RaceDay Oct-Nov 2014 by RaceDay

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OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2014

The RaceDay Interview: DAVID VOTH Issues a Bigger Challenge for 2015

rickyled’s shiv a bike you’ll envy the 10 immutable laws of road cycling

according to andy leuterio

THE START LIST DREW ARELLANO FRANCIS CAMPOS BOBBY GO FRANK LACSON RICKY LEDESMA ANDY LEUTERIO SID MADERAZO ELI TANLAPCO MALICDEM JAVY OLIVES

Wapakkan United the inside story of

Triathlon’s : Holy Grail Why We Keep Racing Cobra Ironman 70.3

The Perfect Helmet in the words of sid maderazo

EDITOR’S GUNSTART Vol. 2 No. 4

My Giants

hat’s me and Makoy Almanzor in the photo on the left. He’s a 6’2” giant, versus my 5’4”. But more than height, Makoy is my giant and idol when it comes to triathlon, specifically in cycling. I suck at cycling. Well, I’m okay on flats and I’m fearless downhill. But uphill – nada. That’s why when I see Makoy and the rest of the WAPAKKAN UNITED take on the hills of Rizal, I can’t help but hate them. And that’s why they’re on our cover for this issue – so we can know what their secrets are; how they train; what makes them the fastest badasses on the bikes. WAPAKKAN member Bobby Go gives us the inside scoop on this unique group of triathletes. In fact, this issue is full of badasses. We have, as our new columnist, Coach Andy Leuterio with, not one, but two articles for us. Then we asked Ricky Ledesma to show us his pimped SHIV. Ricky’s the best when it comes to customizing high-end bikes. And we have Team Gotta’s latest recruit, Sid Maderazo. We wanted to do a helmet article, and who better write about it than the man who owns a dozen helmets? In selected issues, we have a section called The RaceDay Interview, where we interview a personality whose work and decisions affect our sport. We’ve had, in the past, Ironman’s Fred Uytengsu and Triathlon Association of the Philippines President Tom Carassco. For this issue, we sit down with David Voth of Challenge Philippines.

Monching Romano Editor-in-Chief

CONTENTS

2 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 14

THE ALPHA WAY: Ditch that Bento Box by Andy Leuterio TRI MO KAYA: The Many Races of Tri by Monching Romano

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : Monching Romano MANAGING EDITOR : Christian Obmerga CONTRIBUTING EDITOR : Adrienne Dy ART DIRECTORS : Johnmer Bautista Emmeline Sia CONTRIBUTORS : Bobby Go Ricky Ledesma Andy Leuterio Sid Maderazo PHOTOGRAPHERS : Pet Salvador Mary Ann Saquing

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 Emmeline Sia Marketing Patricia Carrillo and Teresa Soriano Editorial Assistant Babylou Dalida 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 © 2014 All rights reserved

Pimp My Ride by Ricky Ledesma

WHERE TO FIND US:

Welcome to Subic a.k.a. “Triathlon Country” by Christian Obmerga

2XU Glorietta 3, Makati

The Perfect Helmet by Sid Maderazo

BALESIN ISLAND RESORT BIKE KING Bonifacio High Street, Taguig

COVER STORY: UNITED WE RIDE by Bobby Go

BIKE TOWN Pasong Tamo, Makati

GRAN TRAIL Pasay Road, Makati

HEALTH FOOD

The Iron Will by Christian Obmerga

Glorietta 1, Makati

PRIMO CYCLES Burgos Circle, BGC, Taguig

THE RACEDAY INTERVIEW David Voth on the all new Challenge Philippines

R.O.X. Bonifacio High Street, Taguig

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

RUDY PROJECT

The Smart Sufferers by Andy Leuterio

Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa Glorietta 3, Makati The Podium, Mandaluyong Trinoma, Quezon City Bonifacio High Street, Taguig SM Mall of Asia, Pasay Lucky Chinatown Mall, Manila Paseo de Sta. Rosa, Laguna

SABAK

CREDITS

ON THE COVER

Photo: Edsel Ochoa Hair and Makeup: Arlyn Basa and Jerry Sebastian

Pasong Tamo, Makati Alabang, Muntinlupa

SECONDWIND Home Depot, Pasig Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan Teacher’s Village, Quezon City

SPECIALIZED Pasong Tamo, Makati

STARBUCKS All branches nationwide

THE CITY CLUB AT ALPHALAND MAKATI Ayala Avenue Extension, Makati

THE VILLAGE SPORTS CLUB

racedaymagazine

BF Homes, Parañaque

THE ALPHA WAY By Andy Leuterio

Ditch that bento box

et me start by saying that this is a free country. We are free to do and say anything we like, for so long as whatever we do does not impinge on another person’s freedom.

In the realm of bikes, that means we can do absolutely ANYTHING we like with our rides. Yet I am writing this out of a sense of professional obligation, and to just get it off my chest: Too many people are getting on road bikes these days without knowing “The Rules”. Said rules are a compilation of absolutes you can find on velominati.com, lovingly and snobbishly enumerated by the keepers of the chain, the original Euro snobs who invented the sport in the first place. Every sport and every culture has “rules”. You won’t go to jail if you break them, but you will (unknowingly) suffer ostracism, sneers and jokes behind your back. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, try jumping into an Olympic pool in denim shorts. Good luck if the swimmers don’t try to drown you. If you break the rules for road cyclists, you will very quickly learn them the hard way. You will get passed on a ride, hopefully none too rudely. You will be attacked. You WILL get dropped. And while most Filipinos are too polite to say it to your face, I assure you there is one sentiment they would just love to share with you if you asked what they think of YOUR expensive bike: “It would look really nice if it didn’t look like crap.” See, I learned all of what I know the hard way. I have loved bikes since I was a kid, and even then I got razzed for my BMX not having the coolest paint job, not having the magnesium step-knots—hell, for even coming with tassels off the shop floor. But it was my Dad’s birthday gift to me. I know it took a large chunk of his paycheck to get it, and it changed my life forever. After that BMX, my first bike since I quit my day job was a full-suspension “Kona”. It was fire engine red and had Shimano shifters and boy, was it a steal at just Php 3,700! I took it home for a ride around the block. Winded, I looked it up on the ‘Net and was perplexed that I couldn’t find my particular bike on the Kona bikes website. After getting over the denial phase, I decided to just ride it and not GAF to all those roadie snobs I saw parading in the memorial park. That bike let me finish my first triathlon relay.

Fast-forward to today, and my life revolves around bikes. I fit guys to their bikes, I tell clients how to ride them (always: HARD). My bikes are my “office equipment” (makes it easier to justify upgrades to the wife). What have I learned in over 10 years of pedaling my ass off, first for fun, second for fitness, and now as a major element of my chosen profession? Here you go: 1. It doesn’t really matter what bike you have, as long as you ride the bejesus out of it. I learned to race on a steel roadie. Some of the baddest roadies I know ride “entry level” aluminum. If you’re buying a bike, don’t get fixated on what “image” it will give you. As long as it’s set up properly, a bike that lets you ride the way it’s meant to be (again, read: HARD!) is a thing of beauty. If you are a Badass Motherfucker, everyone else will bow down to your badassness. 2. If you’re getting a road bike, get that tri shit off. All of it: that damn bento box, those weenie aerobars, the one dozen bottle cages. It’s just plain wrong, and will make you a pariah among serious road cyclists. Save that crap for your tri bike. 3. Cut the aero and weight weenie talk. It’s all very interesting to talk about how aero the newest wheels are and how many nanograms that stem is, but jeez, replaying a techie conversation for the nth time gets boring. Can you record yourself and listen to it afterwards? Truly cringe-worthy. Stop talking, start riding. HARD! 4. Gossip is the staple of every warm-up and recovery ride. Strange, but understandable. After all, if you’re not going to talk about how “cool” your new bike shit is, what else can you talk about? Other People, of course. If you have nothing interesting to share, you have two places in the peloton: way out the back, or make yourself useful by pulling up front. 5. Drafting is for A) Pussies and B) Smart Racers. On a training ride, it is perfectly okay to draft in a paceline, SO LONG AS YOU TAKE A PULL. Unless you are absolutely fucked, which gives you an excuse to suck wheels like a pussy the entire ride, go to the front when it’s your turn and pull. HARD? But of course! Just don’t jerk the pace. That’ll piss everyone off. Unless it is “Game On!” of course.

