The Art of Race Supporting

I have been to countless of races, sometimes as a race participant but most of the time as my husband’s cheerer. While some of the race supporters find it boringly grueling to stay under the heat of the sun just to see their racer for a few seconds each lap, I find it ultimately exciting.

May it be duathlons, triathlons, or marathons, sprints, standard, or long distance races, here are my tips on how to be a great race cheerer while enjoying the sidelines.

Pre-race:

o   Book a transient place early. This increases the chance to book hotels/BnBs at a cheaper price and nearer the event place.

o   Familiarize yourself with the race course. While the racers do this to know what to train for, us, race supporters do this to know where best to stay during race day for maximum probability to see your racers. Things to check:

• Where’s the start and finish line?
• Where are the route loops?
• Where’s the transition area? (for multisport events)
• How can you go from the start to finish lines if these are not the same points and are not walkable? Are event shuttles available?

o   Know your racer’s targets (pace per leg, total finish time). This will increase your awareness of when you can expect to see your racer at a particular point in the route, especially if there is no tracker available for the race. This is the key in being at the right place at the right time.

o   Know how you can track your racer. If there are race tracker apps, download them at least the night before. If there’s a web tracker, know the website. Explore. Check forums if you must. Know your racer’s bib number. This is usually the ID that is being asked for by the trackers. This makes sure that your are tracking the correct “John Doe” if there are multiple “John Doe’s” who are racing.

o   Charge up. Make sure that you watch, phone, and camera are all fully charged. Bring a powerbank for long races. You will be needing these to track your racer.

o   Know the weather and prepare for it. Aside from that one time where I cheered for my husband in the Tokyo Marathon, all the other races I have been to were held in the Philippines where it is either too hot or too wet. So I usually check the weather a few days before to know if I should dress for the heat or for the rain. Have a folding umbrella with you. This can protect you from the rain as well as from too much heat.

o   Prepare for your own nutrition for race day. This is especially needed if you will be supporting long races which last 8 hours or more. You don’t want to be all frowning from hunger when your racer finishes.

o   Allow your racer to rest. The day before the race is when your racer needs the most rest. Let them snooze a bit and be “lazy” for a day. Believe me, this makes a lot of difference to your racer and to your waiting time in the race.

o   Help with reminders/checklists. I usually blurt out random items which I think may easily be forgotten by my racer considering the pre-race anxiety. “Nutrition? Water bottle? ID? Watch charger?” But please don’t ask like crazy to the point where you already sound like nagging. Allow your racer some space to do checks on their own.

Race Day:

o   Wake up early. Don’t be a burder to your racer by getting up late especially if you will be going to the starting line with him. Or worse, you wouldn’t want to get up and see that the race is over.

o   Gear up. Wear your planned outfit with your most comfortable shoes. Bring an ultra-light backpack for your stuff and your racer’s belongings which you will be holding on to,

o   Wear sunscreen. Though races can be in cold environments, UV rays would still be there. Block them off with your favorite sunscreen. You’ll thank yourself for it later on.

o   Find your spot. You have planned for this but there are some factors which may cause you to change your plans. Be flexible and welcome changes as they come. Find shade in races which are too hot. Checkout if there are road gutters which are clean enough to sit on. I really don’t suggest that you bring a chair as this is an excess baggage for you and may limit your flexibility in moving from one spot to another especially for multisport races.

o   Use your tracker. This is the fastest way to estimate where your racer is at a particular time. Trackers are really powerful as their info can make you aware if your racer is on track with his target time. If I can see that my racer is slowing down significantly in a run route, I can deduce that maybe there’s a steep hill or he’s having cramps. If my racer is going too fast, I may give him a tip to check his pace when I see him.

o   Remember your racer’s suit and be alert. When I see someone coming in a green and black suit, there’s a high chance that he can be my husband or my husband’s team mate. So I get myself ready to cheer and snap some awesome shots.

