RaceDay July-August 2013 by RaceDay

MAIDEN ISSUE

THE COST OF TRIATHLON

AFFORD KO BA? TO HAVE & TO HOLD HOW YOUR WIFE REALLY FEELS ABOUT YOUR SPORT

WHO THE HELL IS

KIM KILGROE FITNESS FIRST TEAM HOW A TRI-TEAM CAN STRENGTHEN YOUR CORPORATE IDENTITY

DON’T YOU DARE DNF IRONMAN CEBU 3 COACHES TELL YOU HOW TO FINISH STRONG

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JULY-AUGUST 2013

THE START LIST ARLAND MACASIEB BOBBY GO GUY CONCEPCION TIN FERRERA DON VELASCO ALEX PANLILIO KAYE LOPEZ MOI YAMOYAN NORMAN PASCUAL BEA HERNANDEZ TRIXIE MANUEL KARLA LEGARDE

EDITOR’S GUNSTART Vol. 1 No. 1

Why I Continue to Tri

t was about this time last year that I mentioned to Joey Ramirez (that brilliant, good-looking playboy CEO of Dan’s Bike Shop/Specialized) that I was planning to stop doing triathlons after Ironman Cebu 2012. I was just plain tired of waking up early every day and exhausted with the daily workouts. He looked at me with intense puzzlement; baffled. It’s as if I told him I was never ever going to have sex again. Then he said, “Ayaw mo ba nung feeling na fit ka? Yung alam mong parati kang malakas?” Well, he was right. It’s hard to stop. There’s that fear that you’re going to gain back all those pounds and get back to wearing loose shirts again. And that feeling when you want to quit but still forged on to cross the finish line—it’s just plain addictive. And another thing that’s keeping me in this sport–the people. I’ve gained true-blue and dependable friends in the year that I’ve been racing. There’s nothing more stimulating than being around triathletes: their stories are moving, their struggles, compelling. And most of them are just plain crazy. That’s why when Onesport Magazine CEO Edsel Ochoa invited me to join his publishing company, I had to say yes as it offered a chance to tell these triathlon stories. And so here’s our first gig—RaceDay magazine.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : Monching Romano ASSOCIATE EDITOR : Richelle Ligot PHOTOGRAPHER: Edsel Ochoa COPY EDITOR : Kabel Mishka Ligot ART DIRECTOR : Johnmer Bautista CONTRIBUTORS : Guy Concepcion, Tin Ferrera, Anna Gamboa, Bobby Go and Toby Martin

OneSport Media Specialists, Inc. Unit 217 La Fuerza II Building, Pasong Tamo, Makati City Publishers/Joint CEOs Edsel Ochoa and Monching Romano Creatives Johnmer Bautista and Emsi Sia Marketing Rhycel Marcelo Editorial Assistants Babylou Dalida and Shing Liganor

This is our first chance at bat and we’re gunning for the fences. On the cover is Kim Kilgroe. I first met her last year in a Subic training camp of Coach Norman Pascual. I immediately dismissed her as another pretty face trying to get into our tough world of triathlon. Then she swam, then she ran. Ok, she’s more than just a pretty face, she’s a fast pretty face. I got to know her better over the course of the year as she joined our regular training sessions. It was a humbling lesson for me, to not judge based on looks and to look beyond the obvious. Take a peek at our cover story and discover the real Kim and her other dimensions.

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.

We’re also excited to have our top pro triathlete Arland Macasieb and “Crush ng Bayan” Don Velasco sharing their triathlon experiences. Mark Ellis shows us how to leverage a triathlon team for a corporate brand. Coaches Norman Pascual, Kaye Lopez and Moi Yamoyan tell us how to finish Ironman Cebu smiling. You have to read our feature on the wives of Rico Manuel, Mark Hernandez, and Kerwin Legarde–and get to know if they are really happy about their husbands being in the sport.

I am particularly humbled that these battle-tested athletes agreed to share their insights, wit and experience by writing for us–Bobby Go, Guy Concepcion and Tin Ferrera. My utmost thanks to you, guys.

Monching Romano Editor-in-Chief

4 5 6 8 CONTENTS 10 12 15 16 19

SIDESWIPE: Indyan or Pana by Bobby Go TRI MO KAYA: The Cost of Triathlon by Monching Romano The Real Housewives of Triathlon by Guy Concepcion COVER STORY: Why Everybody Loves/ Hates Kim Kilgroe by Toby Martin Fitness First Team: Building a Brand Through Triathlon by Toby Martin Finishing Ironman 70.3 Cebu by Tin Ferrera MY SWIM-BIKE-RUN LIFE/LESSONS: Arland Macasieb and Don Velasco by Tin Ferrera Unilab ActiveHealth by Anna Gamboa What Triathletes Want • Never D-I-Y Your Own Trisuit

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CONTRIBUTORS Tin Ferrera A CPA, management consultant and entrepreneur. She enjoys running races beyond the marathon distance and doing highintensity Crossfit workouts. Her goal is to finish a triathlon race in the near future. Toby Martin A content creator for various media but finds himself writing mostly for the love of it, to save his life, or to preserve his sanity. He has recently received an advance to start the international bestseller that will allow him to live off its proceeds for the rest of his life. Guy Concepcion A swimming/triathlon coach who has a background in filmmaking. Has written a full-length screenplay about triathlon over a decade ago, before he became a triathlete himself. It remains unproduced because he admits it is a rip-off of Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall.” Anna Gamboa Has written for various publications since 1995. Her mantra is “it’s a mystery, but it all works out somehow” –adopted from Geoffrey Rush’s character from “Shakespeare in Love.”

Bobby Go A 40-something-but-closer-to-50 father, husband, and all-around imbecile who left his corporate job of 25 years (without regret) to start his own business. His pursuits include searching for the perfect bowl of ramen, annoying his kids, and racing triathlons and similar endurance events.

INDYAN or

PANA? I

n the triathlon universe of extortionate training and racing equipment, our preoccupation with all things beautiful (and expensive) gets us deep into debt, with the inequitable and oft-defensible payout: If you can’t be fast, look fast. Sports equipment companies go through incredible lengths to market their products to customers willing to part with their hard-earned or effortlessly-inherited money. Spiffy graphics, techno-scientific jargon, and renowned personalities are formulaic components of campaigns aimed at impressing newbies and weekend athletes eager to swim faster, ride harder, and run longer come race day. When circus promoter P.T. Barnum said, “There’s one (i.e. sucker) born every minute” he was simply exposing the truth about advertising and what good marketing can do. A fool and his money are soon parted, is another adage that comes to mind. And speaking of fools… This is embarrassing to admit, but after five years in the sport, I don’t even know how many teeth are on the front and rear gears of my one and only roadie, which doubles as a tri-bike as soon as I install the clip-on aero bars I’ve had since the beginning of my so-called triathlon career. Anyone within six months of taking up triathlon would be able to rattle off even the number of spokes on their bike’s front and rear wheels. But not I. So when people ask me about my bike’s specs, I just throw them a quick, nonchalant “I don’t know” and end the discussion right there. I’m sure to earn their ire or condescension for being so amateur and unknowledgeable; but I’ve often felt that knowing such information would never put me in a life-threatening situation, hence, my self-imposed, maintained ignorance. But maybe my not wanting or needing to know the length of my bike’s top tube stem, or crank set is a function of my general attitude towards devices that take me from point A to point B. Case in point: my car. I’ve gone through less than seven different cars in my lifetime, and I’ve never had to worry about any of them breaking down on me and requiring me to look under the hood to tinker with this and that thingamajig. Heck, I don’t even know where the carburetor is! I’ve always made sure that my cars were well-maintained and went through the standard tune-up and maintenance after each mileage milestone. I’ve never been one to fuss over displacement, horsepower, or torque either. Give me a functioning air conditioner and a sound system a few notches above a commuter jeep’s tweeter-heavy setup, and you can hold on to that pitch for a brand new (fill in luxury car name here). And since ensuring correct tire pressure and changing a flat are what I consider my most important survival skills as far as my car is concerned, the same applies to my bike. Having a cellphone with emergency numbers to call for roadside service or to pester friends who can give me a lift also helps. After poring over endless copies of triathlon trade magazines, captivated by the flashy advertisements with promises to cut minutes off my bike split or make me run faster and feel fresher, I’m left with a jaded view of just how effective most of these gadgets are at getting me atop that age group podium. From where I’m sitting, I’m probably one of the oddities in a sport with a monthly maintenance expense that rivals the living expenses of some lower-income families. Sure, there are race fees, travel expenses, and other related costs I have to cover on a going basis, just like everyone else; but I’m also a member of that atypical tribe who owns only one bike for triathlon and road cycling, hasn’t upgraded any of my bike parts, or purchased a new bike in the last three years. I’m strange and pleasantly content that way.