6. Take care of your bike. You should be embarrassed to show up for a training ride with a muddy, greasy, salt- and gelstained bike. It shows you’re a sloppy guy, and roadies are not sloppy guys. You have to be neat and precise to stay upright in a peloton, and a crummy bike will give you away. 7. Know your basic bike maintenance! I don’t care if you’re a guy, a girl, or both. You should know how to tune your brakes, change a flat, and even tune your derailleurs out on the road. Don’t be the sad sack holding everyone up because you got a mechanical and need a kind soul to fix it for you. Roadies are nice people, but we’ll still think you’re a pussy. A dumb, spoiled one. 8. Attacking is tacitly encouraged. Yes, you read that right! Training rides are the fun part of any respectable training program. If you’re not going to be “racing” with your buddies when the mood hits, sprinting out of the peloton, gunning for KOM points … you might as well ride solo on your supercool, superfast, tri bike. 9. Bragging afterwards is not encouraged. Among roadies, the best accolades come from faint (possibly grudging) praise from your ride mates after you have dropped them. NEVER bring up how strong you are. It will come back to haunt you on race day. 10. If you want to live long, know that ASSUME means to make an ASS of U and ME. You will be riding 90 percent of your time on public roads. Never assume that cars will give you the right of way. Never assume that motorists can read your mind. Even if you have a death wish, do not inconvenience motorists by smacking your brain across their windshield if you can help it. They have better things to do than plead their case in the precinct just because you found you can’t stop on a dime. Never assume that you own the road any more than everyone else, so share it. The only thing you can safely assume out on the road is that you fall into either of two categories: Cyclists who have crashed, and cyclists who are bound to crash. RYAO.

TRI MO KAYA By Monching Romano

The Many Races of Tri Who wins and who loses in this seemingly saturating race market?

wenty-eight races. Yes, that’s how many triathlons have been announced so far for 2015. And that number doesn’t even include the duathlons and aquathlons yet.

Life was simpler when I started in 2012. Cobra Ironman 70.3 in August was the goal and my whole year revolved around that race. To start off my freshman triathlon year, I did the sprint distance of NAGT in January. Come March, I moved up to a slightly longer distance at Pico Tri. By April, I was ready for my fist standard distance at the Subic International Triathlon, or SUBIT, as it’s popularly called. I did another standard distance at Century 5i50 in June. A month before Cobra, I raced the long distance of Tri United 2 to test my endurance and determine my physical and mental preparedness for the 70.3. Then, finally – my “A” race of August, Cobra Ironman 70.3. After that, I went off-season. But I missed the sport and the people, so I did the “best post-race buffet brunch” race of Anvaya Tri in October, then ended the year with an inuman triathlon with the UPLB Trantados. Simple. Most, if not all triathletes that year had the same race calendar. But now with 28 races, it’s more complicated. It’s like choosing a girlfriend or boyfriend: Will I have fun? Will I be safe? Is this race The One? Will it make me a better person or athlete? The Market Here’s how the race landscape looks like. The main players will be Sunrise Events, Inc., Unilab Active Health/Bike King, and Challenge Philippines. Sunrise Events is still the team to beat. It has four major races: two 5i50’s (Regent and Safeguard Active) and two Ironman 70.3’s (Century Tuna and Cobra). Cobra Ironman 70.3 will still be the “A” race for the majority of the athletes. Proof: 2,400 slots of its 2015 edition sold out in under 40 minutes. One registrant per second—that’s fast. Credit that partly to the equity of a powerful brand and their first-mover advantage. But props to Sunrise; their races are really the benchmark in terms of number of participants, race organization and athlete experience. They are run by a veteran crew determined to deliver the best race possible. Well positioned as well is the triathlon series of Unilab Active Health, with Bike King as its race organizer. Using price to segment the market, they offer very well-organized races at

more affordable prices. Key to its success is the sponsorship of the biggest pharmaceutical company in the country, Unilab, and the no-nonsense approach, experience and leadership of Bike King’s Raul Cuevas. Their four-race triathlon series, smartly designed to be progressive in distances, can be a race calendar by itself. Unique to Tri United is their Tri United Series Awards, which rewards loyalty by honoring the top winners of the first three races. 2015 is a make-or-break year for Challenge Philippines. Globally, the Challenge brand is the biggest competitor to Ironman. That global marketing war will be waged here as well in the Philippines. Challenge had their inaugural race this year. While the athletes enjoyed the tough course, most felt it fell short of the brand’s promise. David Voth, Challenge’s head honcho, promised a better 2015. They recently brought in a new race management team and have announced two halfiron distance races for next year. Bringing triathlon back to CamSur with their “Where It All Started” campaign seems to be an inspired move. Most of our veterans started their triathlon journey in CamSur, and many have signified their intentions to come back and race next year. Big corporate sponsors have joined them, signaling confidence to the brand and the new team. The “Smaller” Races It’s a business and marketing reality—the small players will have a much harder time getting a share of the market. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be profitable. If one can properly position and market an event, offer something unique, and stage a technically sound race, then a “small” race can attract a large enough following to be profitable. This might not happen on its inaugural, but it may build through the years. Take Mayon Tri, for example. While poorly scheduled two weeks after Cobra Ironman Cebu, they clearly positioned it as a fun “racecation” and a destination race. The proponent, Joe Matias, personally invited some elites and some known Bicolano triathletes for support. Being the kind-hearted fellow that Joe is, it was hard to say no. I, for one, wasn’t able to. Joe laid out a beautiful race course—transition on a pier, sunrise on your right, and the majestic Mt. Mayon to your left; an all-paved rolling bike course, then a brutal run route up the mountains. With great support from the local government, everyone loved and enjoyed the race. It got good traction on social media. Everyone present said they’d be back next year, and a number of absentees said they would not miss the next one.

Uniqueness, that’s the possible key for smaller races. Offer something new or different. Defy 123 did it with its draftlegal bike rule and Mayon Tri with its majestic Mayon Volcano backdrop. Challenge Subic used the tough “seven hills of Bataan”. Another race element that many take for granted: the spectatorfriendliness of a course. Family and supporters need to be happy as well. They need to see their athletes as many times as possible. Spouses need to know that their partners are safely on the bike and on the run. Girlfriends or boyfriends want to hug and kiss their SOs upon crossing the finish line. All these should be taken into account when designing the course. There should be activities for the kids, too. If the family is happy, there’s a big chance it’ll be an annual race for them. What’s In It For Us Triathletes? The athletes are the clear winners in this situation. In a saturated market, the number one priority of a brand is to keep existing customers happy. Which means, all races from here on will be, as a minimum, technically sound—with efficient timing system; medics and marshals to ensure safety on the course; closed roads; and adequate hydration and nutrition. Anything less, we will simply not race it. Expect organizers to offer us the most convenience. Any race now that doesn’t offer online payment will simply be out of the race. Be ready for new and exciting race courses. Marketing of events now will be more race-specific rather than series- or organizerfocused. Athletes’ choices will now be influenced by the race course—hilly (Challenge Subic), fast (TU1), scenic (Mayon Tri), exclusive (SCTEX). The “personality” of the event will also come into play—fun (Mayon Tri), different (draft-legal Defy), big and festive (Cobra Ironman), relaxed (5i50 Bohol). With so much competition, the organizers will gun for the most exciting customer experience. Expect all race events to be Ironman-ish—expos, bands, carbo-loading dinners, postrace parties, the works. We will see more creatively designed and improved materials for event and finishers’ shirts. Loyalty will be rewarded either with special awards, medals or branded merchandise. Already we are seeing discounted bundle-pricing. This is primarily a loyalty program. It’s going to be a fun and exciting year for the triathletes—and a busy, stressful, hardworking year for our dear organizers.

