eXtri 2012 Race Recap

eXtri is an off-road triathlon organized by eXtribe Inc, the same people behind Whiterock Triathlon, Subic International Marathon, and Camp Run. It has been a long standing event that is aimed towards both seasoned athletes and beginners. The "regular" race is composed of a 1km open water swim, 23km mountain bike race, and 4km trail run. There is also a "RAW (Rookies, Amateurs, Weekend Warriors)" category which is broken down into a 500m swim, 20km bike leg, and 2.5k trail run. Don't let the distances fool you; though they might seem easy for most triathletes, this is one heck of a race!

Even though eXtri 2012 is only a week after Timex 226, I decided to sign up for it for a number of reasons.

First, it would give me a chance to let out some tension from 226. I find that having a "fun race"after big events helps me recover mentally. This is a race wherein I could let out some mental or emotional stress accumulated from 226. I had no expectations for this race; even though I somewhat knew what to expect, it was something foreign to me.

Second, I've been dying to get some good mtb/trail experience. Prior to 226, I had limited time off-road as I did not want to injure myself. Though there is definitely benefit in cross-training, I found the risk-reward trade off of mtb and trail runs to be impractical for my A race. Thus, I kept this to a minimum and focused on having a quality build and peak period instead. Now that my season is finally over, I took the plunge and joined this event. In my opinion this is one of the best races to get into off-road triathlon; despite being challenging enough, it still keeps you "wanting more" (as mentioned by Coach Mat).

Third, I convinced my old college friend Daniel to get into triathlon. Since I knew that this was a practical race both in terms of cost, logistics, and time, I asked him to sign up for it. To convince him further (partly using him as an excuse), I registered as well.

Lastly, this race also has a charitable side as some of the proceeds from the race would be given to the local community. eXtribe has purchased appliances such as electric fans for the local schools in the area. Some outstanding teachers were also given some awards for their efforts. Since we have been sharing their beaches, roads, and paths during our races, I think it's only proper to give back to the communities.

Pre-Race

Racing 226 exactly a week earlier, I was fortunate enough to have recovered fairly quickly. I had a recovery session with Peakform Manila a couple of days after arriving from Bohol. This gave me some mobility in my legs which consequently allowed me to do proper recovery sessions.

Since eXtri takes place at around noon time, one can go on a "day trip" for this race. We left Manila at around 5:30am and arrived there roughly 3 hours later. Upon arrival, we hopped on our mtbs and did a recon of the bike course. After riding the entire course, we were mentally prepared for what was ahead. I took mental notes of parts that had very loose gravel or sharp curves; I also made sure that I would not make any wrong turns and veer out of the race course.

Swim

The swim is composed of three 330m loops. The water in this area is very calm; I knew we were in for a fast swim leg and prepared myself accordingly.

I did the entire swim leg a couple seconds short of 18minutes. Good enough to be second out of the water but almost 5 minutes behind Coach Mat!

Bike

The bike course is half road, half trail. I decided to hammer the road portion of the mtb as my off-road skills were quite limited. Since mtb riding is more of an upright position, I crouched forward near the handlebars and assumed a more "aero" position. This was definitely not comfortable as my triceps and shoulders were tightening up only after 3km or so. When we went into Brgy. Bulsa, the off road portion began. I decided to play it safe and stayed within my comfort zone. I knew that some more experienced riders would catch up on me at some point. I foresaw this and my game plan was to let them pass and try to follow their lines and gearing. This worked well and I was able to push the pace for the second part of the bike.

Run

I have to say that this run course caught me by surprise. 4km would seem like an easy distance. But I have to say this is definitely the most difficult run course "per kilometer." This was literally 4km worth of pain!

Out of T2, one would go up "the stair master." I went out guns blazing for this part; however, I was huffing and puffing midway. I suddenly remembered race organizer and eXtribe president, Eric Imperio's tip during race breifing: "walk up the stairs." My calves were still shocked when I got to the top. The very steep hill a few meters after it also added to the pain. "Why the heck am I still running?" I thought to myself. I walked up the 20%+ grade slope and tried to get my heart rate down. My legs haven't recovered and were really close to cramping up. The thought of a DNF entered my mind; thus, I did my best to recover. I was so dehydrated and the fact that we were required to wear our helmets for the run course made things a lot more difficult.