SIDE SWIPE BY

BOBBY GO Being Pinoy: Form Over Function Described by some as the Italians of the East, Pinoys match the description by being amazingly creative, hopelessly romantic, and fiercely loyal (most of the time). Another trait shared by both cultures, and perhaps shared too by a number of Latin American cultures, is the penchant for looking good. Comedian Billy Crystal’s famous segment on Saturday Night Live, Fernando’s Hideaway, parodied Latin actor Fernando Lamas, and created the memorable lines “You look Mahvelous” and “It’s better to look good than to feel good.” And look good we do. Alas, looking good can be grossly subjective. Pinoys are known to don leather jackets at the height of summer, sport sunglasses inside shopping malls, or deck themselves out in more gold jewelry than Fort Knox just to make a style statement. And as bold as it screams “Hey, look at me,” it also sheds light on part of the Pinoy psyche. I call it the porma paradox, where fashion trumps pragmatism; it’s a consumer trait that keeps retailers happy and households’ budgets unbalanced. It’s a classic ‘form over function’ decision that is persistent, and which fuels the sales of more cellular phones, fashion accessories, and—closer to home—six-figure freedom machines called bicycles. Whoas, Whistles and Whimpers It’s a totally lopsided equation that never adds up, no matter how many turns of a Rubik’s cube you manipulate: the appearance never justifies the performance. But like a sexy new Porsche or a plush leather wallet from Bottega Venetta, that state-of-the-art, best-in-windtunnel-tested, electronic-shifting-system-equipped triathlon bike is the most sensible investment since the down payment on the condo. It’s going to draw more stares and wolf-whistles than a half-naked starlet sashaying under the morning sun towards transition one. I suppose that’s also the same feel good emotion that prods more than a few sad sacks to dine on sardines everyday for a month just to afford that latest pair of basketball sneakers. Admiration can only go so far, since all that hardware will be put to the real test once you climb aboard your steed and pedal through the bike course. Maybe you’ll feel lighter negotiating those inclines. Maybe you’ll feel faster hammering the flats. But maybe a good bike fit could have saved you enough for that family vacation. The same applies to all other training and racing paraphernalia. Swim goggles that provide an unobstructed view, speed suits that feel like a second skin, and running shoes that guarantee a more efficient toe off—promises that stay promises, until they’re put through the wringer and actually prove their worth in performance. For all the bells and whistles these hardware promote, just how much faster can you really go? And do you find yourself looking out into the crowd from one of those podium steps at the end of the day?

The Wizard, Not The Wand Which takes me back to my argument regarding form over function. Aside from my aversion for pricey cars, I’ve never understood the need to acquire an expensive watch or a ballpoint pen named after a famous mountain in Europe. Oh, but it’s not just a pen, I’m politely corrected by the charming sales girl cajoling me into a potential purchase—it’s an elegant writing instrument with a history of fine craftsmanship behind it. Yes, but since I only plan to use it to sign credit card vouchers and checks for mobile phone billings, while at best maintaining the penmanship of a doctor whose prescription can only be deciphered by hieroglyphics experts, I’d say it’s a pen. That’s a lot of money to pay to scribble chicken scratch in style. As for the watch, I’ve never been one to part with my eyeteeth in exchange for a timepiece that would give me the same time as my cellphone’s digital display. Talk about quality time. When I look back at legendary triathletes of decades past (Dave Scott, Mark Allen, Paula Newby-Fraser), I am awed by the records they have set and hallmarks they have achieved without the help of newfangled technology. These icons of endurance hark back to the days of stripped-down apparel and equipment, when a pair of skimpy swim trunks stood in place of modern hydrodynamic speed suits, while a throwback combo of singlet and split-leg running shorts was just as comfortable and cutting-edge as today’s form-fitting, quick-drying tri suits. Did they worry about getting as hydro-/aerodynamic as they could on the swim or bike with the equipment and apparel they had to work with? Maybe. Maybe not. Did they ever think about the possibility of shaving more seconds or even minutes off their race times, had they been better equipped with gadgetry that reduced drag, cut wind, or increased torque? I’m pretty sure they did. But didn’t they train harder, eat better, and race smarter to reach their goals and set new personal records? You can bet the farm they did. In the hands of amateurs and most age groupers, buying that latest minimum drag, ergo dynamic bottle cage is a general waste of technology and resource. But, hey, if it makes you feel good, go for it. It’s your money to burn. And though you never hear anyone finish a race reasoning “I should’ve switched to those lighter-thana-dragonfly’s-wings-pedals”, what resonates among the crestfallen amateurs and professionals is likely to be the regretful realization of not pushing hard enough, needing to get more rest the day before, or crafting a better nutrition and hydration plan. Because in the end, it really comes down to who’s piloting the plane. And isn’t that really about the man and not the machine? Go ahead. Show ‘em what you’re made of. * Roughly translated for our non-Filipino readers: (Native American) Indian or Arrow? Like that actually helps.

TRI MO KAYA BY

MONCHING ROMANO

THE

COST of TRIATHLON P478,000. Yup, that’s my number, give and take a few thousands. That’s what I spent in 2012, my first triathlon year. Some will say it’s a bit on the high side and they are probably right. You see, I am a certified showboat, so I need to have the Cervelo and the Shiv and the 910XT and the Trivent bike shoes and the carbon wheelsets and the Kuat bike rack and the Adamo and the Rotor and the Shangrila Mactan room for Ironman Cebu. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I have much money to burn: there’s logic in what others would label as “brand whore” purchase pattern. I am a marketer by profession and I know that a market leader brand will always make sure they churn out the best possible product lest they risk losing some of their brand equity and market leader status to an inferior product. I’m sure that there’s a more efficient option–a brand at a lesser price that delivers the same performance, but I don’t have the time nor the patience to do the research. Again, don’t get me wrong: it’s not that I don’t try to get the best deal. As a matter of fact, my first three bikes were all pre-owned. My first one, a Specialized road bike was used by Joey Ramirez, the CEO of Dan’s Bike Shop/ Specialized. My second one, an Argon TT bike, was purchased from Tony Fernando, a veteran of the Camsur Ironman races. The ideology was that these guys know triathlon and they’ve researched to death the parts that went into their bikes. My third, again pre-owned, was a Cervelo. I went on a bike ride with Nikko Magsanoc once, saw the Cervelo frame inside his car and I asked if he was selling it. Trust Dr. Magsanoc, not only with your kidneys, but to give you the best possible giveaway prices ever. The only bike that was brand new upon purchasing was the Specialized Shiv. Believe me, it was a long process. I have this practice—whenever I lust for any high-end product that involves a considerable amount of cash, I impose a 3-week embargo—meaning I don’t buy that item in those 3 weeks. This is to test if I indeed want and

