Tag Archives: life

Measuring Up

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After a long hiatus from the road, I finally brought out my bike again. It deserved some good road time after its long hours on the trainer. I made my way to Aguinaldo to do a tri sim and it did not disappoint.

The pool was clean and I had it all to myself. It was no wonder that I’d be the only one there though; Who swims at 2 in the afternoon anyway?

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I swam 1000 meters. It felt surprisingly easy at first. A thought that did not cross my mind because I haven’t had any pool time for over 1 week already. The first 500 felt fast and easy. The next 500 felt slow and sluggish. I thought I was doing well even with the reduced pool time but the last 500 felt a bit more sluggish than the first. The lack of chlorine time was catching up to me.

I finished the 1000 meters in about 19 minutes. Not bad for some reduced pool time. I’d add a minute or two to that time though because I was kicking off the wall too much in the last 500.

Next up was a 30 kilometer bike ride around Aguinaldo. Everybody knows I suck at the bike and I only have myself to blame for my lack of ability to keep a decent speed. I suck at narrating my bike ride but in summary, I mashed as hard as I could. I managed to finish the 30 kilometers in 67 minutes. Not bad. Could have been faster if I was the only one on the road.

I started running at around 3:40 in the afternoon. The sun was raging more than ever. With the passion of a thousand burning supernovas, the sun was staring me down. It was hard to keep a decent pace. The mixture of heat and jello legs were really slowing me down. I cut me run short and accepted defeat. There will be other days to run. That was a good 2 kilometer run to end the tri simulation.

What can I take away from all of this? One thing is for sure. I need to keep on training. I would bet my bike that even if the heat wasn’t as bad as when I started running, I would have still bonked. I am not a fast cyclist. I reached a milestone by almost doing a sub 60 30 kilometers. It felt alright but as soon as I started running, my legs were out of energy. I need to bike time to compensate my severe lack of talent.

 

Training Woes: Part 324

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Camarines Sur Cobra Iron Man 70.3 is only 5 weeks away and I am still far away from how I expect myself to be and I have nobody to blame but myself. It will be the biggest race of my life to date and what am I doing? 

Instead of going out on the open road to tear up the streets on my bike, I am busy catching up on the ever so popular Doctor Who series. Instead of being in the pool crunching lap after lap, I am busy scouring the local food scene for the best salmon sashimi; I may have found it in the form of an eat all you can stint at Sambokojin. Instead of changing directly to running clothes after work for that ever so routine afternoon run, I am busy having a good time with Tricia. 

I guess it’s a good thing because it means that I still have a life outside of the pool and the road. I guess it’s a good thing because it means that I still chose Tricia over the ever so addicting high that I get out of breaking sweat. 

With only 5 weeks to go, I am pressed for time. I need to balance this out. 

Ateneo Aquathlon 2011

Posted on by dimsumandsiomai
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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!

Adjustment Period

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It’s been three days since Tricia left and I’ve been slowly adjusting to the new life style that is facing me right now. I’ve been happily training left and right and I think my body is hating me right now.

Adamo ISM I finally got to use my new ISM Adamo seat for a decent one hour ride and it felt good. There is some pain on the sit bones but I think I’m still in the adjustment period. I am hoping that it behind will get used to it soon. I am happy to report that there is no longer numbing in the family jewels. I don’t get out of the aero position anymore to give the jewels a breather. I am happy I can manage to get down on the aero bars more but that is giving me new problems. Since I am spending more time on the aero bars, after 30 minutes or so, my shoulders and my biceps start to give out. I think I need to do some strength training on those areas.

With Tricia away, I’ve been doing a lot more training and that needs some adjustment as well. I can honestly say that my body is slowly adjusting but I can’t say the same for what I feel about Tricia being away.