Swim That was the most punishing swim i ever had so far on a tria. I can't blame those athletes who backed off from the swim. What was worse was that the water went calm after the swim leg.
Photos here:
bikes, pre race
glimpse of the sea
coach b in charge
wading in
gun start
Bike The first five km worried me because i can't pull off pass the 24kph mark. I was thinking, probably it was the liters of seawater i swallowed that slowed me further, other than the fact that I'm inherently slow on the bike. Those guys from Dumaguete were among those who pass me early on the bike, then I saw Dindz, and then Andrew. After the 10th athlete whizzed by i stopped counting and prayed for recovery before i start running. But when the course approached Dauis proper i was hitting 40 to 50kph. I was sure everyone was hitting more speed than I was since i saw a lot pulling off away from me. It then dawn to me that the first 5km or so had a variety of 'false flat' terrain and had nothing to do with my intakes of seawater. But
that downhill to Dauis was the only consolation because it was a heartbreak hill on the way to the highway back to the junction between the bike and run course.
Comparing this route to the Panglao Business Club Tria way back on May, this was a little more difficult given the climbs and slopes which were absent in the former. They said the Sogod Tri, last July was more technical but i wasn't there to tell the difference.
t1
sorry can't id those bikers, my wife just clicked at them as they come
but cant be mistaken with this...
...and yes Noy was already on his running shoes while we were still on our pedals
Run Relative to that PBC Tri last May, it was just as the same flat, fair and vacated. If i consumed more water this time, it must have been due to the fact that this was not a sprint but olympic distance. If i hadn't had a base training going to camsur last august, i doubt if i could have finish the course without walking.
i know this is biased but can't blame the kodaker
and she knows i just finished paying for the camera
In all, it was a game i enjoyed with plenty of rich experience to pocket since it was my first oly distance tria not to mention the wonderful guys i shared dinner with: Ralph, King and all those guys from Team Summit. I came to know later that Dindz and Andrew crashed on the bike course and you bet their bikes were unscratched and ready for the next triathlon. Get well soon guys.
And we got our revenge came chow time...
with a band to match
but in the end was an honor to dine with the winners
Siquijor here we go!