need it or if it’s just another impulse buy. The Shiv was expensive. For me, insanely expensive. At that time, to fund my bike purchase, I sold my 1978 Mercedez Benz 230T—a wagon—an Estate it is called. It was my very first one; MB enthusiasts call it a “contemporary classic”. Guess what? The proceeds of that sale was not even enough to buy the Shiv frame. But still, after my 3-week embargo, I wrote the check and brought my Shiv home.

data to be significant. You see, I am a diabetic, and exercise and weight management are key factors to manage this condition. I topped the scales at 183lbs, grossly obese as written in my medical chart. Not just obese, GROSSLY OBESE. I would be lying if I told you that I got into triathlons because I wanted to beat diabetes. No, there was a more compelling reason– vanity. I wanted to wear better clothes. I was tired of my daily get-up, the long-back, double XL Ralph Lauren shirts. Running was the answer. And for two years I ran. The bike is probably your biggest expense if you want to Did the 5k’s, then the 10k’s, tried some 16’s, struggled get into triathlon. But wait… there’s more: the next item through the 21k, then, as expected, I got bored. But I that will eat up your budget is can’t stop. Lost 20 pounds at that coaching. If you are the kind of “I topped the scales at 183lbs, point, needed to shave more. person who can motivate yourgrossly obese as written in my self, do the research and train Triathlon seemed to be the logical medical chart. Not just obese, next step. But the time and money by your lonesome self, then bless your soul. You just saved I needed to invest on it was a GROSSLY OBESE.” yourself around P60,000 barrier to entry. I kept putting annually. But I am not that person. You cannot waterthem off and finding all the reasons not to get into it, board me into training by myself. I need a coach to map until one early morning at the poolside of the Nomads out my training plan; to tell me my workout on a daily Country Club: I was swimming—wading to be more basis, to shout at me when I don’t feel like training. If precise. Then this guy came, all dark and ripped. He puts you’re anything like me then get a coach. This is a down his water bottle, goggles, swimcap, and fins at the serious sport, one that you cannot accomplish by just edge of the pool, dives into the water, dons his goggles “winging it”. And you can get seriously injured, or even and cap, then swims for eternity. When eternity ended, he die, if you’re not prepared for it. jumps out of the pool, gathers his gear then left. I noticed the design on his swimcap: IRONMAN. That was my Then there are the race registration fees. Triathlons, triathlon Aha! moment. I wanted that kind of discipline. unlike running events, are quite steep. Lowest should I wanted to have that same strength and endurance. I be around P3,000. Ironman Cebu goes for US$ 250.00. wanted to be that guy. And that guy was Raoul Floresca. Add the other race-related expenses–transportation/ He is the reason why I am now a triathlete. And that is plane fare, food, accommodations and toll fees, and you why I wear my hair long. get a substantial amount. For a typical Subic race, I set aside around P6,000. Of course there are the other small stuff–goggles, fins, paddles, running shoes, shades, gels, supplements, trisuits, watches, bike shoes, jerseys… the list seems endless at times. Clearly, triathlon is not easy on the pocket. But any cost analysis should be weighed against its benefits for the

THE REAL

HOUSEWIVES OF TRIATHLON

From left to right: Bea Hernandez, Trixie Manuel, Karla Legarde Hair and Make-up: Karen Espinosa and Charisma Vergara Images by: edsizzle

X-WIVES: The Last Stand Against the Tri-Apocalypse

Words by Guy Concepcion

he photo shoot was tougher than it seemed, said one of the three women featured for this piece on wives of triathletes. It was difficult to emote. Maybe being under flashbulbs, especially having to put on too much make up and being directed to smile this way or that, wasn’t what she or the others signed up for upon declaring “I do” many years ago. What they had dreamed about was a beautiful home, lovely children, family celebrations, date nights, and quality private time. Most wives do. Instead, they were spending hours in a bare, white-walled studio with their tri-husbands in tow as chaperones. All of them would rather have been at home as the evening crept closer to being officially declared a late night. What the hell happened? The beautiful home now needs more space for bikes. The lovely children also want a bike, or the child sadly wishes both parents were present at football games. Family celebrations center on dad’s podium finish and date nights end by 9 o’clock. And how can intimate QT be quality if there is no more energy? The triathlon bug has bitten, that’s what happened. This bug is contagious. And it is radioactive. What were once distinguished gentlemen in button-down shirts, slacks, and Italian shoes would now rather be in a tightfitting, multi-colored billboard called a tri-suit. What was once economic or political talk over drinks at happy hour has shifted to conversations on the correct crank or some stranger’s surprisingly speedy run split. The washing-machine swim start can horrifically look like a horde of mindless zombies attacking human flesh. Beware: the dawn of the tri-apocalypse has arrived. Enter our trio of heroic real housewives: Bea Hernandez, Karla Legarde, and Trixie Manuel. They are a few of the remaining normal folks of humanity who are not yet tri-zombies. Day in-day out, these women get their multi-tasks done without a fleeting concern with getting enough mileage in swim, bike, and run. Bea heads the marketing group of a company connected to an enormous Philippine conglomerate. Karla is a full-time homemaker and mother. Trixie is also a busy mommy, but does retail merchandising consultancy on the side. They have a lot on their plates, yet they remain loyal and loving to their true loves, Mark Hernandez, Kerwin Legarde, and Rico Manuel, respectively. Still, these women are one line away from drawing a line to their husbands’ abnormality.

“Typical human beings do not have the constant need to train,” proclaims Mrs. Trixie Manuel. “We don’t go anywhere… where do I use all my shoes and bags, panggrocery, and PTC!?” “The sport has taken sooooo much of his time away from our family,” Mama Karla Legarde adds. “He wakes up very early for training, and when he comes home at night from the office, he’d be in front of his laptop surfing the net for triathlon stuff.” And Ma’am Bea Hernandez declares, “Triathletes are insane human beings. I see it during races. I see it in FB posts. I see it after races during awarding.” Granted, all three wives fully appreciate the positives the sport has given their husbands: fitness, less vices, dreams of vacationing in Hawaii. All three women con-

From left to right: Rico Manuel, Kerwin Legarde, Mark Hernandez

fessed that they also have a pretty regimented exercise routine. Once in a while, they even get to go on runs with the “real” athletes in the family. Most importantly, when there is a big purchase related to multi-sport, a big purchase comes the way of the wives too (a bribe, one of them presumes). The children likewise benefit by seeing their dads healthy, being dedicated and determined, and inculcating lifelong productive values. Trixie comes clean about Rico: “I am happy that he is happy. Really, I am.”

or reruns of Law and Order and Friends—aside from the fact that the boys will pass out before the plot really begins—one wonders what actual plot goes through their triathlon-obsessed minds. The scenario surely involves convincing the wife and kids that another weekend in sunny Subic is the best kind of escape. Their cars better be SUVs big enough to fit the real babies—as Bea readily admits, Mark’s bike is named Chris, and his car is called Chrissie.

