White Rock Triathlon 08 - a long distance race

After almost 4 months of training, the much anticipated race of the year had finally come. This was also the debut race of the new team I just have joined - the "Gold's Gym Triathlon Team". I would be riding with Carlo and Chock, my team mates. We met Fri am Oct. 03, 2008 a day prior to the race at my place. Vivian my wife offered to cook breakfast for us before we hit the road at about 7:30am. We packed our stuff, gears & bike into Carlo's van while Vivian prepared breakfast. She also cooked for us 'callos' for our lunch. She and the kids couldn't come since it's the kids' exam week already. The trip to Subic was quite a breeze via the NLEX and the new SCTEX highway. Just took us about 2 hours to reach La Papagayo Resort in Bareto, Subic where we were booked. It's about 2km to the race venue - the White Rock Beach resort. The manager Frank Lacson is an elite triathlete and friend who made sure we were all comfortable. Unfortunately, he had backed out due to back pains. We met with our other team mates Ferdi, Karen and Arni with friend Menchu for lunch at the resort. After lunch we headed to the race venue to register and to do our pre-race swim, bike and run to limber up for the race the next day. We made a quick nap back at the resort and prepared our stuff for check-in.

We went back early evening at the race venue for the race briefing and bike check-in. All the stuff at the transition area for the bike and run legs had to be turned over including our tri bikes. We hit the bed by around 9:30pm and wake up call was at 3:30am. I just had oatmeal and bread for breakfast. We needed to be back at the race venue by 5am for the body markings and to place our hydration and nutirition needs in our bikes. Also to pump air in the tires to the desired pressure and making sure all other suff were in place before we headed to the beach for the swim warm-up. Race would start at exactly 6:45am. The swim was 2K long. It's 330m out and back. We needed to do 3 loops then would make a short run to the bike transition area. I was in the middle pack trying to keep my pace steady. One of the big improvements in my training is the swim part so this I kept in mind that I was doing longer swims than this. I glanced at my watch after the 3rd loop and I was surprised I did just as I planned - do a sub 50min swim leg. My swim split last year was 1:08hr and of course that was with minimal swim hours & training.

The bike leg was a 45km out and back to resort for the total 90km distance. I was somewhat dazed and hardly accelerating to my target pace. It was a bit harder on the way back since it was already headwind in the straight aways. I tried as much as possible to stick to the nutrition plan but found it very uneasy chewing on the bars. My legs were getting a bit stiff towards the end of the bike phase and I was just trying to flush it out with power gels.

I started the run phase with my legs already starting to cramp up. I just kept a steady phase since it was already getter hotter by the minute. Whenever I tried to accelerate my calves just hardened up. So I took it slow and made sure I get hydrated whenever I passed by the water & aid stations which seemed to looked like oasis from afar and luckily the organizers had added more of these stations on the run route.

I finished about 6hr19min which is about middle of pack and was elated to improve my time last year for over an hour. It was my first half ironman distance last year and with very minimal training compared to this year where we started to train since last May. I still have a lot to learn in terms of nutrition and recovery and we would be assessing on this race these concerns to further improve our times in the full ironman next Feb 2009 in Langkawi, Malaysia.

Our team mate Ferdi bagged the top place for the age group 25-29 while Carlo was 3rd place in the same group. Arni was 2nd place in her age group 25-29 female. Chock did a solid time as well ahead of more seasoned triathletes. The team has a lot to look forward to and everyone is already excited on the next races.

Some pics of the race could be found in the ff link: http://www.flickr.com/gp/23336516@N04/3H8Ly7

Sunday Long Run - 090708

As usual I was up early. I wanted to sleep a little bit longer but it must be a force of habit so to speak. I'm a morning kind of guy. I'm normally up about 4:30am daily. Would take coffee while reading the news then would work on my docs or check on my emails when no one would disrupt me. It's a bliss. I got to the garage & I cleaned up my bike. Brushed all the gears and removed the tar that clung on the frame. Could not helped not to wash Arni's bike as well. And cut all the excess cable ties, installed my extra bottle holder, brushed off grease off the chain and cogs, etc. It's sparkling clean.

I did some errands in the morning so I decided not to run early. I usually do early Sunday long runs before my family wakes up. But today I woke up refreshed and out of the blue thought of doing heat training (as if the bike+run yesterday was not hot enough!). So I informed the guys who would take on the challenge. Ferdi did not have second thoughts and we were on for an 11am run at UP. He had also some errands to attend to and I also delivered water to some of our dealers before going to UP. It was already about 12:25pm and a little bit gloomy (thank God!) when we started to run taking the first half hour easy. We diverted down to the Balara pools for a bit of downhill/uphill slope training. It was a great training simulation for the hills of Subic. We did 2 loops with hills. The sun was shining ever so brightly and we are feeling the heat of the road on our feet (particularly along the university avenue stretch). Told Ferdi I wouldn't dare take off my shades. We cooled down around the academic oval where it was mostly shaded by the big acacia trees. I got home and had a couple of peanut butter sandwich with Endurox and I dozed off. Got up around 5:30pm and had a cup of coffee. I had second thoughts already if I would still do the swim workout when Ferdi called and asked if I would still swim. Hell yeah!

