Eight Races and a Funeral

July 1, 2009

Eight Races and a Funeral

We have less than eight weeks to go before the big day, Ironman 70.3 Philippines.   Many of us are undoubtedly training as best we could for the 1.9k swim, 90k bike, and 21k run on August 23, but it seems all I’ve been doing is racing.  I’ve only had one Sunday since SUBIT where I didn’t race. Add one Friday and full Saturday of competing to that list - one can say I’m really due a recovery day. 

Here was my racing schedule since SUBIT:

Friday, May  29 – Open Water Swim 13K Relay Sarangani Bay.

Sunday, May 31 – IE8 (8-mile) Run at The Fort.

Sunday, June 7 – Mizuno Infinity Run (15K) at The Fort.

Sunday, June 14 – Animo Sprint Triathlon in Ayala Alabang.

Saturday, June 20 – Swim Masters Series (200m Free, 100m Breast, 50m Fly, 200m IM, 400m Free) at Trace College, Los Baños.

Sunday, June 21 – Open Water Swim 5K in Anilao.

Here are my race reports, starting with the Mizuno Infinity:

1.  I finally found the right pair of Nike’s for me – the Nike Zoom Start.  It felt light, it was cushiony, and it helped me go 1hr 14 – the day after my first Century ride (via Total – Naic).

2. ANIMO SPRINT:  I visualized the whole week that my bike leg would be better than at SUBIT.  Visualization works!  I imagined I would be off the saddle pushing hard on hills and flying fast after the climb.  That’s how it happened, and it felt fantastic not to be passed or be caught on the bike.  Too bad I didn’t visualize the run too.   Larry got me with about a kilometer to go!  Nice one, Larry.  I will now visualize the awesome tempo you had and how those pink Nike’s were like a blur.

3.  Swim Masters Series – 200m Freestyle:  It felt good to be back home (the 50m pool!), racing the same races I did as a kid.  PF thought I had gone out too hard in the first 100 meters.  But all that triathlon training got me my endurance back.  My splits were 1:04/1:06. 

4.  SMS – 100m Breaststroke:  With only four minutes rest between my 200 Free and 100 Breast, all I could do here was hope the lactic acid build up wouldn’t be too severe.  FYI, all swim races, since they are so short, are anaerobic efforts.  Some say one reason (of many reasons) why Michael Phelps won eight gold medals is because his body can flush out lactic acid quicker than most.

5.  SMS – 50m Butterfly:  I jammed my finger on the wall, trying for a strong finish.  My finger still hurts up to now, but the aggressive touch got me to the wall first.  (NOTE:  PF swam a great 100m Butterfly, beating ex-national triathlete, 22-year old Mikki Quilala, who is still a DLSU varsity swimmer!)

6.  SMS – 200m Individual Medley:   this is my favorite event.  I did well.

7.  SMS – 400m Freestyle:  this is my second favorite event.  I did really well (splits 1:12/1:14/1:11/1:09).

8.  SMS – 5K Open Water:  I truly appreciate that so many of the Polo Tri did the open water race.  Congrats to PF for topping his age-group (45-49), with Tony coming in 2^nd and Larry 3^rd.  Itong placed 2^nd (40-44), with Bea and Monica both 1^st in their age-groups.  And of course, good job Diego for placing 2^nd overall.  The 2K winners were:  Debbie (3^rd overall); Tricia 1^st in her age-group, and first overall in the pregnant category; and Mike 1^st in his age-group too.  It was a great effort by all who braved the big distance and the big waves.

Post-script:  Driving to Anilao that Sunday morning, I had strong feelings things weren’t well with the energies of the universe.  My mom’s old van (that I borrowed without her permission, to haul my DLSU swimmers to Batangas) broke down on the Star Tollway.  So I got stuck in Lipa getting the van towed, then I had to coordinate with a rental van to get the swimmers to Anilao, plus my pregnant wife was getting hungry. 

Two hours late, but I made it to the starting gate.  But as I walked towards the 5K race briefing, I got several text messages telling me the sad news…one of the true mentors in my life, Br. Ceci Hojilla, died of a heart attack in his sleep. 

Non-Lasallians may not be familiar with the role of the Christian Brothers in De La Salle schools worldwide. Many of them have strong personalities with great ambition and visions towards changing society through education.  Br. Ceci changed lives through caring – not about headlines, fund raising, rankings, or legacies – Br. Ceci changed lives because he cared about you – not as a student, an athlete, a professor, or alumni – he cared about you period.

I dedicated my 5K race to him.  Which is such a corny thing to do – the effort wouldn’t be enough.  To honor Br. Ceci’s life, I must keep on racing – not just in swimming, biking, or running – I must keep on racing in caring like him. 

I guess I’m not taking that recovery day because caring is everyday.