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JULY-AUGUST 2014

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iS ShEThE nExT biG ThinG?

claire aDOrNa

ON THE COVERPhoto: Edsel OchoaHair and Makeup: Arlyn Basa, Arriane Basa and Jerry Sebastian

CREDiTS

The Real Dealay 9, 2014, I messaged Coach Ani de Leon-Brown, “Who’s your heir apparent?” Ani would have been the best Philippine Ambassador if she took up Foreign

Service rather than Interior Design. She diplomatically ignored the question and moved on to change the topic. Known for her humility, Ani probably didn’t think she deserves to anoint anyone, more so to have an heir. But I explained to her my question—we were doing a Next Gen issue, feature the new blood to take over this era of Jopson, Macasieb, Benedicto, Huelgas, Araullo-Gonzales and Torres. So on May 26, Ani finally relented and gave me THE name—Claire Adorna.

Our usual next step to validate if the person is cover newsworthy is to talk to the subject. So we asked Ani when we could sit down with Claire for a chat. She told us that it had to be after June 15, as Claire would be competing in the ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup in Taiwan. I immediately asked Ani, “Can we go?” I was thinking, this could be the best way to see for ourselves if she is indeed the next big thing. We could observe her on and off the race course, how she behaves before, during and after the event, how she deals with her teammates, etc. We asked the permission of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines and off we went to Taiwan.

We didn’t plan on doing a live coverage of the race. We were there to observe and take some photos for the article. The race started and we positioned ourselves at the swim exit hoping to get a good shot of Claire coming out of the water. Then we heard, “Leading the pack is the Philippines!” Oh shit, this was suddenly becoming breaking news! We waited—I’m sure it wasn’t more than a minute, but it felt longer than forever. Then came the announcement. “First out of the water, Claire Adorna of the Philippines!” Nakakakilabot pala. It was more exciting than Manny Pacquiao knocking out Hatton. Claire went on to win the bronze. This was her first international competition, on her very first year in triathlon.

On page 03, Bobby Go shares with us just who Claire Adorna is and why we believe she has the talent, heart and mind to do our country proud. After interviewing her, I asked Bobby what he thought of Claire. His answer? “She’s the real deal, man.”

Monching RomanoEditor-in-Chief

M

EDiTOR’S GUnSTART

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : Monching Romano

MANAGING EDITOR : Christian Obmerga

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR : Adrienne Dy

ART DIRECTORS : Johnmer Bautista

Emmeline Sia

CONTRIBUTORS : Art Fuentes

Bobby Go

Andy Leuterio

OneSport Media Specialists, Inc.Unit 217 La Fuerza II Building, Pasong Tamo, Makati City

Publishers/Joint CEOsEdsel Ochoa and Monching RomanoCreativesJohnmer Bautista and Emmeline SiaMarketingPatricia Carrillo and Teresa SorianoEditorial AssistantBabylou Dalida

For inquiries and feedback: Email us at racedaymagazine@gmail.comRaceDay Magazine is published bi-monthly. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in part or in whole, without the written consent of the publishers. The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the publisher. All information, content and services are provided “as is” without any kind of warranty. In no way shall RaceDay Magazine be held liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential damages that may arise from any of the products, advice, reviews or information obtained from this magazine.

Copyright © 2014All rights reserved

Vol. 2 No. 3

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TRi MO KAYA: Dear newbieby Monching Romano

COVER STORY: CLAiRE ADORnAThe next Great hope?by bobby Go

The Science of Sweatby Christian Obmerga

Pride and Promiseby Art Fuentes

Exceed Yourself:Team Unilab Active healthby Andy Leuterio

ThE RACEDAY inTERViEWTOM CARRASCOon the Future of Philippine Triathlon

racedaymagazine

2xUGlorietta 3, Makati

bALESin iSLAnD RESORT

biKE KinGbonifacio high Street, Taguig

biKE TOWnPasong Tamo, Makati

GRAn TRAiLPasay Road, Makati

hEALTh FOODGlorietta 1, Makati

PRiMO CYCLESburgos Circle, bGC, Taguig

R.O.x. bonifacio high Street, Taguig

RUnnRbonifacio high Street, TaguigTrinoma, Quezon CityAlabang Town Center, Muntinlupa

RUDY PROJECTAlabang Town Center, MuntinlupaGlorietta 3, MakatiThe Podium, MandaluyongTrinoma, Quezon Citybonifacio high Street, TaguigSM Mall of Asia, PasayLucky Chinatown Mall, ManilaPaseo de Sta. Rosa, Laguna

SECOnDWinDhome Depot, PasigGreenhills Shopping Center, San JuanTeacher’s Village, Quezon City

SPECiALiZEDPasong Tamo, Makati

STARbUCKSAll branches nationwide

ThE CiTY CLUb AT ALPhALAnD MAKATiAyala Avenue Extension, Makati

ThE ViLLAGE SPORTS CLUbbF homes, Parañaque

WhERE TO FinD US:

02

Dear newbie

TRI MOKAYA

By Monching Romano

ack in high school, I was so good at Math that my teacher, on major exams, would pull my seat beside her and make me take the test within her sight. She

suspected that I was giving out the answers to my classmates. She was right, of course, as that was the deal—I would ace their math tests and they would take care of my biology and chemistry. Naturally, when I went on to college, I took Math. First sem, first year, our math subject was Math 17, Algebra, a course we first mastered in 1st year high school. So I, together with my hambog classmates, mostly from the science high schools and Xavier, didn’t even bother to attend classes. We just showed up on the first day, then on the day of the first exam. When the results were released, I wasn’t even in the upper 50 percent of the class. I started to doubt whether I was the math wizard that I fancied myself to be. It was only then that I realized that I was in the BS Math program of the University of the Philippines, and up against probably the best mathematical minds of my batch.

If you’re a newcomer to triathlon, that may be the situation you’ll find yourself in. Yes, you are an achiever; you take challenges by the horn and flip them like pancakes. If you’re thrown in a group, you’re the defacto leader in minutes; failure for you is not only “not an option” but is unthinkable and downright unacceptable. But we triathletes are all like that. That is probably why we choose this sport—because it’s a challenge worth taking on. So if you think you’re coming in to dominate this sport, it might be good to dial back your expectations a little.

But you’ve made the right decision. Triathlon is more than just a sport; it transcends the physical. It’s comforting to know that if your cruise ship capsizes 5 kilometers from the shore, you can swim yourself to safety; if you get stuck on a storm-induced, street-flooded standstill traffic 10 kilometers away from the airport with an hour to go, you know you could run to get to your cancelled flight on time. Or if you’ve been

rationalized at work, you know you can cover the whole cityon your bike selling binatog. The benefits go beyond the physical wellness.

But a word of caution: Triathlon is much like Hotel California—you can check in anytime you want, but you can never leave. Yes, I know of some who tried or have left the sport. But they pay a price. Either they’ve gained so many unwanted pounds, or they terribly miss the pain and the adrenaline rush that the sport gives.

