Robyn
Thank you all so much for such a fantastic experience.
Ironman 70.3 Philippines was brilliant.
The support of the local population and all the volunteers was
overwhelming and made it a very memorable race.
I will certainly be encouraging others to do your event in 2010 and
hopefully will also be on the start line again.
Take a bow !
Regards,
Robyn
Moi
This is my personal blog. Im doing this before all the details get mixed up and before i get off this high.
Thank you to all the sponsors, marshals, security, volunteeres and a special shout out to Joe. You will know why in a bit.
I started off with a very conservative swim knowing that I would be one of those who would be running at least a 3 hour half marathon. It turns out I did enjoy myself too much in the water. Came out fresher than I have ever been in any race and was so happy to feel that way. 55:25 I was O.Pos 324.
I was able to hammer, but defenitely not as fast as the otheres out there but it felt like hammering to me, even at the start. I was averaging 30 kph through most of the race. my pre race target was 3:30 but was close to doing a 3:05. I even caught up and passed my friend Jodi Jacinto who exited the water 2 or 3 minutes ahead of me. At around 200m from the 75 km water station my tyre blew (flat #1). After changing my tube I used my co2 inflator and bang the tube blew (flat #2). Afraid of using up all my tubes I ran to the aid station carrying my bike, mountain bike style, and had the mechanic check my tyre. Sure enough the sidewall was split. Using a hammer gel packet as a patch Joe (the ironman chief mechanic and bike check dude) placed 100 psi of pressure on my last tube and told me to slow down and just get home. 500m passed the aid station the patch failed and the tube blew (flat #3). Again I sprinted back to the aid station, kids following and
asking for my bottles, bike and anything ane e verything I could give them. Sorry kids was too busy begging for a tube myself. On the way another rider stopped and gave me a spare tube since I had blown out all my sapres by then (whoever you are man, Thank You So Much You Saved My Race!!!). Joe patched the tyre with another gel wrapper and inflated my tyre with 50 psi and told me another flat would DNF my race. I was able to crawl back to transition from there. 3:50 lost 45 mins at least O.Pos 373. What A day!
I took off almost 12 noon. That was the hottest run I have ever done in my entire life!!! Thanks to Dicky Backman and Brian Ng for staying with me for most of the first loop. Even Dickys walking pace was almost too fast for me. Now I have to thank all the people of the area for showering us with water. If it was not for the teammates and free water showers I would have just sat down and stopped. Then it rained. The best thing to happen all that day. It was then and Tony Fernando’s screaming at me to push that forced me to go from a 10 min pace to around a 6. I dont know, my brain was fried by then. When I was Teddy Tong on the lake and I was maybe 500m behind. A 61 year old Thai based in singapore Mr. Gin Seng (hope I spelled his name right) ran with me and pushed me on. The marshal said 25 mins to go at the top of the lake. Now it was a race to just finish. Was able to pass a sunkist tri guy halfway down the lake and I never looked back from there.
3:00 for a 21k. I was finished!! I kissed my wife and son and went home!
This was by far the hardest ever athletic test I have ever done. Something I would never have been able to finish if it were not for my family, my friends, teammates, Joe and a total stranger who helped me when all else was lost.
It was because of all of You and so many others that I can scream to the world -
A FILIPINO CANCER SURVIVOR HAD FINISHED COBRA IRONMAN 70.3 IN 7:53:57!! Position 373 or 3rd fron the last but a finisher non the less.
Sorry about blabbing.
Moi
