My best mate in Cebu the night after the race. We had a good laugh when I told him my story from last year.
Similar logistics to last year. It's only a 4.5 hour direct flight out of Narita and this time I flew on Cebu Pacific, an LCC which I preferred to Philippines Airlines from last year. Not much is different, but they tried harder and were very friendly. This time I booked a room in a local diving resort hotel located on the run course about 1.5km from the main race hotel and base, the Shangri-La Mactan. But I was lucky enough to score a room for three nights at the Shang at the last minute, so I split my stays between the two hotels. And my roommate at the Shang was my amigo, rival and last year's AG winner Ernesto. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
This year the race was designated as the 2016 Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship, and for the first time held outside of Australia or New Zealand. The Championship race will be rotated around the region and next year in 2017 has been set for Penrith, in Western Sydney, Australia. So because of this I targeted this race to try and win the Asia Pacific Championship for my age group. Who knows if I would ever get a better chance? And my fingers were crossed that not many fast Aussies or Kiwis would show up and race at Cebu. Luckily for me this proved to be true.
After my rave report of last year, a big bunch of Triathlon in Tokyo team mates and other friends from Japan signed up. Which has no mean feat as entries sold out in 28 minutes when registration opened on October 1st. So there was plenty of support and fellowship before, during and after the race. This also helped to make it a even better day. And Cebu is a really nice place to hangout and enjoy. It has embraced the race, once again there were tens of thousands of people out on course watching the race and cheering loudly. Nothing like it!
Pre-race
This year I decided to join two of the official training events. The Ford Ride Out and the TYR Swim Out. The swim was a cool event and very short at only 180 meters, But the first 500 received a nice TYR t-shirt which was a good score. And afterwards we swam the course as practice. I made this prediction which turned out to be true. There is a first time for everything!
The Bike Out was a lot different than expected. I joined it with Jess Ripper and Michael Gay. While we had a police and race officials on motor bikes escort, and the intersections where manned by police, we took our lives into our own hands riding through the frantic Cebu traffic. I had a couple of near misses; I very nearly got taken out by a kid wheeling three huge Durian on a barrow. Now I know why some people hate Durian, one of the hazards of South East Asia. The ride took us to downtown Cebu to breakfast at the Cebu Government House with a short address from the Governor, and a lot of "one more!" group photos. I kissed the pavement when I made it back to the Shangri-La unscathed. The highlight was riding most of the way back behind a very attractive female motorcycle cop called "Posh". There is always a bright side.
Made it there, now had to get back in one piece.
My RaceMy Race Check Review is HERE.
Some of the Tokyo crew before the race.
The Transition area for the 2,900 racers.
The swim start at the Shangri-La Beachfront
1.9km Swim Leg
This year I jumped up one block and started in the sub 30 minutes group. Not that I can swim this fast in a non-wetsuit swim like Cebu, but I hoped that I would avoid the "non-swimmers" that I had problems getting around last year. This is one of my two complaints about this race. It is a "self seeding" rolling start, but a lot of locals seed themselves in faster blocks than they can ever possibly swim in. All a bit silly as your race starts when you cross the starting line so it doesn't matter if you are up the front or not. They really need to fix this as it is not fun trying to swim through packs of slow swimmers doing slow breast stoke or hanging off the course ropes and buoys. Everyone should summit a swim time from a previous race and then be allocated a block accordingly.
Had a decent swim and probably should have gone a bit faster, as I swam nearly all of it by myself. Couldn't find any "fast feet" to draught off to save energy. A disadvantage of starting up the front. But I was happy with my time and I got to the bike feeling strong. Then I made the rookie mistake not taking off my swim skin before I removed my bike from the rack. But I only took a few steps before I noticed. I would say I lost about 30 seconds here. I hoped it wouldn't come back to haunt me as I had lost last year by less than 50 seconds.
Out of the water.
90km Bike Leg
Now for my only other complaint. It was narrow and congested when trying to leave transition. For whatever reason this year they had switched the sides of the path to the bike exit around where we had to run with our bikes. It was very narrow and you had to stick to single file. I got caught behind a big fat guy doing the relay who was walking his bike very slowly and had to "remind" him that it was a race. Something like "get the Fu@k out of the way!". He sped up.