Thirsty, tired, and over-heating, I was really reaching my limit. "Death before DNF" was something I kept on repeating to myself and tried to soldier on. My strategy of walking up the hills and running down didn't work as the downhill portions were too steep. I had trouble keeping my balance; I was even thinking of sliding/rolling down the hills to save time/effort.

When the mountain portion of the run was done, we went towards the shore for a beach run. Kudos to the Baywatch stars as running on the beach was harder than it looked! My shoes had no traction on the loose sand. It was like running on a treadmill. High leg turnover, high heart rate yet you were barely moving. The rocky stretch on the beach was also difficult. One would have to lunge over boulders and some of these rocks were quite slippery. I'm lucky to be agile and flexible enough to maneuver through these obstacles injury free.

During the stretch near La Luz Beach Resort, the finish line seemed so near but it was extremely difficult to reach it. Finesse was out the window! I knew the guy behind me was so near; I was powering myself through the sand. After I crossed, my heart rate was through the roof! I took off my helmet grabbed several cups of Gatorade and cooled down.

When everything sunk in, I was so proud of what I went through. It was something unique; something I had not prepared for, yet was so rewarding! I finished behind Coach Mat (that's a given) but I really had to fight hard for second place. 

Nicely designed Finisher's Towel

Moreover, to put things into perspective, doing that run leg once is already hard but the residents of the area have to walk that course everyday!

Mr Eric Imperio, Joyette (1st Women's Regular), del Carmen (3rd), Coach Mat (1st), Me (2nd)

After thoughts

There is benefit in training/racing with your mtb for road racers like me. It gives you a mental break; the change in scenery is always welcome. The fields, trees, and mountains are a far cry from the asphalt, pollution, and vehicular traffic we encounter on the road. It also challenges your concentration skills. Roadies have a tendency to "doze off" when riding open streets; once you get your rhythm going, most keep it steady and consistent. With mountain biking, you're always on your toes and you have to react to the terrain instantly. One must focus on what's ahead: "Find your line and commit!" Indecisiveness can often get you into more trouble. A mountain bike is also ridden quite differently. The cadence required is higher and one must have more power for acceleration and short hard efforts. I find this to compliment hill work and heavy gear riding for road/tri bikes. Obviously, handling is an huge part of riding the trails. It can give you more confidence on the road especially during slippery or wet conditons.

**Thanks Ivan Fojas for the pictures :-)

Timex 226 2012 Race Recap

Peak and Taper

Coming into Timex 226, I had already gone through what most would call a full season (or two). I kept the intensity up the whole season  by constantly joining races. Though most have been concerned whether this would be detrimental to my health and performance, I honestly knew what I was doing. Each race, whether an A, B, or C race had a purpose; I had not gone into them blindly without considering the greater picture. I had a goal, I knew what I needed to do.

A couple of weeks before race day, I knew I had a good build, peak, and taper when I really felt like crap. The drop in mileage, abstinence from caffeine and junk food really wreaked havoc on my system. I felt sluggish, lethargic, and irritable: typical widthrdawal symptoms. "How can you race feeling like that?" was a question that was often asked. "Well, things will only get better" I replied.

Pre-Race

Jeremy, Enzo, Ugi, Eya, Me (Team Secondwind-Sun Broadband)

During race week, my body was steadily priming itself for the race. I had scheduled my "off" day on Thursday which coincided with our travel day. To get to Anda, one would have to spend an hour on plane and  two and a half hours in a van. The following day, we knew things were going to pick up.

Andapants Run

A day before the race, organizers scheduled the Andapants Run which emulated the "Underpants Run" in Kona, Hawaii. This is a charity event where racers and their family/friends donned their underwear to participate in a short "fun run." For each of the 60+ participants for this event, the organizers would donate 5 shirts to the local school children in Anda.

This really set the mood for the rest of the week as initial shyness and apprehension was brushed aside. "Bawal mag tag sa Facebook," "No posting ha?" and "Hoy bawal kumalat" were some statements I often heard; ironically, they said this while gamely posing for the camera! After half an hour of PG-rated fun, all the racers felt closer to one another.

Race Day

Swim 2.4 miles! Bike 112 miles! Run 26.2 miles! Brag for the rest of your life. ---Commander John Collins

Race morning seemed like any other training day; I went through my morning rituals, checked and double-checked my gear. Within an hour, we were off to the plaza. Once there was daylight, nerves settled down as the racers and their families took snapshots of one another; the enormous task ahead seemed distant from most of their minds.

It's Time!

