Ateneo Aquathlon 2010: Josiah’s Perspective

I’ve been waiting for my first aquathlon for almost a year and now I am a proud finisher of an aquathlon. By experience, now I know that it is true what they said about aquathlons, it’s twice as demanding as running and the experience was also twice the fun.

The race started at 11:30am for my age category and when the start was near it was all mixed excitement for my first aquathlon and fear that I won’t finish. The plan was simple, do not care about the pace of others and go with my own speed, my goal is just to finish.

It was 600 meters of swim first. Think about 100 men swimming on an 8 lane 25 meter pool, the probability of competitors bumping each other was very high. It was a good thing that my cousin, Enna a member of Trantados, briefed me well on this. I got kicked on the face and I got bumped many times, but it was OK, it was all unintentional (I hope). I think I also kicked someone, revenge is sweet. Just joking, it was all unintentional.

I though I was OK when I arrived at the transition area, but when I was nearing my shoes and other paraphernalias it started to sink in. Blood was rushing through my head and walking straight was a hard task. I wore my socks first, then my shoe and then my singlet. Have you ever tried wearing a singlet with a wet body? It was hard! I had two attempts of wearing my singlet before I succesfully and forcefully wore it.

I tied my number on my stomach and started running. It was first a 100 meter up hill and it felt like I already ran a 10km race. My breathing was different and my arms were tired and I still have to run a 6 kilometer route.

I trained for this event, running almost everyday at Meralco, swimming every Saturdays and Sundays at Marikina Sports Park, swimming with takbo.ph members every Wednesdays and even running from our house to Marikina Sports Park (4kms) then swimming then running back to our house. I also did heat training, running in UP or in our subdivision at 12 noon just to be ready for whatever kind of race the organizers gave me I will be ready. But not any of my training prepared me for this. What I lack is the training for swimming then proceeding to running in just a matter of seconds. Thus simulation is a very important training.

But I’m there running and I’m tired, there’s nothing I could do but to enjoy the race. One foot forward and the other foot forward. Then at some points of the race there were marshalls that would cheer us on. They were really good motivators. They’ll call you by your race number and shout “You can do it!” Really a big help.

And when I was going down the hill for the finish line. I started running fast, making myself look like a strong finisher. It was confirmed, the announcer shouted “437 running strong for the finish line!” WOOO! Was I glad that my display for not looking weak on the finishline was a success.

If my computation based on the pictures that Kuya Daniel, my brother, took is correct this would be my statistics:

Swim: 14 minutes and 5 seconds (70.4167 secs per 50 meters)
Run: 45 minutes and 12 seconds (7 mins 32 secs per km)
Total: 59 minutes and 17 seconds

A big thanks to Ateneo Swimming Team for making my very first aquathlon very memorable and for scheduling it at noon time. I enjoyed the sun. I’m looking forward to a more challenging aquathlon next year. Next time, please do not forget the waivers.

Thanks to Takbo.ph members for the Wednesday night swim, simulation for the swim leg and for the cheering and kulitan before and after the race.

Thanks to Kuya Daniel for being there at the race and taking pictures.

Thanks to Cat, my training buddy, for the support.

Thanks to Kuya Bobong, 102km BDM finisher 14 hours, for coming to support and take pictures of Cat and I in our very first aquathlon.

Total Costs for the Race:

Race Fee of 450 Pesos
Inclusive of

• Race singlet
• Race bib
• 4 gold colored perdible pins
• Race map and guidelines
• October 2009 edition of Men’s Health
• Unlimited supply of Bananas
• Adidas Ateneo shirt in a blue box which costs 2,009 Pesos (it still has a price tag)
• Blue Nova (Smallest Size)
• Crackers (I forgot the brand)
• Happy Aquathlon Experience

Bonding with Cat, Kuya Dane and Kuya Bobong, priceless.

Bonding with Takbo.ph members, priceless.

This picture of me at the transition area,

PRICELESS!

Unofficial results from Ateneo Swimming Team Website

Swim: 13 minutes and 20 seconds
Transition: 2 minutes and 14 seconds
Run: 41 minutes and 44 seconds
Total: 57 minutes and 18 seconds

Here are the pictures that my brother took at the event. Feel free to grab. Enjoy!

Ateneo Aquathlon 2010 Pictures

[mudslide:picasa,0,paligsahan,5448812079477434097]