The 2011 edition of the Matabungkay Long Distance Triathlon started with a bang and ended with participants melting in the heat of the July 17 noontime sun. The race, formerly known as Tri-King Matabungkay Long Distance Tri, has been renamed to Tri-United Long Distance Tri with the major sponsorship of a local pharma company actively making its presence felt in the triathlon community. It attracted more than 300 triathletes, both local and foreign. The race is 2kms of swim, 60kms of hilly bike ride and 15kms of hellish run in the heart of Matabungkay.
I have done this race last year and came back primarily due to one reason: to qualify for the Timex 226 Iron Distance Triathlon in Bohol in December. For everyone’s better appreciation, an Iron Distance race is the toughest one day race in the world, consisting of a 3.8km ocean swim, 180km of bike and 42.195kms of run. An Iron Distance race has a 17-hour cut-off, anyone going past 17 hours is automatically disqualified.
My time last year: 5 hours, 6 minutes, 57 seconds. Qualifying time: 4 hours, 45 minutes. That would mean cutting at least 22 minutes from my time last year to qualify for the race I have been wanting to join since I started doing triathlons 3 years ago.
MY PREPARATION
I totally stopped smoking since mid-March of this year. Whatever money I saved from not smoking I spent buying energy gels for my training. I re-programmed my sleeping habits so I could wake up at 4:00 a.m. every morning to either swim, bike or run. To make sure my body copes up with my training volume, I never forget to take my daily dose of Immuvit and Potencee. I swam 8kms a week, biked 150kms a week, and ran 40kms a week. If you’re training with such volumes, every supplement you can put into your body is welcome.
RACE DAY: SWIM 2 KILOMETERS
300 pumped up triathletes got the shock of their racing lives at the sight of the swim course. 6 to 10 feet of swells broke the spirit of those who were not used to swimming in the open seas. Trying out the course myself, any attempt to swim against the giant waves were complete failures. I needed a plan to get through the first part of the race, otherwise, all my training will be thrown out the window.
There were two options in swimming in such conditions: 1) dodge the wave and go under it once it hits, or 2) make yourself very light on the water and ride the wave. I chose the latter.
Not so pleasant-sized waves greeted us at the start of the race.
When the race started, several participants pulled-out right away for safety reasons. A few more were pulled out from the water by rescuers when these people couldn’t take it any longer. There was only one mantra among those of us who continued: “DON’T DROWN!”
Nearing the turn-around buoy about 350 meters from the beach, the usual “washing machine” took place. I got kicked, I kicked someone, I got punched, I punched someone, someone pulled my leg, I kicked him back…all done in more than 30ft deep waters. The funny thing is, as triathletes, we call it “fun”. Crazy? Yes, at some point.
After 55 minutes and about 2 full glasses of salt water, I completed the 2km swim. Praised God and ran towards the bike to start the 60 kilometer torture.
Happy to have survived the choppiest swim start I have ever been a part of.
PART 2: BIKE 60 KILOMETERS
I had heavy legs when I mounted my bike which was unusual as I didn’t push too hard on the swim. Stayed on the small chainring to ease things up a bit then once I reached the national highway going to Calatagan, Batangas, I let it all loose.
I was doing 35-40kph on the flats, enough to make me catch up on some of those who were ahead of me in the swim. Enroute to the 1st turn-around, the course was changed. Apparently, some repair works were being done on the published route so it had to be changed at the last minute. Instead of riding on flat roads, we had to suffer on a 2-kilometer stretch of climbs. Not ideal but thinking of the downhill after, it was better than getting flat tires on rough pavements.
The downhill was fast. I reached about 60kph when nasty crosswinds started blowing trying to lift my bike off the ground. Nerve-wracked, I squeezed the brakes and controlled my pace. 45kph was more manageable.
Dodging the headwind for a faster bike ride.
Completed the 60K ( or should I say 53K ) bike course in 1:45:37. Reached transition area in 2 hours and 52 minutes and started running in 2:55:00 of the race which meant I still had 1 hour 50 minutes to beat the 4:45 qualifying time for the Bohol race.
PART 3: RUN 15.5 KILOMETERS
My best 15K run was completed in 1 hour, 26 minutes. In this race, I had 1 hour, 50 minutes to do it. Piece of cake? Not!
With almost no clouds overhead and the sun vaporizing any water on the ground, the heat became terrible as we approached mid-day. There were several water stations along the course but I could sense that it would all run out of fluids as the race progressed to conclusion.
On my 2nd lap of the 3 lap run course, one water station was just giving out carbonated fluids which go against my stomach. They ran out of water.
Surviving the run.
After completing my second loop of the 3-loop run course, I was at 3:58 of the race, with 47 minutes to go to complete the final 5 kilometers of the race and qualify for Bohol. I relaxed a bit as I wanted a strong finish.
With 1 kilometer to go, with no more energy gels and water, I stopped running and walked. My tank was empty, no more calories to burn. I tried squeezing the energy drink out of my water bottle and got a few drops. It was enough to fuel me on the last 600 meters.
Finished in 4:37 and qualified for Timex 226 Iron Distance race in Bohol in December. Yahoo!
I finished the race in 4 hours, 37 minutes and 25 seconds. More than 7 minutes ahead of the qualifying time for the race I have been preparing for throughout my triathlon life. I slashed about 30 minutes off my finish time last year, I guess all my hard work paid-off!
I blew a kiss to God. The thought that He was with me the whole time drove me to the finish line.
Thank you to Potencee and Immuvit for the support. Yes, I’m a stronger triathlete now because of these brands. In the last Immuvit Metafit for Cyclists Session, I was found to have the endurance of a 25 year-old. Not bad for someone turning 43 this year.
Until the next race!
*Photos stolen from the Bike King FB fan page, one courtesy of Emil Ancheta’s camera, some courtesy of Pio Sugay and one I have no idea where from. Thanks guys for unselfishly posting the photos for us to download!
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