I’ve been doing triathlons for three years now, practically a newbie compared to the others who have done it for more than a decade. So I won’t pass myself as an expert and tell you what I know, but I will share with you what I’ve learned:

1. Hang out with and listen to the veterans. Believe it or not, I am a shy person. I would rather hang out with my own small group that I’ve known for some time than join other groups that I barely know. But this robbed me of valuable wisdom that I could have gotten by hanging out with the elites and veterans. One very important lesson I learned early on was from an elite I didn’t even know personally at that time—Monica Torres. On the track, I’d always get pissed when a faster runner would shout “LANE 1!” while passing me. I’d say, “Ang yabang naman neto!” It was only when I read Monica’s Facebook post on track rules and etiquette that I realized I was on the wrong. The innermost lane, called Lane 1, is reserved for the faster, fastest runners. So if you have to swap triathlon chismis while on the track, move 4 or 5 lanes to your right. And if you’re caught in Lane 1 and shouted at, don’t get pissed, that’s par for the course. Thank you for that Facebook post Monica.

2. Get a coach. The learning curve would simply be faster if you get professional help. It’s true in most sports and it’s also true in triathlon. But make sure you get the right one. Getting

a coach is much like getting a boyfriend or girlfriend—it’s a commitment. You can’t engage today and bolt the next month. You’ll be seen as a jerk. Also, if you get the right coaching, you’ll reach your personal best faster. And more importantly, you’ll be faster than your triathlon batchmates. So choose wisely. Check their credentials, certifications, race finish times. Ask around. Ask their students. Ask the veterans. Or ask me— monchingromano@gmail.com.

3. Don’t cheat. For a guy whose high school yearbook motto submission was “If at first you don’t succeed, cheat,” I am not about to go moral on you. But the risk-reward ratio to cheat in triathlon is really not that attractive. If you’re gunning for a podium finish and you cheated to get there, you can bet that you’re going to be called out, either by the organizers or by the athlete you’d cheated out of a place on the podium. That’s going to be embarrassing. If you’re an average age grouper and you just want to finish ahead of someone else, I can bet again that that person, plus his friends, are likewise monitoring your place in the race and they’ll notice any sudden jump in your standing. I guess the reward that drives us to cheat is admiration, “Wow, ang bilis nya ah!” But if you’re caught cheating, you accomplish the exact opposite and you’re going to wear the cheater tag forever. That’s why I have never cheated in a race. The logic is just flawed. But that is not to say it hasn’t crossed my mind. There had been times that I was just too tired that I was tempted to do one less loop and go direct to the finish line. But why do it when there’s no compelling reason to do so … so I’d rather DNF a race than take the risk of being called out. And I am proud to say that I DNF’d a lot of races.

I’ve gone through a lot of sports and hobbies—golf, badminton,scuba, gun sport, scooters, photography, culinary, cars. But none of these, not even all of these combined, were as transformational as triathlon. Congratulations, you have made the right decision. Welcome to Triathlon.

B

claire adornaTHe NeXT GreaT HOPe?

Words: Bobby Go Photo: Edsel Ochoa

Race Photos: Monching RomanoHair and Makeup: Arlyn Basa,

Arriane Basa and Jerry Sebastian

FRESh FROM bAGGinG ThE bROnZE in hER FiRST

inTERnATiOnAL RACE in TAiWAn, CLAiRE ADORnA

TOOK TiME OFF FROM hER TRAininG FOR ThiS

RACEDAY FEATURE.bObbY GO REPORTS

WhAT ThiS PROMiSinG LADY iS MADE OF.

04

ho’s first out of the water? It’s Claire Adorna, ahead of the boys—again. The 21-year-old athlete enjoys training and racing with male

teammates, because their high spiritedness crackles and pops, allowing them to feed off each other’s energy and keep their competitive streaks high. “If you want to get better, you have to train with people better than you,” she says matter-of-factly.

The shelves of medals and awards don’t speak as loudly of Claire’s strong work ethic as her discipline of daily training and sacrifice does. She has been swimming since age 7 because she “super liked” it. Plus, competing in as many as seven events on a given weekend really taught her to bring it every time. At the peak of her swimming career, Claire dominated various swimming events and harvested an enviable trove of accolades and accomplishments, even in the midst of meddling and muddled politics among swimming associations.

Claire started on the bike in her senior year in college upon the suggestion of her father, initially as a means of saving on transportation cost commuting to and from school. In addition to the 14-kilometer daily bike ride, father and daughter had their share of bonding as they cycled up the inclines of Sierra Madre, dad on his mountain bike and Claire on a standard roadie, wearing only sneakers. One day, her dad’s friend suggested she give triathlon a stab. Both Claire and her dad didn’t know what to think about this sport, replete with expensive equipment and prohibitive registration fees, and whether it was worth the trouble or not. Her dad’s friend lent them money so she could enter her first race, the Subic International Triathlon (SuBIT). It didn’t matter to Claire that her equipment came borrowed: a bike and helmet from Deo Erik Paolo “Epoy” Timbol, her triathlete boyfriend, and bike shoes from her swim coach. She was only too happy to test the waters and roads of this new world that required her to bike and run after doing what had become second nature to her.

It’s rare for talent to appear out of the blue and impress a field of seasoned racers, but that’s exactly what happened in Claire’s case. At the 2013 edition of SuBIT, Claire

caught everyone’s attention by finishing first in her age group and second overall in the female category. Immediately, other triathlon clubs and triathletes took notice. Coach Ani de Leon-Brown had heard about Claire’s exploits from Doray Ellis, team captain of Fitness First and herself a consistent podium placer, who was markedly impressed by the newbie’s exceptional showing; but Ani had to see this wunderkind herself. She got that chance soon enough, and up close at that.

Claire’s next race, the Safeguard 5i50 in October 2013, once again showcased her outstanding potential, as she swam, biked and ran off with the fastest time among the females, besting the second placer by more than three minutes, including Ani herself, who placed third. All the more impressive was that Claire clinched these stellar performances while she was still fulfilling her commitments as a swimmer for the University of the Philippines at the UAAP games. She hadn’t even begun focusing on triathlon until the beginning of 2014.

During the 5i50 awarding ceremonies, future coach and student stood side-by-side at the podium. Ani wasted no time in introducing herself to Claire and getting to know more about her potential recruit. At the time of her latest triumph, Claire and Epoy belonged to the formidable Tri Clark-Yellow Cab triathlon team. Ani, who belongs to the Unilab Active Health (ULAH) team, spoke to Tri Clark team captain Jumbo Tayag to discuss opportunities and benefits that a move to the ULAH team would bring, even before discussing the transfer with Claire. Tri Clark lost a great teammate in the name of a greater goal, a generously gracious gesture Jumbo made to encourage Claire to follow Ani to ULAH.