The Swim

The swim leg starts roughly 150m from the shore. One would have walk towards the sea and traverse through corals, rocks, and sea creatures. Despite the sandbags laid out on the path, some were still unlucky enough to encounter the sea urchins and their spikes.

An Epic Day Ahead!

Water Start

After a short countdown, Raul Cuevas and Congressman Art Yap sounded the horn which officially began the race. Unlike last year, the participants seemed more eager now; they went out with guns blazing. I was quite surprised when I had to sprint the first 200m to gain position; unluckily, I got caught up behind a group of swimmers and lost sight of the stronger swimmers ahead. After the first turn, things started to settle down. I knew I had to regain lost time and pushed quite hard to close down the gap. After 5 to 10mins, I was able to form a pack with a few strong swimmers like Raymond Ordoveza, Mark Rivera, and Philip Atento. We stuck with one another for the entire swim leg as we knew there was strength in numbers. By forming a swim pack, we were able to draft off one another and push the pace harder. This also made sighting and navigation a lot easier.

After one loop, I looked at my watch and read 23 minutes; we were right on target. By the second loop, waves started to pick up. This, however, was no problem as we were still able to do the second loop in about 25 minutes. During the last loop, things went from bad to worse. The waves were enormous. We struggled keep within a few meters of one another. As each strong wave hit our group, we would get pushed apart. Whenever this happens, we would consciously seek out one another to try and regroup. To make things even worse, the boat stationed near the turnaround got detached from its anchor. As we went around it, I noticed that I could almost reach the sand beneath me, I realized that it had drifted towards the shore.

After the swim leg, we were very dizzy and disoriented. As we were guided by the volunteers along the sandbags, I tried to regain my sense of balance and focused on what I had to do next.

Off to T1

The Bike

After a sloppy T1 I was off to the bike course. I decided to wear my bike jersey as It would give me some protection from the sun and it had enough pockets to carry my 2,000+ calories worth of nutrition.

Early in the bike, I settled down on a steady pace. The swim took a lot out of me and I waited for my body to recover. I waited for my heart rate to go down as I tried to get in the necessary calories. The first loop, was more of a "warm up" for me. I had trouble reaching my usual power numbers. I didn't force it and knew that it would only be a matter of time. During this part, a lot of racers passed me; I tried to stay patient and stuck to my game plan.

By the second loop, I was ready to push the pace. I steadily increased my effort and got a rhythm going. This is where I started to catch up on the cyclists who had a gap on me. After reviewing my data files, I found out I paced the bike very evenly. This allowed me to close down on the guys ahead of me whilst staying fresh.

Trying to stay aero for 180km is hard

Moreover, I timed my nutrition perfectly and had no gastric distress or bloating. I noticed early on that the pre-mixed Gatorade was a bit diluted compared to what I usually drink. This concerned me as I might not get in the necessary calories. I made a gamble and decided to get my special needs bag and added a flask of EFS Liquid Shot and two extra Shotz gels to my banquet. This was more than what I used in training; luckily my body absorbed it quite well.

With around 40km to go, I was surprised when I caught Martin "The Machine" Lorenzo on the bike. I found out he had stomach cramps from his nutrition and ended up vomiting a good part of it. This would be a huge problem for most people as one is basically going into a marathon depleted of nutrients. Martin later on still finished 1st in his age group with a strong sub-12 finish!

Into T2

The Run

The Hosts Kuya Kim and Tricia

One of my favorite shots by Expert Photographer Jijo de Guzman

As I went into T2, I was greeted by Kuya Kim Ateinza and Tricia Chongbian-Concepcion.We joked around a bit and this helped ease the mood and tension. I came out of T2 with a new sense of vigor and I was eager to burn the 42 kilometers ahead of me.

The run leg was composed of 4 loops. My game plan, just like last year, was to think of it as four 10km races. I did the first loop in 55 minutes but knew that it would be a struggle to maintain that pace for the next three. The heat was unbearable for me; I frequently poured cold water on myself as I tried cool my system. By the third loop, I was really starting to feel the fatigue; my legs were starting to tense up and my mind was telling me to stop and walk. I put on my game face and focused on surviving the run.

Struggling through the run

As a mental "break" I chopped up the run leg into segments. I would focus on running towards the next aid station and as I went through each one, I rewarded myself with two glasses of coke, a handful of chips, and a short rest. This kept my mind busy and distracted me from the pain I was going through. By the fourth and final lap I was digging really deep. I knew this was going to be one tough lap and I focused on keeping my pace up even when my body was already shutting down.

