The Hermit Turned Aquathlete

AQUATHLON (noun) - a two-stage race that involves swimming and running...unidentified word in most of the dictionaries but popular among athletes, particularly triathletes...

every breath you take...every move you made..i'll be watching you...

I never thought that Ateneo Aquathlon will be my second official aquathlon...yes you read it right...i joined SheerWill's Aquathlon Cup (SWAC) last year which i consider my first official...my respect to sheerwill who challenged the hermit to swim and later, dared to try aquathlon... 


November 13, 2009...as an aquathlete wanna be, i joined the group of siyokoys and struggled to finish the 400m x 7km x 400m aquathlon...with my guts, i survived but ended up tired and wasted...discovered that swimming and running is fun...

Two months later, another aquathlon was set...i trained hard...tried to learn the strokes and kicks with my friends chelly, argo and decipher...almost every week...we swim, we run..but due to all expenses-paid out of the country trip, i failed to join SWAC4 and missed the challenge...

not a fun neither a marathon...

Again, i got an invitation from a friend to join Ateneo Aquathlon...i am hesitant, afraid that i won't finish the race in an acceptable time...yes i can swim badly, i can run better but not yet ready to level up...thus, convincing power is up on the air until i was altered to register...

with the coach and the manager

March 14, Ateneo Aquathlon d' day....my mind was set to finish the race in 35min...i am prepared...confident that i can do better compared to my first aquathlon...i want to prove something...excitement over tense...my swim-leg went well alternating freestyle with breast stroke everytime i feel tired...however, my run was not good as my swim which i didn't expect...BAD run, that's how i described it...side-stitch strikes again which made me run slow and walk...my body just recovered right after the turn around...

running pic i grabbed from erwin cabbab fb account...link given by the hotlegs

MISSION accomplished...I finished the race within my target time despite of the unexpected circumstances... another event which will be part of my history...i am not yet a good swimmer, a fast runner either...but i believe that there's always a space for learning and improve the sports that i am learning to love...

with ateneo aquathlon commissioner "intimmyd8" 

• salamat rico aka sheerwill for believing in me... i survived again...more SWAC
• salamat coach rodel for motivating me...i was really threatened...2-1-1 na! congrats! (oo na, mas mabilis ka pa rin sa akin kung di ka lang injured)...
• salamat ateneo swimming team for a well-organized aquathlon...from registration to gun-start to freebies...bigatin...
• congratulations takbo.ph certified aquatheletes...and spectators
• gerard and wilnar...humanda kayo! ;)..loko lang...

w/ the sirenas and the syokoys

'til next time

* photogs - argo, timmy, nuttybunny, z and erwin cabbad

SWAC 3..Swak na Swak

Sheerwill Aquathlon Cup 3

Nobyembre 13, 2009

Mahogany One, Taguig

400M langoy, 7Km takbo, 400M langoy

May mga desisyon na dapat panindigan, mga pagsubok na dapat harapin, mga bagay na dapat pagsumikapan, ito ang mga katagang bumabalot sa aking isipan buhat ng ako'y magpasyang lumahok sa Sheerwill Aquathlon Cup 3. Masasabi kong hindi ako handa na sumabak sa ganitong karera, ni sumagi sa aking panaginip na magagawa ko ang bagay na ito. Ako ay isang runner ngunit hindi swimmer, isang novice na walang karanasan sa ganitong larangan. Dahil sa impluwensya ng takbo.ph lalo nila Rico, Ellen, Raff, Marga, Pepsi, Carina, Ross, Rodel at Mccoy, naging interesado ako na matuto. Maaring ito ang simula upang magpatuloy ako sa aking pangarap, pangarap na maging tri-athlete sa darating na panahon.

swac3 registration (by marga, doc pinks, que, cindy)

marking (by tracy)

ready to swim (wave 2) mga nagmamagaling

Biglaang desisyon, yan ang nangyari ng ma-corner ako ni Rico sa SB upang hingin ang aking kompirmasyon na lumahok sa SWAC3. Sa una, ako'y nag-alinlangan ngunit nanaig pa rin ang aking excitement. Tila ba may pintong nagbukas na subukin ang aking pagkatao, isang adventure na maidadagdag ko sa aking talam-buhay.

freestyle! seryoso?

Dumating ang araw na ako'y nag-duda sa aking kakayahan. Matapos mag-sink in sa akin kung ano ba talaga ang karerang pinasukan ko. 400 metrong langoy, 7 kilometrong takbo at 400 metrong langoy, paano ako lulutang, pano ako lalangoy, saan ko huhugutin ang aking hininga, makakatabo pa ba ako? Ngunit, hindi ito naging balakid upang ako ay mag-quit, fighting spirit sabi ng iba, guts sabi ni coach Mar. Sa totoo lang, di ako marunong lumangoy, malakas lang ang loob ko at sadyang makapal lang ang aking mukha. Pinagsumikapan kong magsanay, tatlong araw bago ang karera. Ilang galon din ng tubig ang aking nainom, isang 15ml din ng omega pain killer din ang aking naubos.

ready to run after the 400m swim

Oras na ng karera, ito na, bahala na si Batman kung ano ang mangyayari. Itinatak ko lang sa aking isipan na i-enjoy ang tubig at ang daan. Halong kaba at kagalakan ang aking nadarama bago ang hudyat. Di pala biro ang aquathlon, kaya bilib ako sa mga lumahok at tinaggap ang hamon ni Sheerwill. Here is my salute!

the host, the commisioner and chicksnimanok awarding me (my 1st medal)

Sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa mga suporta, hiyaw at encouragement ng mga taong naging parte ng SWAC3, organizers, marshalls, cheerers, photovendoers at participants. Parte din kayo ng aking tagumpay, seryoso!

the marshalls, cheerers and supporters "maraming salamat"

"Masaya ako dahil natapos ko ang karera. Masaya ako dahil dito ako nagkaroon ng unang medalya. Masaya ako dahil may naidagdag ako sa libro ng aking buhay. Masaya ako dahil nag-enjoy lahat. Masaya ako dahil naging matagumpay ang SWAC3"

SWAC3 class picture

*photos courtesy of carlo and mccoy