The exact same course has last year. Just wish that they would pave the first couple of hundred meters heading out of transition as it is was still a rough gravel road. Then you ride 13km out past the airport, up and over a big bridge (the only sort of hill) and then you hit the M shaped main section of the course. 16km into a stiff headwind and 16km back with a raging tailwind x 2. Not mainly riders out on the course in front of me (about 100 including the pros), so I had a good for me, fast ride. I passed more riders than who passed me. And for the first time I "spun out" on the downwind legs even though I had a small 11 cog on the back. Could not have ridden any faster. My new bike loves the wind and it was a lot more fun than last year as I now knew the course. Plus I was able to see most of my Tokyo friends on the course and yell out encouragement to them. And from them to me.
The rough, bumpy start to the bike leg out of Transition
Up and over the big bridge.
Staying aero into the strong head wind.
21.1km Run Leg
I left transition feeling pretty good even though I had put in a bike effort on the bike.It's a short run to the main part of the course then two 10km laps. A lot is under tree cover, except for the infamous "Microwave"; the last 2 or so kilometres right at the end of the loop. Exposed and super hot. But with a lot of cheerleaders, bands and lady-boys to perk you up. This race has the best aid stations I have even seen at a race. With ice, ice water, cold water, sports drink and cola, gels and food about every 1.5km. It was reported that it was a little hotter this year over last. I had a bad patch on the second lap up at the Microwave, but managed to get through it okay and finish strongly. And this year I again saw Ernesto during both laps, but this time he wasn't gaining any time on me.
Getting cooked in the "micro-wave".
On the run.
Final push to the finish line.
Just managed to stay upright after a stumble at the top of the ramp.
Pushed myself hard to the finish line and very nearly took a big fall when I stumbled at the top of the finisher's ramp. But I stayed upright. They called me as being 12 minutes faster than last year, which I was stoked with. Knew I was faster, but I didn't check the overall time during the race.
For me it was just a matter of getting to the finish line ASAP as they have the best set up of any race that I have been to. A cold water shower to cool down, the wading pools full of ice with cold cans of beer floating in them, a huge massage tent, ice-cream, flavoured milk, food and more beer. This time I jumped into a wading pool, cracked open a beer, then got out and had a massage while I waited for my friends to finish. Then back into the pool and three more cans of beer. It doesn't get much better than this.
After the finish.
It was only when I cleared transition with my bike and gear when I was able to check my result on my phone. Champion! The beers would taste extra good that night.
DIV RANK: 1 OVERALL RANK: 105
| RACE SUMMARY | |
| Swim: | 35:02 |
| Bike | 2:37:07 |
| Run | 1:53:56 |
| Overall | 5:13:41 |
This is a great race to do with friends due to the nature of the course. Shouts of encouragement to friends on the bike and run courses, and high fives on the run makes it even more enjoyable.
Reached my goal of winning my age group at an Ironman 70.3 race. I have never missed the podium at a 70.3 race in Asia Pacific, but had never won my Age Group. So to do it in such a big race was was super pleasing and I am still on a high. Am I the fastest and best in my age group in Asia Pacific? No way! but I was the fastest to show up on the day. This may never happen to me again, so I will lap it up while I can.
It was all worth it.
Finally I wish to relay my sincere thanks to my coaches, training partners and friends for the great support. Special thanks go out to my two swimming coaches; Hirano-san from the NAS Osaki Triathlon School, and Coach Lisa from E3 Fit. I get the best of both worlds. Speed and endurance from NAS, and core strength and technique from E3 Fit. Thank you! I self-coached myself for the bike and run and must have done a decent job of it.
My next, and last race for this year, is the 2016 Ironman 70.3 World Championships on the Sunshine Coast of Australia on September 4th. My home town! Am really looking forward to going back for the first time in four years, racing over a course that I know, sharing the experience with a big group of friends from Japan and catching up with family and friend while I am there. And scoffing a meat pie or two.
The Next Day
TiTer Jemerson Vierneza arranged a boat trip for snorkeling, island hoping and a beach-front lunch at a local restaurant, as well a few more well earned beers. It was a perfect day for post-race recovery. Thanks again Jem, and to all who joined.
Island hoping and snorkeling.
Life's a beach!
A glimpse under the water at Cebu.