Pimp my ride

Words: Ricky Ledesma | Photos: Christian Obmerga

y fascination with bikes started with Motocross back in 1975. But my father wouldn’t buy us motorcycles. So he took me and my brother Bernie to Patria Bikes in Buendia for BMX bikes. This is where I started to modify my rides. I wanted to add rear shocks so I designed a mono-shock frame and had Mr. Kairuz of Patria build it. I remember it was Mang Rey “Delay” Rañada who was his frame builder then. Little did I know that my path would cross Mang Rey’s in the far future, but because of road bikes this time. Today, designing and creating solutions has been my work in the field of architecture. Cycling further cultivates my creative side; whenever I see things that can be improved, I try to make DIY solutions. The idea is to make things that will improve speed, performance and looks. I always keep in mind that “form follows function” but “aero trumps all.” The Process: Whenever I develop a concept, I start by making a Styrofoam mold or a cardboard template mold to see if it is feasible. I have yet to learn carbon fiber fabrication; in the meantime, I use high-impact plastic. My friend Jun Guano does the final cast and shaping using flexible sheets with a lot of body fillers and sanding. The process involves a lot of trial and error, prototypes and testing. When we arrive at a final product that has been tested, we start painting to finish the project.

Specialized Shiv Project: I liked the internal hydration of the Shiv frame, but it had the front brakes boldly exposed, so I thought I might improve it.

the handlebar turns. So I put in an aluminum base to house the cable, and a plastic shroud over it. That made a hole pattern for the Garmin mount.

Ferrari F1-inspired nose cone for less drag

I saw Robert Egger of Specialized make a nose cone for a special build and figured I could make one. It was this time when I fancied the Ferrari F1, so I was inspired to make something in my bike to reflect it. I created a patch up pattern to show Jun my concept. I also used the removable plugs as my mounting pattern with “O” rings. After about two weeks from inception and modeling, the nose cone was done. After it was built, I noticed the cables were all exposed on the stem area. I figured I could hide all of them in a fairing. I wanted the F1 Ferraris nose cone on the design. I still had my HED base bar to use, which had the perfect cable exits. I made a cardboard pattern with a lot of cutting, pasting and taping until the size and shape were right. The first prototype had the cables tearing through the material when

Then from my other bike, I had a spare Draft box (Trek SC). It was a very useful attachment so I studied how to adapt it to the Shiv. I built wings into Trek SC draft box adapted for the Shiv the Draft box so it can clamp on the aero seat tube. For my small Shiv frame, the box fit perfectly. With a few Kevlar strings and some 3M double adhesive, it attached itself well. It was easy to attach and remove. I’ve ridden this Shiv a lot, and the parts have held on. I’m not sure how many watts I save or how aero it gets me, I just love the look. I have done other DIY’s with the other bikes, as well as Di2 hacks. I just love to imagine and make the theories come to life.

Ricky Ledesma Ricky works in the field of Architecture/Construction and Creative Design. He is passionate about cycling and things that make it clever, functional and faster. Slick stem cover to hide the cables

www.petsalvador.com

Welcome to subic a.k.a. “Triathlon Country”

Words: Christian Obmerga | Photos: Pet Salvador

t’s where the champs train. That statement alone says everything about Subic. So, there’s probably no need to state the obvious: that it is, indeed, legit triathlon hallowed ground. But in case you haven’t explored this triathlon haven yet, picture this: lots of beaches for open water swimming; Olympic-size and 25-meter pools; scenic roads with varying inclines, from flat to hilly to rolling; bike lanes, an oval track, and a network of wide coastal roads inside the Freeport; refreshing Zambales country roads; and enchanting running trails. All these and more, just a couple of hours’ drive from the metro. Even if you don’t own a private vehicle, you can easily get to Subic conveniently via public transportation. Subic has practically everything for both budding triathletes and seasoned veterans. And did we mention that it’s where past, present and future champs train? For a more detailed and accurate description of what awaits you in Subic, we asked Subic Bay’s defacto Triathlon Ambassador, Frank Lacson, to give us a break down of what this place has to offer. Here’s what we got from him: The Water Being in a tropical country, the water is generally warm, averaging 29°C. And because it’s inside a bay, you wouldn’t worry about head-high surf coming your way like a freight train. The conditions are usually calm, particularly in the morning. The only exceptions are when a low pressure area or a typhoon is closely looming on the West Philippine Sea, or when there are weather disturbances brought about by the southwest monsoon, a.k.a. habagat.

During the northeast monsoon season or amihan, the water can be choppy around noon until the afternoon. But on a regular day, it calms down by late afternoon. You have plenty of options for swim training in Subic. From inside the Freeport, you may start from All Hands Beach, Camayan Beach or Adventure Beach. Outside the Freeport, you can take off either from Barretto Beach (Playa Papagayo Beach Inn) or Half-moon Beach. There are a couple of chlorinated options, too, if for some reason you don’t feel like soaking in salt water. They’re all within an 8-km radius from the Freeport: the WOW Olympic-size pool; the Kalayann Swim pool, and Brent School-Binictican pool, both 25 m. Outside the Freeport, there are 25-m pools in YMCA-Olongapo, East Tapinac, and Columban School in Barretto, Olongapo City. The Terrain Whether you are training for a fast course or a challenging hilly one, Subic and its neighboring municipalities has got your training course covered. Inside the Freeport, expect flat and rolling paved roads with unshaded bike lanes. There are also some category 3 and 4 hills with few short steep sections if you’re up for a challenge. Most parts are under a canopy of trees, though, which sort of pampers you, unless you prefer to grind under the scorching sun. There are windy and non-windy days, depending on the season. Venturing further, in the south of Freeport are the hills of Bataan—shaded, with mostly category 3 and 4 climbs and some steep sections. They taper further south with Category 2 climbs. North of the Freeport are the flat plains of Zambales— paved with lots of open space away from town centers. This route has some false flat sections and has windy and non-windy days.

Here are some route suggestions to get you started: Bike Route Distance: 20 km, one way Profile: Mixed terrain, flat to hilly - Start at the freeport CBD towards Ocean Adventure through the airport to the Ilanin Forest. Run Route Distance: 5 km, one way Profile: Wide, paved roads - Start at the freeport CBD towards Boton (industrial Area) past the UA auctioneers. The Community Subic is dubbed as triathlon country not just because of its geographical features, but also because of its multisport-loving community. You can expect warm local hospitality with motorists who are very receptive and respectful of the rights of bikers and runners alike. And if—God forbid— an unfortunate incident occurs, there are local paramedics you can contact for assistance. The Public Health and Safety Department operates inside the Freeport (Subic Dispensary), just dial #911 for Emergency Medical Services, or its main line (047) 252 4169. Outside the Freeport, a number of hospitals, medical centers and clinics can attend to medical emergencies. Should you decide to stay overnight in the Subic Bay Freeport area, you can choose from going self-service to checking into a cozy hotel, and everything in between. The place surely has something that will fit your budget. There are shopping malls, supermarkets, groceries and restaurants where your family can spend some time in while waiting for you to finish your training, and there are convenience stores—some are along training routes—that you can use as a quick pit stop. With a landscape that’s perfect for most training conditions, and everything that you need just a stone’s throw away, Subic is indeed a triathlon country—and we doubt if anyone can claim otherwise.

