Around this same time last year, I joined my first multisport race. It was the 2010 edition of the Ateneo Aquathon. I could barely complete a good 50 meter lap on the pool back then but I managed to finish the 400 meter swim in 14 minutes and the 3 kilometer run with a very pedestrian time of 15 minutes.

That was a photo of me last year. Excited. Full of enthusiasm. Poised to conquer. Ready for the water. But beneath all that was a fear that I wouldn’t be able to finish the race. Back then, I could not even think of swimming with out my earplugs. My strokes in the water were never close to perfect. My inexperience in the swim manifested itself in the finish results as I came out of the water after a very very long 14 minutes.

This is me just before race start of the 2011 edition of the race. I have less hair and have found a new love for the water. I went to the race more confident and more prepared. With over a year of swimming mileage under my belt, I came into the race with an eager drive to best myself from the year before.

I came with friends and it was a joy to do the race with them.

A 600 meter swim and a very easy 5 kilometer run separated me from redemption that day. Even though it was already my 5th multisport race, I always get that feeling of hurling just before the start. As Marvin said, it will always feel like the first time; Full of jitters and uncertainty; Full of fear and anticipation.

My wave finally jumped into the water and I was welcomed with a very piercing feeling of the cold water and it didn’t help to drive out the jitters. I was with at least 19 other guys in the pool and as soon as the starting horn was sounded, it was an explosion of energy rushing from the testosterone engorged pool. It was push or be pushed. There were guys overtaking me left and right and even over me. Being a small guy, I was being bullied in the water. As much as I wanted to fight back, my size didn’t permit me to. I stayed on course and swam. I zoned out and tried not to push myself too hard because there was still a 5k run after. After a couple more strokes, the next thing I knew was that I had finished the 600 meter swim. I am happy to report that I finished it in 13 minutes. I managed to swim at least 2:15 per 100 meters and I was happy. Transition came and it was time to put on shoes and my race belt.

I have always been a runner and I think I will always be one. I will always come back to my first love because it is what I enjoy the most. As I went out running, I could feel the joy creeping in. I ran one of me best 5 kilometers that day for me. I clocked my 5 kilometers with a time of 24:25.

I was targeting a total finish time of sub 43 minutes that day. My actual finish was 37:25 and I couldn’t be happier. I managed to achieve two things that day. I was able to put my swim training to the test. The countless hours at the army pool after work really paid off. With hard work comes results and that is what I got in the race. I was also able to redeem myself too. It was a great victory having bested myself from last year.

A big thanks to Team Endure for the cheers. A big thanks to Marvin for the photos!

Thank you for joining guys!

A big special thanks to our sponsors for making all this possible.
Adidas
Milo 3 in 1
Sassa Activewear
Nature Valey
Men’s Health
Women’s Health
Runner’s World
BlackBerry

A big shout out to the volunteers from ANR! You have our utmost eternal thanks!

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All photo credits by my good friend and excellent photographer Marvin Opulencia. Check out his stuff here:zmarvin.multiply.com/​

It’s a little late to share this because the event is already over but here it is anyway. It’s a short teaser video for the aquathlon event that my team arranged to raise some funds. It went pretty awesome as I heard. Too bad I wasn’t present on event day. :(

Enjoy!

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Canon 5dm2

50mm

GoPro Helmet Hero

Fincal Cut Pro

It was a day at the beach that I would never forget. It was a day at the beach that would mean a lot of firsts for me. It was a day at the beach for an aquathlon. It was Camaya Coast Aquathlon day last May 29. I made it to Camaya HQ at around 4 am. I registered and I was on the bus headed for Camaya. As much as I hated bus rides, the ride to Camaya was a pleasant one. Sharing the ride with the Endure peeps is a joy. I lost all my fears of motion sickness during the bus ride. It was a long ride but it was a fun one.

We got to Camaya a little after 9 am.