Claire and Epoy transferred teams towards the end of 2013. Both would receive intensified training and strict nutritional programs under the watchful eyes of Ani and her husband Dan. But what made Claire entrust Ani with virtual control over her sleep schedule, social calendar and food intake? Probably the fact that the coach made Claire feel at ease right away, plus Jumbo’s assurance that she could learn a lot from her future mentor.

Talent, Training and ToughnessAni is the first to say that Claire is undeniably talented, with the physical attributes and mental toughness that exceed what

has been achieved by triathletes before her. When asked what makes Claire special, Ani replies that the girl can really swim, a critical advantage in a race that starts with a strong swim. She has incredible potential for both biking and running, and is not in a rush to develop these in her arsenal. But she is focused, and puts in the hours. Ani sees in Claire a rare combination of physical prowess coupled with a natural killer instinct. “Claire shows up to do the job and does it,” explains Ani. Then Claire exceeds what’s expected of her on race day.

Her training mindset reveals a natural born competitor. Claire’s words on training: Training is the competition; the race is a bonus. Whatever you did in training will and must come out in the race. If you sacrifice during training, it will manifest during the race. Every day must be productive.

Mental toughness is developed by pushing hard while both racing and training. But just how hard does Claire push? Sick for several days leading up to the Century Tuna 5i50, she raced through a fever, and still came out on top. The cautionary “Listen To Your Body” teaching can be blotted out, thanks to Claire’s high pain threshold, a quality that Ani is aware and watchful of. Claire once ignored a swollen foot and continued to train, until Ani had her see a doctor.

Claire believes in the long-term grind of endless hours in the pool and on the road, and she’s willing to put in the time. These are years that will transform her from her current raw state into a force to reckon with on an even bigger stage. You have to love it—even the run, she volunteers. Her dry land skills need work, and her coach wants to “go gradual and not ramp up hard” in order for Claire to develop the strength, speed and skill needed on land for what she does so effortlessly in the water.

The Big O and The Perfect StormWhen your ultimate goal is racing to be the best, there are few stages in triathlon that accord you the proper venue to showcase your talent—and Claire makes no bones of her intention to race at the most prestigious event of them all. Most would rather speak of it in hushed tones, and being part of it may sound like a dream to many, but the Olympics are as real to Claire as the very ground she trains on. She realizes that the mere mention of the word puts immense pressure on her and the rest of her

W

Coach Ani de Leon-Brown with Claire Adorna

05

support team. But it’s that same pressure that drives her to work harder every single training and race day. Her win in SubIT caused her father to say that training for greater goals like the Olympics was possible; she dutifully agreed with him, but the vision and goal only become clearer when she began training under ULAH and the Browns.

Claire’s timeline for her involvement in the sport is synonymous with her undaunted promise to herself: Don’t stop until you reach the Olympics. Ani shares Claire’s dream and recalls an amusing remark Claire made not too long ago. “Coach,” declared Claire, “aside from the Olympics, I want to break the Philippine record.” This honest and delightfully naïve remark came at the heels of missing the Philippine record by a mere eight seconds in Claire’s first international race (held in Taiwan) this year.

It will take nothing short of the perfect storm for Claire to realize her dream. No one appreciates this situation more than Ani, who knows all too well that variables like bad politics, ego-bloating publicity, and personal distractions can derail even the most impregnable athlete. That’s why Ani asked for the support of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) to ensure unhampered progress, and threw herself back into the national team coaching staff to bolster bench depth. That’s also why Ani constantly shields and advises Claire against letting the hype get to her. And that’s why, aside from the nine o’clock curfew on internet activity, Claire’s Facebook and Instagram posts must be responsible and uncontroversial. She’s a role model to many, and she must assume the responsibility that goes with it.

Claire from Within“Don’t think.” That’s how Claire deals with pressure of racing big. It’s also how she’s able to look past all forms of intimidation that would normally unnerve newcomers from racing internationally or against established names. She has her father to thank for teaching her to look at losses as learning experiences and to move on quickly to improve on her failings. She takes just a day to dwell on a loss before moving on to a brand new day of opportunity to get better. As for winning, she has her own positive spin to it: “If you win, be grateful and put in the work to prepare for the next race. Let your competitors think of you, but don’t think of them.”

Humility, rare in a world of selfie-absorbed poseurs and outsized personalities, is the invisible cloak that Claire wears as natural as her ready, welcome smile. She is almost embarrassed to talk about her achievements, which she considers small compared to what others have attained. This inordinate amount of humility springs from well-intentioned and doting parents, whom Claire regards as her role models, along with Coach Ani. Her mother’s counsel—that “Even with all the medals, you still can’t be boastful, because you still have a long way to go”—buttressed early success in the pool. And her father supplied the best piece of advice which she lives by to this day: “Treat people well. No matter how much talent you have, if you don’t treat other people well, it’s worthless.” So the fear of arrogance keeps Claire grounded, and despite all she has achieved, she feels there is nothing to boast about. It is this humility that partly accounts for her laser-trained focus on her goal of becoming, in her words, “better than now.”

She insists that there is still a world of learning that waits, that her talent is God-given and strictly on loan. She chooses to be happy with what she has and what she does, instinctively aware of the fragility of life and how small gifts and graces can be taken away as quickly as they have been bestowed. And while she continues to work on her triathlon ambitions, her dream career of being a flight attendant after her tri-life will simply have to be put on indefinite hold.

All Together NowIt’s family first for Claire. But there’s also Ani and Dan Brown, practically next-of-kin, who are in for the long haul. TRAP is also part of the caravan that provides the support and opportunities that will actively participate and cheer Claire’s progressive improvement, from small wins at local races, moving to the Asian circuit, and eventually to the World Triathlon Championships. She’s good for the team, says TRAP Coach Rick Reyes, because her instant connection and ease with her teammates creates a ripple effect that is purely positive. Her sense of responsibility and budding leadership contribute to motivating team members, adds Coach Ani.

Claire is aware that triathlon does not involve a miracle shot or a shooting streak. It’s a sport you work very hard at every single day. And she has been raised to keep the faith and to keep on believing, even when others have stopped. While nothing is ever really bothersome enough to keep her up at night, there is the motivation to reach her goals that has her rushing out the door every morning.

With her biological and triathlon family behind her, along with a community of athletes, coaches, friends and well-wishers, Claire can expect to ride a tidal wave of support towards her ultimate dream. And she intends to repay the support of all the people who are pulling and praying for her by working the hardest.

So, is Claire Adorna our next great hope?

She just may be on her way to being that.

If you win,be grateful andput in the work

to prepare for the next race. Let your

competitors think of you, but don’t think

of them.

“

“

Claire with TRAP President Tom Carrasco and teammate Nikko Huelgas

Claire bags the bronze in her first international race in Taiwan.

Bobby GoGrammar nazi, ramen hunter, and all-around nitpicker. He believes it’s better to tell people off than to turn them on, and doesn’t mind being the designated SOB. He has put off plans of having his own radio talk show called ‘So, What’s It To You?’ due to personal safety issues, but still dreams of directing an indie that will blur the lines between art and bad taste.

