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I was under the water when the gun went off. It took me a moment before I realized that the race had started and that I should start swimming. I start off my watch already in chronograph mode and paddle away.

The swim leg was an out-and-back course: 1.9km out 1.9km back. Buoys with distance markers were placed at 200-meter intervals throughout the course. I check my watch at the first 200-meter marker: I’m progressing much slower than my regular pace, though I’m sure I’m swimming with just as much effort as I normally do. I dismiss the mental alarm and thought it was just due to the fact that I don’t swim straight. I did stray quite a bit on the first part of the swim, paddling closer to the boats to my left than the buoys on my right.

But even when I was able to manage swimming at a more or less straight line from buoy to buoy, I still progressed very slowly. Something has got to be wrong. I can cover 200 meters in as fast as 4 minutes, not more than 6 minutes even if I were tired. But at that time, it was taking me 7 to 8 minutes to cover it. I do the math: I was not going to make the cut-off at that pace. I started to use my legs more than I wanted to.

I got to the swim turnaround at past 1 hour 10 min, raising my doubts of making the 2:20 swim cut-off even further. Luckily, the current was in our favor on the way back and I’m done 44 minutes after.

I take my time in the transition area, catching my breath and drying off my feet before I put on my socks and shoes. I exchange a few words with the Japanese fellow seated beside me, talking about how tough the swim was – thinking back, I don’t think he really understood me. I buckle-up my helmet, put on my shades and race belt, gels already loaded and I’m out of the change tent.

The bike course consisted of one big loop and 3 small ones. All fours loops would take you past rolling hills towards the end of each lap but it’s the climb at the start of each small loop that really takes a lot away from you – many cyclists opted to walk their bikes up this particular incline. I thought that if I’d do as they did, I might end up tiring my running legs and lose precious time on the bike leg, so I decided to just ride it up, standing on my bike whenever it proved difficult to stay seated. On my second lap on the small loop, I was beginning to doubt whether I could still ride that one final lap that was yet to come. The heat and terrain had taken its toll on me and I’d been absent-mindedly riding in an upright recovery position instead of a more efficient aero position. I was already in zombie mode. I was no longer paying attention to my speed, all my body wanted to do was feel comfortable amidst the sweltering heat and hills.

A slight panic set in when I’d realized how slow I was going. I wasn’t going to make my target time at the rate I was going. And so I hammered down on the crank with all that I had, taking advantage of the down hills so that I had enough momentum to make the inclines less difficult. Just one more lap.

I had targeted a 6-hour bike finish and had brought food just enough for that target time. When I saw that I wasn’t going to make my 6-hour target, I took one gel I had reserved for the run. This choice would take its toll in the marathon.

I rode past the 170-km sign, which marked the end of the third loop and the last 10 kilometers to the transition area. All I could think of by them was to get off the bike and take the burning shoes off. I finished the bike course 48 minutes past my target time.

I started off the run course feeling much better than I had expected. I thought that if I could maintain a 6:00min/km pace then I’d be fine. I was only able to do so up to the first kilometer. Soon as I was out in the sunny part of the course, my pace began to slow to a jogging pace. I would stop at each aid station (there was one at about 1-km intervals) to cool myself down and re-hydrate. The heat was unbearable. By the third lap, I was down to walking. It took me 3 hours to complete the first half of the marathon. And I couldn’t force my legs to run anymore.

My heart and lungs were fine but my legs had no energy in them. Having already consumed one of my gels on the bike leg and seeing how slowly I was progressing, I was forced to take my last three gels at much longer intervals than I had planned. While there were bars and gels at the aid stations, I did not want to take any since I wasn’t used to the brand, and I didn’t want to have to have to pay an unnecessary visit to the porta-potty.

The sun had almost gone down when I was about to complete the third lap. I decided I could start skipping aid stations and start trying to jog again. Bad idea. Turns out I was already severely dehydrated. I would try to relieve myself every so often but hardly anything fluid would exit my body. I started feeling light-headed going out for my fourth run lap. I was forcing myself to drink water but still no effect. It’s as if my body wasn’t processing the fluids. Sweat was a mere glaze on the surface of my skin. The ambulance that wailed past me several times was foreboding. I pause for a few moments. A fellow Filipino participant pulled-up beside me and got me moving again and we paced for most of the final distance.