Does the world stand a chance? Popular baby boy names There is the constant anxiety that comes with all the could well become Macca, except in the Legarde housetraining and racing, however. “I where all the names have to begin with K— “I am happy hold totally hate that feeling,” Karla what a perfect opportunity to name a new addition that he is happy. to the clan Kona! “No,” Karla stands her ground, laments. “My fear always heightens when [Kerwin’s] target time has pangit naman.” So, perhaps the world does Really, I am.” “ang passed and I don’t see him anywhere have a chance. Trixie can go back to her days going near the finish line.” Moreover, one wishes Philippine to the theater, attending piano concertos, and watching roads had bike lanes that are off-limits to big buses, ballet. Bea can be a bookworm again. Karla can exjeepneys, and private cars. Inevitable bike crashes earn change rubber-soled shoes for high-heeled ones. These a pat on tocino backs with the encouraging axiom you women are holding fast. “I wish people would stop askshouldn’t waste time getting back in the saddle. So ing me to start swimming,” answered Bea with finality. Trixie comes clean once again: “The thing that is most frustrating is that Rico will not stop. He is the type to After the photo shoot, the three wives headed home, push himself too much that I fear for his safety.” hopeful their voices could be heard. For sure they yell loud at races, screaming Go, Honey! and for sure Zombies never give up. And apparently, they never prayerful whispers—Please God, keep him safe—speak quit whining either. I am not fast enough; I don’t train volumes. But the message they wish to put forth is clear. enough; I need to work out my core; I have to get better They are not just supportive cheerleaders. They, too, are in the swim. One wonders when these couples watch the psychologists and soldiers, masseurs and coaches, SAGs wives’ favorite TV shows like CSI or Suits or Scandal and spiritual nutrition. They are many things. But they are not Tri-geeks.

WHY EVERYBODY LOVES/ HATES

KIM KILGR KILGROE

Words by Toby Martin Images by: edsizzle

Hair and Make-up: Pong Niu and Don De Jesus for MAC Cosmetics

A DO-IT-ALL NATURAL

When not busy at her sports or modeling, Kim retreats to her artistry, expressed in photography, painting, and food: each a part that has come together to form a perfect fit in Kim’s multifaceted life. At an early age, Kim’s father ingrained in her the importance of eating healthy by force-feeding her juiced fruits and vegetables, a habit that has come full circle to serve her well in triathlon, as she carefully prepares meals to provide the fuel her body needs. She strives to eat organic, particularly in Manila, where clean food is hard to find and sold at a premium. Her diets vary in terms of caloric load and nutrient composition, depending on the particular stage of her training periodization. What she will not compromise on is the flavor and the aesthetics of her food. She takes great joy in its preparation, Kim Kilgroe is a creature of this age: on her website, the links read, “triathlete-modelin eating it, but also in photographing it, and sharing recipes through her blog. And just artist-foodie”. Delving into each will show a modicum of success at what she does, driven when you think she has used up her daily twenty-four hour allocation, she will show you by a passion for improvement and balance primarily rooted in her being a triathlete. At an early age, she had been involved in running and swimming in her paintings, which she will discuss with passionate detail as she does “Kim Kilgroe is a creature with possibly her every other endeavor. high school and collegiate events Stateside, which provided a strong foundation in performing two of the sports in the triathof this age.” Triathletes are a special breed for the demands of the sport are manifold, lon, and an adequate athletic base for her to take to cycling quite as it spans three disciplines and requires a lot of dedicated time, effort and money. When easily to reach competition form. She started focusing her natural athleticism into training for Olympic distance triathlon events in 2011, and by 2012, had garnered several podium you scan the faces on any race day, you will find behind them people capable of amazing finishes in both the Philippines and the US. Her successes soon found sponsors seeking feats of balance, juggling in the air a career or two, relationships, and training and all its demands. And while they seek to compete with those next to them, ultimately they are her out to endorse various triathlon-related products. their own greatest competitors. Kim Kilgroe is no different from any of them: she has no special gene nor blessing nor lucky charm. Kim chalks up success to making sure to show Kim’s modeling began in 2009, and has spanned print and TV advertisements in both the US and Asia. She has appeared in various sports and fitness-themed campaigns to which up on time everyday, getting the job done as planned, and giving her 100%. She is willing to give up the unnecessary, focus on the essential, and makes sure that it is always she not only lends her looks, but also her credibility based on her triathlon experience. fun while she’s at it. And with that, she’s definitely a natural. The two careers she manages to balance complement each other: her athlete persona keeps her fit and provides a clean-living, disciplined, and healthy image, while the other exposes her to a wider audience, giving her triathlon sponsors and the sport itself greater mileage to a wider audience. n the future, the denizens of this age will be looked upon as the do-it-all’s, individuals who will be known by the myriad occupations, crafts, advocacies, and pastimes they have accomplished in a single lifetime. They are easily identified with the multihyphenated descriptions, the new badge of honor, that they attach to their names. And while anyone with the proper mental mettle can achieve any number of avocations, some will be blessed with good genetics to be natural athletes, and even less with good looks to top it all off.

FITNESS FIRST TEAM: Building a Brand

Words by Toby Martin Images by: edsizzle 10

Through Triathlon

he triathlon is possibly the fastest growing sport both worldwide and locally, and as many have done with everything of rapidly growing popularity, sponsors have been quick to slap on their logos on trisuits. Locally, we’ve seen a whole range of brands— milk, pizza, energy drinks, salons—identifying themselves with various teams that compete for race honors. What is interesting is that the rush of branding the sport is not dependent on the sheer number of participants or spectators, as the triathlon has innumerably fewer, but rather on the qualities ascribed to its athletes: endurance, determination, adaptability, and superfitness. While some brands stretch to identify with the triathlon, for Fitness First, the country’s largest gym chain, it is a perfect fit. Philippine country manager Mark Ellis, whose main role is to sell fitness club memberships, finds that his greatest hurdle is the common notion that one cannot include exercise in a busy schedule. It is ironic then that Ellis has chosen the use of the triathlon, a sport that requires a lot of time to train, as the company’s flagship vehicle in convincing people to work out. Ellis explains that the image projected by the team is aspirational, proving that with the right mindset and determination,