06

n the summer of 1965, a group of sports scientists gathered to figure out why the Gators, University of Florida’s football team, perform poorly in hot weather. Their discovery led to a deeper understanding of sports nutrition—

particularly the science of hydration—and gave birth to one of the most prominent hydration aids in the world of sports.

Similar to what transpired in the summer of ‘65, Niño Sinco, project manager and sports science consultant of Gatorade Sports Science Philippines, is subjecting Team Gotta to a sweat test to determine the individual hydration needs of its members in preparation for the Ironman 70.3 in Kona, Hawaii.

According to Sinco, the purpose of the sweat test is to determine the amount of sweat the athletes lose. “Technically, we are studying their dehydration,” he clarifies. Throughout the duration of the test, patches were placed on certain parts of their bodies to measure the electrolytes they lose, particularly sodium and potassium. Results from these tests will help Sinco and his team formulate a hydration plan for the members of Team Gotta. “We look at two things,” he explains. “One is how much fluid they lose, and therefore we can tell them how they should drink, before, during and even after races. [Two], after we have the sweat patches analyzed, we can tell them who has a sodium/potassium problem, [so] they can adjust their diets.”

The Lowdown on Fluid IntakeHydration is an aspect often neglected among athletes. To understand how serious the implications can be, we have to first understand how we lose body fluids. Sweating is the body’s natural process for cooling down. It’s an important bodily function that prevents us from overheating. In the process, however, we lose body

ScieNceThE

OF

SWeaTIWords and Photos: Christian Obmerga

07

fluids and electrolytes. If this goes on for too long, it can lead to dehydration, which can manifest as sluggishness, dizziness or confusion. Muscle cramps can set in, or worse, organs may malfunction, which can even lead to death.

Most of us are guilty of hydrating only when we feel the need, or when we are thirsty. Thirst, however, is already an indication that we are moderately dehydrated. As athletes, we need to constantly hydrate to ensure that we prevent dehydration and keep performing at our peak. We may not reach a point of dehydration where our organs start to malfunction during races, but that doesn’t mean we can take hydration lightly. Sinco reveals why: “Researches … done over the years have shown that a ... two percent body weight loss due to dehydration … is equivalent to a 20 percent drop in performance.” That means an athlete weighing a hundred pounds who loses two pounds from sweating will only be performing at 80 percent capacity.

“For an athlete, that means you’re gonna slow down, and that’s a big factor. And if you look at 70.3, 20 percent slower is a lot of time,” Sinco stresses. “It’s also been proven [among] basketball players and football players. The skills are also affected. So if a shooter is [making] five out of 10 from the free throw line and is dehydrated ... then there’s a probability he’s not gonna be shooting 50 percent.”

The Problem with Triathletes To combat this decline in performance, the key is to minimize dehydration. Sounds simple? Not for triathletes. According to Sinco, triathletes are always dehydrated. In fact, it was revealed that four of the Team Gotta athletes were already dehydrated, even before the tests began.

Sinco stresses that hydration is equally important during training and races. “You don’t want to go into a training session or start the race already dehydrated, because you’ll be playing catch up all the way. And the problem with triathlon—[from my experience as a] former triathlete—is that, during the swim leg, there’s no way you can rehydrate.” So if you didn’t plan your hydration correctly, by the time you get to T1 you are already dehydrated.

He suggests that the ideal opportunity to compensate is during the bike leg, hinting that it’s actually okay to slightly overhydrate during this part of the race. By the time you get to the run, as much as you want to avoid dehydration, you

wouldn’t want fluids to bloat your tummy and slow you down. “It’s really important that on the bike, that’s where you can do all the rehydration, and even overhydrate prior to the run, because you can’t drink as much on the run,” he advises.

Another probable cause of dehydration during training and races: taking salt tabs and gels without drinking enough water. Read the fine print on the packet, it always says to take them with water. If you don’t, “it will draw water from your tissues to the stomach. It will actually dehydrate you further,” warns Sinco. “Remember when you eat food—even on a regular meal—water will be drawn into the stomach for digestion, it will all be brought down to a certain level … and that’s what happens with salt tablets. Because there’s too much salt in the stomach, it will draw fluids from the tissues that surround it. It will dehydrate you.”

The upside: Although dehydration is still a common problem, through years of testing athletes from different sports, Sinco’s team found that Pinoys are less likely to have an electrolyte problem. He speculates that it’s probably because of our salty diet.

Avoiding the DroughtTaking a sweat test, like Team Gotta members did, will help reveal exactly how much fluid is lost per hour in order to adjust hydration plans accordingly, days before the race. For those who haven’t taken the test, below are some tidbits of information to minimize dehydration:

The average Filipino athlete loses 1.1 to 1.5 liters of fluids per hour depending on body size—the bigger you are, the more you lose.

The recommended fluid intake per hour is equal to what you lose.

The American College of Sports Medicine suggests that for activities 45 minutes and below, water will do to replace fluid loss.

For activities beyond 45 minutes, sports drinks are recommended. They contain water, carbohydrates for energy, and electrolytes, which replace what you lose through your sweat.

SWeaT....

Team Gotta Tri, founded by Kim Atienza, Mark Gorriceta, Gilbert Remulla and Erwan Heussaff, is a group of like-minded individuals who share a common passion for fitness. The team represents unity, brotherhood and a common goal to betterment. Formed about three years ago, it started as a running group and eventually evolved into a Tri Team. Its current members include Isabelle Daza, Kevin Fule, Adrien Semblat, Mark Hernandez and Raymond Racaza.

Post-race reportRight after Kona, we talked to Mark Gorriceta, Adrien Semblat and Erwan Heussaff of Team Gotta to find out how the sweat test has helped them.

RaceDay: How did the sweat test results help you in your nutrition and hydration during the race?

Mark: No guesswork. I knew when to take my hydration—Gatorade, water—as a result of the sweat test.

Adrien: I knew I had to drink at least 1 liter of fluid per hour—which I did, even forcing myself—and pie, at least twice—which I did, too. The sweat test gave me the key performance indicator that would lead to an optimized performance.

Erwan: I was able to properly calibrate my ... fluid intake.

RaceDay: Following these adjustments, did you notice any difference in your performance or in the way you felt during and after the race?

Adrien: I felt good before, during and after the race. No cramps, just constant energy. And I did a good performance overall. I would hydrate the same way for the next race.

Mark: I felt better in the bike leg. I was able to survive the run despite the tough run course and very hot, humid weather.

RaceDay: For serious athletes like you, how important is the awareness of your dehydration level?

Adrien: My performance, motivation and energy level drop when I am dehydrated. Being aware of my dehydration level [prevented me from] penetrating these red zones where I suffer too much, or get mad at my performance.

TEAM GOTTA TRi

Photos above: Courtesy of Mark Gorriceta

08

country like the Philippines needs its champions. In the midst of perennial struggle with economic and political problems, national athletes provide a

vital source of pride for a populace that is often starved of real life heroes. It’s easy to see why Filipinos revere Manny Pacquiao, the Azkals and Gilas Pilipinas. These athletes carry the flag whenever they compete, and Filipinos see their triumphs as the nation’s triumphs.