I was still de-hydrated and I had one more lap to go. I knew I had to get fluids into my system somehow so I would take a sip of Coke, water or Gatorade at each aid station so I could try to re-hydrate. Out of gels, I ate a slice of orange and a piece of cookie to somehow get a boost of energy, though even chewing seemed like a waste of energy in itself.

I’d decided to employ a run-walk strategy, which worked for a while but I would walk more than I would run. And then I thought: if I were going to walk, then I might as well walk fast. Another fellow Filipino prods me to run as I head for my last run out to the U-turn, and from there, I somehow managed to get back into a good run-walk ratio – I could again run more than walk.

On the last kilometer, I pulled-up all that I had left and made a mad dash to the finish, watching out for that single most important thing I wanted to carry to the finish line: the Philippine Flag. There it was. A member of the Philippine delegation was readying it. I slow down to grab it and unfurl it as I run down the last few meters to the finish line, the Philippine Flag trailing behind me. At 15 hours, 28 minutes and 59 seconds, I heard it: “Number 100 Tobias Miguel Bernardo from the Philippines! You are an Ironman!”

POST RACE:

Three things that greatly affected my race were the heat, race and nutrition plans (or the lack, thereof). I was told that temperature had soared up to 42 degrees Celsius. And I was in it for at least 12 hours (the sun rises in Langkawi just after 7am and sets at almost 8pm). I was too eager on the bike, despite knowing that this wasn’t my strongest discipline and knowing that the bike course was a difficult one. As for the nutrition, I was too complacent that I’d brought just enough according to my target time. I didn’t have a contingency nutrition plan. The heat and terrain I was not prepared for enough; I really just have to train more. But, perhaps, if I’d been more relaxed on the bike, giving myself more time to finish and if I had made some allowance in my nutrition plan, then maybe (just maybe) I might have raced better. By the end of the race, I’d lost 5 kilograms and I had to be re-hydrated though IV.

Triathlon is a sport wherein experience counts a lot. At first, I’d felt bad seeing how these much older participants would cycle or run past me. But having gotten to know some of them, it seems they’d been doing triathlons (and IM distances) for quite some time and they knew just how to race it. I started doing triathlons not even a year ago. My first triathlon event was a mini-sprint distance mid-April of last year, and this is only my fifth triathlon event.

I had my target times for each leg. I only made one. But still and all, I don’t feel that bad about it. I did not give up. I took a beating but I fought back. I finished the race. I AM an IRONMAN.

NOTE: This story was contributed by Tobias “Ias” Bernardo, one of the trustees of RUN4CHANGE INC. You may email him at nomad@run4change.com

The assembly will be at 11:00pm in front of the Malcolm Hall, UP College of Law. We aim to gather over 200 people to participate.

We’ll firm up on the details but it would be great it a lot of people can join us

Email us at info@run4change.com or call us at 02-2168521

We would like to show that as Filipinos, we should take the first step towards a brighter future. TakboJuan will be held in the UP Diliman campus, with distances of 3k, 5k, and 10k. The objective of this event is to allow the youth to show their love for their country by participating in the upcoming elections.

The regular Juan has the power over his future. Our organizations would like to unite the youth to help them realize that despite having different views on candidates, we should unite to get the right candidate elected.

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REGISTRATION CENTERS
UP IE Club (College of Engineering)
Isko Computer Center @ UP Shopping center
Blessings @ Vinzons Hall
Second Wind Running Store @ Maginhawa St., Teachers Village
All Terra Club 650 @ C-5 Libis

ON-SITE REGISTRATION will start at 4:30am

REGISTRATION IS ONLY P350 inclusive or race kit and SHIRT!

