Hello!! It's been a while since I have written anything in this blog. I've been quite busy with work, family and training. Ironman California 70.3 is coming around fast and my nerves are starting to get the better of me. Once in a while, I will try to push my training to see if there are any improvements but I know I have to save all that energy for the big day in April 4, 2009.

One thing for certain, my 10k run has improved from my previous run. Initially, my 10k run was timed at 1 hr 22 mins sometime in mid 2008. Today was a different story. I am proud to say that I clocked in at 1 hr 7 mins in today run at the Fort. I am indeed proud along with my run coach of the improvement. I still have a long way to go to hit m target of hitting sub 1 hour for my 10k. However, if I am able to keep this pace on my run during the Ironman California, I should be able to complete the run segment of 21k in 2 hrs 25 mins. That would be seriously awesome.

I have 1 full week of hard training then I tapper for the remainder til April 4. I have to watch my diet durin tapper period so i dont gain weight and waste all that hardwork. I think i'll be fine on my big day. I just have to stick to my planned heart rates.

The primary goal is to complete and finish this event. Should I be lucky enough to hit my target time, I am going to be extremely ecstatic and this will be a great boost for the Subit Triathlon in Subic Bay this May. The goal that time is to finsih in sub 3 hours for the Olympic Distance. The support that my wife and kids have given me has made my training this time much much easier considering the amount of training that I am doing.

I should give more details as I get more stuff on my training as I have no more stuff to write.

I have posted some of my run times in the events that I have done.

373 4312 Ojie Mamuric 2:04:29 0:08:18 - 15k Feb 2009

470 2708 Ojie Mamuric 1:56:47 0:07:47 1:04:24 D - 15k jan 2009

1442 798 Jose Amado Mamuric 1:28:13 10K - June 2008

It has been a good day today. I was able to get some much needed rest. Tomorrow is going to be another great week of training despite the fact that my legs are still aching from the ride yesterday. It wasn't a long ride, only 50km but the gear settings was on the heaviest side so even on the uphill, I wasn't allowed to shift. That was the painful part.

I know that it is not going to get any easier as the ironman maintenance program will only last another 3 weeks then I go to my peak training program. It will be more time consuming and will require more patience. It will also be more painful at times but hey, it was my choice to get into this thing.

I would rather overprepare (if there's such thing) than under prepare and say "I should have done this and that" on the day of the event.

Good evening!

Today was a respite from my usual thursday kill day. I requested from my run trainer to pass todays running drills cause i have been really tired lately and have had late nights for school. It's not a good idea to push the body if you lack sleep. Tired, lack of sleep, physical, physical stress and the heat is a great recipe for a heart attack. So, I opted to do a long slow run tonight instead.

It is a good idea to listen to what your body is telling you. If it feels tired, rest. No reason to push since it is counterproductive. May get injured as well.

Tomorrow is swim day. Yahoo!!! Sounds like I get to rest but think again. The swim coach will make me do stuff that can just ruin my evening cause I'm too tired to go out. It's ok.

This is how I look at it. If I want to go up, I need to give up something. That is soo true.

Greetings!!! Happy New Year!!

It has been one terrific Christmas Holiday. The only bad thing was all the food that I ate. Man, was I ever filled up. Now that the holidays are over, it is time to shed those excess poundage and getting more lean as I prepare for Ironman 70.3 in Oceanside, California.

I have been training since Jan 2. It is more of a Ironman Maintenance Program for me. I shall continue with this kind of program until Feb 13 and come Feb 15, time to buckle down and get to the serious stuff of training.

I have been running and it's been really good. I am just surprising myself with the endurance that I seem to have now for running.

An addition to my program is the swimming with tri wet suit on. It's weird and an uncomfortable at the beginning but I'm slowly getting accustomed to it. I better!!! The freaking water of the coast of Oceanside is COLD!!! brrrrrr.... So, to get accustomed to the cold water, at least its a little colder than normal, i try to swim at night.

Oh well, until next time. I'll try to post some training pics next time.

Cheers!!!

My Daang Hari to Taal, Batangas via Tagaytay Ride

I woke up at 4:00 am to prepare myself for probably a gruelling ride. After I did my morning rituals, I made my way to the car. It was already 5am. I was hoping to start riding by 530 but the sky was a little too dark to ride and it wasn't safe. We made our way to Daang Hari (DH) and arrived there around 530.

