"on a shoestring"

I was surprised when I was reading this funny triathlon race happening on December 17 (Saturday) at Rosales, Pangasinan. Continue reading to know why I was all smiles…

IBTOR Challenge is a triathlon match with a local twist of the three sports disciplines: swimming, cycling, and running. It kicks off at the Acop Dam and loops around our Eco-Tourism Area, passes at the heart of the municipality and culminates at the SM City Rosales.

The IBTOR Challenge comprises of the following:

• SWIMMING – the pair of swimmers has to carry with them a banana log in crossing the Acop Dam with the distance of 350m. It is necessary for them to surrender the banana log in order for them to qualify for the second leg which is running.

SWIM!

• RUNNING – subsequently the participants will have to run the 9.5km trail of rough and mountainous road.

RUN!

• CYCLING – for the third leg of the match, the cycling stage exposes the Rosalenian culture. Pedicabs are being utilized instead of the commonly used mountain bikes to negotiate the distance of 15km. The participants (in pairs) must take turns in steering the pedicab.

BIKE!

• RUNNING – in the last leg of the event, the participants will have to run the 10km distance to be able to finish the race. The participants will be tied by a rope on each opposite hand in order for them to reach the finish line together.

and RUN AGAIN!

A hefty prize awaits the winner and the names of the finishers will be engraved in the IBTOR Landmark which is a tangible legacy for those who completed every IBTOR Challenges. In this wall, their names will be inscribed at the stone tablet and be carried through in the years to come.

COOL ayt?

Where? Rosales, Pangasinan

When? Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 6:00am

Registration Fee: P300.00/team (includes finishers shirt, race bib and will be provided with pedicab)

For up-to-date info’s, do like IBTOR Challenge page on Facebook.

You can also contact the Tourism Officer of Rosales, Pangasinan- Aila Seradoy at ailaros_seradoy@yahoo.com.ph

If you are reading my travel blog, you must have came across my skinny-dipping in one of the 7 waterfalls of Mambukal . Blame it on the runner’s high because I just finished a 7.5K run before I did that. Anyway, here are the details of my rave run in and around Mambukal Resort, Murcia, Negros Occidental.

Circling the man-made lake (10-sec timer)

Date: July 8, 2010 (Thursday)
Distance covered: 7.5K
Entrance fee: P30/pax (entrance to the resort)
Running Surface: 4.5k on pave road with rolling uphill inside the resort and 3k uphill trail leading to the 7th waterfalls via Don Bosco Retreat House.
Time: 1:00 hour (Pace 7:59/km)
Temperature: about 24-26°C or 75-78°F
Running Apparel: Adidas Techlite singlet, Craft running shorts, black socks & Nike cap.
Shoes: New Balance MR92

The foggy morning at the foot of Mt. Kanlaon

Check my other blog for more pics of the resort.

For more of my out-of-town runs, you can visit my running places page.

Note: This is the 1st installment of the 4-part series of rave runs while I was on the road during my 14-Day Backpacking Trip to West Visayas.

Was very, very happy that I was able to join this one great event in the history of Philippine Running. I went to CamSur not specifically for the 21K run but to try Wakeboarding. I love water sports as I love road running.

Nearing the finish line all the training paid off

So, WHY 3-in-1 + 1?

Because of my incessant lust for travel and exploration, I ended up staying at Pasacao, Camarines Sur (45mins away from Naga City) and SNORKELING at the beautiful Daruanak Island in Pasacao Saturday morning, that’s 1.

Then came the BIG day, my 5th Half Marathon Run (21K). I love the town’s people who cheered us along the way. Their antiphonal voices saying “go!go!go!” and “welcome to CamSur” sure did gave me boosts. I just want to make a quick note of thanks to Jojo of ANR Alabang for running with me at the first 14 kilometers, I need to speed up bro, sorry I left you. I will tell more about how did the race went on my recap post next time; this is 2.