o   Cheer on! This is why you are in the race in the first place. Call out their names, give them thumbs ups and high fives! Shout out encouraging cheers! I have raced myself. Trust me, cheers make a lot of difference in a racer’s disposition and performance.

o   Eat and hydrate. This is often my mistake in race supporting. I usually fail to eat and end up hungrier than my racer after the race. You prepared your nutrition pre-race. Consume it.

o   Be Patient. Remember, you are not the star of this show. You are here to make your star shine brighter. So, find something to do while waiting for the next loop. Take photos of random people and things. Appreciate your surroundings. Take selfies if you must. Boredom kills enthusiasm but enthusiasm can kill boredom.

Post Race:

o   Open a bottle, and celebrate the victory. My husband always says, “It’s the training that’s the hard part. The race is the reward.” There are good and bad races but regardless of the race outcome, racing is a victory on its own. So be happy with how the race turned out and celebrate with good food and beer!

o   Actively listen to race stories. This is as close as you can get to knowing what was happening while you were on the sidelines. This will complement your imagery of how the race happened. These stories affirm why you cheered on the entire race.

o   Allow your racer and yourself to get some rest. It has been a long day and you are physically, and sometimes, emotionally exhausted. Book a massage or just relax, watch your favorite movie, or just get a good slumber. You and your racer deserve this pause.

That’s it. It’s quite a lengthy list because that’s what race supporting really is. The more you prepare, the more comfortable you’re going to be. The next time you decide to cheer on race day, there is nothing more important than this – having a positive attitude. Whether in or out of races this is indeed the key to everyone’s success in anything.

Post Partum: Day 1 of Yoga Practice

5:55 AM. Week 8 post partum. Baby is asleep.

I lay my mat on the floor and started in swastikasana. With my palms in prayer, thoughts run through my mind non-stop. "Should I take a bath now before Lucas awakes? Should I wash Lucas's clothes now so that they will dry in time for our dinner out? Should I express milk now as Lucas sleeps?"

Then I decide to do my best to let go of the thoughts. First DEEP breath... let go of the future... second deep breath... let go of things to do... Another deep breath and another and another to quiet my mind... which, really didn't totally happen. This is harder than I thought. I settled in enough, though, to be able to relax my shoulders, my face, and have deep steady breaths.

I release my palms on my mat and proceed to a downward facing hero. I begin to feel all the stiff hip, gluteus maximus, and back muscles from being so stagnant the past year. Breathe... release. I stay, releasing more of the lingering thoughts.

It's time... I curl my toes and raise my bent knees from the floor and my butt up, way up to the sky. AWWWW!!!! My hamstrings are frozen like ice! Inhale... Exhale... let go and pretend it's easy.  IT'S NOT EASY! It hurt like a first yoga session! Inhale... Exhale... I walk my dog slowly one leg at a time until it didn't hurt that much (until my eyebrows were relaxed). Then I release both ankles to the floor. Well, I tried to... which, again didn't happen. It's the effort that counts, right? It begin to feel better. I felt more oxygen flowing through my weak arms and fresh blood through my brain. I then go down to child's pose.

On all fours, my body demanded a gentle back exercise. I arch my back into a cow's pose then curve it into cat's. Several reps... ooohhh.. this feels really nice.

What was supposed to be my warm up turned into my entire practice when my arms felt tired and wobbly. Well, a few minutes of yoga is better than no yoga at all. 'Til tomorrow then.

The Ultimate Habit

It all started with one invitation. Now, I'm hooked.

Ultimate or Frisbee, as most of us know it, is a sport played by throwing and catching a flying disc from one point to another. For the people who are not so familiar with the sport, they often say... "Ha? Mapapagod ka ba sa Frisbee?" (Is playing Frisbee even tiring?). The best answer is silence... for they will never understand unless they try to play the sport themselves.

