Race Report: Asian Duathlon Championship

I know. Another way late race report.

What can I say? To many things on my plate, not enough time to eat!

Hehe, enough with the excuses.

One week removed from WRT and still will tired legs, I found myself on a starting line again. This time for a far shorter race, the Adult Sprint at the Asian Duathlon Championships.

I was in Subic primarily to support my friends and 1st time duathletes, Chin, Paolo(Jazz), and Carlos(Engineer), they were all regular customers of the shop who became regular run mates and friends.

But, because I didn't want to spend the whole time in the sidelines, I decided to participate in one of the shorter "side" events so at least I did something to get the blood moving that weekend.

Which is how I found myself in the aforementioned start line with a surprisingly small number of participants for the sprint, I could have counted everyone who participated with my fingers and toes! And thats for the guys and girls!

Anyways, fearing the same sudden energy loss which plagued me during last weekend's half-ironman, I decided to take some GU gel right before the start, resolving to get my energy from pure GU alone if needed!

1st first run when fine enough, a couple of guys decided to start off quick and, I guess I was feeling the effects of the GU, so I decided to join them. At one point, I was a couple of seconds ahead of those guys, but I guess I misunderstood the directions the marshals gave me so I lost time back to the group. Apparently, "Left" means "make a U-TURN towards the left!"Haayyy!

A highlight of the run though was getting overtaken by the ITU pro duathletes, watching them running in a pack with their long strides and fast turnover made me realize just how much more training I had to do!

Anyways, around 22 mins later we were into transition which is my weakest point and after a rather lengthy time there I was on my way on the bike. I took some GU again, just in case, and spend the next 41 mins or so by myself on the bike, with only 1 small detour as I misunderstood a sign and ended up facing a locked gate. Must have lost around 30 second on that one... hay, oh well.

Back to transition!

As I headed out I saw the Jazz on the way out for his 40km bike ride! I wanted to tell him that it was gonna be a quick 1 as the course was very favorable!

Into the transition area, I really began to hustle, the maths in my head said that we may have a chance for a podium finish today, which would have been a really nice bonus!

In fact, I hustled so much, I ended up missing my rack and had to turn back! Hay naku, I seemed determined to throw this away.

I started the last run leg slowly, as I apt to do, so afraid am I of the "ick" feeling which follows a bike-run!

Well, I told myself it was a short 2.5k run so I thought might be worth to push it a bit so I started to speed up. Feeling good about the run, my next worry was trying to catch the guy in front and not be caught by the guy behind me.

Unfortunately and fortunately, the guy in front was too far and to fast and the guy behind me wasn't! So luckily I managed to hold on to my place which I lated found out was good for Second!

Wow! I finally won my 1st medal since Grade School!

And with Chin winning 3rd in her division and Ugi, Pao's friend winning second in his, it turn out to be a very very good trip for us!

Ironman Highlights

Check out this cool video of last weekend's IM 70.3 Championship.

And just in case you didn't get enough, here's a recap of Kona.

Christmas Wish and then some...

With the launch of our Secondwind Christmas Registry, I had got to thinking about what I would like to receive for Christmas.

Being a huge fan of fast and light shoes, I decided to check out the shoes of the top 15 finishers of Kona to see if there was anything interesting.

Off the bat a few things caught my eye...

There was the Asics Gel Hyperspeed 3 of Chris McCormack...

The Saucony Grid Type 2 of Dirk Bockel...

The Asics Speedstar of Matias Hecht...

But my personal favorite of all the shoes was the K-Swiss K-Ruuz of Andreas Raelert....

6.5OZ!!! Lighter than a Ronin!

Unfortunately, none of these are available locally... yet...

So until then, I guess I can comfort my feet with these...

K-Swiss K-ona Ironman Edition!!!

Yes, I have been good this year!

Race Report: WRT 09

Finally! After spending most of last week after the preparing for our shop opening on Saturday then racing in Subic on Sunday (more on that in a following post), plus my regular work and MBA studies, this is a only free time I find to myself to buckle down and write this post!

Along with all of the other athletes, the White Rock Triathlon for me the night before. That's when we arrived at the venue for the race briefing, last minute bike checks and check in, plus of course, preparing all the stuff the goes into a transition bag for a half-ironman.

Race morning seemed to take forever to come, as Hector and I both agreed that our excitement could not allow us to get a fitful sleep and we tossed and turned all night!

After a early breakfast, Hec and I filled up the water bottles on our bikes and preparing to wait for the start.

Chatting near the back, we were caught unaware during the start and became one of the last people to enter the water.

However, I think this worked in our favor as we managed to avoid most of the "washing machine" effect at the start and I quickly got a rhythm at the start.

On the second of the three 320 meter loops I found myself in the middle of a swim pack and with no where to go or maneuver I just settled in to swim with them until the finish.

Getting out of the water 32 minutes later, I thought I had posted a very good time only to see to my dismay that most of the pack, including my nemesis Hector got out of the water ahead of me. Later I would discover that due to some late night technical difficulties the swim leg was around 4 to 500 meters short!

In transition, I realized that I made my 1st rookie error and that I had forgotten to start my Timex! Oh well. Can't do anything but go on! I took my second GU of the race, hydrated with some Gatorade, then wore my helmet and shoes and started on what would be one of the longest bike rides of my life.

