled in as i hit the 1km mark. Some say the run leg of a triathlon is more of a mental challenge. I tend to agree. Its when the mind has to take over and somewhat convince the will that the body is fine. I had this sort of experience during the last 3km of the run. "Dont stop and just go, push, push" I said to myself. As I approached the last turn that lead into the final 400m, I was relieved. I ran the 7.5km leg in 0:41:21. My total time was 2:14:51. I did not know whether that was a good time but i was happy just to finish. Alf came in 8 minutes before me. Cmap came in with his kids alongside. We all had one great inaugural triathlon race! Thanks to Gelo, Francis and Jinggo for their support and thanks to coaches Ricky and Mario of TRAP for this race. Our next race was extri07!

First Ride

Good day friends. I began mountain biking in 2007. We started out riding the trails in Sta. Rosa Laguna. We all met in Paseo mall and from there we would either do the so called "cardiac hill" route or the "reverse upak" route. My first ride was the cardiac hill route and i soon found out why it was appropriately named so. Boy, that hill was tough. Being a newbie, i did not know how to shift to the "granny" gear, which is the smallest or lightest gear in your crank. No wonder my heart rate shot up as i reached the top, i was mashing through mid gear going up an incline of almost 40 degrees. As we all made it to the top, we rested for a few minutes and we rolled down the hill as my head spun and my quads pounded. It was a good thing after some 2kms we had our first complete stop. What a welcome reprieve, fresh buko juice and gatorade. We then continued on a relatively flat, wide trail commonly known as fireroads. Then we would enter narrower trails known as single tracks. Truely, I was beginning to enjoy myself. This was certainly far from the BMX days where we biked around the village and did endos, fishtails, bunnyhops and a few tabletops. This was way different. This was like a fieldtrip on your bike. We crossed pineapple plantations, vast meadowlands, a forest trail with huge sycamore trees, streams where we had to carry our bikes across, and not to forget the amazing mountain views. And for someone who enjoyed technical riding, the single tracks were definitely a challenge. We hit a paved road and gradually ascended up to the bikers pitstop, Aling Pina's cafe. We had her house favorite goto with egg mixed with homemade chilli sauce. Not bad. Then we made our way back as we hit a few paved uphills and more single tracks. We ended going down "upak" and someone advised me to have a loose grip on the handle bar and brake on my back wheel. It was a nerve racking 4km downhill and we probably went 40kms and hour. There was no room for hesitation. This was one time where you had to trust that your fork would not fail you. I was glad that the full suspension bike was able to absorb the jarring impact of the rough terrain. After this ride, i understood why downhillers seek this kind of thrill and rush for speed. We headed back to camp and the whole ride took us around 4 hours. It was a great first ride. From then on we frequented Sta. Rosa's trails. And after some weeks, we did Palace in the sky!

Second Tri

I must say, working as a coach was a very fulfilling job. The pay was not much but the amount of service was plentiful. And realizing it now, that is pretty much what some of us are called to do- serve others. Ironically, i quit my coaching career and decided to go back to my former job as a stock trader. I guess my roots can be traced to my gambling days when i was young. But do not be shocked my friends, it was only small time pusoy dos and mahjong. Nevertheless, it was in my blood and i could not resist getting back into the markets. But all is well, i am still able to do sports and coach on the side. Working as a coach gave me the priviledge to meet different athletes from elite pros to the recreational and aspiring kids. It was a treat. I have always been fond of kids even though i do not have any of my own (yet):). Working with kids has certainly developed my patience and has left me with an innermost joy. I was able to work with other coaches as well who were as inspiring to me as the athletes themselves. Coaches Matt and Francis shared with me the same passion for sports and sports training. It was with two great friends that i was able to participate in my first individual triathlon. Enter EXTRI 06, Laluz Beach Resort, San Juan, Batangas.

I was far from being in triathlon shape for this race. After my first extri, I stuck to two other sports, basketball and badminton. It was only at the late part of the year that Francis asked me if i wanted to join them in Laluz. I tried to encourage my other good pal, Alfus, to join us also. Alf and I always had this dream to compete in a triathlon someday. Unfortunately, he was busy setting up his business at that time. But that dream would be fulfilled the following year! (watch out for extri 3). I was undecided because i lacked training and was not sure if i could do a full race. A month and a half before the race, I decided to go for it. My objective was just to finish, have fun and to be with my two fellow coaches.

Race day came and i was in my speedo trunks while the other triathletes were in their trisuits. It was quite obvious who the newbie was. Jitters ran up my spine as we were about to start. I said a little prayer and we were off. I planned to mix up my stroke as i shifted from freestyle to breaststroke and back. I definitely did not have the right form back then and kicked heavily. Matt and I finished the swim leg at almost the same time. I felt good moving into transition one that i would be able to bike alongside Matt. But T1 took forever as i struggled to put on my socks and shoes. I got on my non-cleated mountain bike and pedaled away. The bike course was not as easy as i thought it would be. We went through a dry sandy river bed where i had get off and push my bike. We passed through winding fire roads and tricky single tracks. It was quite technical. As i finished the 25km bike leg, I was not sure whether i still had energy for the run. Back then, power gels were still unknown to me. About a kilometer into the trail run, I bonked out. And much worse, I cramped on both thighs. From then on, it was like a stroll on the beach. I finished with a time of 2 hours and 25 minutes. Despite the weak finish, I had a blast! I guess for most athletes, the joy and satisfaction came from the feeling of getting through such a physically demanding challenge. From testing one's limits or from pushing until threshhold. I guess, we can all attest to that feeling.

As evening came, we had a banquet. The highlight of the night came in the awarding ceremonies. Francis and Matt placed 3rd in their respective age-group categories. I was happy for them. For Francis, his success in this race served as a stepping stone for where he is now in the realm of the sport.

After this race, the three of us moved along different paths. Matt went into frisbee, Francis pursued triathlon, and I continued my badminton. Until my next post, my first ride!....

First Tri

What a great delight it is to spend the weekend at the beach and to participate in a triathlon as well! That is why i keep coming back to EXTRI, an off-road triathlon that features a 1km open water swim, 25km mtb, and a 5km beach run. The race is held every December at Laiya, San Juan, Batangas. This year would be my 4th extri. My first extri race was on Dec. 05 which was the first ever triathlon i had done. Being a neophyte in the sport, i decided to join the relay event and did the swim leg. Back then, the swim distance was only 750m. I just wanted to dip myself into the sport and see what would happen. There we went and after around 20 minutes, i emerged out from the water, head spinning, lungs hyperventilating, and legs wobbling. I ran up to the transition area and tagged my teammate who happened to be a visiting Ms. Earth contestant. I sat down still exhausted from what i had done. I wasnt really a swimmer although i decided to do the swim because no one else wanted to. As she came back, I found out that she had overtaken alot of bikers and that we were currently ahead in the relay category. Whoa! I was thankful she made up for my poor swim. My friend Ramon, who is an excellent windsurfer, then took over the run leg. Thirty minutes later he was back and we won gold out of 6 other relay teams. I was thrilled and as we were about to pop the champagne, Ramon found out that his lab was missing. Apparently, his dog followed him as he began his run. And i guess he was able to outrun his dog or his dog missed a turn and got lost. He retraced his route and was able to recover his worthy companion. We headed back to our resort and had a feast. So that was my first try at the sport. It was all for fun and we certainly had lots of it. It was only a year after, at my next extri, that i seriously considered getting into the sport. A sport that is very demanding although at the same time can be very rewarding. Until my next post, my 2nd Tri!