Like these sports icons, Filipino triathletes are also determined to bring honor to the country. Triathlon may still be a relatively young sport in the country, but Philippine triathletes have already made great strides in the international arena.

The National Team, composed of Team Captain Nikko Huelgas and members John Leerams Chicano, Kim Mangrobang and Claire Adorna, is one of the strongest teams in Southeast Asia. The juniors, who also represent the country in international events, are Justin Chiongbian, Jared Macalalad, Jimuel Patilan, Julius Constantino, Louie Lalanto and Vicky Delido who represented the country in the recently concluded Nanjing Youth Olympic Games.

“In Southeast Asia, we are leading,” Coach Ani De Leon Brown said during RaceDay’s interview with members of the Philippine National Team last July in Makati. She also conceded, however, that there is still much to be done. “Kahit sa Asia Cup, medyo hirap tayo. But we are working to close that gap,” she quickly added.

For the CountryAthletes strive to win for a variety of reasons. Some do it for personal glory. Some do it for the prize money. Others do it to bring honor to their community—whether it’s their town, province, or alma mater. But it is on an entirely different level when you do it for your nation, when you carry the hopes and dreams of millions on your shoulders.

RaceDay spoke with three of the key personalities in the National Team, for a glimpse of what fuels their drive to wear the country’s colors.

For Nikko Huelgas, it’s all about legacy: “I get to tell my future children that I fought for my country.”

John Leerams Chicano, or Rambo to his teammates, is in it for national pride. “Masaya kami na nare-represent namin yung country natin sa ibang bansa.”

Coach Ani is fueled by a promise the future holds. “Kaya ko ‘to ginagawa, because I really feel the urge to carry on,” the coach said, referring to her dream of getting a Filipino triathlete to compete in the Olympics.

But for now, Coach Ani admits that their goals are a bit more modest. At the Asian Games this September, they simply want a higher ranking. “We will be very happy if we get into the Top 10. If we get into the Top 5, that will be very, very good,” she said.

But lest you mistake them for underachievers gunning for something less than the best, you should probably consider how far they’ve come as individuals in the sport.

Nikko is the first Filipino triathlete to break the two-hour barrier in the Olympic distance category, clocking in 1:59:44 in the Muscat Asian Beach games in December 2010. He’s also won the National Triathlon Championships twice.

Meanwhile, Rambo grabbed the silver medal in the 2010 Asian Duathlon Championships. He’s also emerged as the top Filipino male finisher thrice in 5i50 races sponsored by Century Tuna and Safeguard.

As for Coach Ani, she’s racked up an incredible list of achievements herself—the first from the Philippines to break into the Top 10 in the Asian Triathlon Championships back in 2005; the first Filipina to qualify for the Ironman World Triathlon Championship in Hawaii; and a regular podium finisher in Ironman competitions in several countries in Asia.

The Price to Pay You can expect our national athletes to give their all for the country, often times setting aside a lot of things that a normal individual can’t live without. Their achievements require a lot of sacrifices, which members like Nikko and Rambo know too well.

“Most of my time was eaten up by training, and after that I needed to rest and recover—[not just physically, but also] rest mentally, so I could listen to class,” Nikko said, recalling his early days adjusting to the demands of being in the National Team.

The young athlete was still a student at the De La Salle University (DLSU) when he was invited to try out for the Philippine Team. Back then, he was a member of the

AFrom left to right: Justin Chiongbian, Jared Macalalad, Vicky Deldio, Jimuel Patilan, Julius Constantino, Louie Lalanto, Nikko Huelgas, Claire Adorna, John Leerams Chicano, Jefferson Tabacon, Anthony Lozada, Rick Reyes, Ani de Leon-Brown and George Vilog

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PriDe aND PrOMiSe

DLSU varsity swimming squad, and just starting to get into competitive running when Coach Rick Reyes discovered him.

Nikko had to balance his studies with his commitments to multisport training and competition. This was anything but easy in an institution like DLSU, where academic excellence is expected of every student.

He added that he also had to forego the simple joys of college life, like socializing with friends. Because he was a triathlete—and a member of the National Team to boot—he had to watch what he ate and drank. This meant avoiding drinking sessions. His strict schedule of training and recovery also meant that he missed out on a lot of college events.

“I can’t adjust to my friends. They have to adjust to me. It was difficult,” he continued.

The challenges that Rambo had to overcome to be a member of the National Team were even more daunting.

Triathlon is without doubt an expensive sport. The cost of a good tribike alone already puts the sport beyond the reach of many ordinary Filipinos, and Rambo doesn’t come from a well-off family. His father used to drive a jeepney, and now a van.

Like Nikko, he was also still studying when he was invited to try out for the Philippine Team. But unlike Nikko, Rambo was already a father then to a newborn baby girl. He had to balance

being a student, a father, and an athlete. “Sa umaga, magte-training ako. Pakatapos sa hapon, mag-aalaga ako,” he said.When Coach Melvin Fausto discovered him, biking was all that Rambo knew. He wasn’t a runner, and he didn’t even know how to swim.

Despite these difficulties, his family encouraged him to continue training and pursue his dream of becoming a national athlete.

Coach Ani understands the pressures of being a national athlete. She has been a member of the National Team since 2001. From 2001 to 2006, she represented the country in events like the Asian Triathlon Championships and Southeast Asian Games.

But Coach Ani admitted that there were times the pressure got to her, and at one point she even thought of quitting the sport.

For one, she had to deal with parental pressure. “Ang expectation sa akin ng parents ko is for me to get a real job,” she said.

Then there was the financial aspect. Despite her successes, triathlon was sucking away her savings. “I was living from race to race,” she mused. The country’s multisport scene was still very small then, and making a living as a triathlete seemed like a pipe dream.

Today, triathlon has become a huge industry. There are lots of companies eager to sponsor athletes. Government support for

triathlon is now also on a more solid foundation compared to the past.

Coach Ani is thankful that she stuck it out, and that she has become one of the most in-demand coaches in the country. But she also thinks that there is still a lot of room for the sport’s growth. Still, she believes that with enough hard work and perseverance, Pinoy triathletes will soon be able to bring glory to the country.

While loftier promises are still a horizon away, for now, the nation’s champions are setting their sights on the challenges immediately ahead of them. Rambo desires to qualify for the 2016 or 2020 Olympics, while Nikko’s thoughts are on the Asian Games. “I just want to focus on what’s to be done right now, because that’s what’s most important,” Nikko says.

Words: Art Fuentes | Photo: Edsel OchoaHair and Makeup: Arlyn Basa, Arriane Basa and Jerry Sebastian

TRiAThLETES OF ThE PhiLiPPinE nATiOnAL TEAMCARRY ThE nATiOn TO biGGER AREnAS.

