Getting to travel to new places and meet new people are some of the best things about racing. I highly recommend doing at least one event a year somewhere you've never raced before. For athletes who race often like myself, this could be quite a challenge over time. But lucky for those of us living in the Philippines, new destination races are popping up everywhere, and they're only a road trip away!
Last Friday, my friend LC Langit and I took a 6-hour bus trip to race Tri NOAH in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. We did the inaugural olympic distance last year, and we were eager to come back for the longer version last Sunday, November 16. The bike course was extended out to the beautiful coastal highway, and the new run route took us through the small villages nearby.
Last Friday, my friend LC Langit and I took a 6-hour bus trip to race Tri NOAH in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. We did the inaugural olympic distance last year, and we were eager to come back for the longer version last Sunday, November 16. The bike course was extended out to the beautiful coastal highway, and the new run route took us through the small villages nearby.
Gorgeous, spectator-friendly set up at the Narvacan Outdoor Adventure Hub (NOAH). Swimmers could be viewed over by the bridge, and cyclists passed this road for each of the three bike loops.
We took the Partas bus that departed from Cubao at 10:00pm, and arrived in Candon city at 4:00am, where we stayed with our very gracious triathlete friend, Charlie Lao. Two tips: (1) Travel in the evening! It's much faster and you can sleep through it. (2) Arrange for a home stay instead of booking a hotel. It's always more fun to hang with the locals - they'll know all the important things, like what the race course is like, and where the best places to eat are!
Yep, LC and I got the kids' room. Ahhhhhhh zabenyaaaaa! (Sorry LC, I had to post this :p)
Yep, dude came out of the water just in time for the pic. Trying out the very beginner-friendly swim course - three loops of 600m in very cool, clear, and shallow waters.
Also a beginner-friendly bike route for Tri Noah. Three loops of 20-km going around the NOAH compound and out to the coastal highway. Traffic was well controlled, and the air smelled so fresh and clean!
photo by The Running Banker
The run took us trough two loops of 7.5km concrete and narrow dirt roads through the local villages. It was fun being cheered on by so many kids, and I am not exaggerating when I say I heard, "Ay, babae!" (Oh, female!), more than 50 times in my first loop alone! Happy to finish first female, with Kristina Beckendorf and Anna Stroh in 2nd and 3rd.
photo by The Running Banker
And because we did multiple loops for the course, we participants were also able to watch each other race. Or at least I was watching! Haha. It was exciting to see the top two men, Robinson Estevez (above), and August Benedicto, coming back from the bike u-turn together for each loop. They were also together when I spotted them on the first run lap. And on the final lap, Robinson created a big and decisive gap to take the win. A very impressive and gutsy performance from this young man from Pangasinan, who just recently made the jump from duathlon to triathlon. Looking forward to seeing him race elite in the coming years. Rounding out the men's podium was Mervin Santiago.
And here I am the following Tuesday morning in Phuket, Thailand! We bussed it back to Manila that Sunday evening after the race, and arrived 4:30am in Manila the next day. It was a Manic Monday of packing, launching this site, doing last minute errands, going to a meeting, and finally to the airport for a 7:20pm flight, and getting settled in by midnight in Phuket. Still feeling sluggish from all that traveling and sitting, but excited all the same for the Laguna Phuket Triathlon this Sunday the 23rd, and the Challenge Phuket on the 30th! Manila, I'll see you in December!
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