Entrepreneurial Ad Hoc Team,
Megaworld Corporation McKinley Hill,
San Mig Coffee Pro-Health,
and Mizuno

in cooperation with
Slimmers World and Pocari Sweat

present:

FEET on FIRE:
Race Against Cancer

run + fashion show
for the benefit of the Cancer Warriors Foundation

Nov. 8, 2009 (Sunday)
5 AM
McKinley Hill, Taguig

3k, 5k, 10k, 15k

with 10% discount for parties with at least 10 participants

* Fees inclusive of a singlet
* Top three finishers per category get prizes in cash and GCs
* Runners get 10% discount from Mizuno
* on-site registration accepted until 5AM

Visit entrepreneurscircle .multiply. com or email feetonfire09@ yahoo.com
Contact Maf (0917-9318533) or Kaycee (0917-8675300) for details

(instructions and maps can be downloaded here)

Official time provider: TimeMasters
This event is also brought to you by: Second Wind Running Store
Official online media partner: ClicktheCity. com
Special thanks to: Fruit Magic and Plato Wraps

[DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM

FEET ON FIRE PROGRAM:

5:00 AM: Start of stretching

• lead by female instructors from Slimmers World

5:30 AM: Start of 15k run
5:45 AM: Start of 10k run
6:00 AM: Start of 5k run
6:15 AM: Start of 3k run
7:30 AM: Fashion show

• Mizuno clothes (tops, bottoms, shoes) + UPCE merchandise (shirts and baller ids)

8:00 AM: Announcement of winners

• Awarding and release of race results

10:00 AM: End of event

We have the oldest at 63, the youngest at 18, the heaviest, the sickest, the heaviest woman, the most number of contestants and the longest season. It was also different joining them on their experience from being huge to being extremely active.

Here are some before and after pictures:

This is Jerry. He’s the oldest at age 63. He won the at home prize of $100,000 for losing over 54% of his starting body weight. Amazing!

[read more here]

[Photo courtesy of Ben Chan]

It was taken during the Nike Human Race (31.08.2008). It was the time when I was at my so-called “PEAK”. It was when I had passed some people I had been training with and it was also when I realized I loved hills! This race was held at McKinley hills. I think it was one of the very first events that used this venue for road races.

Can anyone guess who’s standing next to me in the picture below? (HINT: She’s now a Nike Human Race Ambassador) Yes! It’s Bards Bathan, the Nike Ambassador of Team BananaRunning. She was actually the person who inspired me to put up my first blog after I had visited hers and read her amazing weight loss story.

[L-R: Passion Runner, BananaRunning, DATC, runner, RunningShield. NOTE: I'm sorry, I don't remember the name of Patrick's friend. Photo courtesy of RunningShield]

[L-R: Passion Runner, JunC, RunningShield. Photo courtesy of RunningShield]

read more here

OPERATION BLESS RIZAL
WHAT: A Benefit Dinner & Lighting of the 80ft Tree of Hope
WHERE: Sweet Harmony Gardens, Tanchoco Ave. Barangay San Juan Taytay Rizal
WHEN: October 17, 2009 / 6PM (Open house starts at 11AM)
HOW MUCH: P300 per person or P3,000 per table sponsorship

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As of today, Taytay alone has over 26,000 people that are displaced due to flooding. Let us continue reaching out by supporting this event. 100% of proceeds will be donated to Operation Blessing for the the benefit of the vicitms of typhoon Ondoy in Rizal.

Please invite your friends. We guarantee it will be a great night of music & dinining in the most beautiful of ambiances.
Click Here To View Sweet Harmony Gardens Facebook Profile.
Click Here To know more about Operation Blessing.

WHAT IS THE RESCUE RUN?
TRR is an organized run where, in lieu of registration fees, donations will be collected for the distance you will run. This is not a race so there will be no souvenir t-shirts, no swag bags, no finishers medals, and no prize money.

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There will be no water stations since we believe that water must be given to those who need it most: victims of Ondoy. Needless to say, it will be KKB (kanya kanyang bote or kanya kanyang belt)

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A registered participant will receive a RESCUE RUNNERS race bib, which the runner can wear during the race and in sustaining events currently being planned for the entire month of October to raise funds for rehabilitation.

