Posts Tagged with: "Triathlon"

Here’s a Triathlon Camp led by my Coach Andy Leuterio. This is a great tune-up for people planning to join Tri United 3 and 4.

Event: Suunto Ambit Triathlon Power Camp
Date: October 19-20, 2013
Venue: The Village Sports Club

The camp is FREE to all Suunto Ambit users, but you must go to the Suunto Ambit Triathlon Power Camp Facebook Page and follow the instructions to get a slot.

Non-Ambit users may join for a P2,000 fee. Fee includes rental of the facilities of Village Sports Club, talks about training with Pace, Power, and Heart Rate, and lots of swimming, biking, running, and, as my Coach says “other secret physical stuff” training at various intensities.

Here’s the CAMP PROGRAM:

Sounds exciting, eh?

Click Registration Form-Suunto Camp to download the Registration Form.

I’ve heard about Rip:60 before and I’ve always wanted to try it.  Here are 3 good reasons for me to do so now:

1) Master Coach Tim Church is coming to Manila,
2) He’s holding classes at Gold’s Gym where I work out, and, last but not the least,
3) There’s actually a Rip:60 Workshop especially for Triathletes!

Gold’s Gym Philippines is bringing to the country RIP: 60 along with world-renowned FreeMotion Fitness Master Coach Tim Church. On October 14-16, fitness practitioners, triathletes, sports enthusiasts, and even non-gym-goers will unite as Tim Church conducts certification and sampler classes for RIP:60, the newest trend in body weight and suspension training.

What is Rip:60?

The newest fitness craze in the US that guarantees you the body you’ve always wanted in less than 60 minutes in 60 days has finally arrived here in the Philippines. RIP:60 is the recent innovation in suspension training that makes use of gravity, your body weight, plus the system’s revolutionary rotating straps to engage the core at all times with every move, in a progressive and varying set of exercises.

This new training system has made it big all over the world with globally-recognized names in the industry attesting to it. Among these are Mixed Martial Arts World Champion Georges St. Pierre and world-famous TV trainer of The Biggest Loser, Jillian Michaels.

In a series of progressive workouts week by week, RIP:60 can get anyone ripped in 60 days. Some of its key benefits include losing body fat, gaining lean muscle, and improving strength, all in the fastest time.
Another good thing about it is that it’s doable for anyone who wants to improve the way their body looks, feels, and moves, as it is adjustable as to whether you’re a beginner or advanced already. It promises a total-body transformation from where you are today to the best shape of your life.

Just three months ago, FreeMotion Fitness certified and trained 200 of Gold’s Gym’s fitness professionals for RIP:60, along with cable equipment and RAPIDfit.

Who is Tim Church?

Tim Church is an established fitness expert from South Carolina USA with over 13 years of experience. He has appeared in local fitness TV shows and specializes on developing and coaching personal trainers in their training styles, client development, and retention.

“I see the trainers applying the knowledge and ideas he passed on in their workouts with their clients, as well as within their own workouts… The trainers’ time was very well-spent in training with him,” says Karen Mock, a gym owner in the US. Tim Church will be speaking this month in Bangkok for AsiaFit 2013, presenting RIP:60 for MMA and RIP:60 for Triathlon training.

To find out more about RIP:60, you may check out their website here, or this demonstration video by Body Power Sports.

Swimming and I have a love/hate relationship.  I used to only swim in preparation for a triathlon.  Once the race was over, I would skip the pool for the road.  But, after Ironman 70.3 Cebu, I found myself swimming just for the sheer fun of it.

Good thing I’ve had great company.  Since May, while training for Cebu and even after the race, I’ve been swimming every Tuesday and Friday under the guidance of Coach Anthony Lozada and with fellow classmates Joey and Elaine.  I try to sneak in an additional swim during the week as homework.  (I hope the Coach read that last line…twice!)

 – with Elaine, Joey, and Coach Anthony –

Swimming has been good for me.  And, even better, it’s been good for my running.  I’ve found that, cardio-wise, I’m stronger.  It’s most noticeable when I’m climbing hills.  No more huffing and puffing.  Whoakay, maybe just a bit but with less whining.

Swimming has also been perfect for an injury prone runner like me.  It gives my weary running legs the opportunity to train without the pounding.  I’ve found that it actually loosens up my tired ankles after a run the previous day.

I also like the fact that I get an upper body workout now.  My flabby arms (Argh, it runs in the family. Thanks Mom…I still love you!)  and my postpartum belly (Yes, I still call it that even if I gave birth almost 9 years ago) have tightened up a bit.  Hopefully, like in a year, I get one out of the six pandesals of Ani de Leon-Brown’s abs. Wishful thinking. LOL.

