Raceday Triathlon Magazine April-June 2017

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APRIL-JUNE 2017

HERBALIFE TRIATHLON TEAM AND THE HEALTHY

FRIENDS WHO RELAY

BY TINA ARANETA

LIFESTYLE

WHY DO YOU NEED A BIKE FIT?

RACECATION CDO:

THE SEVEN SEAS NAGT TRIATHLON

OMAR PAREDES OF

TEAM HERBALIFE AND HIS SUB-ZERO NORSEMAN RACE

EDITOR’S GUNSTART Why This Triathlon Is So Addicting

Vol. 5 No. 2

e love the challenge and to do the impossible; to push on when our body is begging us to please just quit. That’s our Coca-Cola and we need to get our fix regularly. That’s why most of us love triathlon and we can’t seem to leave it even if the demands of this sport sometimes border on the insane.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : Monching Romano MANAGING EDITOR : Cheenee Pontejos ART DIRECTORS : Johnmer Bautista

W

Emmeline Ngo

CONTRIBUTORS : Tina R. Araneta PHOTOGRAPHERS : Edsel Ochoa

IDEALISK INC.

Making the impossible possible is what Omar Paredes does. He’s on our cover for being the first Filipino to finish triathlon’s ultimate test of endurance and grit—The Norseman Xtreme Triathlon. His story on page 4.

Unit 217 La Fuerza II Building, Pasong Tamo, Makati City Publisher/CEO

But apart from the mental high of doing what only a few can do, another thing that keeps us going are the bonds we develop and friendships we form with one another. For some reason, they’re not superficial. They’re deep and strong bonds probably because of the same DNA that precisely attracted us to triathlon or perhaps because of shared battle experiences.

Monching Romano

In this issue, we have such stories of solid friendships forged by triathlon. The trio TEKA of Tina Araneta, Elaine Santos and Kacci Santos of Poveda was never close. While they all came from the same school, they belong to different batches and moved in different circles, until the Poveda Tri Team recruited them. Now, not a day passes that they don’t talk or chat. Tina says, “Triathlon bonded us like crazy. To think we had nothing in common before this.” The troika recently raced as a relay team and Tina shares their experience on page 2.

Emmeline Ngo

Team Herbalife is not a we’re-a-barkada-let’s-form-a-team kind of a triathlon squad. It’s a brand-sponsored team where each member is recruited based on the contribution that a possible member can offer and give to the team and its objectives. They come from different areas, a core from Laguna, Rizal, some from Manila, and select key members from Cagayan Do Oro. And yet, during the shoot for this magazine, they joked and sniped at each other as any barkada would do. You can feel that they’re not only teammates but good, really good friends.

The combination of personal challenges and personal relationships is so addicting that it makes leaving triathlon almost impossible.

Reminds me of a song by the Eagles, “you can check-out anytime you want but you can never leave.”

Creatives Johnmer Bautista Sales and Marketing Teresa Soriano Kitkat Faylona For inquiries and feedback: Email us at racedaymagazine@gmail.com RaceDay Magazine is published bi-monthly. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in part or in whole, without the written consent of the publishers.

The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the publisher. All information, content and services are provided “as is” without any kind of warranty. In no way shall RaceDay Magazine be held liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential damages that may arise from any of the products, advice, reviews or information obtained from this magazine.

Copyright © 2017 All rights reserved

Monching Romano Editor-in-Chief

2 4 CONTENTS

6 8 10

WHERE TO FIND US:

Tri-ing Together

by Tina R. Araneta OMAR PAREDES: First Filipino Isklar Norseman XTreme Triathlon Finisher

by Cheenee Pontejos HERBALIFE: Changing Lives, Building Dreams BEYOND PODIUM Herbalife Philippines Triathlon Team

by Cheenee Pontejos

2XU Glorietta 3, Makati

BALESIN ISLAND RESORT BIKE TOWN CYCLERY Pasong Tamo, Makati

GRAN TRAIL Pasay Road, Makati Alabang, Muntinlupa

NEW PAULINA’S CYCLE CENTER Blue Bay Walk, Pasay Cartimar, Pasay

PEDAL PUSHERS BIKE STORE Pasong Tamo, Makati

PRIMO CYCLES Burgos Circle, BGC Taguig

R.O.X.