I knew this would be the weak point of my race, as the recent disasters which befell the country and the rehabilitation efforts I participated in seriously affected my much needed saddle time and I reckoned I was under-whelmingly prepared!

A few minutes into the ride, I realized something was wrong when my cyclometer wouldn't work! In what seemed to be a race long mantra, I thought to myself; "Oh well, just go on!" Later I found out that my magnet had moved on the drive over to White Rock and I failed to check it the night before!

The lack of kind of pace information meant I decided to just go on gut feel and started of quite quick! In the matter of a few kilometers I managed to sight the running man on the back of Hector's trisuit and decided to pour on the gas to catch up with him.

In what would be an 1 and a half long battle, I passed him, only for him to pass me back a couple of k's later when I slowed to take some GU. This would go on all the way to the 45k turn around and I started to realize that I didn't bring enough GU, only strapping three on to the bike when I needed to take at least twice that to maintain any kind of decent pace as I was gulping and burning the GU as fast as I could eat them!

After the turn around, I slowed down for good and Hec zoomed off into the distance. I settled in to make the best of what I can do. Reserving my last GU for the time on the return leg when I felt I would really need it, relying instead on the peanut MnMs I thoughtfully stuffed into my trisuit.

After what seemed like an eternity.... 3 hours and 9 minutes to be exact. I found myself back into transition. Where I must have looked like a desert refugee, because the race director worriedly asked if I was ok!

After some salt solution and banana though, I was as fine as I would ever be coming from a 2k swim and 90k bike, so I set of in the chase of the Secondwind bragging rights.

I have to admit, the 1st couple of kms were disheartening, as the 1st people I saw were the lead pack on the way back!

I must be so far behind I thought to myself! In fact, I didn't see or pass a fellow competitor until I got into SBMA, a good4 or 5kms into the 20km run!

My bike really did me in!

And then I saw Hector, on the way back and I still had a long way to go until the turn around! It was then when I conceded this particular race to him and refocused myself on just beating 6 hours!

It was a hot and brutal run! I stopped on every aid station for water, ice, and sponges! Fortunately, these conditions affected everyone and I managed to pass quite a few struggling runners on the way back!

With less than 5 k to go and right after the killer hills, my right calf started to twitch and I thought "oh no! this is it!"

I was gonna be a close finish to sub-6 hour finish and this maybe my undoing! But with no choice but to bear it, I just ran the best I could on the longest, flat 4k of my life.

I tell you, I was never as happy to see a Total station as I was to see that one right outside White Rock, it must have given me some extra energy, as I managed to summon up some of my last, last, bottom of the barrel reserves and I tried to sprint my way to a 5 hour 55 minute finish!

Sub 6 accomplished! Unbelievable! Much harder than my 30 hour 100km trail race last year! Though unfortunately, while it was good enough for 4th in my age group... it wasn't good enough to beat THE Hector! Bring on next year!

I tell you, I have so much respect to all the finishers of this race. I had never done a half before and I really didn't realize how hard and how long it would be!

Here are the finishes of my friends Hec and TJ, as captured by the number 1 ranked support crew/race team photographer Mike Bob!

THE SECONDWIND CHRISTMAS REGISTRY

THE SECONDWIND CHRISTMAS REGISTRY



Want to get the perfect ‘running’ gift this Christmas?

Introducing CHRISTMAS REGISTRY at the Secondwind Running Store!

Sign up now and you may choose from our wide selection of running shoes, apparels and accessories!



Mechanics:

· Go to your nearest Secondwind branch and choose from our running products.

· Provide a list of gift choices, as well as the name and contact information of the people (Santa) you expect to receive the gifts from.

· Team Secondwind will notify your chosen Santa and present them with your Christmas list

· Your Santa can now visit any of our stores to view and purchase the items in your Christmas list

This will help your loved ones pick out the perfect Christmas gift for current and would-be runners like you. Visit any of our two stores and start making your Christmas list now!

Happy Holidays!!

Secondwind. Running Starts Here.



Registration starts on November 23, 2009 at our two branches.


Secondwind Quezon City

88 Maginhawa St., Teachers Village
Telephone: 7992089



Secondwind Pasig City

E-Prime Area, Unit03A, Ortigas Home Depot,
#1Dona Julia Vargas Ave., Barangay Ugong, Pasig City
Telephone: 9140283



Contact us at: mktg@secondwindrunningstore.com

Visit us at:www.secondwindrunningstore.com

Secondwind Ortigas Home Depot is Now Open!

Finally, after months of planning, a hard week of prep, and a 10k run to boot, Secondwind Ortigas is now open!

As a testament to the great support given to our humble shop by the running community, we are able to open our second brand is less than a year after our 1st.

Coming from the feedback of customers in our QC branch, Secondwind Ortigas is much bigger and better than before! We are ready from the get go to service all your running needs!

SECONDWIND ORTIGAS BRANCH:

E-Prime Area, Unit 03A, Ortigas Home Depot, Dona Julia Vargas Ave., Barangay Ugong, Pasig City, Telephone number 914-02-83.

SECONDWIND QC BRANCH:

88 Maginhawa St.
Teachers Village, QC

WEBSITE: www.secondwindrunningstore.com, thesecondwind.multiply.com

In other news!

As you may have noticed from our giant picture of Terenzo Bozzone on the Ortigas facade. K-Swiss running shoes are now available at Secondwind!

Try the Philippine Cobra Ironman's kicks at our QC and Pasig Branch!