Anyway, you get the point.  Swimming has been great for a runner like me.  You should definitely give it a try as a cross training activity.  To convince you even more, I sat down with my Coach and asked him more about the benefits of swimming for runners and triathletes…

TBR: Tell us about your background as a swimming/ triathlon coach
Coach Anthony: I’ve been teaching swimming for the past 35 years and coaching swimming for the past 16 years. I started coaching triathlon in 2010.  My credentials include:

• Member(Coach)-Philippine Swimming Inc.
• National Coach – 2004 Athens Olympics
• International Triathlon Union(ITU) certified Level-2 Coach
• National Coach-2013 Jeju ASTC ITU Development Junior and U23 Women Continental Camp, Korea
• International Triathlon Union(ITU) certified Coaches Education Facilitator

TBR: What type of swim technique do you use in teaching swimmers or triathletes?
Coach Anthony: The type of swimming technique that I teach my students, both for swimmers and triathlon, is to maximize their “distance per stroke”. The guiding principle behind maximizing distance per stroke (DPS) is economization and efficiency of movements. During a long distance endurance race like triathlon, it will be more efficient to find an ideal stroke rate which translates to a higher DPS than just thrashing and powering your way across the water. With an ideal stroke rate with a high DPS, we are able to delay fatigue and the onset of muscle soreness. But, before my students can achieve that, I have to teach them the proper fundamentals of the stroke.

TBR: Would you recommend swimming for runners? Why?
Coach Anthony: I have to say that Swimming is a MUST for runners because not only is it a refreshing way to train. But runners can continue to develop their cardiorespiratory fitness or endurance while giving their body, more particularly their joints, a break from the pounding of running. Runners have to learn to swim because it is a “Safety Skill” that no one can do without.

TBR: Swimming is the most common fear among the three disciplines in triathlon. What tips can you give triathletes who wish to improve in swimming?
Coach Anthony: First and foremost is that they have to make sure that they enroll at a reputable swim school with years of experience in the field of swimming and have produced top level athletes, as they say “the proof is in the pudding”. Their teachers and coaches must have the proper training in being able to transfer their knowledge effectively to their students or athletes. Swimming is not an easy sport to learn and develop, teachers and coaches must be able to motivate and encourage their clients to achieve their goals and fulfill commitments to themselves. I have heard of a lot of individuals who have given up learning how to swim because their teachers failed to create an environment which is conducive to learning.

TBR: Can you give us three tips for swimming in open water during a triathlon?
Coach Anthony:

• Tip #1- Never start a race without doing an ocular of the conditions of the swim course and swimming in it as well. Find your markers so that you will target these as you do your “sighting” and swim in a straight line.
• Tip #2- Be confident in your training and try to avoid swimming too close to the lane ropes and buoys. In any tri race, these are where athletes crowd and it will be too tiring to keep on stopping or changing directions just to avoid them.
• Tip #3- Since most triathletes train in a swimming pool, it will be best to practice turning already 5-meters before the wall (do some sighting drills at the same time) and avoid doing the push-off from the wall as you continue your laps. This will more or less simulate open water conditions where you have to maneuver around buoys.

TBR: Where and when do you teach?
Coach Anthony: I teach or train athletes in Makati, Pasig, Alabang and Sta. Rosa Laguna.. Schedule will depend on the area so it will be best to call me.

• Mobile 0917-7932691/0922-8932691
• Email: anthony@bertlozadaswimschool.com
• Facebook: Anthony Lozada
• Website: www.bertlozadaswimschool.com

This begins a series of interviews with age-group triathletes that I’ll be publishing for the next few days leading up to Ironman 70.3 Cebu.  I think it’s a great way to catch a glimpse of how people train differently for the same event and, more than that, it’s a source of inspiration for many of us who wish to do the same.  Just think: If they can do it, so can I!

For all these interviews, I collaborated with my Coach Andy Leuterio of Alpha Tri.  All the interviewees train under him, just as I do.  Our crazy slave-driver Coach puts us through hell during training (“Bike until you cramp” or “Do a REAL century ride…100 miles”) and, in a funny way, we all hate and love him for it.  

Here’s our first interview…

Name: MEDY MARTINEZ
Number of years in triathlon: 2
Age: 51
Job: housewife

What do you like about triathlons?
The adrenaline rush, the camaraderie, the mental and physical challenge, the crazy, hilarious and inspiring triathlete stories. Most of all, that ultimate “high” feeling you get as you cross the finish line that makes everything you’ve been through so worth it, you just want to do it again and again.