Smart Ultimate, the team which I play for, was formed last April to compete in the MVP Olympics, a sports event which was joined by  the different companies of Manuel V. Pangilinan. Invitations to try out for the team were sent last February. When I first saw the invitation, I was interested to join right away but I was also apprehensive since I had zero-knowledge of the sport. But a friend and an office mate told me that almost everybody in the team was a newbie. So I went... made it to the lineup... and the team won the bronze medal... But the team looked and felt like it won the GOLD! :)

Smart's zone defense. Photo credit: Paolo Panganiban Photography

One of the rare occasions that the disc is in my hands. :) Photo credit: Paolo Panganiban Photography

"It will all end after the MVPO," I thought. But to my surprise, it has been 2 months after the MVPO and the team has joined two more competitions so far -- the Greenfields Invitational and the Kalo Kalayaan Hat Tournament. The bond between the team members has grown a lot stronger since then.

Smart Ultimate winning the Championship of the Greenfields Invitational - Pool D

In terms of fitness... I lost about 5 pounds in the 2 months of training. I can eat whatever I want and not worry about the flabs forming. :) Some lost 10 pounds... some 3... almost all of the team members shed a bit of weight due to the intensive training. Nakakapagod ba ang frisbee? Silence... :)

More than the physical aspect of this sport, what amazes me most is the "spirit of the game" that is being practiced by most if not all of the players. Fairness and respect is important since this is a self-officiated game (no referees). Whatever harm inflicted upon you by another player should not be considered as an intentional act. If you win, you should remain humble. If you lose, you should cheer the winners whole-heartedly. That is respect. That is Ultimate.

My Bridal March Experience

Instead of a bridal car, I opted to ride a van together with my entourage, the girls closest to my heart. There were stories told, advices given and, of course, boisterous laughters shared. But as one by one my girls went out of the van to line up in church, I realized that that had to be the most real surreal thing that will ever happen in my single life.

Inside the van with Miking, one of my Matrons of Honor, and the rest of my entourage

The van door opened. I took my first step outside. The camera man followed my every step. When I reached the chapel doors, I stopped… took one peek inside… I saw my family and friends… took another peek… they were all waiting for me. I smiled. It was time.

As I entered the chapel doors, I was so overcome with happiness my heart wanted to burst in celebration.  Then I started to shiver. No, I wasn’t even nervous and I wasn’t crying. I just felt like a force so powerful has overcome my entire being. It was strange but it was GOOD strange.  It was spiritually uplifting.  The shivering stopped when I reached the altar after my mom and brother gave me away.

While walking down the aisle (photo taken by Jaycee Legaspi)

The church and reception ceremonies went by… then I realized… It was him. He held my hand to give me away.  It was Papa.

I’m not a fan of the supernatural world nor of superstitious beliefs. But I have always believed that Papa has always been my angel. And that day, he just proved me right. J

The Honest Sport: Ultimate

I haven't blogged for the longest time. But this is worth a repost. This is my Ultimate team mate's blog entry about what we have been up to for the past 3 months. Learning all about the sport of Ultimate (Frisbee as most of you know it).

7 on the Line

It's not just Derek Ramsey's sport after all. It's a lot more than that.

Yoga Studios: First Impressions

Looking for yoga studios near the Fort?

I had the chance to take a look at the more popular yoga studios around the area and here's my take on them.

1st stop... Yoga +.
The studio is located at the 11th floor of The Fort Legend Tower. The receptionist was very friendly and the studio itself is well designed -- minimalist, as expected. The practice area has a nice view of the surrounding buildings of global city with sufficiently cushioned floors and softly colored interiors. Yoga + offers both Hot classes and non-hot Flow classes which are held at schedules convenient for typical day-job employees. Early classes start as early as 630am and the latest class starts at 8pm. Don't know anything about yoga? No worries. Orientations are given to 1st timers so you will know what to expect when you attend your first yoga session. I have attended 2 classes so far in this studio and I'm starting to feel my everyday grogginess go away. Hurray to yoga! :)