Cycling Science: THE ROAD TO A PERFECT BIKE FIT

by Cheenee Pontejos Video Assignment: CAGAYAN DE ORO

by Monching Romano

Bonifacio High Street, Taguig

RUNNR Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa Trinoma, Quezon City Bonifacio High Street, Taguig

RUDY PROJECT Glorietta 3, Makati The Podium, Mandaluyong Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa SM Mall of Asia, Pasay Trinoma, Quezon City Bonifacio High Street, Taguig

SABAK Pasong Tamo, Makati West Gate, Alabang, Muntinlupa

SPECIALIZED Pasong Tamo, Makati West Gate, Alabang, Muntinlupa

CREDITS

ON THE COVER

Photo: Edsel Ochoa Hair and Makeup: Arlyn Basa and Arriane Basa

THE CITY CLUB AT ALPHALAND MAKATI Ayala Avenue Extension, Makati

THE VILLAGE SPORTS CLUB BF Homes, Parañaque

TRI TEMPLE Pasong Tamo, Makati

WEIRD CYCLES Lipa, Batangas Pasong Tamo, Makati

YELLOW CAB All Branches

racedaymagazine www.racedaymag.com

TRI-ING TOGETHER Words and Photos: Tina R. Araneta

‘‘H

As a former competitive swimmer, I claimed the first leg while Elaine Santos, a mountain bike hobbyist-turnedroad cycling fanatic; and Kacci Santos, a gym rat who only discovered her running potential last year, completed our all-female relay team. Rounding up our Poveda Tri Team contingent was our teammate Krissy Enriquez, who acted as our support crew for the weekend.

Tri Influence Each of us already had prior race experiences before signing up for this event. We had done individual sprint triathlons and relayed in different long distance triathlons and Ironman 70.3s. However, this was the first time that the three of us would relay together. Kacci even called it our “birthday race”.

Honestly, none of us ever imagined that this would become our lifestyle: regular training, monitoring what we’d eat, and signing up for races. Like most age groupers, three of us have day jobs with varying degrees of toxicity and stress. However, we were consecutively recruited by the Poveda Tri Team based on our “specializations” to create multiple relay teams.

Ultimately, the goal is for us to eventually become fullfledged triathletes.

Eyeing Competitions “Siya ba yun?” whispered Elaine during the race briefing in SBECC. We looked around us and saw the different teams clad in their tech shirts. Given what we knew, we tried to analyze the competition in the all-female relay category. Admittedly, we had high hopes for our team and our individual performances, but we also tried to manage our expectations.

Weeks before the race, we all encountered different setbacks—I was diagnosed with a thyroid condition, Elaine came down with the flu and couldn’t train for several days, and Kacci was injured after her marathon.

But none of these stopped us from recovering and braving this race.

We tried to relax and enjoy as much as we could the day before the race. After an early dinner in the hotel, we laid our things out to visualize what we’ll need the following day. And since Krissy also does RockTape services, we had ourselves taped, just in case any of our injuries manifests while competing.

Photo by Photo-Ops/Tong Pascua

o-my-gaaaaaaahd!” exclaimed Kacci as her clammy hand took mine shortly before we claimed our race kits last March 11, the day before Century Tuna Ironman 70.3. We walked inside the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) where every nook and cranny of the venue screamed triathlon.

But to be honest, we slightly became a total bundle of nerves that night. I worried about the swim course and my target time while Elaine freaked out over the highly technical bike course as well as its sheer length, plus the undeniable heat. Kacci was also antsy if she would hit her projected time.

Moment of Truth It was 5am when Krissy (our designated driver, photographer, and sherpa), Elaine, and I transferred to ACEA. As we drove to the beach, we felt the chill in the air and I hoped that this temperature would last all the way ‘til noon for the sake of my relay mates. Elaine went to T1 to check on her bike while Krissy and I stayed in the car. Eventually, I decided to check out the action on the beach. But at the height of my nervousness, Krissy and I were given the rare chance to actually meet Caroline Steffen (ITU Long Distance World Champion 2010, 2012), who had placed her bag beside mine on the sand. This fangirl moment definitely gave me a boost before heading to my coral in the swim start.

Initially, I had wanted to position myself with faster swimmers in case I could keep up with them. But after a bit of an internal debate, I chose to join those with similar times as mine. The swim was—thankfully, painless in the washing machine department.

The sun hitting my eyes on my way back made me drift away from the rest of the group, but after getting back into position, I found my rhythm once again and managed a PR swim.

It was an uphill run towards the relay tent, and a slow one since I got lost zigzagging through all the bikes. Once the timing chip was turned over to Elaine in T1, I prayed that she would have a safe and injury-free ride.

When we met Kacci at T2, we monitored the female relay cyclists who were already on their way back. “Pang-ilan na ba siya?” Krissy would ask, referring to the cyclists who had passed their timing chips to their runners. Every now and then, we glanced at our Garmins, wondering where Elaine was along the bike course. When she didn’t return at the time she projected she would, we started to worry. But we were relieved after finally seeing her and turning over the timing chip to Kacci in almost no time. Elaine spewed her frustration over the insane heat, the crosswinds, and the “unli-ahon” from SCTEX all the way back to Subic.

Minutes later, we gathered to the finish line, expecting more or less when Kacci would head back. By then, a few allfemale relay teams were already running together to the finish.

