Posts Tagged with: "Triathlon"

Dear Lord,

Tomorrow is the big day: Tri United 1 at Laiya, Batangas. It feels like my first triathlon since I’ve really only done two mini sprints way back in 2008 and 2009.

Oh God, this is the first time I’m joining a triathlon in open water, first time I’m going out of town for a triathlon, and the first time I’m going to swim and bike for what seems like such a long distance! Last year, I would never have dreamed of swimming and biking this much!

If you sense the panic in my voice, please take pity on me and, should you have a short recess from solving the more weighty problems of the world, perhaps you could accede to one or more of my humble requests:

1. Please don’t let any sea creatures sting me — be it jellyfish or sea ticks. It will be quite difficult for me to employ my own TBR swim-scratch-gasp-swim(R) technique during a race.
2. Please help me make sure I prepare everything properly in the transition area. You know how often I’ve forgotten underwear, toiletries, or even my own surname after receiving epidural for two kids. Just this once, help me leave nothing behind.
3. Keep me and all other participants safe during the bike ride. Yes, needless to say, you may also keep them safe from me and my not-so-perfect biking skills.
4. Guide me as I attempt to drink from the bottle during the ride. I know, I know, you only help those who’ve helped themselves. Promise, I’ve practiced this the past couple of weeks, but I’ve come to the sad conclusion that I must’ve been absent when you blessed humanity with balance and maneuvering skills.
5. Please spare me from any technical difficulties on the bike. I’ve watched so many youtube videos on “how to change a flat tire” but unless my repair kit has a magical caucasian genie triathlete that pops out and does everything for me, I don’t think I’m ready to change it myself yet. I promise to learn before Ironman 70.3.
6. Brick? Oh boy, I didn’t have any brick training during my past 3 weeks of mishmash triathlon training. Please Lord, don’t make me wobble like a duck when I hop out of the bike and attempt to run.
7. Allow me to have a strong and safe run since, this time, it comes after a 1km swim and 30km bike ride. You know I haven’t done anything like this in my entire life, so send some angels to make things a bit easier. If they’re busy doing some good in the world, then second or third or fourth wind would be much appreciated if and when I tire out.
8. Last but not the least, please let me have fun even if none of the prayers above are answered. Remind me that the first race is always about enjoying the experience. I can worry about time and a better performance at the next race, right?

Yours Truly,

The-Bull-Runner-Who-Is-Going-Nuts-Thinking-About-The-Swim-&-Bike-Tomorrow

Thank you to swimbikerun.ph for interviewing me for their Women’s Month special.  Who would’ve known this runner girl would ever hit the pages of a triathlon website?  Well, who would’ve known this runner girl would ever sign up for Ironman 70.3 Cebu?

Oh, Ton Gatmaitan, I hope you like the last line.

Click HERE to read the full interview.

If you’re serious about triathlon, then you’ll get excited about this upcoming event: Olivier Bernhard Coaching Triathlon Camp. I know I am!  I’m blocking my entire 1st half of 2012 for triathlon training, so this comes at the perfect time.

Olivier Bernhard is a professional triathlete from Switzerland, three-time duathlon World Champion, and six time Ironman Champion. He will be coming to Manila in January to provide the following camps for triathletes of various levels:

• Basic Tri Camp: Jan 12 to 15, 2012 in Subic
• Advanced Tri Camp: Jan 19 to 22, 2012 in Subic
• Coach the Coach: Jan 18, 2012

For more info, click HERE or email customercare@chrissports.co.cc.

To register, click HERE to download the registration form.

I couldn’t believe it either. But, yes, it’s true; Jennifer Lopez isn’t just a singer and dancer, but she’s also a triathlete! J-Lo, along with other celebrities such as Matthew McConaughey, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Felicity Huffman joined the celebrity competition of the Nautica Malibu Triathlon last Sept. 14.

– Ladies, who wants to stand beside J-Lo in a race? Er, not me!-

– I thought she would’ve worn something sexier –

J-Lo, who gave birth to her twins only 6 mos. ago, finished the sprint triathlon—1/2 mile swim, 12.4 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run—with a time of 2:23:38. On Chelsea Lately (new show on ETC), I laughed out loud when the host said that J-Lo crossed the finish line with her butt following a few seconds behind her!

Well, I’m not a big fan of J-Lo, but she deserves a big congratulations for finishing—same goes to her butt!

– Lance Armstrong’s BFF, Matthew McCounagHEY…hey…hey. Now, he’s the one I’d like to be running alongside with during a race –

* Photos courtesy of Bitten & Bound

Results of the Animo triathlon are out. No big surprise here, I had a fairly clear idea of my performance…

I was 8th out of 17 women. Not bad for a first timer who was enjoying herself throughout the race. It felt good to know that the 1st and 2nd placers were teenagers—no way I could outpace these kids on land or in the pool.

If I were to grade myself, here’s how I think I did against the competition:

1) Swim: B. I believe I swam well but my pauses in between each lap ate up a good chunk of my time. I’m pretty optimistic about the swim portion though. Before the tri, it took me 37 minutes (with long breaks) for 650m. This morning, I swam 750m in 32 mins (yes, still with breaks). It’s not a great time, but there’s improvement. Of course, I’m still pathetic compared to Ani de Leon who swam 1.9k in 35.36…phew.

2) Bike: C (or maybe even D). I want to hit myself on the head for the bike portion. I relaxed here. During the race, you could have put a sun hat on my head, a basket on my bike, and asked me to whistle and I would’ve looked like Mary Poppins on wheels. Note to self: Slowly introduce to hubby the idea of buying a new roadie for myself. Target time: 1 month. Do wives get presents during Halloween?

3) Run: A: I placed 4th in running, but I know I could’ve gone faster. I’m over a minute away from the fastest runner, but just seconds away from 2nd and 3rd (Carolyn that’s you…hehe. Congrats for placing 4th!)

Congratulations to Harry Tan who placed 2nd in the men’s mini-sprint for his 1st triathlon! Sounds like someone is ready for the Sprint.  Congrats also to Dedette, Ting, and Me-Anne! We did it!