My stomach was already bloated, I knew I was not absorbing the calories anymore and decided to take a break from chugging down the cola. As I was running I thought my pace was flying; yet, when I took a glance at my GPS watch, I read a pace of 7-8mins/km (sometimes close to 9). I was surprised as this was far from the 5-6min/km pace that I perceived. The fatigue has taken its toll, the next 5km would be really tough. Each kilometer seemed like an eternity; I impatiently looked at the dark road trying to scope out the markers along the path. As the sun was setting, it was getting difficult to see the dimly lit road. The organizers foresaw this and provided each participant with Energizer headlamps. These could be mounted on your forehead or cap and I can't imagine running the remainder of the course without it.

With 2 km to go, things were starting to pick up. The adrenaline rush kicked in as I flooded my mind with the thoughts of finishing with a new PR. Going into the plaza, I was ecstatic. After I ran through the chute and up the ramp the race finally over, I glanced up to look at the race clock: 11:09. I had shaved off almost 50mins from my previous finish time. "Mission Accomplished" were the next two words that entered my mind.

Post-Race

After a few pictures, I rushed to my phone to tell my loved ones about the good news. I knew that even if they weren't there in Bohol physically, they were with me in spirit. Later on, I spent a while in the recovery tent for a much needed massage. Once my stomach settled down,  I got in some calories to kick start my recovery.

T3: The Recovery Tent

I went back to the Finish line to greet some of my friends. Seeing them happy with what they had achieved also added to my joy. We greeted each other, exchanged high fives and short anecdotes about the race.

Je and Dan

Ronald (finished in Vibram Five Fingers!)

Steph and Raymond

Mr. "First out of the Water" PJ :)

Retzel's Tocino

Javy and Hannah

Jomer and Coach Guy :)

 The next day, the adrenaline rush was still there. My teammate Ugi and I woke up at around 5am ready to go! We were looking forward to the post-race breakfast/awarding as we were already starving!

I was lucky enough Top 10 Overall and Third in my Age Group (29 and Below). This year's lineup was really strong. In spite of the harder conditions compared to last year (choppy swim, windy bike) the Top 19 racers finished in under 12 hours. To put things into perspective last year, I finished just a few minutes under 12 and it was already good for Top 10.

Mayor Simacio, Cong.Yap, Me, Gerrie Calinawan, Franz Baguio, Timex GM Avinash Uttamchandani, Raul Cuevas

Time to replenish the 6,000+ Calories burned

After awarding, we chilled out in the hotel/resort and spent time in the pool or jacuzzi. Our season was finally over, it was time to relax and have fun. Later into the day, we had another post-race party which was definitely a banquet. Three lechons, trays of shrimp, plates of shellfish, several kilos of roasted chicken, a pot of clam soup and heaps of fruits were served. Once again,we were starving, and the organizers/hosts did not disappoint!

There was a bit of fun as the live band played and a few triathletes joined in on the fun. My role models Levy Ang and Bobby Go showed off why they were very popular with the ladies as they showed off their musical talents. Other good friends TJ Isla, Erick Guieb, Omar Paredes, and Jomer Lim joined in on the fun "Gangnam Style." And there was also an exhibition of core strength, flexibility and agility as Pompo Arroyo, Sam Lapena, and Lee McMeekin's daughter Lauren, faced-off for a limbo-rack match. Hats off to you guys as I would've probably lost during the first round.

Levy's Serenade

Core Strength!

Aside from the actual finish, this was one of the best moments in my Timex 226 experience. Hanging out with the guys I spent training with for the last year was really memorable for me. We exchanged race stories, sentiments, and our plans for next year. Coming from different teams our barkada is not just a training group, we are a brotherhood.

Ronald, Ordo, TJ, Erick, Javy, Levy, Bobby, Me

"Sports can unite a group of people from different backgrounds, all working together to achieve a common goal. And even if they fall short, sharing that journey is an experience they'll never forget. It can teach some of the most fundamental and important human values: dedication, perseverance, hard work, and teamwork. It also teaches us how to handle our success and cope with our failure. So, perhaps the greatest glory of sport is that is teaches us so much about life itself."
---Ahmad Rashad

Timex 226 Official Results:  2012 Timex 226
***Thanks to Bike King and Timex for the pictures. More to come as the official photos get published!