Likewise, Kacci also arrived later than she projected, but she wasn’t far off considering the heat and hilly Subic run course.

To our surprise, we saw her smiling from ear to ear, her ponytail bobbing in that signature way it does when she runs, and we proudly held hands all the way to the finish line before we let Kacci cross it first.

“We did it!” Kacci exclaimed giddily.

The Hangover Days later, we can still feel the high of our “birthday race”. It was meaningful not only because of the overall experience but also because of the bond we created. We may not have taken a podium spot, but we were happy with our performance and learned so many lessons. We’re also grateful for the support and care Krissy provided us throughout the race weekend as well as for the cheers and prayers from our teammates, family, and friends back home.

While we already have our own races lined up for the next few months, we know that a relay is a different kind of experience altogether. Needless to say, we’re looking forward to the next time we can “tri” together as a relay team, and hopefully kick butt then.

Tina Araneta is a sprint triathlete and member of the Poveda Tri Team who also works as an advertising creative, self-confessed fangirl of her toddler nephew, cyber geek, photography hobbyist, food blogger, and a devoted Christian. She considers triathlon as an outlet to de-stress from the daily toxicity of this thing called life.

Photos from Left to Right: Tina on her way to T1 after her 1.9 kilometer swim, Kacci in the middle of her 21K run, Elaine in T2 after her 90K bike leg, Poveda Tri Team’s Elaine Santos, Kacci Santos, Tina Araneta, and Krissy Enriquez jubilant after crossing the finish line.

Photo by FinisherPix.com

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Photo by FinisherPix.com

OMAR PAREDES: Words: Cheenee Pontejos | Photo: Edsel Ochoa Race photos courtesy of Omar Paredes

‘‘G

usto mo bang magpakamatay?”

He is a seven-time Ironman-distance finisher, constant age-group podium placer, and one of the strongest members of Herbalife Philippines Triathlon Team. But when his wife admitted signing him up for the Isklar Norseman Xtreme Triathlon, it was the first thing he said. Without exaggerations, Omar instantly thought of death.

“Aminin ko na, natakot ako sa race. Kasi nung nakita ko ’yung video nya, nakakatakot talaga. Malamig, mountain, umuulan tapos may mga hail pa. Tapos nakita ko ’yung mga inaakyat nilang boulders, tuloy-tuloy. Inaabot sila nang gabi. Nasa isip ko, hindi ko gagawin ito. ” Omar has all the right to be afraid. After all, Norseman isn’t your typical 3.8K swim-180K bike-42K run (full distance) triathlon. Since the race debuted in 2003, it made countless people cry. It made others think of quitting too. But in the end, instead of breaking them, it helped triathletes become better and tougher. To some, it served more of a journey than a competition.

Part of the infamous allXTri trilogy in Europe, Norseman surely tests an athlete’s mental and physical boundaries. To acquire the much coveted Norseman black finisher shirt, one must endure swimming, biking, and running through extreme weather conditions and Norway’s most demanding landscapes.

And among those who qualified to race, only the fastest 160 participants will be awarded the black shirt.

Extreme Opposites Omar’s wife, Laarni, is also a competitive age grouper. With seven full distance triathlon finishes under her belt, it was her who actually wanted to race Norseman. When Laarni found

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out that the lottery for this bucket list race was still open, she registered. Assuming Omar will be upset if she only registered her name, she submitted Omar’s too, on the off-chance that they would be selected.

Then on Nov. 8, 2015, they received the confirmation email.

Omar was ambivalent. “When my wife said hindi sya nakuha, I was thankful. Then nakita ko ’yung email ko, hindi I’m sorry e, “Congratulations!” So ayun na, pinaghahampas n’ya (Laarni) na ako sa excitement.”

Accepting the challenge, Omar started training progressively.

He focused more on long rides and uphill runs to somehow simulate the brutal race in Norway.

On weekends, he would ride to Taytay, Lucena, Real, and other parts of Quezon for strengthening. He climbed mountains and rode long uphill roads. But to better understand the race he’s about to face, Omar also sought advice from fellow triathlete and a former Norseman finisher, Norwegian Rune Stroem.

“Because of Rune’s advice, I had an idea kung ano ’yung magiging training ko. Climbing, hiking, basta mga hilly peaks.

Pinahiram din nya ako ng equipment and mga thermal wear.

Nagamit ko lahat, pati mga tip nya.”

But the greatest struggle for him was the weather. Coming from a tropical country who resides in Laguna, which is known for its hot springs, Omar is more used to withstand hot temperatures. With Norway’s extremely opposite weather, it was a bit of a disadvantage for him.

To slowly acclimate, he flew to Oslo a month before the competition. But it was even colder than he imagined. At the

campsite, he had to shower outside without heater. He had to swim in different lakes too, just so he could gradually get used to Eidfjord’s freezing waters.