It was quite a ride but it was worth it. We took a boat to Camaya cove and the boat ride proved to be one of my worsts. I sat in the middle of a boat which really seemed comfortable when the boat wasn’t all that full yet but it soon turned into a convection oven ready to cook me up well done. To add to the heat, my motion sickness kicked in and I felt a little dizzy. I always had this puking feeling whenever I would do big races and I had one at the race, both figuratively and literally.

The boat ride was finally over and I was so relieved that I didn’t hurl my guts out on Mike and Marvin and I bet they were too. We were greeted by the staple TRAP emcee upon arriving and it was a joy. It was as if Camaya was waiting for us and we felt like VIP’s. We got our customary drink and we got ourselves bodymarked. I was sweet number 18.

Good old coach Rick Reyes briefed us about the race and the course. It was fairly simple and we were off the the starting gates for a mass start. The aquathletes along with the trail runners all lined up and we all went blazing at around 10:30.

The first 3 kilometer run on the trail was fairly easy. I wasn’t anything as heavy and technical compared to Timberland’s trail course so I was comfortable going fast into the trail.

I was looking good up until the first part of the run. I completed the 3 kilometer trail run at around 30minutes. I got to transition right away. I took off my socks and my shoes and got my goggles ear plugs and I was in the water before you could say Camaya Coast Aquathlon.

I felt good going into my first 500 meters of the 1500 meter swim. The water was cool and serene. It was a sight to see the small fish swimming right under me. I felt like aquaman at that point. I kept my pace and I was able to complete the first 500 in 15 minutes. I was happy with it and I kept on swimming until I complete 1000 meters. I was still on target because I finished the 1000 meters in 30 minutes. A finish time of 45 minutes in the swim wasn’t too far away. As soon as I reached shore at the end of my second loop, I felt dizzy. The waves were a little stronger and I think when I was swimming, my motion sickness kicked in and it really put me out of whack. I had to sit on the beach of a while. I puked a little. I even took off my swim cap to relieve the pressure on my head but it never helped. I went back in the water dizzy and sick. My world was spinning.

I tried to swim properly but the throbbing feeling in my head got worse every time I submerged my head. I can’t remember how many times I stopped at the buoy to recompose myself but it was a lot. I even puked in the water while I was holding on to the buoy. I kept on swimming. I alternated between breast stroke and free style and I eventually finished the last 500 meters in 30 minutes.

I was so relieved to get out of the water but my dizziness didn’t end just yet. I puked once again when I was putting on my shoes. I was close to quitting at that point but since I already completed the hard part, I could easily run the last part of the race.

I thought I would be able to run of the spinning but I wasn’t. The spinning went on even after walking off the whole length of the beach. It made me walk the rest of the run and it game me a really really bad time. I was the last man to finish that day but I am still thankful that I did.

I was still feeling dizzy at this point but this is team endure goofing off.

A big congratulations to all the girls name Pepsi, Tiff, Zinnia and Ellen for bagging podium finishes. Team ShEndure represent!

I will remember to drink Bonamine next time I swim in the sea.

Well, to put it out in a short and sweet and concise way, I finished the Ateneo Aquathlon Lite yesterday. It was a 400 meter swim with a 3 kilometer run right after. I felt like throwing up just before the race but thank the good Lord up above that he gave me the power to complete it.

That is me just before the race. A big thank you to Tricia for coming with me. I wouldn’t have been able to complete the race without your moral support.

That’s me swimming with my knees all over the place. I need to practice my swim form more.

I was too fast for the camera. Tricia barely even got me in the view finder. That’s me barely out of transition and into the 3 kilometer run.

Fast forward 3 kilometers later and this is me:

That is me exhibiting exhaustion, disorientation, the feeling being lost, at the brink of passing out, oh a camera pointed at me, and epilepsy. I enjoyed it a lot.

My face gets all crumply when I smile. I’d love to do another aquathlon soon. But I need to improve my swim stroke more.