As we parked the car to dismount the bikes, it was a great sight to see a group of riders arrive for their trip as well. Finally, 6am there's light and its safe to ride.

I take it easy since it's going to be a long ride this morning. I estimate about 5 hours total including stops. As we hit 15km, I was assessing how I was feeling to ensure that it as safe for me to continue. By now, we have entered Gen. Trias, Cavite. Traffic was light and I was still feeling ok, so continue with the ride.

Left turn on the intersection to Amadeo. Good God.. Here we go. Uphill. Kilometer 5, 10, 20...what the f*K? It's all uphill. Someone lied to me. Rolling hills my ass. What a welcome ride after being away from so long. Longest I have done after my incident was 30km.

What I love about this was the weather. It wasn't hot just right. Amadeo, so the sign says. Left turn and continue with the uphill. By this time, my thighs are starting to get sore. I asked the man in the gas station how far we have to go before Tagaytay. He says.. "diyan na lang" Relief or skeptical? Hmmmm..... Liar.. It was another 10km of gruelling uphill but the weather is now nice and cool so I can just take it easy on the way up plus I was on time.

I hear other bikes coming up from behind and I look over. Hey!! It's the guys from POLO TRI riding as well. I know most of the guys who where there and a couple of them I train with in the run discipline. I asked for final directions and rode with them for a bit then parted. FINALLY!!! WELCOME TO TAGAYTAY!!!

I make my way to the bypass rode. By this time, the pain in my thighs have subsided as the roads are now friendlier. Left turn and bingo, one last uphill and it should be all downhill from there. I was right. I didn't really have to pedal on the way to Lemery but had to hang onto dear life as the winds were too strong at times that it almost blew us vlose to spilling. Rest..rest..rest..

Recover for the final 10km to Taal. Lots of traffic now. Jeeps, Tricycles, Trucks and motorcycles. Pollution.. arrrrgghhh!!! Just keep pedalling since we're almost there. Now a more confident and relaxed since it's so near. Lemery proper now and I see our office.

Anik and I talk which way to take going to the house. A final steep climb? or a more gradual climb yet longer? Let's be brave. The steep climb since its shorter. Pedal..pedal..pedal.. shift and make it easier.

People are looking at us like we're crazy for taking this route but I have always wanted to climb this on the bike. One last push and we make a FINAL right turn. I see the house.. 150m away.. yahoo!!!

Dang... cramps hit both thighs and I can't pedal. Uh-oh... Car in front stopped and I need to unclip a shoe. Legs not responding. I'm going to fall to my side. Last minute, one leg relaxes and I'm able to disengage my shoe and stand but cramping really bad still. I sit on the chassis in hopes to relax the muscles. It works. I try to stand up again and the legs feel fine.

I mount up again and ride towards the house. FINALLY!!! After 4 hours and 19 mins of riding, we have reached our destination. Another notch on my training.. Really good day today.

Next week, back to Puerto Azul. need to do 125km. sigh...

Progress in Training...

The past two or three sessions, I have been amazed by the strength and speed that I have in swimming. Previously, my best time in the 100meters during training was 1min 50 sec. Recently, I have been hitting mid 1min 30s in the 100m in my training sessions.

But, I have to take it easy still to allow my body to rest and build up strength once again. I will be doing my first long ride tomorrow after about 2 months. It's about 110km. I shall be taking it easy to ensure I don't tire out and I am able to complete the whole ride. No such thing as scheduled rest. Rest is when you replenish your drinks and toilet breaks. That's it!

I will write more tomorrow how things went. I pray to God that it will be uneventful just like before and I should be able to enjoy the ride like I used to.

Time to get some shut eye and rest. Wake up time is 5am. See you tom.

My 40th Birthday!

Friday, November 14, 2008, was probably one of the biggest days of my life aside from the time I became a dad.

The past year I have been waiting fot his day not knowing what or how it would feel to enter another chapter in my life. Surprisingly, it felt quite good. A nice smile was with me the whole day.

I cannot say anything negative about this day. Though simple, it was one the best days I have ever had in my life. Peace, tranquility and content was the feeling I had within me.

Thank you God for this day.