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WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? WHY NOT VOLUNTEER AT RELIEF CENTERS OR DONATE MONEY?

Effort comes in many forms. Not everyone has access to go to a relief or evacuation center to help out. While everyone wants to help or pitch in, their jobs, families and other factors make it difficult for them to do so. We are organizing the run as a means to help. It’s purely voluntary.

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Meager resources are poured into the effort. This run is a no-frills run. The only add-ons such as the tents, p.a. system and race bibs are contributions from volunteers that will help in organizing the run, nothing more.

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Help isn’t a one-time, big-time effort. Undoubtedly, help is needed immediately. But with the extent of devastation that the floods have caused, the need for aid could be overwhelming. Instant relief won’t give people their homes back. The victims still need the means to rehabilitate damaged property and rebuild their homes. That takes time and a steady stream of resources. The Rescue Run is a means to help in that regard. We hope to be able to provide aid in other ways down the line–be it through food, rehabilitation or construction material.

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WHEN:
October 10, 2009, Saturday
Assembly: 5:30 a.m.
Race start: 6:30 a.m.

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DISTANCES: 3km, 5km, 10k

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DONATIONS:
Individual: P200 for any distance
Corporate: P5,000 for 20 runners

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VENUE: SM Mall of Asia

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WHO CAN JOIN:
- open to all athletes, their families and friends
- anyone who is willing to help while getting a few minutes of exercise
- participants are encouraged to collect pledges from their family or friends who cannot make it to the event

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For those who are interested to volunteer, participate or donate items, please email rescuerunners@run4change.com

BENEFICIARY:
All proceeds will be donated to the Philippine National Red Cross for the Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) victims.
Our goal is to help provide a continuous supply of food and water to the stricken areas.

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All donations turned over will also be delivered directly to on-going relief and rehabilitation operations.

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For more info, visit http://run4change.com/rescuerun or email rescuerunners@run4change.com

]]> http://run4change.com/2009/10/rescue-run/feed/ 0 http://run4change.com/2009/09/a-look-back-at-the-deans-cup/ http://run4change.com/2009/09/a-look-back-at-the-deans-cup/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:39:57 +0000 Passion Runner http://run4change.com/?p=366 The UP Law Dean’s Cup – I’m guessing this will probably be one of those most sought after awards or distinctions one can get from the UP College of Law.  What is interesting is that one doesn’t even have to be a lawyer or law student!

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Preparing for the bar

As a means of preparing its students for the bar, the UP College of Law made several programs like the specialized bar review program for its recent graduates among other things. No one ever expected the Dean to consider engaging in sports to improve the College’s bar passing rate.

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There is supposedly a study that suggests improved cognitive function among individuals who engage in physical activities such as sports. It is also theorized that individuals who engage in sports are less stressed, have a more positive outlook and overall aura.

Breaking Stereotypes

Aside from serving as a way to improve bar passing rates for the College, the Dean’s Cup is also an opportunity to break stereotypes. Law students are seen as people buried deep into their books, cases and other readings. They are seen as people who have no athletic prowess, much less have time to engage in any form of prolonged activity that entails physical exertion. Walking up and down the stairs of the library doesn’t count.

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The second stereotype the Dean’s Cup seeks to break is the perceived enmity of the different fraternities in the College, namely: Alpha Phi Beta, Sigma Rho and the Upsilon Sigma Phi. There really hasn’t been any real opportunity for these big fraternities to come together for a common goal. With the Dean’s Cup as a joint project of the big three, the walls that have separated these fraternities will hopefully be toppled.

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The First UP Law Invitational Triathlon and Fun Run

For the first time, the entire UP Law Community prepared and got ready for the first UP Law Invitational Triathlon and Fun Run. How often would you be able to see your College Dean in his Speedos doing laps at the University pool, racing around the academic oval on his road bike and doing a 5km run around the academic oval? Apart from that, almost everyone participated in the 5 and 10k Fun Run or the 2.2km walk.

