Speedo NAGT Subic Leg - Kicking off 2010 with a Standard Distance Tri

Coming into this race, my target was a sub hour run and that was it. Not that i was undermining the swim and the bike legs, but from my previous sprint tri's, the run legs were real challenges.

Moreover, after a couple of weeks hiatus on training early december due to bronchitis (which made me miss the Final leg of Powerade duathlon), my 'training' revolved around biking and swimming and i was not able to do much of running. I did the 32k Rizal day run though but only at LSD pace.

I started prepping for the event after new years day, swimming as much as 3km and riding as far as 100km. They were the longest ever distances i did. I wanted to start my year with some personal milestones. For 2x a week, i swam and rode no less than 2k and 60k respectively so i was quite confident that i can finish the swim and bike legs of the standard distance. However, i only ran 5kms on 2 occasions and 1 10kms at a slow pace on one brick session.

1.5k Swim (2 loops)

I got a bit anxious with the swim after learning from one of the marshalls the day before that the swim route would be looping clockwise. Navigating would be a challenge for me in this case. I breathe comfortably on my left. When and if i do breath on my right, it takes me a lot more effort and couple more kicks.

The water was calm though which somewhat eased down my anxiety a bit.

With more than 60 swimmers on our wave and being just my second open water race, i decided to start from behind (like always) and from the leftmost side, where there are less number of starters... more room, less stress... safety first..hehe.

From there, i started working my way towards the buoy line as the crowd spreads out. That worked for me for a while until i got tagged once on the head knocking off my swim cap. Paddling while holding my swim cap for a while until i managed to tuck it under my trunks. Fortunately, That would be the only stressfull moment of my swim... well there were also some stinging creatures..

I think i swam around 100m more. I was zigzagging all over the course. haha.. Looking for the buoy line to my right every 3-4 stokes, i often found myself 5 meters away.. i would make the adjustment and get snagged on the buoyline after the same number of strokes.. then veer away again from the buoy line.... like there was something wrong with my rudder. It was quite amusing though, LMAO, it kept my mind off the distance and the stings... That was how my swim went the entire course... got to the shore 33mins+ by my watch..

T1... my bike shoes was not tri friendly.. Twist.. twist.. pull.. pull.. to tighten... like it would make much difference on my time if they are tri-specific. hehe... Anyway, took me couple of minutes to make sure that i didn't miss anything...

40k Bike (2 loops)
It was a hill towards the naval gate (or was it?) to start the bike course until the guard post for the turnpoint, went back, then a hard right towards yet another hill adjacent to the runway, (where the asphalt was pretty nasty, i don't know if they made it that way for better traction for the vehicles but it was really punishing the tires, it was then i realized that i forgot to bring my spare tube and pump. It would've surely been a DNF if i got a flat) then towards the mainroad until Petron station and back to the transition area.

The wind was blowing quite strong. The worst part was going uphill with the headwinds. I was going as slow as 16kph.

My training rides being limited to the flat roads of MOA, my strategy was to spin comfortably on these challenging hills even if it means using my grannie gears, and just hammer away on the downhills.

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Going at 53kph, i held back a bit coz after those relatively steep downhills were ending up either on the turnaround on the Naval base guard post or a sharp right turn back that road adjacent to the runway.I was going 38-40kph in some long flat stretches to (or was it from) Petron gas station with a lot of help from the tailwinds... woooohooooo :-)

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Completed the bike course a bit less than 1:20 on 39.5kms (29.8kph ave) on my cyclocomp... right on target...

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T2... Had so much fun on the bike i forgot to refuel. I just realized that my GU is still tucked in my shorts.. it was 1:56 at that point when i comsumed my first GU and took my time to gulp it down... started running with 1:58 by my watch..

Trying to look strong at T2

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10k Run (3 loops)

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Now my real challenge.. a sub hour 10k run..The course was flat.. with some potholes.. going towards All-hands beach and back to Dungaree.

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Still feeling strong off the bike, i passed a few runners early on the run. I completed 1st loop in 17mins.. at that pace i can complete the run in 51mins... but of course that was wishful thinking.. i took about a minute walk breaks to hydrate after each loop. Although, the succeeding loops felt a lot slower, surprisingly, i finished the run well ahead of my target... 54+mins..
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And with that, i completed my first Standard Distance Triathlon in 2:52:30, 32nd of 67 finishers.

Not bad at all...

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32 CLEMENO, IAN 0:34:08 1:22:00 0:56:22 2:52:30

With my roommates.. Nino and Nikko...
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Overall, it was such a great event, the race conditions couldn't be better... Calm waters, Overcast the whole morning, cool breeze.. just perfect...

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What made the event even better was i got to meet new friends and great company... and share a room and ride with no less than Nikko Huelgas, who topped the event with the time of 2:14... rubbing elbows with the champ! haha! This humble kid is going places... Watch out Terenzo...

This kid is gonna give you a run for your money in a couple of years..

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Million thanks to Nino Fajardo whom i hitched a ride with and arranged the accomodations for us at Subic park Hotel.

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Congrats to Rene, Atty. Marge, Rosan, Monks and of course Nino for their great finishes at the mini-sprint.

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Congrats to my bud Mel as well, who despite the flu and having had bike issues ( carrying his bike back to the transition area), went on to complete the run leg.

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Thanks to Kokoy Pineda for the great shots. You better get back to running and tri yourself bro... :-)

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Nino, Me, Rene, Nikko, Marge and Rosan

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See you all on the next event... SUBIT?