- Where to Stay and Eat Mango Valley Hotel Website: mangovalleyhotel.com Mango Valley Hotel I Lot 7A/7B, Boton Lights & Science Park Dewey Avenue, Central Business District Area, Subic Bay Freeport Zone Contact No.: (047) 252 7969 / (047) 252 79760

Playa Papagayo Beach Inn accommodations Playa Papagayo Beach Inn Est. 1960 “Managed by a triathlete for triathletes” Training camp rates available. 43 National Hi-Way Bo. Barretto, Olongapo City Contact No.: (047) 224 1002 Mobile No.: 0929 661 4891 Website: playapapagayo.net E-mail: reservations@playapapagayo.net Poco a Poco Hotel Dewey Avenue, Central Business District Area Subic Bay Freeport Zone Contact No.:(047) 250 2420 to 22 Website: pocoapocohotel.com.ph Email: @pocoapocohotel.com.ph

Court Meridian Hotel Lot B Waterfront Road corner Rojas St. Central Business District Area Subic Bay Freeport Zone Contact No.: (047) 252 2366 or 68 / (047) 250 2019 or 21 Manila Line: (02) 475 0240 Mobile No.: 0922 882 0734 Website: courtmeridian.com E-mail: info@courtmeridian.com / sales@courtmeridian.com / courtmeridianhotel@gmail.com

Segara Suites and Segara Villas Waterfront Road Subic Bay Freeport Zone Website:subicsegarasuites.com Segara Villas Subic Bay Contact No.: (047) 252 8632 to 33 Manila Line: (02) 736 0020 Mobile No.: 0922 873 4272 Email: reservations@subicsegaravillas.com Segara Suites Subic Bay Contact No.: (047) 250 0923 to 24 Manila Line: (02) 697 9112 Mobile No.: 0922 895 1514 Email: reservations@subicsegarasuites.com

Mango Valley Hotel II Lots 4 and 5a Block B Subic Commercial & Light Industrial Park, Central Business District Area, Subic Bay Freeport Zone Contact No.: (047) 250 2063 / (047) 250 2084 Mango Valley Hotel III Lots 8A Block B Subic Commercial & Light Industrial Park, Central Business District Area, Subic Bay Freeport Zone Contact No.: (047) 250 2064 / (047) 250 2923

Subic Bay Travelers Hotel Aguinaldo corner Raymundo Streets Subic Bay Freeport Zone Contact No.: (047) 252 1688 Manila Line: (02) 775 8008 Mobile No.: 0999 995 5238 / 0917 584 9294 Website: subicbaytravelershotel.com Email: subicbaytravelershotel@ymail.com Restaurants Gerry’s Grill Waterfront Road, Subic Bay Freeport Zone Contact No.: (047)252 3021 or (047)252 3936 Website: gerrysgrill.com Email: subic@gerrysgrill.com Meat Plus Cafe Sampson Rd, Subic Bay Freeport Zone Contact No.: (047) 252 6090 Xtremely Xpresso 1 Dewey Avenue corner Sta Rita St. Subic Bay Freeport Zone Contact No.: (047) 252 3681 Website: xtremelyxpresso.com

hen it comes to cycling, safety is priority and protecting our heads is of utmost importance. Factors like design, aerodynamics, technology, ventilation, comfort, weight and even wind noise all come into play when we choose a bicycle helmet. I have to admit, I think I own more helmets than normally required, but it also puts me in a position to share my thoughts and experiences with them. It is also interesting to note that I bought a helmet first before buying a road bike. There really is no perfect helmet—each has its pros and cons, but just for fun, Ill try to come up with a description on what could be a perfect helmet in an ideal bicycle world. I am not a safety guru, however, nor an expert in aerodynamics. Admittedly, I choose (more than I should) beauty over function, and more often than not, design rules over practicality for me. Basically, I have two sets of helmets for my road bike (Pinarello 65.1) and my tri-bike (Cervelo P5-Three). I have race and training helmets for each, the race helmets being more aerodynamic and the training helmets providing more ventilation. For example, I used my Casco Speed Time full faced helmet in Hawaii IM 70.3 and Cobra Cebu IM 70.3 this year, and used the Giro Selector in last year’s races, specifically Taiwan IM 70.3 and Cobra Cebu IM 70.3. Aerodynamics was obviously the priority, and I wanted to take advantage of that on the fast sections of the race course. Did using these full aero helmets make me any faster? I have absolutely no idea, but I felt fast and felt good on the bike, regardless of marginal gains. Of course, the obvious tradeoff was that there was less air flow to cool me off and ventilation was definitely compromised. The Casco Speed Time provides a little more over the Giro Selector, since it has a removable ventilation tab at the front. During the bike leg of Cobra Cebu IM 70.3 this year, I grabbed a bottle of water from the aid station and poured it on my helmet and realized there were no vents on top.

the perfect helmet in the words of a man who almost tried them all. Words: Sid Maderazo | Photo: Edsel Ochoa Special thanks to Primo Cycles

Everyone knows Sid Maderazo as the creative genius behind numerous compelling TVCs—the kind that get stuck in your head the moment you watch them. But when he’s not sitting on a director’s chair brewing another indelible masterpiece, you’ll find him on his P5’s saddle, training his heart out for the next big race. Sid is a passionate triathlete, and is as serious with the sport as with his craft. A veteran of Ironman 70.3 in Taiwan, Hawaii and Cebu—earning a slot in the IM 70.3 World Championship in Austria next year, after clocking in at 5:09 in this year’s Cobra event—he has proven that he’s into the sport not just for the pogi points. When we learned that he owns and extensively uses close to a dozen helmets, we thought of prying his brain open to get his thoughts on which one kicks ass. But we figured it would be best if we just ask him to write about the subject, so we can share it with our readers. Here’s what he has to say.

For training rides, I prefer to use more ventilated helmets like the Rudy Project Zumax, Casco Speedster, Giro Aeon and, last but not the least, the Giro Air Attack, which despite having the least number of vents among the four, actually provides good ventilation, if not equal to the more ventilated ones. Interestingly, I own three Giro Air Attacks—my favorite training helmet for a time. Its BMX-like helmet design looked really unusual for road cycling, but it eventually created a revolution in aero road helmets, with pro cyclists and triathletes donning the now ubiquitous helmet. I like the fact that it doubles as an aero helmet, but it is compact enough to be worn like a road helmet. The easily detachable magnetic visor also is a great addition, plus it gives you a bigger field of view compared to wearing sunglasses. In all honesty, beyond all the technological breakthroughs in ventilation, protection, aerodymics, etc, ultimately it is about design. Personally speaking, aesthetics play a big role in how I choose my helmets, the same way I choose my bikes based on design and looks. Sometimes I’m guilty of color coordinating my gear—the helmet should match the colorway of the bike, and should match the color of my clothing. In a nutshell, here are the qualities of a perfect cycling helmet. 1) Aerodynamics and ventilation: Should look smooth and compact, it should have modular or flexible air flow channels that can slide open to cool you down and close when you need more aero. 2) Comfort: For me, comfort plays a big role in choosing a helmet. Straps should be secure enough to hold helmet in place, overall fit of the helmet should be snug but not tight, and it should be fitted with proper padding to keep it comfortable. 3) Design: This, for me, is ultimately the deal breaker. I like sleek, modern looking helmets with built-in visors.