Art FuentesRides motorcycles and maintains the blogwww.outsideslacker.com where he writes about biking, running, climbing, zombies, and lots of other stuff.

eXceeD YOUrSelFAs most of the members have regular weekday jobs, it is challenging for them to find a common time, thus they resort to training in smaller groups. Whenever possible they train together as a team, continuously pushing each other to exceed themselves.

Sometimes they’ll have an opportunity to accomplish a session as a group. Other times, they may have to train solo if that’s what their program dictates. Most of it is fun, but sometimes it can also be lonely. That’s the cost of success—never mind the temporary isolation.

On race day, team ULAH is one of the loudest, happiest and the most competitive teams you’ll ever find hanging around near the finish line! Every time one of their squad is called to the podium, high fives, cheers and whoops erupt from the ULAH tent; they all know what it took to win and are genuinely happy for each individual success.

Naturally, one of the benefits of racing under the ULAH banner is getting the full support of their title sponsor. With the ULAH Sports Nutrition System, their nutritional needs are met with products like Enervon Activ multivitamins for pre-nutrition to build sports stamina, Active Health Sports Gels as energy-sustainers for during race energy needs, and Enervon HP Recovery Drink for post-race nutrition recovery. The team members are given assistance in various activities that can help ensure they have the support to achieve their personal competition targets, ultimately allowing them to exceed themselves.

With the racing season just past the mid-year mark, Team ULAH has already garnered an impressive array of medals in both the Elite and Age Group ranks. Yet, at the end of the day it’s not so much about outright victory against their peers that motivates them. Whether going for the win or a new Personal Record, it all comes down to looking at oneself in the mirror and asking if one has truly done his absolute best. For Team ULAH, it is about doing the work, living well, and yes, Exceeding Yourself.

mong the dozens of teams that are ever present in any major triathlon in the country is the Unilab Active

Health team. With a roster of both Elite-level athletes and Age Groupers, Team ULAH has quickly grown over the past two years as one of the most dominant teams in the racing scene. Their Elite athletes like Claire Adorna, Philip Atento, August Benedicto, John Leerams Chicano, Mark Hosana, Kim Mangrobang, Ben Rana and Anna Stroh are regular fixtures on local and international podiums, mentored by power couple Dan and Ani de Leon-Brown. In fact, it’s more of a surprise if for one reason or another, they finish out of the top five.

The Age Group members aren’t slouches by any measure either, as exemplified by consistent Top Five placing by the likes of Drew Arellano, Bic Here, Andy Leuterio, Javy Olives, Meyo Rodriguez and Deo Erik Paolo Timbol among others. As any experienced athlete can tell you, life in the Elite lane or in the competitive Age Group scene requires a measure of commitment and discipline that can almost feel like a second job.

For the Elite athletes, a win takes them a step further up in the world rankings. For the Age Groupers, it’s about reaching a new personal best, breaking barriers, and yes, garnering the prestige and recognition accorded to one who has battled adversity to make it to the podium.

For all that, one might be surprised to know that Team ULAH is composed of regular guys and girls, with real jobs and real lives. The one thing they have in common? A deep-seated desire to Exceed Themselves.

To go about this, Team ULAH approached the sport of triathlon from a holistic perspective. The Elite squad is coached by Dan and Ani, two of the most experienced coaches and triathletes in the country. They also organize the Next Step series of triathlon camps. Top-ranked Age Groupers Javy, Drew and Adrian Ocampo are coached by Andy Leuterio, who also organizes his own brand of training weekend, dubbed “Camp Alpha.” All the camps and all the Unilab-sponsored races are scheduled in such a way that they complement the existing multisport calendar regardless of race/event organizer.

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TEAM UniLAb ACTiVE hEALTh

eXceeD YOUrSelF

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mong the dozens of teams that now populate any major triathlon in the country, one particularly stands out: the Unilab Active Health squad. With a roster of both Elite-level athletes and Age Groupers, Team ULAH

TEAMUniLAbACTiVEhEALThPhoto: Edsel Ochoa

eXceeD YOUrSelF

From left to right: Mark Hosana, Claire Adorna, Ani de Leon-Brown,Dan Brown, August Benedicto, John Leerams Chicano, Benjamin Raña Jr.

Words: Andy Leuterio | Photo: Edsel Ochoa Hair and Make-up: Arlyn Basa, Arriane Basa and Jerry Sebastian

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TOMcarraScOThE RACEDAY inTERViEW:

On ThE FUTURE OFPhiLiPPinE TRiAThLOn

t’s been more than two decades since the first gun start reverberated to signal the birth of multisport in the country. A couple of years and hundreds of races

later, the sport has proven to endure and has continued to grow to an extent only a few visionaries have ever imagined. RaceDay‘s Editor-in-Chief Monching Romano sat down with Tom Carrasco, Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) president, and Mon Marchan, TRAP secretary general, to find out where the sport is headed.

RaceDay: Most triathletes know TRAP as SuBIT and NAGT races. But what is the real mandate of TRAP?

Tom Carrasco: TRAP is the national sports association for triathlon, and ang mandate ng TRAP is to develop athletes for the Olympic triathlon and the national team. So we are supposed to take care of the foundation, recruitment, formation and development of the national team that will be deployed to the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, Asian Beach Games, the Olympics, and other world championship series. Kasi the International Olympic Committee handles the Olympics and sa matrix niya, kasama ang Olympic Council of Asia which handles Asian Games Continental body. Parang ano yan, world body, continental body under the Olympic movement. Ngayon under the Olympic movement, meron din isang matrix na andun yung International Sports Federation. Yun yung ITU (International Triathlon Union) na may sariling activities din. Andun yung World Championships, World Cup, World Triathlon Series. And then nagme-merge yun sa mga intercontinental championships. Kaya may Asian Championships, pero meron pa ring Asian Games. Kaya this year, walang Asian Triathlon Championships kasi meron nang Asian Games. Ayaw na naming doblehin, para hindi malito.

RD: What are the major challenges that TRAP faces?

Carrasco: Dati yung pag-recruit. … Noong una, if you remember, ilang events lang tayo sa isang taon—dalawa, tatlo?

Mon Marchan: Isa lang noong una, tapos nagdagdag tayo ng dalawa. Tapos si Niño Sinco noon, yung kanyang Everyman Triathlon. Yun lang ang katapat, pero … hindi [lahat] Olympic distance. Ang pinakamahaba noon, yung Olympic distance.Ngayon meron nang Ironman.

Carrasco: Dati konti ang activities, mahina pa ang club system. Ngayon malakas na ang club system. … saka nag-install na kami ng mga pambata.

Marchan: Supertrikids!

Carrasco: Ironkids, tapos pumasok si Batang Pinoy. Si Batang Pinoy ngayon ang qualifying. Sige, mag-Supertrikids kayo, mag-Ironkids kayo, pero sumali kayo sa official national grassroots program.

Officially, ang ginagawa namin, around Southeast Asia, nag-create na ngayon ng 13 to 15 age group. Dati … junior is 16 to 19. Paano ngayon yung mga batang dinevelop namin na trese anyos pa lang, na dose anyos pa lang? … Ngayon may platform na: Batang Pinoy.