From left to right: Joel Caniza, Keshia Fule, Mark Ellis, Joey Ramirez, Jj Coscolluela, Doray Ellis, Jami Ramirez and Rizzo Tangan Hair and Make-up: Pong Niu and Don De Jesus for MAC Cosmetics

fitness can become a lifestyle. He outlines how his triathlon team builds his brand: Identity The Fitness First Triathlon Team has one unique requirement not ordinarily found in others: for one to join, he must first be an “executive—defined as employed at a managerial level, self-employed, or an entrepreneur— and an amateur athlete.” The requirement excludes some of the finest triathletes from its roster and might seem counter-productive to a brand that may get great exposure through guaranteed podium finishes. But it clearly proves that there can be time found or made for working out, at three sports at that, even for those who have demanding jobs. The team is no slouch either, as its members manage both to take home podium finishes and remain competitive. The underlying message for those thinking of getting some exercise is that balance is key to doing it all. Community Fitness First was quick to notice that the Filipino innately wants to belong to a group of shared interest, so beyond membership at the gym, special groups of varied persua-

sions flourished. Perhaps the largest following belongs to team members have come and gone, but the team has Retro, a technical dance choreography class performed remained as a strong community based on a powerful to 70s and 80s tunes, flocked to mostly by ladies in sense of common identity. their thirties to forties; and yoga, whose various instructors find adherents of similar feather. The Fitness First Cross-pollination Triathlon Team was initially forged under the similar The marketing of team branding is decidedly soft-sell desire for kinship, and eventually, the spirit of competiand limited in scope, but for Fitness First’s target martion as well. The team was one of the two groups which ket, it hits home effectively each time. This is attributed were first formed, Ellis having decided to recruit his own to the close association of the gym brand to fitness and team when he himself was asked to join the competition. sport in the onset. With additional sponsorship from While team membership is limited, its draw is not, as it other brands like Rudy Project, Gatorade, and Specialreceives consistent queries “The team is no slouch either, ized, for eyewear, sport drinks and bikes, on how to enter its ranks, or as its members manage both to respectively, it cements the credibility of the on advice regarding how to main brand and in turn lends the same credit start training for a triathlon. take home podium finishes and to the other brands without much extra cost. remain competitive.” And while Fitness First itself does not offer triathlon training, it becomes an inspiraFitness First is returning the favor to the triathlon comtion for many to start. In several cases, individuals have munity by opening an upmarket outlet in SM Aura with proven their mettle and have been accepted into the team an indoor track, a pool, and bikes for a convenient locafrom their beginnings in the gym. While members join tion to get some training in when a block of time opens as individuals, their “extended selves” in the form of up. Considering the current growth of the triathlon, the partners or family, become part of the team dynamics, facilities should easily find loyal customers, some of forming a huge support group for all, You see them all whom may one day don the team colors, and the pattern joining in after-race parties. From its seminal days, many repeats.

RUN Hair and Make-up: Karen Espinosa and Charisma Vergara

Track Towards the by Tin Ferrera Finish Line? Words Images by edsizzle

BIKE

SWIM

FINISHING IRONMAN 70.3 CEBU: Am I On the Right S

ometime last December, you secured that slot to be part of the biggest event in the triathlon community—the IRONMAN 70.3 Cebu. There is no turning back! Half Ironman is seriously tough whether you’re a first timer or have several IM 70.3 finishes under your belt. It’s six weeks out to the big day and there might not be an optimal plan to prepare yourself. We gathered valuable training and racing tips from three triathlon Coaches: Moi Yamoyan (swim), Kaye Lopez (bike), and Norman Pascual (run) that might help for all level of abilities.

RAINCHECK Whether it’s your first or your fifth time to grace this event, have you done your homework?

TRAINING BLOCK After building a good base of aerobic fitness in all three disciplines, what’s next?

TURN UP TRAINING We always work on the numbers when we train: what’s the ideal volume and intensity?

TRAINING PROGRESS With about six weeks to go, can an athlete still have gains from the workouts?

MOI YAMOYAN

KAYE NORMAN LOPEZ PASCUAL

An athlete should be able to finish a 1.9 kilometer swim. Ideally, for a first timer, there should have been 6 months of training in the bag, which focuses on building, technique and form correction. At this time, you should already know your target pace.

An athlete should be done with Build 1 cycle. This includes endurance bike rides of 90k or more.

An athlete should already be capable of running a 21k distance.

The period is focused on pacing with rest periods between sets decreasing as the race nears. The following are critical skills to practice: 1) Sighting; 2) Open Water; and 3) Breathing on both sides.

The period is usually referred to as Build 2, where training volume is still high: lower than Build 1. The workouts are race-specific and are heavy on brick trainings.

This period is for race-specific workouts. Heat training and off-the-bike runs are the critical part of training.

Longest swim: 20 to 30% higher than Longest ride: This should be at around total distance for the main set with 60-70k. warm up and easy swim of 400 meters before and after Total mileage: It would vary but you should have one brick session and one Total mileage: 3 swim sessions in a bike session on top of the long rides. week with distance of 2.8k or less Intensity: Moderate to heavy Intensity: Moderate Practice your race pace. Long ride Workouts should be based on target should be done at a higher intensity; pace. You should still do drills for not a pasyal (cruising) pace. awareness of proper technique and form. Repetition is key; the more you do it, the better.

Longest run: This should be at 21k, nothing beyond that.

Six weeks is already too short to improve. Stick to the target pace that you have set from prior training sessions. Changing it might worsen and cause bonking midway.

Build your muscular endurance with hill repeats until 2-3 weeks before the race.

Training in hills to be stronger in flats several weeks prior to race day. Increase in the intensity of your workouts also builds muscular endurance.

It will be hard to correct technique If you have resilient muscles, you can and form at this point. If you haven’t improve your performance. done your homework, you can still get someone watch you swim and identify areas for improvement. You might not be able to fully correct it, but awareness would help.

TRAINING TERRAIN AND CONDITIONS Most athletes would fly to Cebu a few days before the race, except for those who have raced last year, what is the race terrain and condition like? How should an athlete prepare for it?

I haven’t raced Cebu but it’s a oneloop rectangular-shaped swim course at the beachfront of the Shangri-la Mactan Resort & Spa. Training in the open water is important. Prepare to swim against the current. Practice sighting and set your comfortable rhythm (i.e. every 4-6 strokes). Be flexible, when there are swells, you should time your sighting on top of it and sight more often. Learn to deal with jellyfish sting and wounds from sharp corals and rocks. Be prepared for anything!

Cebu is relatively flat except for the climb on the bridges. Headwinds are expected. Training in a similar terrain is important as it gets nearer to race day. The ideal training grounds near Manila are Naic and Jalajala. The upcoming race in Laiya, Batangas can also serve as a good race simulation.

Total mileage: For an age grouper, this should be around 30k. Intensity: Higher Practice your race pace. Bike and run sessions of either a 40k and 15k run or 10k bike and 21k run are ideal.

Maximize your training hours with quality workouts. Running time off-the-bike will improve if you have that strength.

Cebu’s run route is flat. There are two portions of 2 to 3k-long stretches of flat roads where you are directly exposed to the sun. It is an advantage when you transition to a flat course for someone training in a hilly route. One can incorporate running on flat course to simulate race pace but it is not necessary. Train to run under the heat!

SWIM BIKE SECURE THE RIGHT GEAR An athlete definitely has their training gear already: what are the “must have’s”? Is there anything they can still change at six weeks out which could give them an advantage?

MUST HAVE • Race Goggles (Bring one backup.) • Swim Cap IDEAL Most of the swim equipment is needed during your build period. • Snorkel – to fully correct your balance and comfort in the water • Paddles – to build strength • Tempo Trainers – to build speed and endurance The way your body swims with these pieces of equipment on is part of the essentials you will bring on race day.

RUN

MUST HAVE • Bike • Hydration Bottle • Shades • Helmet

MUST HAVE • Race Belt • Shades • Racing shoes (Be sockless.) • Tri-suit and sports bra for girls

IDEAL The more aerodynamic you are in Cebu, the better. • Time trial bike if you are good at handling already. If you have a road bike, install aerobars. • An aero wheelset and helmet. • Aero hydration system.

IDEAL There will be hydration stations but if you foresee that you will be at the mid-pack or tail-end, it would be best to bring hydration gear.