“Nahirapan ako mag-adjust. Magbabayad ka ng 10 kroner para magpa-heat ng water pang-ligo. E sabi ng wife ko, “Wag ka magpainit ng tubig!” Kasi paglabas mo, giginawin ka lalo e. ’Yung basain mo lang ’yung mukha mo, sobrang lamig parang may yelo na tubig. So tumatalon-talon ako habang naliligo.”

Though he was extremely flustered, he wasn’t deterred from training. With much intention to finish the race and bring home the black shirt, Omar also practiced uphill running and biking. It was a continuous training until race day.

Mental Toughness “Mamamatay na ako. Mamamatay na yata ako,” Omar kept telling himself while treading chilly waters at Hardangerfjord— the second largest fjord in Norway, waiting for the race to start.

It was 5 am and completely way colder than when he braved some lakes prior to his race. He’s been a swimmer for so long and never was he scared of the water. But the moment he jumped off the barge to wait for the gunstart, he got the chills.

“First time ko mag-panic sa swim. Nagdasal ako, inisip ko pamilya ko, ’yung anak ko. Sobrang lamig kasi tapos ’yung wetsuit ko, umangat pagtalon ko so pinapasok sya ng tubig.”

With a little discomfort from his wetsuit and the almost zero water temperature, all he could rely on was his years of experience in triathlon. Since he transitioned to multisport in 2001, Omar successfully improved his strong performance as an age grouper.

“’Yung years of experience ko, doon ko nakuha ’yung strength.

Kasi kung baguhan ka, baka hindi mo kayanin. Hindi mo kasi alam ’yung pakiramdam. Sa isang athlete kasi, hindi lang kailangan physically malakas. Kailangan pati isip mo.”

Despite being vexed, Omar emerged out of the water 36th out of 250 participants listed. “Nung umahon ako tuwang-tuwa ’yung wife ko, “You’re alive, you’re alive!”

“

“’Yung sa bike, para kang umakyat ng Baguio, mas malayo pa.”

Exhausted, it took him seven hours in the second leg. Aside from the grueling ascends, his main dilemma was the freezing temperature. The road was covered with thick fog, melting snow, and soaked in rain, making it colder and tougher for Omar. He can’t even remember how many times he thought of quitting but there was one person who pushed him to his limits –his wife.

“Sa kanya ako nakakakuha ng lakas. ’Pag alam kong andyan sya, lalaban pa ako. May part nga lang talaga doon na nararamdaman kong bumibigay ako. Nung natapos ako sa bike, going run, 146th ako. So habol lang kami nang habol. Kasi 160 lang ang kukunin.”

If there’s one person who empathized with Omar’s stress, pain, and excitement since Day 1 of his Norseman journey, it was Laarni. Knowing how challenging Norseman would be, she had given her full support just so Omar could focus on his race alone. From clothes, equipment, nutrition, and even assessing his training and boosting his morale, Laarni was in charge.

“Nung nag-struggle ako, sabi nya sa akin, “Tatay, dig deep!” pagtingin ko sa kanya, sumesenyas sya laban daw, laban. So laban naman ako, habol.”

But competing with international athletes wasn’t easy.

Particularly in Norseman where there were no categories. Elites, semi-pros, and age-groupers all compete to reach the 160 quota.

Worse, most of his competitors—Norwegian, French, Swedish, Greek, Australian, etc., were more accustomed to cold weather.

However, among them, Omar found a companion to finish the dreadful 42.2km run.

It was with Billy Vosnakis’ company that got Omar through exhaustion and pressure in the first 32km of the run. Billy, a Greek triathlete was trying to claim his third black shirt at that time, paced with Omar until they reach the moment of truth at 32km. On that mark, athletes were informed of their current rank on the quota and only those who qualified were allowed to continue to the summit.

Aside from fellow participants, there were also some Filipinos who helped Omar and Laarni during their stay in Norway. Some of them even let the couple stay in their homes and went out of their way to cheer during race day.

Nutrition Despite the extreme weather disadvantage, Omar had one less worry in this epic race—his nutrition. He was fortunate to be part of a triathlon team that provides all his nutrition needs.

Consistent podium finishes, improved personal best, and greater opportunities came after he joined Herbalife’s triathlon team.

And on a brutal race like Isklar Norseman, he was provided with all the sustenance needed to optimize his performance.

“After the race, uminom pa ako ng shake na maraming protein for fast recovery. Kasi every training namin, nagdadagdag kami ng protein sa shake for fast recovery. And nakatulong sya. Kaya ako nakalakad na agad kinabukasan (after the race).”

Herbalife24 Prolong—with dual-source carbohydrates and electrolytes, Formula 1 Healthy Meal Nutritional Shake Mix, tea, and vitamins greatly helped him even before and after he ventured in this ambitious competition.