United We Ride To the uninitiated, the taunting and boisterous exchanges are the trademarks of Wapakkan United. But, beneath the surface is a brotherhood focused on getting better by feeding off each other’s strength.

Words: Bobby Go Photo: Edsel Ochoa and Mary Ann Saquing of IC3 Photography

he pace line has kept a furious clip over the last two hours and doesn’t look to let up anytime soon. The insults are flying even faster, but tempers stay in check. In a cyclist’s second, another short but steep hill appears, and the riders fall silent, maintaining the strong, steady grind. A jeep full of commuters abruptly breaks the hush with its rackety muffler groaning against the incline, dark smoke billowing from its rusty tailpipe. The lead rider chases, and the pack follows suit, refusing any gaping advantage. Sweat pours in buckets and heart rates are redlining. The pace is gut wrenching, quad shredding, and has crossed the border of unpleasant to distressing. The power meter is yelling 400 watts and some guys in the pack are barely hanging on. And there’s still an eternity of riding after getting to the turnaround point—40 kilometers ahead. This is Wapakkan United.

In a sport where team spirit and solidarity are vital to getting you across the finish line, or helping you back on your feet, there exists a company of men who break from convention. Mutual support, invariably present, comes in less genteel forms. There is no cheering or uplifting involved. Instead, there is pushing and shoving, name-calling and belittling. Lots of it. They come from different triathlon clubs, but an unmistakable bond runs tightly through each of them. There is no secret handshake or password, but the brotherhood is undeniably evident. A Super Start Close friends, drinking buddies and teammates Javy Olives, Drew Arellano and Elmer Santiago have been training together as members of Team Super as early as 2008. Nothing extraordinary about that. But when friends and acquaintances from other triathlon clubs began joining the trio’s weekend rides to the east, which took the group to familiar destinations like Sierra Madre, Pisong Kape and Pagsanjan, a small band of brothers began to form. Over time, bigger group rides would organically assemble for those Saturday ride outs, with the usual suspects often showing up at Shellibee Marcos Highway, the group’s default starting point. The same thing happened to running on Sundays. Runners in the Ortigas and Pasig area, also from different clubs, would pass each other on the road, and would sometimes stop to chat about training programs, race schedules and sport community gossip. It didn’t take long before interested parties were coordinating the next Sunday’s run to UP and back, or wherever they felt like going that weekend.

- Mary Ann Saquing of IC3 Photography

Through the sorcery of Facebook, a new group was born with triathletes from different clubs who shared articles, studies, videos, and photos on all things triathlon and then some. Some of the members didn’t even know each other, since they were brought in without knowing what the group was all about. But through the years and over more than a few beers, friendships developed and the ties grew strong.

From left to right: Javy Olives, Jay Nacino, Ronald Declarador, Makoy Almanzor, Ferdz Capco, Drew Arellano, Bobby Go, TJ Isla, Benny Jabanes, Meyo Rodriguez, Don Velasco, Erick Guieb, Retzel Orquiza, Elmer Santiago, Levy Ang

The group’s name, Wapakkan United (WU or the Crew, for short), comes from the colloquial slang word “wapak”, roughly translated as smashed or wasted—a word that aptly describes the pleasurable agony felt after the notoriously enervating, balls to the wall weekend road rides the core of the Crew famously embraces. Group Dynamic Despite the shared love for endurance sports, there is a rich diversity to be mined from the Crew. From Marley to Miley, from bonking to banking—there’s likely to be someone in the group who speaks your language. Just be prepared to trade brickbats and barbs with this bunch. At the outset, there were some members who couldn’t take the depraved and incessant nature of the ribbing. And so they left. But that’s naturally how it is in a club where men can be boys. There is hardly ever a cutting remark or put-down that gets retracted, and rightly so. No one needs to explain the “pikon talo” (first to lose it loses) protocol. It’s part of the group’s culture. And there is no campaign to retain members: No one is going to ask a buddy to stay if he wants to leave. But after years of shared rides, races and misadventures, they simply learned to get along. The group’s membership is exclusive enough to be stringent in taking in new blood. Makoy Almanzor has been the lone addition in the last few years. Even if he’s not Manila-based, as all the other Crew members are, Makoy embodies the spirit of WU, and that won him a place within its ranks. Much as the denigration and affronts are tossed without restraint, the sharing of information on training and performance improvement flow generously through chat rooms and private group messaging. The tri geeks among the crew, like Javy and Don Velasco, spew out infinite amounts of data that can leave you dizzy and nauseous. Discussions and arguments revolve around wind tunnel testing, lactate threshold analysis, power-to-heart rate ratios, or whatever topic momentarily tugging at their bike chains.

At the core of WU sit Javy, Drew, Elmer, Erick Guieb, TJ Isla, Don, Levy Ang, Retzel Orquiza and Meyo Rodriguez. They are the steeliest and hardest-riding members, who are fixtures of the weekly interval rides and purveyors of the long weekend rides up and down the hills of the east. When not riding, they’re likely to be found racing up mountains, running ultra marathons, or competing in back-to-back triathlons—doing whatever it takes to push each other’s limits. The unintended and unintentional image of strength that the core has created materialized as a result of this maniacal approach to training and racing. The mortals and regular Joes among the group just try to keep up. And some are just grateful that the crew has evolved more into a barkada than a training group, because not everyone has or can ever attain the strength and speed of the core. The Drill and The Drive Although riding with friends is always fun, count on the WU Crew to unapologetically kick each other’s ass on every ride. There are the hill repeats on weekdays and the long, hellish climbing jaunts on weekends. There is no fixed distance or attendance check. Everything comes together on ride day. The only requisite is to show up. It all seems to work out, as schedules and fitness levels align, with the stronger riders racing ahead or holding a constant hard pace that separates the chaff from the grain. The fusion of one-upmanship and taunting can creep into the ride at any given moment, triggering a sudden surge or sprint. All it takes is a verbal nudge, about someone falling asleep from the pace, for instance, and it’s game on. Someone starts it, and the others follow in a heartbeat. Anyone who fails to respond with the equivalent amount of verve and intensity gets mercilessly dropped, and will rejoin the group at the next stop. WU waits for no one.

Guest riders are welcome and create positive pressure on the peloton. The ride complexion changes according to the skill and strength level of the guests. More often, higher riding intensity, less recovery time and more decisive acceleration become a matter of course, which challenges everyone to lay it all out. As for motivation and purpose, Drew cites the desire to keep getting better, the appetite for new adventures (simply defined as different and crazy), and the doggedness to stick to a specific goal, such as hitting a sub-five hour half-iron distance race—which most of the core have already achieved. WU Cares But for all their wisecracking, beer-swilling, and hardcore training and racing, these boys show heart of another kind, reaching out and giving back to the sport that they owe so much to. Bemedalled para-triathlete and swim coach Arnel Aba was a recipient of a prosthetic leg courtesy of WU, when the Crew decided to provide him with better mobility to get through his busy training and coaching responsibilities. Javy and Drew’s ubiquitous brand, Vamos, promotes athletic advocacy by donating socks to aspiring college athletes. And a recent huddle among WU members yielded an “Adopt An Athlete” initiative directed at interested multi-sport clubs to sponsor national training pool athletes. An uncomplicated approach to giving back, Javy explains, is mentoring, which can be accomplished in one’s respective triathlon clubs, to the newbies and young guns among them. For a group that began with the premise of “looking for people stronger than yourself to get better, faster and stronger,” and that looked up to powerful and established cycling teams and hoped to be like them, Wapakkan United has found its own rhythm and flow, feeding off each other’s skill, spirit and tenacity to create a formidable unit of truly serious potential.