Nutrition is another discipline in itself. Diet should be complex carbs-based It depends on the load of your training. (not the sugary carbs). Include some protein and fat as well. I recommend a high-carb full meal before an intensive training and high- During key workouts, practice your protein meal after. Post-workout nutrition and hydration. recovery drinks are ideal. For me, I only carry water in a 90k Carbo-intake should be above normal bike but I take 1 gel every 10 three days before the race; and back to kilometers. I carry 2 bottles of water normal the day before. and get an additional 1 from the hydration stations.

There is no ideal nutrition plan, it depends on the person.

Volume goes down to 30% lower or about 1.5 kilometers on race week. Your body should memorize how it feels to swim at the pace you target.

Volume goes down two weeks into the race. Allow your body to recover and adapt.

There should at least be two weeks of taper but it will depend on your volume of training.

Swim workouts will still be three times on race week. Keep it at your target pace with your rest period lowered to 5 seconds. If you hit your target for 100s with less rest, you are sure to hit your target time for 1.9k.

Workout at your ideal race pace. Do about 6 repetitions of 30-second surges and recover for 3 minutes. The priority for the week is to recover. The only intensity work is just to sharpen your muscles, wake them up.

You can do a 10k before the race week. It should be moderate; at least 30 seconds per kilometer slower than your race pace. Ensure there is minimal damage to your muscles so you can recover.

Swim a portion of the race course when you get to Cebu. Identify landmarks.

Ride portions of the race course and familiarize yourself with the route when you get to Cebu.

Run a portion of the course in Cebu.

CALM YOUR NERVES

Write down everything that you will be doing from today until race day.

Being nervous is good in a race, but being stressed is different. How do you drive stress away?

These are three unfortunate things that could happen (not to scare but to prepare you):

Ensure that your bike transport is well-planned and you’re aware of the charges.

EAT YOUR HEART OUT With the volume and intensity of training, can an athlete eat anything?

FINAL TOUCHES Within the six weeks, when should I start my taper and recovery?

THE BIG WEEK It’s race week and most of us have our own rituals like getting a haircut or a manicure, should I still work out?

Make a checklist of everything you need.

• Physical Contact – You’ll get Rehearse everything in your mind the elbowed or kicked in the face. Know day before. where to position yourself. • Panic – You should check your blood pressure, especially if you are hypertensive. Know your body, float and grab the buoy. • Cramps – You can get too excited or tensed, or kick too much then cramp up. Know your muscle groups; learn how to stretch them to relax.

WIN IT As I toe the starting line and transition in each discipline, what are the three things I should remember that will take me to the finish line?

Swim is the first leg of the triathlon. It is the most difficult part of the three disciplines given that your body position is not normal to you. It is essential that you have done your homework to make it very natural for you during race day. Identify the following during the next six weeks and execute them on race day: • Meal Intake: Eat a full meal two hours before. Hydrate and take your nutrition before race start. • Warm-up Distance. Swim the distance which would get your muscles relaxed and race-ready. • Pace. Stick to the pace. Focus on your race; draft an athlete who’s not faster or slower than you during the race Train hard and race smart!

For your training, load with carbs before and protein after. Training is more intense so you need to ensure you are properly nourished. Alcohol is not bad if in moderation but it is only the staying up late that affects your training schedule and your body’s capability/performance.

Manage the expectation of your family and loved ones. Brief them that you can only attend to them after you cross the finish line. Be there at least on Friday and stay at a place that is near the starting line. Your mantra should be: “Whatever happens, you have trained for it; now is the time to enjoy it.”

Bike is the longest of the triathlon. It is Run is the last leg of the triathlon. your set up for the run. If you blow it Always look forward to getting off the up, it’s all downhill from there. bike and running! • Always remember and check the parameters you have set in training – gearing, cadence, and heart rate. • Be safe on the road. Learn about the rules (i.e., no drafting and no crossing of the middle line). • The one that will keep you going is your nutrition and hydration. Focus and enjoy the ride!

• Be attentive of your race nutrition. • Don’t get too excited nor too relaxed. When you start walking, you will be comfortable with it and enjoy it. Avoid it and pace yourself. • Do not underestimate the heat or you’ll get hurt. Run to the finish line!

MY SWIMBIKE-RUN A

ARLAND MACASIEB

LIFE/LESSONS Words by Tin Ferrera

rland has always been fit. Born with an athletic and well-defined body, this mesomorph excelled in all his athletic endeavors.

Emerging at the top 3 in the 18-24 age group during his first triathlon in 1995, he has remained at the top of his game as a professional triathlete. I have a pretty decent background in running to start with (37-minute 10k, 17-minute 5k, and 2:03 in 800 m). You need to start with a good base (or start working on a good fitness base) and work on a steady progression from thereon. He has brought down his 10k time to a 33-minute personal best by focusing on getting the proper technique and form correction from one of his coaches. He believes in keeping 3 major zones in training – Vo2max, anaerobic/lactate threshold, and aerobic threshold. I like people. I get inspired by other people. You get motivated and draw energy from the people you train and race with.

Being the head of Fil-am Tri, he chooses the big races for their members and races with them. He also trains on weekends with a group of runners in the US who are pretty competitive. It allows him to test his fitness. When he is in Manila, he always prefer to train with a training partner. I keep things simple when I coach. You do not need a plan for everything; it is the small important things that matter, giving you more flexibility to do natural adaptation. Giving piece-by-piece teachings to Iah Isip, he has seen progress in her recently. One of the greatest Filipina triathlete-coaches Ani De Leon-Brown was part of his first coaching projects. Some of his athletes in the US have qualified for ITU World Champs and Kona Ironman. He keeps his coaching group small; monitoring them through Garmin Connect: if he didn’t see it, it didn’t happen. I know my competitors—Mendel, August, Ben, Franklin, Philip, and Doy. It is pretty competitive now compared to the 90s. I am “okay” with my performance. But you need to keep on improving and taking your game a notch higher. Set a goal, for that is what you train for. Cebu 2012 wasn’t a good race for him; getting two flats on the bike course. He would like to test how he would fare this year given his longer years of racing experience than the others. Breakthroughs he wants to nail are: 32-min. 10k run, 53-min. 40k bike and 18-min. 1.5k swim; a sub 9-hour Ironman; and a 2:45 hour marathon. With an impressive 3:49 finish in his first 50k Ultramarathon, he plans to work his way to get a buckle from the Bataan Death March 160k Ultramarathon. I’m old now; I have a kid and I’m not a teenager anymore. My priorities have changed. You travel around the world and meet new people in triathlon. It opens new doors,... something I welcome. Arland tries to affect more people as positively as he can with training, bike fit and keeping a healthy lifestyle. He wants to achieve this through his presence in the races and social media like Instagram and Twitter (@arlandmac), and Facebook (facebook. com/arlandmacasieb). I believe that anything that stimulates blood flow can somewhat affect how you perform in bed. You can still have a good night if you want to, even after finishing an Ironman. When asked if that is based on his almost two decades of experience in triathlon, he says, “Everything is about practice, just like triathlon.” I get amazing support from my family, friends and my adoptive family in Manila. You need to have people around you or it will be hard to keep up with the demand of the sports. His mother does most of the babysitting for his son Miles when he travels. He took him out for a run in a jogger soon as he came home from his recent long trip. Find out what motivates you and use that to fuel your workout every day. One of my biggest motivator is being able to represent the country and show the world that a Filipino athlete can be one of the top finishers in triathlon. I want to see more Filipino triathletes come out strong; be more hardcore in training and racing; and become more competitive to reach their potential.