“Mas naging better athlete ako compared dati. I became stronger and wiser. Mas nakilala ng katawan ko ’yung sport.”

Pinoy Pride But his 15 years in the sport with seven full distance triathlons as well as numerous 70.3s and other races apparently didn’t prepare him enough for the extreme Norseman race.

The moment Omar passed the 32km run mark, he became very emotional. It was a moment of relief and accomplishment not only for himself, his family and team, but most importantly, for the country.

“Nung nakapasok kami doon, nag-ce-celebrate na ’yung mga tao, sumisigaw ng “Black shirt!” May dalawang umiiyak na lalaki, mamaya tatlo na sila. Kasi kasama na ako sa umiiyak.”

“Masaya ako sa nagawa ko. Halo-halo na ’yung pagod, accomplishment, kasi history ’yun e. Hindi mo iniisip ’yung sarili mo e. Hindi ganun ’yung pakiramdam. Iniisip ko para sa family, mga estudyante, para sa teammates, sa mga triathletes sa Pilipinas, sa mga naniniwala na kaya ng Pinoy. Para sa bayan.”

Exhausted yet fulfilled, the Norseman medical team helped Omar back to his campsite after he completed the race and settled down.

“’Yung years of experience ko, doon ko nakuha ’yung strength.

Kasi kung baguhan ka, baka hindi mo kayanin. Hindi mo kasi alam yung pakiramdam. Sa isang athlete kasi, hindi lang kailangan physically malakas. Kailangan pati isip mo.”

“

Support Crew But it was only scratching the surface of his Norseman journey that took him 16:09:12 to finish. After enduring the cold water, he transitioned to bike and pedaled 180km through the mountains posthaste. The first 40km of the bike course was almost 1,200 MASL and another 190m at Austbygda, a village in the municipality of Tinn. He had to keep his brakes at bay for alternating uphill and downhill course which betrayed even the most experienced participants.

Thankful din ako kasi sya naman nag-register sa akin, nabunot ako. Sya pangarap nya ito, so it’s her turn. I’m always here to guide, support, and train her.”

Norseman is definitely another strong addition to Omar’s palmarés. But this extreme race served more than just an achievement but a lesson to the 39-year-old endurance athlete.

“Feeling ko may nadagdag sa akin. Naging tougher, hindi lang sa race but in life. ’Yung tipong hindi ka basta-basta bibigay na lang. Kapag may dumating na problema, hindi ka basta-basta susuko. Lalaban ka kasi nagawa mo ’yung ganitong bagay.”

“Actually, pagod na pagod na pagod na talaga. After 2-3 minutes, doon nag-settle down na wala na ’yung adrenalin, nag-chill na ako, tapos umiiyak na talaga ako, naging emotional na.”

It was another strong finish for Omar. Not only did he brave the tough course and the freezing weather, but made history for the country as the first ever Filipino to join and finish that extreme race in Europe. Months ago, when he received the confirmation email, he got scared. But after finishing the race, he wanted to try more. With much anticipation, he shared that he wants to complete the extreme triathlon series in Europe— the allXtri. This includes Celtman, Swissman, and of course, Norseman.

But to give back to his wife who supported him all the way to achieve his dreams, this year, Laarni will be joining Norseman 2017, hoping to bring home another black shirt for the country.

“Actually sya ’yung na-roll down. And we decided to let her join kasi maganda for another history ’yun and dream nya talaga ’yun. Ako, nabunot din sa Celtman and Swissman pero I gave way kasi I need to return my support sa kanya.

Photo by Barbara Vosnakis

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BEYOND PODIUM

HERBALIFE PHILIPPINES TRIATHLON TEAM Words: Cheenee Pontejos | Photo: Edsel Ochoa Hair and Makeup: Arlyn Basa and Arriane Basa

A

nyone who’s been to multiple triathlons must have seen this team emerge victorious most often than not. But beyond commendable podium finishes is the undeniably great rapport among the members of Herbalife Philippines Triathlon Team. Because if there is one thing their group deems more valuable, it’s personality.

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Thoroughly chosen based on Herbalife’s core values, the team comprises 13 competitive triathletes from different age groups. Led by topnotch athlete-coach Julian Valencia and Laarni Parades, Herbalife is enthused to dominate the racing scene with its new roster. In fact, when we met them for the magazine shoot, they were already gearing up for the first leg of the 2017 Tri United series.

Aside from Julian and Laarni, the current roster also includes first Filipino Norseman finisher Omar Paredes, international swimming coach Ronald Molit, and active age-groupers Edrick Ravalo, Carlo Chiong and Carlo Maniebo. Promising young guns like Zyro Manzanilla, Zoe Banzon, and Madeleine Argosino are also on the team as well as podium finishers Lezette Albarote, Hiroshi Takei, and Jayline Balatibat.