The Iron Will

What fuels athletes to take on the country’s biggest triathlon event—the Cobra Ironman 70.3. Words: Christian Obmerga

xcept for a handful of individuals, not a lot of souls ever imagined that triathlon will be where it is today in the Philippines. Though multisport is not really new to our shores, its growth took a boost only a couple of years back, thanks to various institutions and individuals who tediously pushed the sport’s development. Among the major events that catalyzed triathlon’s rapid boom is the birth of Cobra Ironman 70.3 with its inaugural event in CamSur. From an expected 500 participants for this very first event, the number has now grown almost fivefold, and the event continues to inspire thousands more to not only take up the sport, but to push their limits even in their everyday lives. As evidenced by the opening of registration for next year’s edition, 2,400 slots sold out in mere 40 minutes, proving that it still is the most sought after race, and a standard which all other triathlon races try to replicate. Despite the demanding nature of the event—calling for a gruelling 1.9-kilometer swim, 90-kilometer bike ride and 21-kilometer run—the irresistable charm of finishing an “A” race like this is like a song from a siren enchanting those who are brave enough to seek it. On the facade, the individual triathletes of different shapes and sizes from disparate backgrounds may look like they have nothing in common. Yet they are bound by distinct traits—those of perseverance, hard work, discipline and a lot of heart—the values embodied by the namesake drink that brought it to the Philippines, Cobra Energy Drink. Take these two, for example. Francis Campos Francis woke up with both wrists dislocated, one collar bone and both arms broken, sans the memory of what transpired to land him there. “Last January, I was riding my bike, and then the next thing I knew, I was already in the hospital.

Photo courtesy of Francis Campos

Apparently, I lost conciousness then. But analyzing the accident … I was [cruising] at 20 (kph)—very, very slow. Maybe a [kid] or something crossed in front of me, I braked and I flew off the bike,” he narrates. Yet barely five months after that unfortunate incident, he’s already grinding it out again, training for his fifth Cobra Ironman 70.3 in Cebu. A father of four budding triathletes and a businessman overseeing a BPO and a drug store franchise, Francis has a lot on his plate. But he’s found the passion to pursue the sport that he has learned to love. So why does he keep on doing it? In a word: bliss. “I never knew I was competitive until I got into triathlon. A few years back, it was really nice to get fast, but right now it’s fun,” he says.

Francis also finds in it a venue to enjoy memorable experiences with nice friends, and bond “with the family also, because my kids also do triathlon … ‘Pag may race sa Cebu, lahat kami. All my four kids race, [plus] me and my wife.” Looking back at his accident, he now considers it a motivation that made him want to finish his race all the more, “because parang you want to bounce back. I didn’t want the accident to take away triathlon from me. Sayang naman,” said the man who persevered despite facing the challenge of getting back on his feet after the accident. For a person who initially said it was impossible for someone to survive a 70.3, Francis has turned full circle, having done it five times and looking forward to finishing more.

Eli Tanlapco Malicdem Eli is the epitome of the adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” A petite lady whom you wouldn’t imagine capable of finishing a fun run—more so a triathlon like the Cobra Ironman 70.3—Eli is one tough gal. She didn’t make a conscious decision to become a triathlete. For her, it was a natural progression, an incidental product of her passion and perseverance to make a better version of herself each day. Just like majority of triathletes, she began her journey when she started joining running events. Being involved in brand marketing for Asia Brewery and working with the team of Princess Galura of Sunrise Events, Inc. back then, she got familiar with triathlon, particularly the Cobra Ironman 70.3. “I was kinda exposed to that but I wasn’t really thinking consciously, like, ‘I want to run a marathon’ or whatnot,” she says. “I never really had an athletic background.” But she found running to be therapeutic and eventually saw herself joining ultramarathons. She claims she didn’t plan it like that, and that she surprised herself when she realized it had become a part of her life. “I developed na, all the 5ks, later on 10ks, 21, 42 and then 50. I was an ultramarathoner. Parang I wanted some challenge,” Eli narrates. She taught herself how to bike at 25, and developed her swimming skills. She joined duathlons and progressed to triathlons. Eli finished her first 70.3 in Cebu this year, and if there’s one word that best describes her, it would be “tough”. “Wala sa hitsura,” she quips. “I guess that’s what the sport has turned me into. If you are not tough, you will not break out of your comfort zone.” Despite the demands of her work as a Strategic Planner for Publicis Manila, Eli manages to find a balance and enjoy the sport. “I like the idea that every day I break out of my comfort zone to pursue my passion. At least I find a complementary challenge besides what I do in strategizing for brands. It’s not easy to live these multiple lives, but it makes me believe in myself and push myself even more every single day. “A lot of people easily give up. I don’t think I am one of them,” Eli concludes.

Cobra Ironman 70.3: Raise the Bar with Performance Nutrition

eing an athlete requires passion, perseverance, and the commitment to be extraordinary. And for top tier athletes such as Cobra IronMan 70.3 participants, it takes more than the heart of a warrior to succeed. Pushing the body, mind, and spirit to excel depends on the proper training regimen combined with the right nutrients. Maximum performance levels are not achieved through workout alone; in fact, studies have shown that athletes who train and condition their bodies, in conjunction with the proper nutrients in every meal, have a 20% increase in performance. But finding the right balance of nutrients to power fitness and athletic goals can be difficult. In addition, finding the proper combination of ingredients that optimize absorption for extraordinary performance can be near impossible. So what are these recommended nutrients for Cobra Ironman 70.3 participants, thriving athletes, and even all Filipinos, during moments that call on them to be extraordinary?

For the energy to power through the finish line, complex carbohydrates are a must. However, essential nutrients are necessary to ensure that the starches are properly broken down for optimum absorption1. These include vitamin B complex, taurine, and L-carnitine. The B complex vitamins, B1, B3, B6, and B12 help break down proteins, fats and starches, and can be found in leafy greens, meats, eggs, and dairy. Meanwhile, taurine is available in fish, and improves athletic performance by optimizing the body’s capacity to utilize oxygen2. L-carnitine is processed in red meat and is a natural fat burner, adding another power source for athletes aside from carbohydrates.

For increased focus and concentration, there is caffeine. In the appropriate doses, it increases alertness and reduces fatigue, helping one get through any task with energy and with a lighter mood. Athletes who consume caffeine one to two hours before a race have better results, and this applies especially for triathletes who go through long distances and multiple events. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, athletes increased endurance by consuming caffeine one hour before running or cycling. While there are no strict guidelines on consumption, 3-6 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight is seen as optimum3. This is equivalent to 2-3 cups of coffee prior to any activity. For Cobra Ironman 70.3 athletes and active Filipinos, food sources may not be enough to properly metabolize carbohydrates. It is important that supplementary sources be consumed to ensure the right levels in the body, since any deficiency in these nutrients can impair aerobic performance. In addition, since they are water soluble, these nutrients have to be replenished daily. Finally, proper hydration is important in ensuring that the body’s systems work well, that all essential nutrients are absorbed, and that lost minerals are replenished. Water intake needs to be regulated during training as well, to ensure that athletes are neither waterlogged nor dehydrated. For the Cobra Ironman 70.3, it is recommended that athletes drink 8 oz of water after the swim, 12 oz for the first 20 minutes of biking, and 20 oz for every hour of biking4. Post-competition hydration is also important to ensure that the body recovers properly. With the right combination of nutrients, training, and replenishment, every Filipino can find the Ironman in them to push through whatever the situation.