Iba Ride - Time Trial Sat 090708

Saturdays are usually long bike rides for the training group and we decided to hit the Iba roads once more. Plan was to leave early and bike off from the white Rock resort to simulate the bike leg route for the WRT Long Distance Tri scheduled on October 4, 2008. It's actually a 4 hour ride and we would be getting past the turn-around point in Cabangan municipal hall which is about 45km away. Now is the time to gauge the months of training and big ring power pedalling we have been doing for weeks since May. Also to practice on our nutrition along the way. I got 2 powerbars and 4 gels plus 3 packets of Gu2O for my hydration. We biked off just past 8am heading towards Cabangan town. Chock has a new kick-your-ass bike and was super excited as always. I stayed close to him and we were taking turns in speeding up to almost 45kph in long straight aways. He has no cyclometer yet and I was like his navigator yelling out our speeds every 5 minutes or so. We got to Cabangan in 1 hour 20 minutes. Average speed of 34kph. Not bad at all. We waited for the rest of the group and after a brief rest we headed out towards Iba for another 40 min for our 2 hour turn around point. The head wing on our way back was ruthless. Me and Ferdi sticked together and we were just doing about 25kph at most. But we still managed to cling on to our big rings and powered our way against the forces of nature. We stopped over to hydrate in a store before San Marcelino town and waited for the rest of the group. Carlo came in a few minutes followed by Arni who told us that she got past Chock who was already wasted and red all over. Might be his wide body catching all of the head wind like a sail. Chock thought he forgot his gels but I noticed that a packet of gel was sticking out of his back pocket. He took it and we headed back to Subic town which is approximately an hour away. My nutrition must have been working just fine as I still have fire left on my legs attacking the hills furiously. I think I did a 60kph on the last downhill overtaking a convoy of trucks. After everyone had arrived at white rock resort we changed into our running gears and we hit the road for our 30min brick run. I maintained a steady 5min pace till Papagayo where me & Chock had a quick drink. On our way out Carlo & Ferdi were heading back to white rock. I just hit on the button and took on about a 4:30min pace and could feel the electrolytes had just kicked in. Felt good after the run. We hurriedly took a shower and stopped over at Binalot for a quick lunch. We still had a team pictorial to catch in Makati for the One Sports mag. The photo shoot is another story to tell. Me and Carlo capped the day with a sumptuous feast of Pares and Bulalo (with Litid & Laman) in a side street eatery in Mandaluyong.

Subic International Marathon - My first 42.195K race

There's always a first time so to speak. Since last year I was alreay contemplating of doing a full marathon. For the last 2 years I was into duathlons & triathlons but never a full marathon. I learned last October 2007 when I joined at the White Rock Triathlon that there would be a Subic International Marathon dubbed 'Live your dream' sometime January 2008. No details yet at that moment. Since I just did a half ironman (2K swim 90K bike 21K run) so why not a full marathon then. My friends say it's just one leg on a full ironman (4k swim 180k bike 42k run). So I made up my mine to join and so are my training buddies. When the website for the registration was up I signed up immediately and started training. I joined the 25K New Balance Run at Clarkfields Pampanga last November 25, 2007 and it felt good. I said to myself I'm halfway to a full marathon. I tried to run 3 to 4 times a week for about an hour per session. News came that there would also be an international marathon at Clark (aptly dubbed 'Race to the Future') to be held Jan. 13, 2008 just a week before the Subic marathon. I suggested to my buddies that we also joined the Clark marathon but only for the 10K distance as tune-up to the Subic full marathon a week after. I broke my personal time for my 10K (Old PR = 56'. New PR 50:53'). I thought I was ready for Subic.

I left with my family for Subic last Saturday Jan. 19, 2008 and we stayed at the La Playa Papagayo where the manager is an elite triathlete, Frank Lacson. My buddies (Bong, Carlo & Chock) left very early so they could bike and check out the route. We arrived just before 4pm and checked in. My son Jan and I had some swimming and kite flying at the beach up to sun down. I did one swim loop at the bouy about 150m and back. Frank Lacson and his 9 yr. old son swam (drafting behind) to nearby island about 850m and back. He said they do this once or twice a week as part of triathlon training.