Yun na yung challenge sa recruitment. Dati pera, pero ngayon medyo di na masyadong mahirap. ... Nakakapagpadala tayo sa training camp. We are able to access top level coaching system.

RD:And there are programs for the coaches, too?

Carrasco: Oo, ang program kasi, ipapadala mo coach mo, ‘wag lang atleta. Training the trainor, sabay na. Because you’re adapting a system. … We are buying the system. Itong pagka-qualify ni Vicky (Deldio)—di namin ipapadala kasi kalahating milyon ang kailangan, eh. Sabi ni PSC (Philippine Sports Commission), baka may mura-mura? Sige, ganito na lang—humingi ako ng programa for now until the youth Olympic games, binigyan ako ng programa, pero babayaran ko ng1000 euros iyan, so binigay iyan sa akin. The system is what we [acquire].

RD: Is the current training system of TRAP at par with international teams?

Carrasco: Yes, relative to our target at Top 10 in Asia. Para lang makita nyo yung projection nun, yung coach sa Portugal, si Sergio, sabi (kasi pinadala ko na dun si Claire Adorna) ginawan na ako ng programa. Four years to Tokyo 2020, starting November eto programa ko ... Ang laki ng potential nyan. Yung ganoong klase ba. Parang ine-expose din yung mga bata. … So tayo, nakikita namin sa level namin sa national yung potential, papadala namin ngayon sa international training camp yan. Yung mama dun, hahanapin nya yung talagang potential—si Claire nga. Saka sabi nya importante dun yung attitude, physical and mental attitude.

RD: You mentioned that we’re buying the system. Who’s implementing it here?

Carrasco: Kaya kasama yung coach. … Dati padala ko sa kanila [atleta] lang. Ngayon hindi. Sa sports development program ng ITU, pag pinadala mo ang atleta, padala mo ang coach niya. Kasi baka [pagbalik nila] babaguhin ng coach eh. May coach kami nun, marunong pa sa boss nila eh.

RD: Currently, where are we in the Asian Triathlon Scene?

Carrasco: I’m very proud of that. In terms of technical program, Class A tayo. Sa atleta development B; coaching B. Technical, ang dami na. Tingnan mo na yan (referring to local technical officials), ang gagaling nila.

RD: What does the technical side cover?

Marchan: Actually officiating yun. Everytime merong ITU event, we are called upon to serve. Magdu-duty kami, so yung mga positions na nandyan. At saka nung ginawa yung SuBIT dito, did you notice that there were several international technical officials (TOs)? Kasi di naman pwedeng i-officiate nung isang bansa yung sarili nilang bansa; yung sariling local people yung sarili nilang karera. Merong group dun, No. 1 yung sa technical delegate tapos minsan merong assistant technical delegate and then merong race referee, tapos yung iba-iba nang mga chief. … So it’s a long roster of officials per event. Siguro ang sinasabi rin ni Tom kanina, we are proud na yung level ng Filipino TOs tumaas na. Parang Olympic level na tayo in terms of officiating, kasi in Asia dalawa yung Filipino na level 3. Japan has one, Malaysia has one.

RD: Level 3 is the highest?

Marchan: Level 3 is the highest, meron tayong dalawa. So kung iko-compare mo sa ibang bansa, yung mga powerhouse ng triathlon, Japan has only one, China wala pa ... Malaysia isa

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TRAP PRESiDEnT TOM CARRASCO AnD SECRETARY GEnERAL MOn MARChAn PROViDE An in-DEPTh LOOK AT PhiLiPPinE TRiAThLOn’S PAST, PRESEnT AnD FUTURE.

Photos: Christian Obmerga and Emmeline Sia

Tom Carrasco

TOMcarraScO

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lang din. Korea, zero. Samantalang they are very strong in terms of participation. … Saka kumpleto tayo, meron tayong level 1, level 2, level 3 sa ating listahan ng TOs. Siguro ang contributing factor nun, as Filipinos, we are good in communicating. Parang madali nating makuha yung training, madaling pumasa sa mga exams.

RD: Is organizing an event part of your task?

Marchan: Kasama, pero yung organizing, duty yan ng LOC (local organizing committee). Sometimes, yung LOC has local technical officials. Ang ginagawa lang ng TO,io-officiate nya yung event, to make sure na fair yung laban at saka safe. So meron kaming mga manuals dyan na … kailangang sundin mo: Yung water, yung ruta, insurance, medyo may chine-check yung mga TO. Kaya worldwide, na-standardize yung mga events as a requirement of ITU.

Maraming part yung participation ng TRAP sa triathlon, of course yung pinaka kilala natin atleta. Pero behind the scenes, nandun yung coach, tapos nandun yung technical officials, and of course yung leadership. For example, si Tom. Siya yung senior vice president ng ASTC (Asian Triathlon Confederation). So marami syang positions, EB (executive board) member din sya ng ITU. So sa triathlon alone marami syang mga roles dun, which is also helping the Philippines para makapwesto … maging parang main player of triathlon in the world, hindi lang Asia. RD: Do we have plans to be a part of the World Triathlon Series?

Marchan: Not right now. Although we have already successfully hosted and organized a number of Asian Triathlon Championships. Nakapag-host na tayo ng Asian Aquathlon, Asian Duathlon. In fact nung time na Olympic qualifier, dito ginawa yun parang naka-timing for Olympic qualifier. Nung time na yun Japan yung nanalo. Nakapag-organize na tayo ng mga ganung event. I’m very happy na at the end, maganda yung naging perception ng mga participants.

RD: The latest SuBIT was good. What aspect of the race did you focus on to improve it?

Marchan: Dalawa kasi yung aspects na ina-address natin, one is the requirement of ITU, may requirements sila. Mahabang listahan yan. … Another thing that we need to address is yung main customer natin, which is age grouper. They should feel good and have a good experience sa event. I think we work more on the second part kasi before more of dun kami sa ITU part. Nakausap namin yung ITU, okay may resulta, may ranking, it’s done well pero napabayaan yung part na age grouper. Itong year na ito, in-address namin pareho.

RD: Is that why you change the route?

Marchan: No. Hindi naman. The route is affected mostly by the unavailability of Dungaree.

RD: But why the change in the bike route?

Marchan: Ganun din, meron kaming mga kailangan i-address ... una yung mga waves kasi magkakadikit sila. Hindi natin pwedeng idikit-dikit … otherwise, mago-

overlap. We have to consider that. Pati nga yung swim naging isang ikot na lang. Yun ang mga ginawa nating changes and nagkaroon tayo ng sponsor naman dun sa finish line. It’s also a great development kasi nakamenos gastos kami in many parts.

Another thing that we added ngayon which I’m proud of is yung … Asian Paratriathlon Championship. Of course, less known yun kasi “para” nga, pero we’re proud na gawa natin yun saka nago-grow yung paratriathlon participation. Proud din ang Philippines that we have done that kasi kitang-kita ng ITU na Pilipinas ang gumagawa nito. Ang tawag ko dyan, organized chaos—ang dami-daming nangyayari at the same time.