Recruitment 101 Though Herbalife sponsors athletes from different disciplines globally, it’s only in the Philippines where the brand has an official triathlon team.

From supporting individual athletes, Herbalife eventually evolved to an official triathlon team in 2006. Hoping to promote a healthier lifestyle and help athletes achieve better athletic performance, Herbalife meticulously produces energy enhancers, premium weight-development, and other nutrition supplements distributed to 94 countries.

Jayline, on the other hand, was motivated by her sisters who are also active triathletes. With two Iron-distance races under her belt plus numerous Olympic and half distances, Jayline continues to maintain her strong age group ranking.

As someone who constantly challenges himself, Ronald signed up for his first triathlon before he even bought a bike and started training. His competitiveness brought him to numerous podiums and even founded the Filipino International Triathletes (FiT Club) in Dubai for active triathletes overseas. Like Ronald, Carlo M. got recruited last year. His background in Physical Education and aspiration to live a healthier lifestyle eventually directed him to this sport.

Another go-getter Hiroshi or Hiro to his teammates joined Herbalife in 2007. He competed in the second series of Tri United races and bagged the 3rd place for his age group. Meanwhile, Zyro, Madeleine, and Zoe are the newest additions to Herbalife’s strong roster. These young juggernauts of stamina consistently top their age group with support from their seniors.

“Siguro nagkakahilahan din kasi to train dahil lahat naman kami, competitive. There will be times na may iba tinatamad. Then we would see each other, mahihiya ka.

Magte-train ka. So it really helps na we treat each other as family. Kasi namo-monitor din namin yung isa’t-isa.”

The innate competitiveness and camaraderie among the members and their so-called “organic development” are what set them apart from other triathlon teams in the country. “’Yung mga pumapasok sa amin, they don’t actually start with a podium finish, ’yung talagang malakas na sila. It actually evolves. Nade-develop sila to become stronger athletes and later on podium finishers.”

In fact, when Lezette started training, she didn’t even know how to use cleats yet. But after her rigorous training combined with proper and complete nutrition, she was able to perform well and finish her first iron-distance race in Langkawi, Malaysia last November 2016.

The 4th Discipline We’re all aware how demanding triathlon could be. But aside from improving your swim-bike-run, there’s one more discipline you have to master—nutrition. It’s such a critical part of the sport that if taken for granted, could really take its toll.

Its global prestige and the success of its triathlon team attract athletes to partake in this strong-willed squad. But according to Julian and Laarni, joining their line-up doesn’t require much gold or silver. Unlike other teams that primarily require podium finishers, these Herbalife captains search more for athletes with great potential and even greater character.

“The primary criteria are fun personality and a really healthy lifestyle that would kind of embody what Herbalife is really about. Mas importante ’yun, bonus na ’yung podium finisher,” says Julian who is in charge of initial assessment of prospective athletes.

As captains, Laarni and Julian carefully consider who to recruit before endorsing to Herbalife marketing team for final approval.

“Actually, before we take in someone, hindi lang talaga performance ’yung tinitignan namin. We also check if he/she will jive with the group. We treat each other like family and we want someone who shares the same values and passion as the members,” added Laarni.

This thorough scouting process actually reflects on the current team. Our shoot seemed like a mini-reunion for a small family. They kept teasing each other, sharing race experiences and techniques on how to optimize one’s performance. For members who don’t train together and only see each other during races or company-related events, camaraderie is one of the vital things that keep them united.

“We are geographically challenged. Some live in Laguna, Rizal, Manila, and even Cagayan De Oro so talagang hirap kami to train together. But this doesn’t stop us from helping each other perform better,” admits Julian.

“Given our competitive personality, we all want to do our best.

So nagiging natural product na ’yung pagiging ano namin e, kumbaga sa top. It’s just that kami talaga, we still try to focus on having fun and getting along with each other and with other people/team,” he added.

Innate Competitiveness Each member has a different triathlon journey. Julian started back in 1993 to challenge himself and try a healthier lifestyle while Laarni, who grew up in Los Baños, got inspired by the large community of triathletes in their area. As a competitive swimmer back in high school, she was immediately hooked on the sport. Meanwhile, her husband Omar, who also started swimming at an early age, decided to tri after graduating in college with encouragement from his friends.

As for Lezette who only started at age 35, it’s a testament to triathlon that it’s never too late to be involved in this endurance sport. With her perseverance and discipline, she was able to finish 5th in her age group in the recently concluded Ironman Langkawi—her first full distance race. Another proud Cagayanons, Edrick and Carlo C. both wanted to elevate their athletic performance which led them to triathlon. Edrick has long been exposed to multiple sports before focusing on triathlon and now he’s one of the longest Herbalife-sponsored athletes in the country. Meanwhile, Carlo’s passion for sports brought him to Herbalife. He recently had consecutive strong finishes in the 2016 Tri United series.