A running mate at Veterans in Quezon City told me to bring along some honey during the race for the glucose boost. I also gave my buddies their small plastic bags to try it out for themselves. My goal for my first full marathon was to run under 5 hours. But as my buddies had seen during their bike earlier most of the route has killer hills. Long steady uphills after the first 10K and very long uphill back after the turn around. I said I'm still sticking to my goal of sub 5 hours. We woke up at 3am to a pre-arranged breakfast of coffee, bread and pasta. Then we headed to the race start venue at 4:15am. There was already a crowd of runners gathering and checking in at the starting line. My family would be following later in the morning at the finish line at Remy Field quadrangle. The 42K would be starting off at 5am while the 21K would be at 6am. Bong would be doing his 1st 21K. Carlo and me would our our 1st 42K while Chock would be his 2nd full marathon. After a brief warm-up run around the tennis courts we proceeded to the starting line just seconds before the starting gun went off. It was still dark save for the street lights which were getting fewer towards the first 10K. I spotted a lady runner in a fitness first tri team uniform and paced with her. She was Arni (Laarni Anenias). Read about her in the fitness first egroup as a strong runner. I introduced myself as a new fitness first tri team recruit and if I could paced with her. I was able to stay with her pace till the 18th km where I slowed a bit on the downhill part towards Ocean Adventure turn around. Never caught up with her on the uphills going back. But I think I shedded a great time pacing with her. Her goal was also to finish sub 5hours but at the rate she was going she could easily do a sub 4 (Later learned from her after the race that she did about 4hr 30'. She ran-walked the last 5K).

The sun was up and scorching for the last 10K. I psyched up myself that I would be almost there. Every kilometer seemed so far and water stations were running out of water. Most runners in front of me were already walking. A couple of runners from the army were already taking it easy taking photos of each other with the port of Subic for their background. When I made it to the last 5K I glanced at my watch and I thought I still have more time to hit sub 5. A runner named Noni from the army ran along side me and was trying to keep pace with me. I told him if he was okay and he said he had cramps already but could still run. Iasked him he had power gels for his cramps. He gave me a strange look wondering what it was. Most of these army cadet guys were running on pure adrenalin. So I told him that we would just run-walk the rest of the way to the finish line to stabilize our heart rates down. So we ran for about 300m then would walked for about 15-20 seconds . We did this and we were over-taking runners who were walking already. Some would ran with us but would eventually fade away. When we saw the Subic yatch club I told Noni that we were near already. But we were a bit surprised that we still have to negotiate a whole block and enter at the side gate of the quadrangle. That would be almost 2K more. When we hit the last bend I could already hear the screams of my son & daughter. I saw my wife pumping her fist signalling me to hurry up. Oh if she only knew what I went thru. They ran across the field to the finish arch to meet me. Jan ran with me a couple of meters to the finish line. I did 4hours 45min. and reached my goal.

Whooah! I lived my dream!

Note: some pics at http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/juls9265/Subic%20Marathon%20012008/

Golden Wedding Anniversary - Val & Beth

I was looking forward to this momentous day which is the 50th wedding anniversary of Tatay & Nanay, Val & Beth. Recently got a text joke that goes 'What's the most impressive example of Tolerance? - Golden Wedding Anniversary.' Kidding aside, watching a young couple in love is joy, but watching an aging couple in love is bliss. When a couple has cherished their marriage for 50 years, it certainly calls for a celebration. So preparations were made as early a year ago with my four sisters (Cynthia, Issa, Cathy & Aning) taking charge. The boys helped out too in their own special ways.

My son Jan (6) and I took the bus trip to Bicol on Friday night. Unfortunately my wife Vivian & daughter Janinna (14) couldn't make it. We arrived early morning the following day and took a tricycle to my folk's place about 15min away from the town proper of Tabaco, Albay. The wind was so chilly as the tricycle sped on its way. Jan had to duck his face under my jacket to ward off the cold. He said to me later on that we don't take the tricycle again. It was a pleasant surprise when we got off the tricycle to see the compound all spruced up for the big event later in the day. I could already hear the familiar voices of relatives who I learned later came all the way from Dumaguete and Manila. The family of Auntie Baby & Tito Iking Catacutan flew in Friday morning. With them was daughter Lorilie with cute son Ari. Lablab the daughter of Glen and wife of Jasper was also with them. Great to see them after quite some time. The last time they were here was the time of Lola Lisa's interment about 3 years back. The family of Tito Hoel & Tital Cecille from Pasig was in full force together with Tito Lionel & Tito Butch took the bus and arrived Friday night. With them was Roselle with her husband Pei and 2 kids, King the son of Ritchelle (now in UAE), Ronron and Rilette. Woooh, they were just little kids when I was staying in Lola Lisa's house in Boni, Mandaluyong during my UP college days in the 80's. The Catacutans stayed in the main house while the Celda's were in the 2nd floor of Cris' house. Jan & I stayed in Aning's house.