 

http://yogaplus.ph/

2nd stop... Urban Ashram.
I got to the studio at noon on a Sunday and the it was unfortunately closed. I just managed to take a peek at the reception area and it's currently unpainted showing the concrete walls in their original color. a few seats are available for students who will be waiting for the next class. Some yoga apparel and gear are also sold in the reception area for one's personal practice. I hope to visit this studio again next time since I have heard some great things about it. This studio is located at 3rd Floor, Active Fun Building, 9th corner 28th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City (same building as Toys R Us).

http://www.urbanashrammanila.com/

3rd and last stop... Beyond Yoga.
I actually had a peek of an on-going anti-gravity yoga (AGY) class when I visited this studio. Beyond Yoga is the first yoga studio to offer regular AGY classes in the Philippines. For those of you who are wondering what AGY is, it is basically yoga with a hammock (maybe I will feature this once i take trial classes with Beyond Yoga next time :)). Focusing on the studio, it has a simple receiving area and a relatively moderate sized practice area. Since the size of the practice area is not that vast, I'm assuming that the number of students that can be accommodated at a time will be just enough so that the yoga instructor can check everyone's asanas and correct them if needed. Beyond Yoga is located at Unit 316, C-3 Bldg, BHS. I really wanna go try their AGY class next time. :)

 

http://www.igobeyondyoga.com/bhs-schedule.html

Interested in knowing more? You can check their websites by clicking the links above. Better yet, pay them a visit... and best, go there in your yoga attire and avail of their "first-timers" package! Don't think twice, just go and be amazed at what yoga can do to your body, mind, and spirit. :)

Facts About Abs

Helpful info! :)

http://ph.she.yahoo.com/photos/5-amazing-facts-abs-slideshow/-photo-2514360-154100622.html

Lull Time Over... Back to the Gym!

I admit that I have been in and out of my workout routine recently. I have been trying to be consistent again for a while now but I can't seem to get back in my groove. To force the issue, I enrolled to a 9-class pass (for only P2500) in FTX Gym again.

The 9-class pass I got can be used for core/combat classes or for circuit training in the gym (CirqFit as FTX calls it). The core and combat classes which I can avail include the ff:

•   Boxercise

•   Muay Thai Skills

•   Suspension Training

•   TRX

•   RIP:60

While there are also several specialized Cirqfit programs to choose from, each tailor-fitted to different fitness levels and work-out preferences:

•   LOSE BIG NOW

•   KETTLE BURNING

•   TARZAN’S JUNGLE JIGGLE

•   GLADIATOR’S ZONE

•   MODELS’ RUNWAY

•   BUNS AND GLORY

•   CORE BUILDER

•   STRONGMAN

•   TITA CORA’S CIRCUIT

•   FTX CHAIRMAN’S EXPRESS

•   BALLERS’ CIRCUIT

•   RUNNERS’ CIRCUIT

•   MARVIN’S XTREME XPRESS

•   FTX EXPRESS

•   FTX EXTREME

What's best about FTX is that, since workouts are designed to be completed in a faster span of time, it is rarely full of gym goers. So you will have plenty of space to execute your exercises in the correct form. Their helpful crew of professional gym instructors also help you achieve the best results you can in the shortest possible time.

You can check http://www.gymftx.com/ for more details on this awesome gym.

So, how am I doing so far? I'm still struggling to get back to at least a thrice a week gym habit. But I'm proud to say that I'm already consistently going to a Rip 60 class at least once a week for the past month now and I have already consumed 5 out of the 9 passes I availed. :) 

I still need to gain more motivation though. Maybe I should plan a boracay trip... or better, a surf trip! ...to get me all excited to get this flabby tummy toned!

Back to Rip:60

Rip:60 -- the exercise which almost got me the abs I have been longing for.