I thought we will be hit the road back after lunch but it turns out that my wishes are to come true! So, I had the opportunity to try WAKEBOARDING. Well, knee-boarding with at first (with DJ Chloe of Mellow 94.7) but I did try the ‘real’ thing at Winch Park. Yes, I was able to maneuver that wakeboard there, and will definitely do that again sometime this year. So, thats number 3.

+1? Well, I’m planning a PR (Pasyal Relax pace) because I’m under trained but I guess this weekend is just for me. I got a 21K PR (Personal Record) with an unofficial time of 2:00:44, just 45 seconds shy of a sub-2hrs.

3-in-1 + 1 = One Epic CamSur Weekend. And this will not be possible without the help of good friends Kassy, who offered Reylynne’s 21K race kit; Reylynne for giving me her race kit; Team Logan for the ride to and from CamSur, Theo & Katie for the couch on the first night and a wonderful time at Daruanak; and Estan for letting me stay on his very cozy CWC cabana the night before the big event.

I dedicate my new personal record (PR) to you guys, my parents and ultimately to God! Thanks for everything.

Around KM.5

Note: Pictures of the above experience will be uploaded soon. You can also download the official CamSur Marathon 2010 Race Result HERE and Race Photos from Estan HERE.

Someday, I want to hear the words, “Congratulations! You’re an IronMan!” But that won’t happen if I just pound and pound the roads and be contented with running a marathon. I must take the second step to pursue that dream.

Ready, Legs Go!

The successfully concluded TRIPLE A Cup (Amphitrite Alabang Aquathlon) helped me in realizing this dream. Now I can proudly say that I’m an aquathlete. The event I joined was  Extra-Lite category. Wherein you have to run 2.5K then swim 200meters and finish strong with another 2.5K run. I was confident that I can finish the race, the only problem is that I was grasping for air after the 1st kilometer in the run leg because I foolishly paced with the fast runners. Anyway, just charge it to experience.

The Fast "Runner" (Abs kung Abs)

It was already engraved in my mind that I’m there to join the fun and a good time finish would just be an extra to my aquathlon debut.

Some Photos from the Event (Click the image to enlarge)

So, here are stuff that made the race FUN, FUN and FUNNY and some Lessons too:

• Days before the event, I was broadcasting on my Facebook status that I will drown those who will overtake me in the swim leg. No one dared to come swim near me during the swim part. Lesson: Bullying works (not in school but in aquathlon). Good thing, no one get drown.

• At the first plunge, I drank some Palms Country Club Pool water (sosyal)- seems like water from the hydration station in not enough for me. This slowed me down in the process. Lesson: relax on the swim leg, you don’t need extra hydration.

• Funny to see fellow racers run even the swim leg. I don’t want to name names, but it was fun seeing them stride not glide in the pool. Lesson: I will practice striding in the water next time- its gets you faster and exert less energy.

• I was running 4:15/Km during the first run leg because of the adrenalin rush. It was zoooooom!!! Later did I paid of the lost energy because I was already walking some parts of th 2nd run leg. That slowed me down and took most of my energy. Lesson: Don’t get overly excited. I need to distribute my energy and the burst of my adrenalin.

We are Aquathletes

Run - Swim - Run (Lite: 2.5K - 400m - 5K) (ExtraLite: 2.5K - 200m - 2.5K)

Thank you so much Ms.Tiff Batilo and Co. for organizing a “labor of love” event to people like me. Now I can proudly say, “I’m an AQUATHLETE!”

Lastly, this event would not be successful without the faithful support of our sponsors and partners: The Palms Country Club, Filinvest Corporate City, Vitamin World, Scorecard/Sports Media, Sunlife, Dole, Global Era Logistics Inc., 5 Aces Restaurant, Gourmet, Globe Telecoms, Gloprints, Powerade, Pharex BComplex, Men’s Health, Women’s Health & Runners World. We hope that this is just the beginning of our partnership in the multi-sports world. Thanks to all of you!