http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/food-nutrition/vitamin-supplements/vitamin-b1.html http://www.mensfitness.com/nutrition/supplements/supplement-guide-taurine 3 http://www.acsm.org/docs/current-comments/caffeineandexercise.pdf 4 http://livewell.jillianmichaels.com/nutrition-ironman-training-4950.html 1 2

Cobra is the Philippines’ number one and best-selling energy drink, powering the country to progress. It contains world-class quality ingredients like B group vitamins sourced from Qualiblends, the world’s leading supplier of pharma-grade vitamins, as well as ginseng, taurine, inositol and other ingredients to help Filipinos achieve more in a single day, every day. It has several variants to serve different energy needs, namely: Cobra Original for instant energy; Cobra Fit with ActivBurn technology plus L-carnitine for Power Fitness; Cobra Smart with ginkgo biloba for Power Thinking, Cobra Defense with Vitamins A to E and Zinc for Power Immunity; and Cobra Berry for that Power Rush. (For more information on Cobra visit www.facebook.com/cobraphilippines.)

quality nutrients through:

David Voth THE RACEDAY INTERVIEW: on the all new Challenge Philippines

Leverage Sports Asia CEO and Challenge Philippines Chairman David Voth shares the rich history of the Challenge brand and the direction it’s headed. Images: Christian Obmerga

hallenge Philippines recently announced two half-iron distance races in 2015 to be held in Subic and CamSur. Monching Romano, RaceDay’s EIC, sat down with Challenge Philippines CEO David Voth to know who the man behind the brand is and what plans he has for the events. RaceDay: What did you see in the market and the community that made you decide to bring in Challenge to the Philippines? David Voth: It wasn’t just seeing what was in the market or the triathlon community. I saw, quite honestly, the natural beauty of what the Philippines was all about. Everywhere I go in the world, I think, could we hold a race here? And I fell in love with the Philippines. My wife is a Filipina. We had children. We have a longtime relationship here and we consider it home. The natural beauty was the warmth and the support of the people. The feeling of what the family is all about is hugely important for the Challenge brand. So

for me, it was bringing in what I felt would be an absolutely wonderful match with the Challenge family, ethics and ethos of embracing the race day experience for the athlete, and at the same time understanding that it’s not only the athlete that we embrace, but the entire family. So if you put that in a tremendous setting like the Philippines, then you have a match made in heaven. RD: Most of our veterans started their journey at CamSur. Was it part of the strategy to have a Challenge event in CamSur? Voth: Absolutely. Honestly, it goes back to early discussions about what Challenge is in the Philippines. If you go back to what makes the triathlon market tick in any place, it goes back to memories, experiences and legacy. And so in talking with Jumbo and Abe (Tayag) and Alan (Galang) and Mac (Mandap) and Marvin (Manalang), they all, without a doubt [said] they had the best experiences of their lives in those early days in CamSur. RD: From a marketing point of view, what is the unique selling proposition of the Challenge brand? Voth: For us, a triathlon is not just a race. We embrace the athletes’ journey. We try to be incredibly authentic. We value—for lack of a better term—old school values of triathlon. RD: Which are? Voth: A great race day experience, a lot of fun, and a focus on the athletes making sure that they get the best experience. A lot of people can claim that, but I think what we’re trying to do is go above and beyond that. We try to ensure that from the first touch point with athletes, we have the ability to connect with them, and provide unique experiences. We are not a numbers company. We are an organization that, number one, loves the sport. We embrace the values of the sport. We don’t blow into a community and put up an event and then blow out of town. We try to have longlasting, sustainable engagement to make sure that what we’re offering not only touches the lives of the athletes and their families, but also touches the lives of the stakeholders involved. And the stakeholders can be the community, the school kids, the different retailers in town. RD: Can you give us a brief history of the Challenge brand? Voth: It’s funny how life is full circle. When I founded the World Triathlon Corporation many years ago, one of our very first licensees was Felix Walchshofer’s family, who’s the owner of Challenge. He and his mom and his sister own the Challenge brand. They were our licensee of an Ironman event in Germany. So the relationship literally began over 30 years ago. As ironic as life can be, they were once my licensee and now I’m their licensee. I knew the core values of his family. I knew that what they offered was a real and great connection to the sport itself.

Ironman and Felix’s family split ways, and the offer was you come to another city and help us launch an Ironman there. They have personal relationships with the city and Roth, they were part of the community. No one organization delivers a race, it’s always a community that’s involved. So for them, the idea was, we’re not gonna move. We’re gonna actually stay here and we’re gonna create our own Challenge Roth. … It became hugely popular among pros, the age groupers. It has become the largest triathlon, I believe, in the world—with over 5,000 participants—and yet it’s a festival. It’s not just jamming the numbers. It’s actually a celebration of what the sport is about. RD: In the Philippines, we are very personality oriented. In everything that we do, personality comes into play, like Ironman is Uytengsu, Defy is Guy Concepcion. We would like to know who Dave Voth is as a person, a businessman, as a sportsman. Voth: I’m someone who is absolutely, incredibly passionate about what I do. I always value sport as an incredibly important character builder. I think it offers so much more than the event itself. I was involved in the early days of actually being a sponsor at Ironman in Kona. … I got to know Valerie Silk who is the owner of the Hawaiian Triathlon Corporation and she had a wonderful race in Kona. She, like many of us in this business, is incredibly passionate and loves her event. But she saw that it had legs for the future. But for me, I fell in love with the fact that the brand was so much more than a brand, and the race was so much more than a race. So I tried to talk her in to selling it to me, selling me that trademark. RD: Ironman then was just Kona? Voth: It’s Kona and it’s beginning to branch out. She had the vision to see it as a globally exciting brand. She delivered a great race in Kona. She knew that it had the opportunity to go forward, so she was looking for someone probably like me to embrace it and move it forward. I formed the World Triathlon Corporation and brought in a partner and the vision was to create everything—holding more international races, and creating licenses and products like the Timex Ironman Watch. The commercial footprint of the event is incredibly important, not necessarily just to make money, but to actually put money back into the sport, which is something that we did in the very early days. Eventually, I sold the World Triathlon Corporation. I moved on and started developing properties with the National Football League in America. RD: When did you leave the WTC? Voth: ‘94. When I left WTC, I started several new sport properties. The NFL “Quarterback Challenge”, we have a 13-, 14-year run on NBC, where we put the NFL top quarterbacks in a series of skills contests, and then we determine the top athlete. But it was more than that. It was a destination play that we held in Hawaii, focusing on the friends and the family and the mother and the father and the brother and sister of these marquee athletes, and how they engage with each other.

Challenge—87 percent of the people said that they had a great experience and would definitely come back. Am I satisfied with 87 percent? No (laughs). Am I satisfied with 100 percent, or 101 percent? It’s an issue of expectations. So how do you improve that? For me, it was going back to the roots of the sport, what actually brought me to the sport of triathlon to begin with. How do we reconnect to the community? How do we ensure that the athletes have a great experience? How do we ensure that the stakeholders involved have clear and concise communication, and rewarding results? I want the people who’ve invested time, money or effort in the events to walk away saying that it was all well-spent. But with any event, there are always opportunities to improve. We have incredibly passionate people involved in the event this year, people who are well-respected in the triathlon community, and are involved in the game for all the right reasons. They are supportive of the sport not only as participants but also as a fan of the sport. The core values of the group that we have involved this year are an absolute match to Challenge.

“

We think that the sport actually rises above the brands. We’re an organization of inclusion. We want people engaged ... We want people walking away and saying, “This is the best thing that ever happened to me in my life,” not just on race day, in my life. We want to be life changers.

“

RD: Yeah, can you name the key persons in your operation?