RD: How about our athletes, where are they in the hierarchy?

Carrasco: Japan, China, Korea, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong are very strong sa juniors. Sa second tier, yung B, tayo, Singapore, Malaysia, Uzbekistan. Ahead tayo sa Thailand at saka sa ibang mga Southeast Asian countries. Middle tayo sa atleta. Ngayon, I think nabigla nga sila na nakapasok ang Pilipinas sa Youth Olympic Games. Eventually, I think within five years, we can develop somebody to qualify for the Olympics. And now we see one girl.

Marchan: Kung Southeast Asia ahead tayo. Kung magkakaron ng karera ngayon, champion tayo sa 11 countries in Southeast Asia. Kung Asia, top 10 yung hinahabol natin, siguro for both men and women. Ang powerhouse ng Asia ngayon is Japan, which has hundreds of elite-level athletes; China na talagang high-budget; and Korea. Of course, hindi naman nagpapahuli yung Hong Kong and Singapore.

One of these days makakakita tayo ng Manny Pacquiao of triathlon kasi yung genes natin, it’s there. Yung genes ng Filipino hindi yan katulad ng basketball na talagang mahihirapan ka makahanap ng genes like African Americans. Pero ito meron tayo, somewhere nandyan yan eh. Baka yung mga anak ng atleta ngayon.

RD: If we find this person, what do we need to do to realize his or her potential?

Marchan: Tingin ko process yan eh. Unang-una susuportahan natin yung athlete in terms of yung kailangan nila, coaching, programs and the other support. Mga bata pa yan, most of them are students at that age, [kailangan] masuportahan yung life nila in conjunction with triathlon training. At saka feeling ko yung exposure nila internationally at sa mga karera, they will see the others eh, they will see the Japanese, the Europeans, the other countries—o eto pala sila, eto pala yung career ng atleta. They can easily recognize na eto, ako rin, I can be like this.

RD: So they can benchmark with the international level?

Marchan: May benchmark sila, pwede nilang i-emulate yung mga champions ...

RD: And bring them to an environment where they can really grow and develop as elite athletes?

Marchan: Sama-sama yan, support ng TRAP, yung development being done by the coaches, then the exposure. Ganun naman yan eh. The more exposure you have, the better you perform. Kasi kung dito ka lang sa Pilipinas, for example, karera ka ng karera dito, puro ikaw lang ang panalo di ba? Kailangan lumaban ka dun sa talagang world-class level, kaya we’re doing that. Ngayon nga magkakaroon na tayo ng mae-expose sa Olympics.

RD: Is developing the sport in the country also a part of TRAP’s role?

Carrasco: Yeah. That’s why we’ve been there for 20 years. Dati nga isa o dalawa lang ang [events] ngayon nasa 50 na. Every week meron. Marami nang organizers. Pumasok na ang Ironman system dito, although Ironman system 70.3 pa lang. Yung full-disance may gumagawa pero hindi viable eh. … Kailangan mo ng 500 o 1,000 dyan eh, otherwise yung 80 o 100 na sasali, sila ang magbe-bear nung total cost. Hindi viable, hindi sustainable. Nagawa ni Raul (Cuevas) yun nang two times, three times … pero ngayon mawawala na yun eh. Ewan ko lang kung itutuloy ni Timex o kaya Unilab, kaso is it viable? Is it sustainable?

RD: We talked about safety. Does TRAP plan to perform regulatory functions on the organizers?

Carrasco: As of now wala, but I’m open to suggestions. I’m open to ideas kung kailangan na. Although kami, hindi pa namamatayan. Yung iba namatayan na, noh? Yeah, kasi actually sa global level, nag-uusap na ITU tsaka Ironman. They just had a meeting two weeks ago in Florida. They’re talking about partnership in regulating the races, though not really regulating, but coming up with common rules. Kasi ang Ironman tsaka ang ITU, ang Olympic distance racing, sa elite kontra eh. Kami we allow drafting. Ang Ironman, walang drafting pero yang age group ng ITU, Olympic distance, non-drafting. So dun common, pero ang elite racing, non-drafting. Tapos sila sa Ironman, gusto nila yung mass start. … They have to select a huge place to start a thousand participants. Tsaka nakita mo, inaakay yung bike, hinahatid, may mga ganung rules. Pinag-uusapan na ngayon yun sa international level. Nag-meet na twice ang ITU technical staff and Ironman technical staff.

RD: This is on the international level, which may trickle down to the local setting?

Carrasco: I don’t see the need now, but if you guys in the community think that we should, why not? I’m open. Kasi ngayon, ang focus ko nasa national team.

RD: If we want to have a race, we can go to TRAP and ask you to organize it for us?

Marchan: Yeah, most of the time.

Carrasco: Ngayon meron. Like Senator Franklin Drilon, napaganda nya yung river nila, you know what they invited? Triathlon and dragonboat in October, in Iloilo. The Iloilo river daw malinis na. Na-convert nila. It’s really promoting the place through sports. Okay lang kami. But, basta isasara nyo ang kalye.

RD: Do you think the growth of the sport will continue, or it has already hit a plateau?

Carrasco: Hindi, lalaki pa yan. Considering na ang dami pang nago-[organize] like you know, Defy, Bohol, tapos nga yung kay Raul. Dati TU1 and TU2 lang yan, ngayon TU4 na ano?

So we see more growth, lalo pag naka-develop tayo ng [talagang magaling] ... Ngayon may Olympian na tayo. Puputok yan sa mga bata.

RD: Does the National Team get support from the private sector?

Carrasco: Oo naman. May sponsorship. Si David’s Salon, ang tagal nang tumutulong. Kung tutulong kayo, wag lang produkto kasi yung pinangbabayad sa mga allowances, hindi naman produkto. Hindi naman tumatanggap ng GC-GC lang yung mga yan. Yung ganung klase, operating expenses. That’s why you go to entry fees, which normally cover 40 to 50 percent of the expenses.

RD: So we already have potential athletes …

Carrasco: Potential athletes and a better pool, a bigger pool [for the future].

Marchan: The athletes base, the younger ones.

Carrasco: That’s why if you look at triathlon, under 23 pinaka matanda natin. Wala tayong 24 … Tatagal pa yang mga yan.

Marchan: 30 nga yung nagcha-champion eh, 34 nga yung champion sa Olympics nung Athens sa babae.

Carrasco: Mahaba yung maturity.

RD: What does the community need to do to support the National Team?

Carrasco: I will deliver the goods, I will prove to them that we’re doing the right thing, giving the right solution to the team. Example now is what happened to Vicky. Without the support of others, nagawa natin yun – by giving her the proper training and the proper support.

RD: Do we need community support like in other sports?

Carrasco: Tingin ko mag-create ka muna ng hero eh. Susunod yan.

Mon Marchan