“’Yung nutrition ko nun, pagkatapos mag-training, bibili lang ng kung ano yung makakain lang dyan like burgers, etc. It’s like a reward for me,” admits Julian.

Laarni actually had the same excuse when she was just a newbie in sports. “Nag-start kasi ako sa triathlon in 2007.

Back then, I wanted to workout kasi gusto ko lang kumain.

Parang it’s a license to eat. But when I learned about Herbalife, hindi pala. You also need to have proper diet.”

But these habits changed upon joining Herbalife. As part of a nutrition company team, it helped them understand sports nutrition better. With the complete supplements and suitable nutrition they receive, Herbalife athletes are advantaged and focus more on how to improve their feat.

“Later on, when I got into Herbalife, we studied also the products and we found out na that kind of food doesn’t actually support recovery. And sometimes it’s not enough just to eat food. Dahil once you start eating so much to support your body, you gain weight. At least with Herbalife, we were able to get all those kind of requirements we need without gaining weight,” added Julian.

Like the first three disciplines, nutrition must also be carefully designed. And with the team’s experience, so much has improved since they started to pay more attention to nutrition. Certainly one of the dominant teams in today’s triathlon community, Herbalife members strive harder to personify the active and healthy lifestyle while still having fun. They may be rewarded with commendable finishes but what really makes them triumphant is the experience and friendship they acquired in this journey.

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CYCLING SCIENCE:

THE ROAD TO A PERFECT BIKE FIT W

Words: Cheenee Pontejos | Photos: Emmeline Ngo hen training for a triathlon, everyone says you should go for a bike fit. So what really is a bike fit and why should you get it?

Sport scientists say it is the process of altering body position by adjusting specific bike parts to achieve coherence between numerous variables—exercise economy, biomechanics, metabolic efficiency, and comfort. Simply put, to acquire optimum results with comfort while reducing the risks of possible injuries. A bike fit session can last from three to six hours (or more) depending on each client’s condition.

Former vice mayor of San Pablo, Laguna, Frederick Martin Ilagan is now known in the triathlon community as a diverse and one of the most efficient professional bike fitters in the country.

However, it was actually never part of his plan to be a professional bike fitter. Driven by his passion for sports, he was encouraged to have his bike fitted since he spends long hours on the bike. But despite consulting various fitters here, he continued experiencing discomfort. This led him to research on what could be the possible cause.

Apparently, his right leg is 1 cm shorter than his left, causing pain and uneasiness during rides. This inspired Frederick to know more and fix his biking dilemma.

In this article, RaceDay interviewed professional bike fitter Frederick Martin Ilagan to discuss bike fitting further. And when asked what’s the perfect time to get fitted, he says before buying a bike; so you won’t pour money down the drain by getting bikes that aren’t your size.

Interview Each bike fitting session starts with an interview. This is where the fitter determines the objective of the rider, their cadence, possible asymmetries and conditions, and discomforts on their bike. It is important to be completely honest with your fitter to achieve perfect bike fit and position whether for competition or just leisure rides.

Eventually, he enrolled in Retül University in Taipei, Taiwan to discover the benefits of bike fitting and how it is performed. He also enrolled in the International School of Cycling Optimization (ISCO), studied gebioMized, Bike Fit systems, and numerous other technologies used for professional bike fitting. In total, he took six courses and is now an advanced professional bike fitter. He owns and manages his bike fit studio in San Pablo—Forward Motion Performance.

Frederick combines multiple approaches to achieve optimum bike fitting results. With expertise in Retül, gebioMized, Bioracer, and Bike Fit systems—combination of 3D motion capture, pressure mapping sensor, laser, and virtual wind tunnel, he offers bike fit for mountain, time trial, triathlon, road, and time trial bikes.

Aside from his studio in San Pablo, Frederick also has schedules in Nuvali (Multisport Hub), San Juan City (Corsa Cycles), and Quezon City (Colnago).

He also offers onsite fitting upon request.

Contact/s: (+63)999-878-8252 / (+63)927-258-6860; @forwardmotionperformance

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VIDEO SHOOT ASSIGNMENT:

CAGAYAN DE ORO Words and Photos: Monching Romano

There’s going to be a triathlon in Cagayan De Oro this July 9, 2017, the Seven Seas NAGT Triathlon. So my assignment was to check out the venue and the other things we can do in CDO before and after the race.

Shoot Schedule Date: March 9 to 12, 2017 Video Shoot Assignment: Cagayan De Oro Background: There’s going to be a triathlon in Cagayan De Oro this July 9, 2017. Check out the venue and other things we can do in CDO before and after the race.

Project: CDO Highlights Crew: EIC to bring /use friends 1. EIC 2. Oggie De Guzman 3. Nad Fabiam

I decided to bring my friends instead of my usual crew. Big mistake.