RD: So you invented the reality shows? Voth: Haha, I’m one of the very first. The human interest story is something we embraced in the early days of WTC. I actually pioneered taking the sport from being a network broadcast into being privately produced so we could deliver the true stories of someone making it. And despite all the things that happened in a long day in a race, the human interest stories are the compelling elements of how the sport brings people in and makes them associated with, and aspire to [do] great things. Much like the NFL “Quarterback Challenge,” I co-created the NBA “Who’s Got Game?” It was a Christmas day special on the basketball court, on the beaches of Maui. It was a skills contest as well. Eventually, we sold the NFL “Quarterback Challenge” and the NBA “Who’s Got Game” back to the respective players’ associations. RD: When you thought about Challenge, were you already living in the Philippines? Voth: I was living in Singapore. I sold my company in China, and I went to Colorado. I was living in Boulder and I was helping USA Rugby with some sponsorship and television. I also played rugby in college and I became a part of the national team playing pool. Rugby had been a huge part of my life before the sport of triathlon. Going back to Colorado, I was able to give back to the sport that I love dearly, and we created some of the biggest deals that has ever been put in place for the sport of rugby. We created a huge marketing relationship with the US National Guard, created an online television network called USA Rugby. USA Rugby Network has now gone in to ESPN. So we created television properties.

During that time that I was actually consulting and working with USA Rugby and enjoying my fishing for trout, I was approached by a guy by the name of Oon Jin Tek, who is the CEO of Singapore Sports. I consulted with Singapore Sports about a year or so and then was invited by Jin Tek to move to Singapore and head up a sports business. That was involving F1, Youth Olympic Games, major rugby tournaments, football, basically developing a sport portfolio strategy in terms of how would you invest in events and then see a return and at the same time developing a broadcast media strategy for sports, because in Singapore it did not exist. And then [I] headed up their commercial division. We called it sports business. But during that time period, we had a home in Philippines where we would travel back and forth. And every time I traveled, I realized that I actually wanted to spend more time in Philippines. I fell in love with Philippines as a destination and I wasn’t sure whether or not it would be Challenge or whether or not it would be another brand. But I knew that there was a great opportunity to bring a powerful event to Philippines. So I settled on Challenge and it’s the right match. And rest was history. RD: 2014 was your first year. When you announced it, people welcomed it. But we were hearing news and rumors that all is not well with the group and people are actually thinking or expecting it to be a failure. But I went there and it was okay. Were you happy about that race? Voth: With any first year event, there is always a learning curve. And having been involved in this business of sport and events, and putting on some of the biggest sporting events in the world, I understood that there would be bumps in the road. There’s always a process. I wasn’t necessarily 100 percent pleased with the process, but I think that the outcome was successful. We ended up getting a rating point in the third party evaluation by

Voth: On the executive committee, we have Jumbo and Abe Tayag, Mac Mandap, Marvin Manalang, myself and Alan Galang. We also bring in to that executive committee Tim Desmond and (Gov.) LRay (Villafuerte). This executive committee basically looks at the desired outcomes: great race day experience; safe, rewarding event; engagement with the friends, the family and the supporters; engagement with the communities to make sure that we are always supportive of their needs. The point that is missed in a lot of events in Philippines that I think we addressed very carefully is that we want to leave a legacy behind. RD: In terms of what? Voth: We want to engage in sports development. People may claim, “I have a grass roots program.” Okay, that’s great. But these guys in our group are involved with kids not during race week, not during a special promotion. We’re involved with them on a regular basis. Like for example, our grass roots efforts, the Yellow Cab DIY and new Tri Challenge reaching out to 25 cities and provinces each year, making the sport accessible to all. We deal with athletes’ needs on a regular basis, and we often don’t claim credit for it. The point is, when we come to an area, we assess it, we try to understand how to engage meaningfully. We honestly feel that by taking the high road and by doing things right for the right reasons, people will eventually buy into who we are. We are more of “results prove it” as opposed to us telling you about our results. We love the sport of triathlon. We think that the sport actually rises above the brands. We’re an organization of inclusion. We want people engaged. We want people to have a good time. We want people walking away, saying, “This is the best thing that ever happened to me in my life”—not just during race day, in my life. We want to be life changers.

Words: Andy Leuterio | Photos: Edsel Ochoa

hirteen hours. That’s the weekly average training time that Drew Arellano and Javy Olives have been able to log since they began training under my coaching system. And while I’m sure that they could do even better if they had more available time, the truth is that triathlon is NOT their life. They have their respective careers to develop, and marriages to take seriously. It’s safe to say that triathlon is a major part of their life, but it’s not what defines them. Rather, how they approach the sport, in particular the work ethic they practice daily and the honest self-assessment they perform after every race, is just one more way of expressing themselves. I believe this is how it should be. We don’t race for prize money, and podium spots are always welcome bonuses, but how we prepare for a big race and how we deal with setbacks and challenges are better gauges for performance in the big scheme of things. I still remember how the two guys started out with me several years ago. Both had already been training consistently, but were looking for ways to get more out of their efforts. So I talked about several methods that had been working for me and asked them to try it out for themselves. We put together a dynamic program for each, creating a roadmap for their performance, and they went to work. As much as I’d like to have them swim, bike, run, and lift weights every day, they really only have one to two hours on weekdays. You can’t have them do everything that would

have to be done in a textbook training program. Instead, we cut the junk miles wherever we can, and weigh the pros and cons of skipping one workout in favor of another. Would more swimming really shave time or just rob you of energy to nail those hill repeats? Would additional run mileage really help, or might more rest be what you need? We make these decisions every week, and take a proactive approach. While we try to craft a training program that’s a best-case scenario, we allow for flexibility. Drew is frequently out of town for work, severely limiting his swim and bike training. So in the days leading up to a trip, he’ll put swim and saddle time “in the bank”. Out of town, he’ll log as much running as he can. Once he’s back in town, he gets back on the bike or in the pool. In this way, he limits the amount of sport-specific fitness lost from traveling, while at the same time using the opportunity to run more than he normally would in a more balanced training week. Javy’s time is similarly limited. When he’s not reporting for work, he’s a dedicated family man. What he does is maintain a disciplined schedule for the week that lets him do most of the training before heading to the office. In the evening, while there are some nights where he will have to put in a run or swim, most of the time is spent with his wife and daughter. On weekends, the two get their big workouts done in the mornings so that the rest of the day can be spent recovering or with their family.

“

We don’t race for prize money, and podium spots are always welcome bonuses, but how we prepare for a big race and how we deal with setbacks and challenges are better gauges for performance in the big scheme of things.

“

Smart Sufferers the

Despite these training limitations, we’re happy to note that they are consistently in the top 10 percent, if not top 10 of their age group. Even in their worst races, they’re still able to put together something special. When they’re at their best, few can surpass them in their respective age groups. Honestly, I’m the happiest coach in the world whenever a client puts everything on the line and succeeds. Who wouldn’t be? I’m a big believer in the saying, “The more you sweat in training, the less you’ll suffer in racing.” Because the truth is that even though the two don’t train as much as the other guys who religiously log the hours and miles like it were a second job, what they lack in volume they make up for in intensity. Triathlon is a thinking man’s sport, but it also involves suffering like a dog to get the most out of yourself. Or, to mix metaphors, training like a horse. Thinking about the training program and analyzing workout results are great, but when you’re suffering through a trademark “Alpha” workout, it’s best to just HTFU. Jens Voigt is famous for “Shut Up Legs”, but I’ll also add this: “Shut Off Brain”. Or perhaps you’ll need willpower to finish the workout because, after all, the body does what the mind says it can do. Whatever works, we use. Like I said, it’s a dynamic program. In this regard, it’s safe to say that these two can suffer like few other people can.

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