SWAC Commissioner's Report: Pulling Out All The Stops

Sheerwill Aquathlon Cup 3

Special Night Edition
13 November 2009

Mahogany Place, Taguig

First, I still chuckle when people call me Commissioner. SWAC commissioner that is. I think it was Ellen who started it. So here I am trying to live up to the role and making a Commissioner's Report of SWAC 3.

It started one day when James approached me to say that he is willing to host a repeat of the enjoyable SWAC 2 in his village. James added a sweetener: he is hosting a repeat because it would be his birthday. It could be a bigger event with 20 participants and 20 guests/marshals. How swell was that! Roselle also promised that in the next SWAC edition she was willing to sponsor medals. She even advanced the money lest she becomes tempted to spend more of her cash blessings.

I got really excited. James and I jointly planned the event. I took care of the SWAC side including the participants list, while he took care of the venue, food and party guest list. The original SWAC participants were given priority. The rest of the slots were farmed out on first-come-first-served basis to newbies, SWAC historically being a beginner's aquathlon. I was enthusiastic in encouraging newbies. I knew it would be a special event - something hard to top - for when else would you handily have venue, food and medals sponsors at the same time.

For the SWAC we created a private Facebook event through which we sent invitations and posted maps and information. An impromptu event logo was designed, finding its way to the finisher's medal. Eventually both the participant and guest lists would balloon. We had to find a way to accommodate as many as possible given the venue and resources. The excitement of the newbies was contagious. To heighten their first aquathlon experience, we decided to have other SWAC firsts aside from the finisher's medal:  digital timers, race leg splits, two waves/categories of athletes, body marks, pool lane divider, lap marshals, and even light-emitting/blinking pendants in the form of Sponge Bob Squarepants for the night run :-)

The venue is set for the aquathlon and the after-party.

Joseph dives into the pool to place the lane divider.

First-timer Marvin flashing his digits and biceps

Race briefing starts for 21 participants.

Rico explains the run route of two loops of 3.25kms each along the village perimeter.

Wave 1 composed of "monsters" and the female participants,
monsters defined as those with aquathlon/triathlon experience or those inherently fast.

Wave 1 starts the first 400m swim leg.
The 20m pool is divided into 2 lanes of opposite directions.
Lap marshals are positioned at one side of the pool.

The newbies of Wave 2 ham it up for the cameras.
Excited and smiling pa sila dyan, with just the right amount of butterflies in the stomach.

Commissioner Rico joins Wave 2 to cheer newbies, check on those pool-walking,
and see who deserves the Sheerwill Award.

Que of takbo.ph poses with sirenas Pepsi and Carina in the transition area.

There are separate transition areas for Waves 1 and 2.

SWAC 1 veteran BongZ graced the event and ran in his new trainers.

Impromptu photographer Tim tries to capture on Marvin's SLR
the fast, barefoot runner Argo speeding out of the village gate.

I was actually astounded when I saw Argo running barefoot.  First reaction was, "Did he forget his shoe?" Then I thought, "Wow, despite the lack of shoes, he ran. That is the spirit worth of a Sheerwill Award." And he was fast barefoot! I later confirmed that he actually brought his shoes but opted not to run with them to save on transition time. Saka para astig ring tingnan he said with a laugh....So wala munang Sheerwill Award, astonishment lang :-) 

(Blogger's note: Argo received a Sheerwill Citation for his determination to finish SWAC 2)

Wave 1 monsters relax after race completion,
while the Wave 2 struggle through their swim.

I have to hand it to the newbies who did their best to complete the swim legs. They floated, backstroked, dog-paddled, crawled, stood up, panted, rested, BUT they did not walk!
Well done, guys!

While SWAC carries my blog name, SWAC is not really mine. In fact, I initially named it Bonifacio Aquathlon, with succeeding editions supposedly being named after the honorary last finisher (e.g. Sheerwill's Cup). Sheerwill Aquathlon Cup (SWAC) was coined by friends who identify with the universal human desire to triumph over challenges through sheer will. It is in this spirit that the success of this special edition is shared with everyone. From the participants...

to the impromptu registration committee....

(Marga et al, thanks for handling the registration and the marshaling.
Without you guys, I might not be able to join my own aquathlon event)

To the cheerful race marshalls who helped us because we are too dizzy to count laps.

To the timers and splits tabulators
(ang galing ninyo! You quickly rose to the challenge)

To the photographers like Carlo here...

and even The Prince turned Pool Boy
(thanks for tying the pool ropes)

as well as 'celebrity' guests  :-)

The case of medal donor RunningDiva proves that those who give, receive.
She got two medals that night: a SWAC finisher's medal and
 a specially-designed one for Pasig Marathon debut.

