Last Sunday August 22, 2010, I raced the 2nd edition of the Philippine Ironman at Camarines Sur, finishing 90th over 497 athletes and 23rd in my age group. It took me 6 months of training to prepare myself for this very challenging distance.
The road to doing the half IM distance again proved to be very challenging. A lot of sacrifices had to be made, willpower to be strengthened and muscles to be hardened. The sport of triathlon is never easy, for if it was, then it would be as popular as the running boom here in Cebu. Some can swim, others can bike and a lot can run but only a few can swim, bike and run. But still the sport of triathlon can be for everyone and anyone regardless of age – as long as you are willing to sacrifice, a lot.
Sunday becomes a 100KM bike ride with a 10K run at noon. Noon breaks on weekdays are reserved for long swims. No more Friday night outs for me, had to wake up at 5am on Saturdays for my 2 hour run, then a cool off swim. I even missed my high school reunion because I had to wake up early that Sunday morning for my long bike ride, alone. Yes I did a lot of sacrifices but I never regretted doing it. In fact, it was the best decision I made on my birthday – registering for the Philippine Ironman. I could not fail...I will finish what I started and will push my body until I will cross the finish line.
Now to the race, the swim start was difficult with hundreds of athletes trying to get their own space. Just imagine being thrown in a washing machine, that’s how I felt for the first 200 meters. As always, I start my swim with a prayer, this helps me calm down my nerves and eventually catch my long stroke and my rhythm. The 2 kilometer swim took me 36:54 minutes - happy to be done with the part I dread most.
The bike was an easy part for me, having numerous road races under my belt. The course was relatively flat which took me 2 hours and 26 minutes for the entire 90 kilometers. I was still okay but my mind was already on the next leg, the run, which I am not so gifted at. Having a heavy framed body, the run part is somewhat difficult unless I lose 30 pounds! I could easily do a 20 minute 5 kilometer run in a triathlon before but that was then, 30 pounds lighter. Carrying a lot of blob surely slows you down…thanks to Mang Inasal!
Then the run starts.
It’s not easy to run a 21K, all the more if you start your 21K run after a 2K swim and a 90K bike. With energy reserves half empty and with the sun almost at its peak, it will be a tough run. But ran I did. I promised God that I will run the whole 21K for him, without walking and so I did except a little near the finish line. Both my quads, gluteus and every leg and back muscle were already cramping at the last 1K mark. In the end, the finish line attracted me like a magnet or a moth to a light. Even when I was in extreme pain, it gave me that extra boost to cross the line. And I did in a time of 5:31:57, the 3rd Cebuano to cross the line at the Ironman Philippines.
Now I can have my subzero beer and do a little partying. But it won’t be long, the 3rd edition of the Philippine Ironman is just a year away. So I will soon be back to what I love most: swim, bike and run.
See you at the starting line!
By: Eugene Sanchez