DON VELASCO

on was called “lampa” growing up. But he was a diligent student and an obedient son who stayed home after school. He got bitten by the sports bug and started training in 2009.

After his first race at SUBIT 2010, he has become a regular fixture in triathlon races and a top performer in his age group. I started as a runner with a 45-minute 10k. I only learned how to bike four years ago with the help of the maintenance people from our village who commuted by bike. I always look back to those who hold it for you when you can’t keep that balance. The maintenance guys would always clip newspaper copies where they see Don’s name as a winner. Don always has his race freebies reserved for them. I enjoy having a team and training buddies. You have to be in a team where you have the same principle; being friends at the start may not be necessary, but it will happen. Don is part of Team Sun Cellular. Most of them are now his closest friends in sports. He also trains with the Wapakan United (WU). WU started as a barkada that was mostly training for Timex 226. He sees Javy Olives as his greatest mentor. I treat myself as my own student, I learn more about myself as I go through each training cycle which is three weeks of build plus short recovery week. One has to adjust his load per week depending on how your body reacts. Looking at how he has improved, Don has been a good coach to himself so far (and a good student as well). To improve on swimming technique and form, he hires a swim coach, as you don’t see yourself while in the water. I have my own expectations for each race—a target time. I’d be lying if I say I do not aim to win. I am happy with my performance now. You always need a goal and work hard for it. He had bad races like SUBIT 2013; finishing with a bad run due to nutrition mistakes. He has learned from it. His next goals: a sub 11 in the full distance and a 4:45 in the half Ironman distance. Red line racing is where Don wants to improve in this year. And just like most triathletes, he dreams of racing Kona Ironman someday. I have an inspiration right now. She motivates me to do my best and believe in myself. It helps that she also used to be a competitive swimmer. You get motivation from people who are important to you and share the same love of the sports. Don enjoys listening to her swim and training anecdotes. She also gives him valuable tips and insights about the sport. He wants to finish strong in IM 70.3 Cebu since she will be there to watch that race. (Editor’s Note: As per Don’s latest update, the recent inspiration has ended. For details and inquiries, call 09498746909.) I believe triathlon helps build endurance and stamina for other activities. You get to use that power and spend more time with your partner in bed. When we asked if this is based on his experience as he started in the sports only a few years ago, he just says, “I’ve been spending more time in bed (i.e. to sleep and rest).” I have a supportive family but I prefer that they do not watch me race. Your family will always think it is dangerous. Your Mom will always be jittery until you finish. They have never watched him race but they wait for his update through text, Instagram and Twitter (@flyingdonv). Every time he heads out for a long ride, his mother prayerfully waits until he has texted to confirm his safety after the ride. Always have a plan–not necessarily box yourself in, but have a particular goal and work towards reaching it. Triathlon is a lifestyle. I see myself racing until I am in my 60s, perhaps not competitively but still enjoying the joy in swimming, biking and running.

: H T L A N E O H G E N I T V I T E T B C S I A IL AB N U Y WH

t isn’t easy to mount a race—and organizers face various logistical hurdles when putting up triathlons. Much like an athlete seeking to better his time and/ or performance, race organizers know that the consistent organization and improvement of their events are part of keeping participants from all levels interested in joining. Goodbye, “Pwede Na”! Hello, “Exceed Yourself” Unilab Active Health or ULAH sponsors sports events, which now have an increasing number of attendees. It aims to change or introduce a paradigm shift—the “Pwede na” mentality that plagues the Pinoy culture— with their 2013 mantra: “Exceed yourself”. Vicepresident for Operations of Unilab Consumer Health Alex Panlilio notes, “It’s one thing to think about it, it’s another thing to do it and do it right. ‘Pwede na’ is tantamount to not doing things right. Our platform is very much about doing it right. And in partnership with the triathlon community and triathletes who model the right behavior, we hope to inspire many people to get up, commit to action, and do things right.” As a triathlete witnessing the struggles and inspiring achievements of his fellow participants, Panlilio believes “it is very possible that the action of a few, say the triathlon community, can ripple to affecting the attitudes and behaviors of others.” He credits Unilab’s President and CEO, Clinton Campos-Hess, for having pushed for the company’s active promotion of healthy lifestyles through sports. ULAH’s first sports event in 2010 received an enthusiastic response from the general public, encouraging the company to seek the counsel of respected athletes also interested in developing and encouraging a community of people who wanted active lifestyles: namely Rio dela Cruz, Jaymie Pizarro, Raul Cuevas and Dan and Ani Brown. After listening to these experts and the communities they represented, it was inevitable that from running events, ULAH would progress to biking, then staging duathlons—and then triathlons. In for the Long Haul So why focus on triathlons, when other sports get broader support? Panlilio replies: “We wanted to focus on sports where we felt we [could] work closely with the athletes and collaborate to develop solutions for their needs. We have also observed the increased and increasing interest in multisports. At this point, these sports are our focus, but if the program continues to be successful, we may possibly look at other sports.”

Alex Panlilio; Operations Vice President, Unilab Consumer Health / Head, Unilab Active Health

Action photos courtesy of ULAH

S N O L H T A I TR

amboa G a n n A Words bbyy edsizzle Images

Part of this focus had the ULAH team and their partners sit down and discuss the target audience they wanted to tailor their events for: the progressive user or athlete. Panlilio explains: “For us it’s all about commitment. As we commit to providing solutions for athletes, we need to likewise collaborate with athletes who are willing to commit to the sport. Progressive athletes are those who have made the choice and clearly committed time, effort and resources to the sport. They have individual goals and have the discipline to continue, improve and progress. They have the same motivation as us and we believe with this shared value we can enhance and grow the sport. Through collaboration, we can jointly raise the bar on many different facets of the sport.” Progressive Thought and Action This renewed focus on the progressive athlete is the reason why the updated ULAH messages now are “Exceed yourself” and “Up your game the right way.” With the aid of their sports experts, the group has designed a calendar of activities to encourage participants to do better at every stage, challenging themselves. For the TriUnited series, they have two races with standard distance and sprint, and one with a longer distance (TriKing distance). Panlilio illustrates: “In addition to the distances, we have also evolved our Active Health Village to focus more on value, adding services such as running clinics, nutrition talks and stamina tests. All told, we are providing venues and solutions to help the athlete ‘exceed himself/herself.’” ULAH’s strategy seems to be working so far: “Our events are being sold out earlier,” notes Panlilio. “We have indications that athletes are progressing and leveling up.” Their Active Health Village talks are well-attended and they have been seeing record-high purchases of solutions such as apparel during their events. With ULAH staging more than eight of the A-class endurance races per year, Panlilio gauges the level of their “success” with the level of participation, with the athlete’s willingness to join. However, he asserts that it is not a simple matter of numbers. By level of participation, he refers to “sustained and consistent participation by athletes in our events.” Panlilio asserts, “We look intensely into feedback we receive on what the event did to satisfy the athletes as well as where the events can improve. We discuss these thoroughly with our race organizer-partners and look for ways to improve each time we have an event.” ULAH’s focus goes beyond just sponsoring races. They offer a holistic solution line for the interested athlete. They’ve tapped known coaches for

