Marge T. Buot

TRIed again

A year after my accident I did a full triathlon race again.

Signing up for a race excites me so when Ces asked me if I wanted to do Tri United Leg 1 I said yes right away even if it was not on my list of races for the year. I told myself this is going to be a test race before SuBIT. And since it’s only a sprint I won’t be pressured so much.

April 13. Went to the FP to do a quick check and headed home early to pack for Laiya. Plan was to sleep by midnight since I have to be up by 5:30am because I have to drop by Spex office to drop off some documents. Well midnight came and was still awake so I decided to give up trying to sleep and just do some organizing in my room.

April 14. Left the house at 6:45 drove to Spex then Petron our meeting place. Few years back this was our meeting place for DIVE, DIVE, DIVE.  When I got to Petron there were so many people so I wasn’t able to get coffee from Starbucks. When the rest of the gang arrived we set off to Laiya. Since most of us have different agendas for the weekend we brought separate cars. Yes, what a waste of gas. But that’s the way it goes. (sad) So from Petron to Laiya I was having a concert inside my car. The drive was longer I guess it’s because I have no one to talk to except the occasional bbm message to Nikko and Kokoy.

Pancake House….used to be our breakfast place when I was still diving

STAR Tollway….the gateway to Batangas

When we reached Laiya it was almost noon and I was already starving. So after parking we headed towards the food stalls and the only food left “hotdog” waaaa had no choice, race in 2 hours and no meal since dinner so I ordered 2 hotdogs and 1 rice. We stayed in the tent across the stage and the heat was just unbearable. We were all sweating while having our lunch and my drink was not cold anymore but warm. After having lunch while walking on the beach I was offered a recovery drink -chocolate flavor. Since it was cold I had about 3 cups but after about 30 minutes my stomach got queasy. And 20 minutes before gun start I was in the bathroom. I know that I shouldn’t take something not in my usual meal but it was hot and the chocolate drink seems perfect. 

Bea, Hazel and Ces checking out the swim course under 35C temp

At exactly 2:30 the gun went off and everyone dove to the choppy waters of Laiya. After two loops I headed to the transition area and got ready for the bike leg. Aside from the usual bike stuff I have a new gadget it’s the elbow support! So my transition was longer than anyone. Haha But I don’t care cause safety is my priority. 

Several days before the race I was thinking whether to use my cleats or just use rubber shoes but my friends said I should use my cleats so I did with the hope that I don’t fall cause I only biked out with my cleats once before the race. So after heading out Playa Laiya I was on pasyal mode. Yes, I let the everyone go ahead of me cause I know that if I’m the last one I will have my own marshall. And after doing the first loop I had my own marshall. So while riding I made small talk with the marshall and tell him to turn his “wang wang” on every time I see bus or fast cars coming my way.

The heat is another story…it was just so hot and getting a drink is hard cause my water  was at the back of my saddle but since I had no choice I reached out for it using my good arm and was ecstatic to be able get it the water, sip and return it without a problem. A big confidence booster indeed.  After riding 30Km under the unforgiving sun I was finally bike in transition. When I entered the transition I saw Tricia already done with the whole thing. Haha. She cheered me and I made my way out to run-walk. I thought I was gonna walk the whole 7Km because I was so exhausted of the heat but when I started running I was surprise that my legs were doing okay. And with the cheers from friends and strangers I was able to complete the 7K. 

I was the last one to cross the finish line but it didn’t matter I came to Laiya with just one wish and that is to conquer it and I did. I almost cried when I cross the finish line cause I knew I’m back to doing one of the things that I love. And to my boys…thank you for waiting for me at the finish line it meant a lot. ♡♡♡

After swimming, biking, running and walking I conquered Tri United Leg 1.

Thank you God for keeping me safe during the race. Thanks to Coach Dan, Beacon-Fivefingers Tri Team especially to Argo, Monki, Ces, Nino, and Vlad. My favorite boys Raffy, Kokoy and Nikko, Coach Kaye Lopez and my Saturday training buddies!

XTERRA!

Yes, I swam 1.5K!

I’ve been planning my comeback race since last year. So on the night of January 1 while on a vacation I was already making my race schedule for the year and vowed to make sure that I comply with it.  The first race was supposedly a relay for the 1st leg of the NAGT but since the relay event was cancelled I wasn’t able to join. The next target race was the Xterra where I decided to do the swim portion. And by God’s grace I wasn’t the last one out of the water despite the fact that I was swimming on a relax pace. I promised my team that I’ll do it an an hour and I did just that. Haha

with the girls -checking out race route

SATURDAY. After brunch we went to the race venue, I was planning to try the course just to get a feel of it since it will be my first open water swim since last year’s Xterra but the water was choppy so I decided to just hang out and exchange stories with other triathletes.  

with Kat and Karen

SUNDAY. Our driver arrived at around 2:30AM. Panalo! We made him wait cause we told him to pick us up at 4:30! So we left the condo and headed to Amara. 1st order is body marking and I was body marked by Coach Guy Concepcion, the Race Director himself. After getting our body marks we proceeded to the start area and there were already lots of people. I checked out the water and it was wilder than last year. I told myself I’ve been on much wilder water so there’s no need to worry. I’ve been swimming for the past couple of weeks with a much longer distance than the 1.5 that I have to conquer so just do it. 15 minutes to gun start and I made my way to the water. I saw my Xterra friends and stayed with them while waiting for the start. 

At exactly 7am the gun went off and I started swimming. My plan was to start away from the buoy and swim towards it halfway in order to avoid getting kick. I started with freestyle but the waters weren’t so cooperative so I started doing breast stroke.  After completing the first loop I checked my watch and saw that I was faster than last year so on the second loop I took my time cause I know I’ll be able to fulfill my promise to my teammates.  Since it was a floating start I had to go and climb the stairs so that I can pass the chip, after exiting the water I hear everyone cheering for me and even the host was saying my name. I thought I was the last one out and they were all waiting for me to get back to the shore safely. I ran to transition and gave the chip to Kat who was ready to do her thing. After Kat left I got several hugs from dear friends Tricia Chiongbian-Concepcion, Ces Hufana, Nino and Karen who all knew that this was my first race after my injury. It was just so overwhelming. Nino and Ces who were my teammates the previous year said I was faster this year despite the water being wilder. So I then tweeted that I conquered the wild waters of Liloan.

Grateful to God for allowing me to race again. Thanks to Coach Dan Brown, My Xterra Family -Kat, Karen, Nino, Vlad and Ces Hufana, Michelle and Richard Santiago, Coach Kaye, Kuya Coach Argo, Nikko, Beacon-Fivefingers Tri Team, and Padyakers Group for your words of encouragement. And special thanks to my dearest Joey Gaisano for letting us stay in their condo. ♡

Santiago de Compostela

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