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The faculty members also took out their trainers to take part in the event. Prof. Serafin Salvador did the 2.2k walk while Professors Jose Laureta and Leo Battad joined the 5km run. Doing the much longer routes were Professors JJ Disini and College Secretary  Sol Lumba.

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The event was organized with having fun as the main concern. The water stations had a lot more to offer other than just water. Handled by the members of the UP Law Student Governmnet, Portia Sorority and Phi Delta Alpha Sorority, they were giving out also Choooocolates from Hershey’s, bananas from Sumifru which were flown in from Davao and cartons of Hershey’s Chocolate Milk Drink. At the main event area there were free ice cream and cotton candy for the kids. Balloons were also distributed to those who joined the 2.2k walk.

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To make things more interesting, a huge Hershey’s Bar and Hershey’s Kiss were walking around and mingling with the walkers, joggers and runners.

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Loads of Freebies!

Thanks to a lot of sponsors, everyone brought home with them a lot of chocolates from Hershey’s like their Special Dark Sugar Free chocolates, Choooocolates (either chocolate or cookies and cream), Chocolate Milk Drink, Eaji Baked Sticks, Salonpas patches and bananas. There were also those who were able to get copies of Men’s Health and Women’s Health Magazines from Summit Media.

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Benefit Brunch Buffet

Right after the fun run, participants headed to the Malcolm Hall lobby for the benefit brunch prepared by Paul Calvin’s Deli. The buffet had Filipino fare with tapa, tocino, longganisa, scrambled eggs, omelette station, garlic rice, assorted pastries and fresh fruits.

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Several tables were taken by the UP Law Classes of ‘84, ’85, ’87 and 2003, together with several law firms such as Carag De Mesa & Zaballero Law Office and the Fortun Narvasa Salazar Law Office.

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Support from the Alumni

The UP Law Class of 1984 who is celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year co-presented the event and took care in choosing the perpetual Dean’s Cup where the top winners of the Invitational Triathlon will be engraved. It was also through their efforts that a lot of alumni who were either heads of legal or human resources departments helped as sponsorships came in from different companies such as FIlinvest Land Inc., Diversion Industries Inc. (Guess), Nestlé (Nescafé), Sumifru, Parko Supermarkets and Citibank.

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Much support came from individual alumni and law offices, namely from the following:  the UP Law Class of 1981 and Atty. Mila T. Federis, Villaraza Cruz Marcelo & Angangco Law Office, Quasha Ancheta Pena & Nolasco Law Offices, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Mayor Wenceslao “Pee Wee” Trinidad, Atty. Alexander A. Padilla, Prof. Rogelio V. Quevedo, Mendoza Sayuno & San Jose Law Office, Soriano Velez & Partners, Atty. Evelyn R. Dominguez, Atty. Melinda A. Zuniga, Ana Teresa Arnaldo-Oracion, Romulo A. Espladon, Jr., and Prof. Leo Battad.

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The Beneficiary – Office of Legal Aid

The beneficiary of the Dean’s Cup is the Office of Legal Aid (OLA) which is the clinical education program of the College of Law. It provides free legal assistance to indigent litigants. It is actively involved in public interest cases. It was created for the purpose of inculcating in the students the concepts of public service and social involvement of the legal profession. Through the involvement of the students, they acquire practical training in law practice under the guidance and supervision of the supervising lawyers and the law faculty. It is currently headed by a Director Evelyn (Leo) Battad.

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OLA’s free legal services include interviewing, investigating, drafting of documents, researching on law and procedure, handling cases in court, preparing appeals and review petitions, and seeking administrative and other legal remedies in order to achieve for the poor equal and speedy justice under the law.

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The OLA also provides a placement program for law students who wish to volunteer for public interest work in alternative, development, or feminist law groups in Metro Manila and the provinces.

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The 2nd Dean’s Cup

With the success of the 1st Dean’s Cup, the plans for the next one are already underway. It is already tentatively scheduled for the 3rd weekend of July.