The coffee tasted so good while we milled around and updated on each other at the back of Cris' house amidst the chirping of the birds Cris is breeding. Around mid morning the caterer arrived and already started setting up their things and decorating the whole front yard and make-shift stage. The LCD projector Issa borrowed seemed not to be working and we hurried to the town center to borrow another unit. I thought of the minor seminary and talked to Fr. Nick the rector who was very accomodating to lend us their LCD projector. Marlon the husband of Cathy quickly worked on it and was able to set it up in no time. We had a hearty lunch of adobo and pili (with husk softened in hot water - 'nilanta' in bikol) which our uncles were craving for. It is also our initiation for newly arrived guests to take a taste test of this peculiar delicacy. Initial reactions would be that it tasted like 'wood'. But if you get used to it you would be coming back for more. After a short siesta we all get ready for the 3pm wedding at the parish church. Jan and I had a quick cold shower. No hot water so we were jumping like fish out of water. Whew, that certainly awakened all my nerves in there. We didn't bring anymore our barongs as these were all taken cared of by Aning. Sit back, relax, be cool and enjoy the wonderful day. I was totally impressed with the coolness and the preps our sis did. The grand daughters were all splendid in their gowns while the grandsons stunning in their barongs. We had a great time picture taking inside and outside of the main house.

The weather was wonderful. They said it had been raining for the past days but today the sun was up and brightfully cooperating. The church is just a stone's throw from our place but there was a big cart they had decorated with flowers and pulled by a carabao that would take the bride to the church. Oh I loved this part. Some of the apo's rode with Nanay on the cart to the church which was beautifully decorated. Simple yet elegant. Most of the guests and sponsors were there already and of course the whole barangay came to witness the event. First of its kind in our place. The groom exitedly waited at the altar while the bride marched with all the apo's as minor sponsors. One of the sponsors and a close family friend Tio Lex Quijano jokingly said to Tatay if he was really sure going thru this the 2nd time around. He still has a few minutes to think it over. Hahaha. The wedding was solemnly celebrated by Fr. Kims and the homily was an inspiration to carry you on to your own 50th wedding anniversary. I was a veil sponsor with my sister Cynthia. The children's choir sang great hymns throughout the ceremony. Nicole the eldest daughter of Pebs my brother (not able to attend because he's in Dubai at the moment) rendered a wonderfull tagalog song 'Sayo Lamang' with her cousins all around her. This was the first time I heard her sing in front of people and she exuded that confidence and stage presence. I overheard people and friends commenting on how wonderfully she had sang the piece.

The couple then rode together on the carabao cart and Jan was so exited to ride back to the compound. It was like a float in the Manila filmfest. The compound was all ready for the reception. After the traditional flower shower, eating of cake & wine drinking of the couple - dinner was ready. There were 2 buffet tables and most of the tables for 10 easily filled up. The caterer did a great job and everybody had their fill while a band was singing old love songs. The kids also had a dance number after which there was a slideshow presentation. The message of Manong Marion and family who are now residing in Canada was also shown. They were not able to make it but they are truly one with us in the celebrations.

After most of the guests were gone the videoke was set up using the LCD projector on the wall and the wow magic sing Tito Hoel brought along. The singing lasted way past midnight. It was only abruptly stopped by a brownout at around 1:30pm. But the stories, dramas and drinking went on by candle light. Me and Jan hit the sack around midnight. I awoke in total darkness and I thought I got so drank I lost consciousness.

I was up early and there was already the usual crowd at the back of Cris house. Kids were getting ready for the beach. We had coffee while reminiscing the past day's event. Cris said Tito Lionel urinated in the room next to the toilet during the brownout. It was the room where the Catacutan's where staying. Tita Baby was up early washing up the sheets. Tito Lionel had no idea. He even said that he went straight to bed and didn't mind the singing which was getting all the more off tuned as the night went on. 'Basta ako pag lasing diretso na tulog', he proudly declared. Cris and the rest of the group had a hearty laugh.

There was already a jeepney waiting after we had a quick breakfast. They would all dropped by the cementery first to visit Lola Lisa before going to Bacacay beach. I rode with Cris on his bike since I had to get our reservation for the trip back to Manila later in the day. Most of the beach resorts in Bacacay mostly owned by the Morales family wre destroyed and wiped out by the super typhoon Reming that hit Bicol in October 2006. There was one though that have opened and have huts we could take shelter and have our stuff and food. All had a great time in the beach with the water so calm and shallow that all the kids enjoy. Games were held versus families with kids and parents participating. After lunch we all packed up and went home for we all have to catch up our trips back to Manila. We got home early morning and brought Jan to school while I went straight to a client's meeting in Ortigas. I was able to close the deal for a new project. What great way to start the year! Cheers!!!

Pictures posted and videos posted at the following link: http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/juls9265/Golden%20Wedding%20Anniversary/pre-wedding/