The last time I attended a Rip:60 class was around last March. So I decided to give Gym FTX a visit yesterday and attend Ms Connie Fortich's class. Gotta get back in shape!

Ms Connie on the Rip:60 straps. (c) FTX Fitness Exchange

We warmed up with several minute-long planks: forearm planks on the floor and with feet on the straps then full planks on the floor and with feet on the straps. Staying on planks seems a little too stationary to be worked out, right? Nah! While on a plank position, the arms work, the abs tighten, the leg muscles compress and the back muscles help push the arms so that you can stay straight and still for a long time. Adding more difficulty by introducing a bit of instability to regular planks, we did also some sets with our feet suspended on the Rip:60 straps. Since you tend to be unstable while on the straps, you have to focus more on tightening your core so won't hyper extend your back muscles and prevent probable injuries.

Lunges on the Rip:60. Photo courtesy of S.W.E.A.T. 1000

After the warm up, we did several sets of squats... stationary squats, side squats, squats with one foot suspended... and we did lots of 'em! The different kinds of squats worked the different muscles of the legs, from the frontal quads, inner thighs, hamstrings and hip flexors. We also did suspended push-ups with our hands on the straps, angling our body depending on the weight we are capable to carry. This worked the chest and some of the tricep muscles and also keeping the abs tight all throughout the routine.

Hip raises on Rip:60. Sample Photo courtesy of Free Motion Fitness.

The last set of exercises worked the hamstrings and the glutes very well -- hip raises, leg abduction and adduction with feet on the straps.We finished the class with cool down stretching and deep breathing.

Rip:60 is one helluva workout but the results are quickly visible and are so worth the hard work!

You can check FTX Fitness Exchange at Tordesillas St, Salcedo if you are interested in attending Rip:60 classes. They also offer several alternative workouts such as circuit training, traditional yoga, fly yoga, Krav Maga and pole dancing. Or you can click this link to view their website and class schedules  http://www.gymftx.com/.

A Taste of Surfcuit

If you have read some of my previews posts, you must have read about Surfcuit. Well, last Saturday PSA held a Surfcuit sampler at CME for those students who enrolled in the program but have missed or will miss a session or two. The session was also open to those who wanted to have a feel of what the program was all about.

Lecture by Coach Paolo on surf etiquette and basic surfing maneuvers

Like the actual Surfcuit classes, the session started with poi. Though poi is usually considered as a performance art, poi in Surfcuit is done as a warm up prior to yoga. The dynamic stretches of poi help the body in preparing for the deeper stretches of yoga and the intense paddling training during surfing. The 15-minute poi drills were followed by 30 minutes of yoga.

Poi as dynamic stretch

Jiggy (from Surfcuit Batch1) rocking the sock poi

The yoga class was led by soon-to-be teacher, Rozie. It started with a few basic stretches such as uttanasana, adho mukha svanasana (downward facing dog), and balasana (child's pose) and progressed into a sequence of sun salutations and moon salutations (Jivamukti style). The 30 minute yoga session ended in savasana to let the body relax and feel the benefits of the morning's practice.

Rozie, leading the class on that deep lunge

The class in Savasana

What followed were non-stop paddling, eskimo rolls, push-ups, pop-ups -- the trademarks of a hard-core Surfcuit session. Nobody stops until the youngest Surfcuit participant (Euan, an 8 year old kid who never gets tired) doesn't give up. The wave pool was filled with "paddling robots" who were popping up, making turns on their boards, and even cross-stepping.

PSA's softboards (Sorry, no surfing pics. I was out surfing with everybody :))

 Since Surfcuit is held in a controlled environment, it provides the safest venue for first time surfers to learn the very basics of surfing and to have the closest to how-it-is-in-the-ocean experience without having to travel for hours to an actual surf spot.

Somewhere in Mindoro

About a month ago, I made myself a promise that I should be able to surf at least head high waves in two years time. Well, two weeks ago I attempted to do just that.