From left to right: Zeny Mejias - Sports Events and PR Executive, Active Health, Alex Panlilio, Lester P. Castillo - Sports Events and PR Executive, Active Health

fitness and training clinics. With sports nutrition as a vital component of endurance sports, they developed products that answer the needs of the athletes such as such as Enervon Activ, Enervon HP and ION. They even identified the athletes’ need for a technical and performance apparel line and thus they launched one. To complete the solutions, they have recovery services post-race with physical therapists to assist the finishers. Growing the Sport, Doing it Right The development of triathlons will depend on the combined efforts of the athletes, race organizers, and the corporate sponsors. Panlilio has great trust in their partner-athletes in promoting the sport—practicing and preaching the right things to do technically and healthwise. ”As they model the right behavior and share information, athletes can help up-and-coming triathletes to do things properly, so they can progress and achieve fulfillment. Eventually this will help to expand and grow the sport,” Panlilio adds. With their emphasis on better-organized races and improving things by listening to feedback from participants, Panlilio feels that ULAH events deliver the expectations of the community. “Frankly, we do not benchmark ourselves externally.” Rather than compare with other races, they listen to the athletes and see how they can internally improve on their own: “We may have done some things well but we also know that there are still some things that we need to do better.” Panlilio’s team sees other race organizers as partners in furthering the sport rather than competitors, sharing the same desire to support triathlon. “Many of us are friends and fellow triathletes. Together, I am confident that we can grow this sport that we all love.” Panlilio affirms.

Panlilio believes that ULAH feels great humility—not pride—because of the events’ success in reintroducing fitness to the Filipino lifestyle. “For us, the athlete or our customer is king,” he claims, then adds: “We are humbled by the accolades that they give us. But as we realize needed improvement areas, we humbly accept feedback and pursue continuous improvements.” A participant himself in these events, Panlilio relates that there is an unspoken, albeit strong sense of camaraderie and community within the events. He points out: “When we are together, there is mutual respect, shared values and not to mention war stories. I also see very much strongly the malasakit of triathletes for fellow triathletes: the tips here and there, the lending of helmets when a competitor forgets his, the look of affirmation when you cross the finish line.” Panlilio candidly recounts his worst race the previous year as his “best TriUnited moment”: The waves that day were quite strong with a good number of participants deciding not to start with the race. Having learned to swim six months prior, he used up too much energy during the swim leg. This negatively affected his performance in the succeeding legs, costing him his target time. “I was utterly disappointed and frustrated. I felt really down.” But Ani De Leon-Brown, a teammate, sent him a message saying something like, “… it may not appear so today, but you have grown significantly as a triathlete simply by finishing despite today’s conditions.” Panlilio took this as a moment of positive reflection: “She was right… I may not be the best triathlete but that experience and similar ones thereafter make me realize that it’s all about overcoming challenges, growing as an individual, and exceeding yourself.”

3 2 1 Y F E D

DEFY 123 TRI LAUNCHED AT BELLEVUE

Something big is coming to Bohol. The DEFY 123 Tri! A 1k ocean swim, 110k draft-legal bike (on road bikes), and a 12k run that has portions on the pristine white sands of Panglao Island, Bohol. This new and unique race is what triathletes have been waiting for! To be held at the five-star Bellevue Resorts in Bohol, the race organizers unveiled their route map at the cocktail launch. To many triathletes present, the beach run and air-conditioned transition were amazing revelations. For race registration and info, please visit the event Facebook page: DEFY Triathlon.

From left to right: Marvin del Rosario, Anthony Kierulf, Guy Concepcion, Ryan Chan of Bellevue Resort, Alfonso Damalerio of the Province of Bohol.

From left to right: Joey Torres, Ting Joson, Ricky Ledesma, Jay Valencia, Raul Cuevas

WHAT TRIATHLETES WANT

Some people choose their sport based on the number of gear and equipment that they can shop for. It makes it a 2-in-1 hobby. If you’re that kind of person, triathlon won’t disappoint you. You’ll spend countless hours surfing for the right stuff at the right price. Here are some suggestions:

Strokemakers Swim Paddles

Corima AIRO+MCC If you want full carbon wheelsets, then go full carbon–even the spokes. The latest from Bike King: the Corima Airo+MCC. Ring up Raul Cuevas and he’ll tell you how these new wheelsets will give you the pleasure of feeling light when climbing, of being faster than ever on flat roads and of being oh so responsive in the sprints. Available at Bike King, Bonifacio High Street.

Are you struggling whether to buy the small or big paddles? Well, now you can have more than just two choices. Strokemakers comes in 7 different sizes offering the right intensity for your training. They are much lighter and can flex so it’s easier on the hands. It also has a very good price point compared to other mainstream paddles. The bright colors also help the coach track the athlete’s hands from the pool deck. Call Joyette Jopson at 09178827352 for orders.

Simple Hydration

AirChamp Pro

It’s such a simple yet effective idea that you’ll hate yourself for not coming up with it. The Simple Hydration Bottle is designed differently than your ordinary water bottle. It is slender in one place, wider in the other and had a lip on one side to simply hook anywhere. Simple, but it works.

A flat tire is the last thing you want to happen in a race. The second last thing you want to happen is a defective adaptor to deliver your CO2. So get the best one: the AIRCHAMP PRO. With German engineering behind it, chances are it won’t fail you.

Available at A Runner’s Circle, GStop, Second Wind, Sabak, Sprint Multisports Store, The Starting Line, The Brick and Planet Sports.

Available at Unison, Quintin Paredes St., Binondo, Manila.

Compressport Compression Performance Wear The jury’s back and the verdict is in. Yes, compression works, and there are tons of research to back up its claims of boosting performance, delaying fatigue, avoiding muscle tears and hastening recovery. So the only question should be what brand? Check out Compressport: –the lightest and fastest drying compression sleeves in the market. The sleeves have graduated compression providing the right amount where it is needed. Available at G-Stop Greenhills and Alabang Town Center.

NEVER D-I-Y YOUR OWN TRISUIT

No, don’t even think about it. You’ve spent a lot of effort in forming your team–choosing the right members and going through tons of name studies. Don’t mess up your team debut by trying to design your trisuits yourself. Get a designer. But if you insist, here are our top 3 favorite trisuit designs. Learn from them.

TEAM NORMAN Designed by teamPH Produced by Victorio Sports

It’s always tempting to use the team’s color as base color. But it doesn’t work in most cases. Take Team Norman as an example. The team’s color is orange. Imagine them wearing an orange trisuit, they will look like clowns. (Well, they are anyway.) So teamPh went with a black base and used orange as highlight color using it in the “team” name to make it pop-up. Then they used white for “Norman” to have a light color in a generally dark-colored palette.

TEAM CAMELBAK Designed by Igor Maminta Produced by F2P

Camelbak got it right. One base color and one highlight (camel yellow). Then they used screened black (a shade lighter) to make a pattern to accentuate the body curve. Good call also to render the sponsors’ logos in reverse print. If they carried the actual colors of the logos, it would have ruined the whole suit. Great design for a great team (and the members are so kind).

TEAM ALVEO Designed by F2P Produced by F2P

White is always a nice base. It’s clean and it makes all other elements pop out from the design. Downside though, it’s very unforgiving if you don’t have the svelte figure of Team Alveo’s Nylah Bautista. To solve this, they used an artwork with different shades of black to cover the tummy portion of the suit. Note that they used lighter shades of black. If they used solid black, it would have overwhelmed the whole design. This is a 3-color design–white, black and blue. Kudos to the designer for limiting the use of blue only for the team name. It becomes the centerpoint of the suit design.