Since SWAC 3 is a special edition I decided to give special awards.  The Sheerwill Award is given to people who display sheer will at its finest in any of the SWAC events. This edition's mug contains the phrases: LIVE BOLDY. TAKE RISKS. Make Somebody say, "What the HELL was that all about?"

Mar receives the Sheerwill Mug for bravely joining

and completing the event despite finishing last

Idol Bong Yu receives the Sheerwill Mug for taking on a goal (to learn to swim)
and putting time and effort for it.  iBY was the most improved swimmer in so short a time.

I have also decided to give a post-event award to original SWACers Ellen and Raff, for whom the first simulation aquathlon was conceived. Ellen was the top female finisher in SWAC 1,2 and 3, and emerged 4th overall in this recent edition. Raff got 3rd place overall in the recent edition. Raff and Ellen showed the SheerWill spirit by following their dreams of becoming multi-sports athletes.

It was an exciting race for the top prize between Ziggy and Jason, with less than a minute in final time difference between them. Jason was the stronger runner, but Ziggy proved to be the better swimmer, winning back-to-back SWACs 2 and 3.

Ellen and Ziggy raise their Sheerwill Martini glass of a trophy!

Other Special Awards:

Most Bemedalled:  Running Diva

Best in Costume: Jason in his BelieveStrong Tri-suit
(Sa totoo lang ang frontrunner sa award na ito ay si Mark. He claimed he would wear
a red and yellow polka dot, T-back Speedo trunks, but he chickened out. Hehe)

The Best Pose was hotly contested as well. Initially we thought it would be won by ...

...Pepsi...

...but Gab proved to be a Stiff Competition...

...and RJ was all-smile in his Pose....

...but in the end Mark bagged the Best Pose!

With the Aquathlon all wrapped up, the birthday party started.

James looking pensive as he contemplates his wife's birthday present

Eating about to begin

...as well as drinking...

...some light display and dancing (may ilaw sa SWAC!)

...the traditional class picture-taking

...and some more drinking!

After a few bottles of beer and merry banter, the Commissioner signed-off at 1am.

Happily tired.....See you at the next SWAC event!

(photos courtesy of Carlo Serrano, Marvin Opulencia and Macoy Lontok)

SWAC 3 RESULTS

 Click image to enlarge

 

 Analysis done by Bong Yu

 

Rank     Name     Swim     T1     Run    T2     Swim     TOTAL

400m swim / 6.5k run / 400m swim

1 Zig 7:39:00 0:39:00 33:36:00 0:12:00 8:01:00 50:07:00

2 Jason 8:34:00 1:36:00 31:23:00 0:12:00 9:29:00 51:14:00

3 Raff 9:16:00 1:21:00 36:45:00 1:35:00 9:09:00 58:06:00

4 Ellen 9:50:00 1:26:00 35:26:00 0:58:00 11:02:00 58:42:00

5 Ian 9:08:00 1:29:00 38:41:00 0:30:00 9:45:00 59:33:00

6 BongZ 9:44:00 1:25:00 39:43:00 0:56:00 9:37:00 61:25:00

7 Marvin 9:26:00 1:43:00 38:59:00 1:24:00 12:29:00 64:01:00

8 Pat 17:06:00 2:37:00 30:47:00 2:00:00 12:58:00 65:28:00

9 Mark H 16:39:00 2:21:00 36:16:00 0:53:00 12:31:00 68:40:00

10 Erick 12:56:00 1:17:00 38:24:00 0:50:00 15:19:00 68:46:00

11 Argo 18:08:00 0:41:00 35:55:00 0:43:00 13:46:00 69:13:00

12 Carina 11:51:00 1:55:00 39:33:00 0:39:00 16:16:00 70:14:00

13 Pepsi 11:46:00 2:06:00 41:03:00 2:06:00 14:03:00 71:04:00

14 Roselle 13:23:00 1:31:00 38:54:00 0:44:00 17:06:00 71:38:00

15 Rico 13:18:00 1:32:00 45:49:00 1:23:00 9:59:00 72:01:00

16 Bong Y 18:54:00 2:38:00 35:37:00 1:14:00 13:38:00 72:01:00

17 RJ 14:19:00 2:27:00 45:59:00 0:46:00 10:13:00 73:44:00

18 Earl 19:34:00 1:24:00 42:14:00 0:46:00 14:24:00 78:22:00

19 Gab 18:13:00 1:55:00 42:16:00 1:03:00 17:52:00 81:19:00

20 DocT 17:30:00 1:10:00 48:39:00 0:43:00 14:04:00 82:06:00

21 Mar 24:10:00 4:22:00 42:02:00 0:43:00 24:59:00 96:16:00