Sports: Whiterock Triathlon 2011

event poster

2 km swim. 91 km bike. 20 km run.

On October 1, 2011, 150 participants braved the hardest Whiterock triathlon yet. Winds, rain, floods, debris – nothing could stop the endurance athletes that dared to conquer the vestiges of Pedring’s wrath and the threat that is Quiel.

Pre-race

A week before race day, Extribe (race organizer) had been monitoring weather conditions. I arrived 4 days before event day and I was able to pass by some areas in Bataan severely affected by the floods — rice paddies were turned into lakes and roads turned out like rivers.

No, this is not part of a river. these are the rice paddies that pedring converted into a lake.

The race day was sandwiched between typhoons Pedring and Quiel. Contingency plans were made to make sure that the athletes will be safe and, that no matter what happens, they’ll still get a fulfilling multisport experience. Multiple times in the day, comprehensive weather conditions and updates  are checked via several online sources.

On registration day, the sun actually decided to come out for a while. At this time, all segments of the race course was declared passable. Things were actually looking up and the team decided to push through with registration.

Race kits. Photo by: Anina Mendoza

Registration went smoothly. As the day went by, I was able to witness the very endearing camaraderie between athletes. For the veterans, it seemed like they were just checking in for their yearly reunion. For the newbies, it was the first irrevocable step to test out what they have trained for in a long time.

Medical screening desk. Photo by Ana Ravago.

Of course, everybody had to pass by the medical screening area where the participants are interviewed and checked to ensure that they can finish the race with grace and dignity. For most of the newbies, this was the table where they were asked  if they were really ready for something like whiterock.  Most of these newbies will remember Kit, who straightforwardly asks (or as some people refer to it-  terrorize) those who might not be set for a challenge like this. The medical team’s aim is not to scare people but to make them realize that, aside from physical training, there are different aspects to be considered in preparing for endurance events. As part of responsible race organizing, Extribe has incorporated the screening for participants to fortify safety measures for our athletes.

Dr. Kit in action. Photo by Anthony Yu.

Race briefing with special portion for first timers. Photo by Anina Mendoza.

Race Day: Swim

The day started out like an ordinary gloomy habagat day – overcast skies, relatively calm waters, soft winds. The rain from Quiel initially came at around 3 am, but it stopped an hour after – even before body marking and weigh in started.

Before swim started

Darryl (swim/run manager) and Eric (race director) announced a possible slight delay  in th race start due to technical problems in the swim leg but to everybody’s relief, the race started on time.

start arch

Swim start. Photo by Anthony Yu.

All eyes were on the water at the gunstart. The buoy line was slowly displaced by the waves into a curved path – placing part of the course near the shore, forcing the participants to walk in a certain part of the swim leg because the water was too shallow to swim in. As the leg progressed, the waves became stronger. All kayaks, lifeguards and jetski marshalls were on high alert to make sure all participants were safe.

swim leg

To most of the athletes, the swim was the toughest part.  Waves and the strong current stood in the way of everybody. Some confessed that the swim was like a boxing match, each wave seemed like a punch that made the race even more challenging. It was evident in each loop that participants took lots of effort and perseverance to overcome the open water swim.

swim caps. Photo by Anina Mendoza.

Race Day: Bike

Debris, flats, wind – these were the impediments the triathletes encountered during the bike leg. And in true Filipino fashion, the road was half-closed — the same way it was since Whiterock triathlon started 8 years ago. This set-up makes the bike leg a bit of a challenge since each participant had to bike responsibly especially in the busy municipalities. They had to go through busy districts before they could reach the very scenic and low population areas of the bike course.

Hermie, our senior bike mechanic, at work. Photo by Anthony Yu.

The government of Zambales was very enthusiastic in giving their support for the activity — multiple ambulances deployed in every town, local government units were always in the loop during planning, traffic enforcers were assigned to critical points. The Medical support they gave was overwhelming. Most of the medical situations happened in this portion. (I can’t share much –consent and privacy/confidentiality issues). I just thank the powers that be because nothing serious arose and all the involved participants were safe.

bike leg

Race Day: Run

Whiterock triathlon had always been known for the killer run course. You would hear terms such as microwave and dead man’s hill that would refer to very exigent segments of the run course. These segments are notorious for making athletes cramp up and/or get dehydrated.

run leg

Darryl, run manager, guiding the runners. Photo by Anthony Yu.

This year though, the overcast skies and initial drizzle came as a relief for the participants since it wass usually the heat that made the previous’ whiterock triathlons’ run course very hard for them. But come 1:30 that afternoon, the heavy rain and fierce winds came. The A-boards started to fall and an hour after, the finish arch also gave in to the strong wind.

The wrath of Quiel. Photo by Anthony Yu.

Yes, Quiel almost "took" our finish tent. Photo by Anthony Yu.

The managers, due to safety reasons, decided to deploy vehicles to pick up remaining runners in the course. Ambulances were dispatched to pick up participants and bring them back to Whiterock.

It was the last leg of the event, despite the weather conditions and the rising level of flood in some areas; all runners left in the field refused transport assistance, none of the athletes surrendered. All of them were determined to finish what they started.

Finish arch.Photo by Anina Mendoza.

Finish!

This year, more than just an endurance race, the Whiterock triathlon had an adventure race twist to it. Witnessing the race was like watching an episode of Man vs Wild – triathlon style. There were a couple of quirks along the course: a walk segment in the swim, a“swim” segment in the run, domestic pets chasing bikes. If you were one of the last ones in, you’d have experienced the swampy finish path too.

medical tent

Despite the adversities that both racers and organizers encountered, one thing was clear: passion and determination can take you to great lengths.

finisher medal

The participants proved that they were indeed rockstars. Not only did they overcome a difficult course, but they also challenged and triumphed over a typhoon. The 2011 Whiterock triathlon was a race against time, and the elements.

Finishing with pride! Photo by Anthony Yu.

proud finishers

eXtribe, yet again, we prove our resilience.  Despite the setbacks and obstacles; the team proved that trust in each other, passion, love for the sport and faith in the great power that watches over us and all the athletes we do what we do for, will always prevail.

Extribe team at work! Photo by Anina Mendoza.

Extribe timing team. Photo by Anthony Yu.

I would like to congratulate everybody who participated in the race. See you all next year (bring your friends too)!

On a personal note:

This was my first triathlon as Medical Director and the experience has been nothing but enriching. It was different from the other singular races I’ve handled before because at a time, two legs are running simultaneously and you’re forced to multitask,compartmentalize, and be as flexible as you can.

I was very lucky to have  the best people in my team.

>>> >Kit, thanks for the guidance. You’re a very valued mentor to all of us.

>>> >Elaine, kampay! You’ve been my partner in crime since the beginning.

>>>>Cybelle, thanks for sharing your time and efforts with extribe.

>>>> The local team – Dr. Rebultan, zambales PHO, SBMA Dispensary and Red Cross Olongapo,; thank you for your assistance.

As a final sharing, this picture will show you a part of how extribe celebrates a successful event.  I call this pic the makeshift barracks bar.

our post-race event

PPS: oh yeah, here’s another thing, I can’t get over how awesome the Wicked shirt was.