Objective/s: Show CDO activity highlights Shot List: • • • • • • • • • •

With the boys Bike Shop with Bimbo Hotel at Dahilayan Adventure Park Dahilayan Activity 1: Zip Line Dahilayan Activity 2: DropZone Race Venue: Seven Seas Waterpark Mapawa Sunrise Mapawa Activity 1: Cliff Jumping Mapawa Activity 2: Waterfall Rappelling Great White Activity: River rafting Our host, Bimbo Uy, owns the Sprint MultiSport—the only triathlon shop in Cagayan De Oro. He’s also one of the organizers of the Seven Seas NAGT Triathlon.

Scared shit to jump, kaya lang alaskado ka if you don’t.

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A definite must-do in CDO. Exciting and scary but really FUN. At one point, the guide asked us to sit on the edge of the raft, doubled the fun. There are a number of operators offering river rafting. Go with Great White and request for Larry the guide, solid 2hr stand-up comedy routine. Super funny niya.

Very Baguio Country Club-esque. Pine Grove at Dahilayan Park has 19 rooms from double to big family rooms.

This one is in Mapawa. It’s my first time to rappel, it didn’t help that I did it with water pushing me down.

The Drop Zone at Dahilayan, it hoists you 600m high, then they count of 3-2-1 for you to pull the release cord. 100% pure adrenaline fun!!!

This is one of Dahilayan’s top draw. This zipline has the distance, speed and scenery that makes an excellent zipline course.

Mapawa Nature Park is a paradise for trail runners. You have to catch Mapawa’s sunrise, ganda!

I’ve seen water parks abroad and this one is as big if not bigger. Will open in April and will be the venue for the Seven Seas NAGT Triathlon come July 9.

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It’s just unbelievable what the body and mind can achieve, even when put in an extreme test.

Getting to where they are is no easy feat and like any race, it all begins in the starting line. Here’s a quick chat with the Saucony power-couple on how they started running.

When did you start running and why?

Omar: I started as a swimmer. I started running since 1998 because I wanted to get into triathlon.

Laarni: I started running about 18 years ago. When I was in high school and college, I was in the swimming varsity team. ’Nung college, I decided to take up track and field classes.

When we started running mga 5, 10, 21k, that’s when I realize na long distance running was really my passion.

What are your most memorable races?

O: I remember my first race was in 1996 or 1997, the Ayala Alabang Sprint Triathlon. I was 3rd out of the water then on the bike, I was overtaken by lots of veteran strong cyclists.

Then on the run, it was very hard so i just walked. Back then, I was still not used to the swim-bike-run combo and also had problems with nutrition. When it comes to Norseman, my favorite part of the race was when I reached the very top of Mt. Gaustatoppen where the finish line was. I cried so much in pain and gratefulness. I used the Saucony Kinvara 7 with EVERUN, slime/black all the way to the top of the finish line.

Fun Fact: Besides the Kinvara 7, did you know that dishwashing gloves also helped Omar endure the Norseman Xtreme Triathlon?

His bike gloves got wet during the bike course at around 120km so he used dishwashing gloves instead.

L: My first race was the White Rock Triathlon in 2007. It was especially memorable because I just learned to bike two months before that and it was a 70.3 distance race. When I finished that race, I knew then that triathlon was my calling. It was exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

How do you find time to run?

O: I’m a swimming coach, a triathlon coach, and a PE instructor at the University of Perpetual Help Calamba campus. Kahit busy ’yung schedule I find time kasi I love to run so kahit I have 30 minutes I go out and run.

L: I’m a digital content marketing manager. I work 8 to 10 hours a day. I like running in the afternoons. Whatever time I have, I try to run like 3 to 4 times a week.

How did Saucony motivate you to run better?

O: I’ve known Saucony a long time ago. Way back when I was starting, I saw my idols running in Saucony shoes, so the brand has always been in my mind since then. You know you have the advantage because you’re using an awardwinning shoe.

L: Saucony motivated me to run better because of its award-

winning line of shoes. When I tried on the Saucony racing flats Type A, whenever I wear it, it just begs to go faster. So I just love it.

What tips can you give to those who want to start running?

O: Just go out there and run. Make sure you do it progressively. Look for a group that can help you. And I think, kung gusto niyo talaga ’yung sport, talagang may love kayo sa running, you find the passion and dedication for it.

L: Just enjoy the run kasi a lot of newbies out there get hooked on getting PRs after PRs even if they’re just starting.

Just have fun. When you go out and run consistently, eventually stamina, speed, and endurance will follow. Then you’ll get your PR and you can go long. Also, find the right kind of shoes for you. I know a lot of friends who started running with the wrong kind of shoes and they get injured not knowing why. Akala nila they’re just running too fast, they’re running long but no, they’re using the wrong kind of shoes. They have to know if they need neutral shoes or stability shoes. And Saucony has all that.