I went with Philippine Surfing Academy, together with some of my fellow Surfcuit classmates, to... let's just say "somewhere in Mindoro" to score some surf time in the ocean. On our way there, we can already see the peeling waves from afar. Excitement kicked in.

When we reached the beach, Coach Paolo gave us a quick lecture on safety and awareness when surfing the ocean. We also had the chance to assemble the fins and put the leashes on the boards. After the preparations, off to the water we went.

Pre-surf lecture by Coach Paolo

Hmm... Surf coach or basketball coach? You decide. :)

The waves were bigger than we expected and they peeled pretty nicely (except for the occasional backwash). What's better is that there were only around 6-8 of us in the lineup at a time. So we pretty much had the waves all to ourselves.

Since we were at a beach break, I was more confident and less scared (as compared to when we were in Anawangin) to attempt to catch bigger waves. When I saw a set coming, I hastily pivoted my board (1st stroke, 2nd stroke, 3rd stroke... gosh! I should practice the one stroke pivot!) and paddled slowly while waiting for the wave to come nearer. Then I paddled harder when it was just right behind me. I felt the push of the ocean telling me to pop up; and so I did. And... I did it!!! I really could not believe it! I caught my very first ocean wave! I rode it all the way to the end on the 8 ft softboard that I was using. It was exhilarating, adrenalin-pumping, happy, and all positive things rolled into one. I was stoked!

After that, the sets just became bigger and bigger. Overhead sets came. Turtle rolls were my best friend. I caught more waves and still wiped out a few more times. Each time I catch one, I feel stronger and more able. Each time I wipe out, I am reminded to stay humble and grounded for there certainly is a force greater than me.

Me, trying not to be eaten by the whitewater. Thank you, PSA, for this photo.

It was a perfect day for my birthday surf. We went home exhausted but with smiles on our faces. :)

Anawangin: My Very First Reef Surf

I had the chance to surf my very first reef break last May 26 in Anawangin.

To go there, we had to travel by land to Zambales and take a pumpboat to go to beach where the surf spot is then paddle our way out to the point. Knowing that the spot is a reef break, I was so nervous that my entire body was trembling while observing the waves that were coming. I planned to just be a spectator at least for a good 30 minutes but then coach Paolo calls me to go nearer the peak and try to catch some waves. As an obedient newbie, I paddled towards the peak.

Kuya Danny, Coach Alvin, Kage, and Gill preparing the boards

I let a few sets pass before I decided to give it a go. Next set, about waist-high waves, I pivoted to face the beach, paddled slowly until the waves were about 2 meters behind me, then cranked it up with deep and hard strokes to catch the wave. Paddle! Paddle! Paddle! Kuha ko na ba (Did I catch it?)? It felt like it so I decided to pop up -- What did Surfcuit teach me? Back foot first then front foot. So I popped up... but the wave just left me. It just felt like I caught the wave but, in fact, I didn't. What's worse was that there were 2 or 3 more bigger sized waves which wanted to crush me towards the reef that I have to paddle against. (Thanks to my Vibrams I had no fear of getting reef cuts on the soles of my feet.) Again, What did Surfcuit teach me? Eskimo roll! I executed my very first eskimo roll in the ocean. Once... twice... and several more times.  I then paddled hard towards the channel to avoid the crashing waves and to go back to the lineup.

L to R: A, Bri, JM, Paolo, Jiggy, and me posing for the camera

Jill, Kage, coach Alvin and Jeff just hanging out at the beach after the morning's sesh (and waiting for the boat)

I had several more attempts and did more eskimo rolls.(I think I kind of overused the Eskimo roll.) Did I ever catch and ride my own wave in this trip? Almost! But, no, I didn't. I'm still proud, though, that I practiced the proper surf etiquette (as the spot was quite crowded that day) and survived my very first reef surf unscathed. Well, yes, except for the happy sunburn and some rashes from the softboard. :)