Why did you decide to sign up for Ironman 70.3 Cebu?
A friend has been convincing me to join but I thought I was too old for it. But when I found out that the oldest woman triathlete was already in her 80″s, I know I absolutely have no excuse not to do it. At 50 yrs old, I have more than enough time for this sport. I think as we grow older, the reasons not to workout also increase to a million and one. I felt inspired. I needed a goal. Ironman 70.3 fitted in perfectly!

Give us 3 words to describe your training for coach Andy for Cebu? 

1. Mentally and physically crazy – I’ve had to endure the “I-almost-died-but-didn’t” kind of training which were physically and mentally exhausting. At the end of many workouts, I felt I had nothing left for another day. But after a good night’s sleep, you wake up feeling just fine and ready to take on more.
2. Intellectually stimulating – I must not only train smart, I also had to decipher what’s behind his uniquely titled workouts. I am constantly challenged to learn and improve my skills and technique. Many times during training, I am pushed to exceed my mental limits especially when a voice inside my head is telling me to “Stop this craziness right now!”
3. Inspiring – My bilbil is almost gone without dieting, true… really. Kidding aside, I have realized there are truly no limits except those i set for myself. I keep on surprising myself of things I never thought I was capable of doing. The stronger I get, the better I feel.

Can you share what your training week looked like last week?
Actually, training has been intensed these last 2 weeks . Have you seen the apocalyptic movie “The Day After Tomorrow”? Everyday feels like I am training for the apocalypse! I had one workout that said “Bike 160KM in 6 HRS. Do not dilly-dally.”  My crazy coach must have gotten my age wrong thinking I am 15 instead of 51. Anyway, much to my and maybe his surprise…I didn’t die. I finished it. I would sometimes text him to ask if the workout he gave me was meant to be a joke or if there was some kind of mistake. But all the time, he would answer back “Yessss…That is correct!”

What is your goal for IM 70.3 Cebu? Do you feel confident in your goal?
I want to finish strong and to improve on last year’s time. Back then, I wasn’t able to prepare well and literally felt like crawling to the finish line. This year, I feel confident I can do better with fingers crossed that I won’t get a flat tire.

If you could give only one tip to people who want to go into triathlon what would it be?
Age is just a number and you can get yourself in the best shape of your life as long as work your ass off and never give up.

Wow, I am so glad we’re finally having something like this in Manila! I think it’s great that these services are being offered to triathletes. Even better how coaches and companies are collaborating to further grow the sport.

Event: Pinnacle Camp
Date: July 11-21, 2013
Venue: Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club, Primo Cycles, Focus Athletics

Pinnacle Camp Leg 1: July 11-15 Zoom In Zones Testing

Lactate Test, VO2Max, Power Zones, HR Zones, Etc.
To be conducted by: Radek Valenta
Former Pro European Tour Cyclist, Australian Institute of Sport-Trained,
Coach to Olympian Triathletes and Cyclists, www.zoominzones.com.au
Venues: Primo Cycles July 11-14 Bike Trainer / Focus Athletics July 15. Treadmill/ Bike Trainer Option
Fees: P 8,500.00 for Zoom In Zones Testing
Or avail of the RETUL Bike Fit Plus Testing Package only from July 11-14: P15,000.00
By Master Bike Fitter Glenn Colendrino *only a handful of slots left due to pre-booking

Pinnacle Camp Leg 2: July 16-18 Gatorade Sports Science Institute Testing

To be conducted by: The Gatorade Sports Science Institute
Venue: Focus Athletics
July 16– Gatorade sweat test/ July17– Hydration planning and Physical Assessment/ July 18– Functional TrainingFees: none *20 slots only

Pinnacle Camp Leg 3: July 19-21 The Pinnacle Training Weekend

To be conducted by:
Dan and Ani Brown of The Next Step
Andy Leuterio of Alpha Training Systems
Ige Lopez of Transition One
Betsy Medalla of Just Add Water
Venue: Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club

July 19 Fri: 4pm, 3k Open Water Swim/ July 20 Sat, 6am Long Brick, 5pm Recovery Swim/ July 21 Sun, 7am Run Session, pm Optional Recovery Swim

Fees: No Coaching Fees, *20 slots only. For Pico Sands Hotel Bookings, email- reservations@picosandshotel.com

To Reserve your slot for each leg, email nextsteptri@gmail.com
Gatorade and Enervon HP drinks available during sessions
Timex, Enervon Activ, Aquasphere, Yurbuds, 2XU and Rudy Project items up for grabs!

The Unilab Active Health Pinnacle Camp
The Next Step
in Cooperation with Zoom In Zones, Alpha Training Systems, Transition One, and Just Add Water
Co-Presented by Gatorade, Enervon HP, Enervon Activ, Rudy Project, Timex, Aquasphere, 2XU & Yurbuds