White Rock Half Ironman 2009
After 70.3 Philippines a local team (TMM-Timex) invited me back to compete in another half Ironman race. White Rock Half Ironman, one of there local races I thought I would do for fun. I landed in Singapore at 9 pm with 9 hrs to spare till my next flight. Shopping galore and falling asleep on the check-in counters was the way for me.
Get to Manila at 10:30 and shocked at the traffic maze around. I can handle traffic in Sydney and Melbourne, but this has it all over them. Six lanes coming to two and people on the streets everywhere.
I spent the first day eating new things and then head to Makati for shopping and for a run with the team. Modern development with excellent shops, and got to know the local way of life (definitely not in a hurry that’s for sure).
On the second day we drive about two hours to a place called – for a training bike ride. First 10 km no peddling, all downhill. 50 km flat rough road and a 10 km uphill to finish. Then a comfortable 8 km run uphill and back.
Spent the next day getting the house I was staying in ready for the storm on its way and trying to figure out what we were going to do on the weekend, realising that we can’t ride in Manila itself (unless one wanted to be flattened).
We decided to travel down to Tagaytay where we spent the weekend climbing the Taal volcano and cycling around the beautiful Batangas countryside. Back in Manila for the week and spending every spare moment trying to swim and get some extra kilometres on the bike.
Now to race weekend. We got there on the Thursday evening just in time to have some dinner and get to the hotel. Full packed Friday consisted of a morning swim at the venue and a ride of the course. It looked like it was going to be a fast bike and a tough run.
Off we went for a big carbo lunch and dinner to follow before getting a very short sleep. The excitement of the race and having to wake up early in the morning was a bad combination for getting enough rest.
The arena was set in the beautiful Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Olongapo City, Zambales. From the start, it promised to be a tight race as strong athletes were set to participate in the White Rock Triathlon on November 7. There were a few rookie triathletes, but many were veterans, some having won top honours in recent years.
George Vilog of Tri Hard bested Noel Salvador to win 1st place. Salvador came in 4 minutes and 37 seconds after Vilog, kneeling and pointing both index fingers at the finish line.
Now racing for Team TMM-Timex, I finished 3rd place overall. I accomplished this feat despite incurring a 4-minute stand-down time penalty for drafting. At 22 years of age, I was acknowledged as the youngest racer in this event, while David Charlton was the most senior of all participants.
The bike route took the competitors through open roads (meaning cars still allowed) outside Subic, passing through several towns all the way to Cabangan. Cyclists were delayed by vehicle traffic in a few locations which caused my drafting penalty. Without the penalty I would have come out of the T2 right behind 1st and 2nd, and have them in sight the whole run, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
The run course tested everyone’s endurance and tenacity as we negotiated the uphill path with every ounce of energy we had left. I had to walk a portion of the last 5km because of the heat. I experienced leg cramps during the last kilometre of the race and not knowing how far back fourth was, I had to hobble most of that last section. But no matter how much pain I was in, I had to finish.
Roy Hervias, Team TMM-Timex captain, was astounded as he bagged 1st place in his age category, overtaking Ferdie Catabian II of Herbalife who was expected to win honours, Ferdie was released from hospital from food poisoning just two days before the event.
At the finish line, it was a showdown of sorts as Javier Olives of Team Super did a handstand, while Chock Martinez and Jojo Macalintal of team TMM-Timex showed off some dance moves. Whoever said athletes have no funny bone in them?
After the race and a wild night of partying (regrettably), we went to go surfing. BUT, going out to one of the spots our bunker (little boat) broke down. I ended up jumping in the water and pulling the boat to a nearby island where we waited for another boat to come pick and us up.
So, if you can’t beat them, join them! As the White Rock Triathlon tagline goes “Can’t stop the rock”, why not join and find out for yourself what the rock is made of?
Get to Manila at 10:30 and shocked at the traffic maze around. I can handle traffic in Sydney and Melbourne, but this has it all over them. Six lanes coming to two and people on the streets everywhere.
I spent the first day eating new things and then head to Makati for shopping and for a run with the team. Modern development with excellent shops, and got to know the local way of life (definitely not in a hurry that’s for sure).
On the second day we drive about two hours to a place called – for a training bike ride. First 10 km no peddling, all downhill. 50 km flat rough road and a 10 km uphill to finish. Then a comfortable 8 km run uphill and back.
Spent the next day getting the house I was staying in ready for the storm on its way and trying to figure out what we were going to do on the weekend, realising that we can’t ride in Manila itself (unless one wanted to be flattened).
We decided to travel down to Tagaytay where we spent the weekend climbing the Taal volcano and cycling around the beautiful Batangas countryside. Back in Manila for the week and spending every spare moment trying to swim and get some extra kilometres on the bike.
Now to race weekend. We got there on the Thursday evening just in time to have some dinner and get to the hotel. Full packed Friday consisted of a morning swim at the venue and a ride of the course. It looked like it was going to be a fast bike and a tough run.
Off we went for a big carbo lunch and dinner to follow before getting a very short sleep. The excitement of the race and having to wake up early in the morning was a bad combination for getting enough rest.
The arena was set in the beautiful Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Olongapo City, Zambales. From the start, it promised to be a tight race as strong athletes were set to participate in the White Rock Triathlon on November 7. There were a few rookie triathletes, but many were veterans, some having won top honours in recent years.
George Vilog of Tri Hard bested Noel Salvador to win 1st place. Salvador came in 4 minutes and 37 seconds after Vilog, kneeling and pointing both index fingers at the finish line.
Now racing for Team TMM-Timex, I finished 3rd place overall. I accomplished this feat despite incurring a 4-minute stand-down time penalty for drafting. At 22 years of age, I was acknowledged as the youngest racer in this event, while David Charlton was the most senior of all participants.
The bike route took the competitors through open roads (meaning cars still allowed) outside Subic, passing through several towns all the way to Cabangan. Cyclists were delayed by vehicle traffic in a few locations which caused my drafting penalty. Without the penalty I would have come out of the T2 right behind 1st and 2nd, and have them in sight the whole run, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
The run course tested everyone’s endurance and tenacity as we negotiated the uphill path with every ounce of energy we had left. I had to walk a portion of the last 5km because of the heat. I experienced leg cramps during the last kilometre of the race and not knowing how far back fourth was, I had to hobble most of that last section. But no matter how much pain I was in, I had to finish.
Roy Hervias, Team TMM-Timex captain, was astounded as he bagged 1st place in his age category, overtaking Ferdie Catabian II of Herbalife who was expected to win honours, Ferdie was released from hospital from food poisoning just two days before the event.
At the finish line, it was a showdown of sorts as Javier Olives of Team Super did a handstand, while Chock Martinez and Jojo Macalintal of team TMM-Timex showed off some dance moves. Whoever said athletes have no funny bone in them?
After the race and a wild night of partying (regrettably), we went to go surfing. BUT, going out to one of the spots our bunker (little boat) broke down. I ended up jumping in the water and pulling the boat to a nearby island where we waited for another boat to come pick and us up.
So, if you can’t beat them, join them! As the White Rock Triathlon tagline goes “Can’t stop the rock”, why not join and find out for yourself what the rock is made of?
