Anticipation

 Are you ready?

I have been asked and I have asked that question innumerable times, more frequent as the days count down to Cobra 70.3 Half-Ironman in August 22. The best response I've got so far is from Mari Javier, who retorted with practical wisdom: “Can you really be ready?” That was already running wonder and fast-rising duathlete/triathlete Mari speaking.

So am I ready? I wanted to say yes, for I have been dreaming about this since January 2009. I spent 2009 building the courage to sign up, and the last 8 months of 2010 facing up to the challenge. Eight freakin' months! That's 70.6kms of swimming, 1,842kms of cycling and 655kms of running since January 3, 2010. I can no longer recall how many 2km-swims I have done and how many 90km rides I've made, but I do know I've never been this dark in my whole life.

I have structured a training plan individually customized for my personal goals, character traits, strengths and weaknesses. A plan grounded on science (yes I poured over sports journals – no, not the magazines, but those venerable kinds peer-reviewed by sport scientists). A plan enriched by the personal experience of others. It was a plan meant for a strong finish with a smile, not necessarily a fast one. It was a plan mirroring the philosophy that major races are epic journeys, not just one day accomplishments. It was a plan that slowly builds up while allowing myself to actually enjoy the process. And what a journey it has been.

In a few days time my journey ends. I hope it culminates with a rapturous experience. On Sunday I will know if I have been a smart athlete or a foolish one. With my unorthodox training plan, well-meaning friends have advised me to avoid over-training. I wanted to be defensive and say, “ I may bike or run long, but I do not overtrain,” but I quietly heeded their advice and watched my recovery days. I slowly built up my endurance to aggressive distances, and aggressively followed a resting schedule.

After days or sometimes weeks of rest I actually feel my body rearing to go at it again. I felt this best in my runs. The more I cut back and rest, the stronger and a tad faster do I get. I broke my 10K run PB on what was supposed to be a day-after brick run, and I finally nailed a real 21k negative split in the Rexona run, again a supposed after-bike, day-after run. For the first time in 2 years, I am running without injury or physical concerns. Best part is I am actually enjoying the runs. Is this peaking?, I would ask myself. Part of me wants to rejoice and proclaim, “Yehey, my plan seems to be working!”. Pragmatic part of me says that running after a 90k ride in the noontime sun is an entirely different matter. I will be content if I can run 80% of the course.

Am I ready? I am ready only in the sense that I have done what needs to be done according to my training plan. But a race has a life of its own – with some factors not entirely within one's control. I have done countless mass swim starts, simulated chaos in the pool, and front-sighted in deep, dark, green pools, but nothing can prepare me fully for the electrifying/terrifying spectacle that is the CWC lake swim start. Truth is, although I consider myself a water baby, and I have clocked way below the 1:10 swim cut-off for a 2K swim, there is still that possibility that a swim incident can happen and I will end up not making it to cut-off. When that happens, I will be devastated, moreso because swimming is my (relatively) strongest suit.

Am I ready? For this race I braved and won some road battles. For several weeks I built courage in the safe confines of Daang Reyna, until one weekend I claimed my stake on Daang Hari and proclaimed myself a King of the Road. How I did it is a blog post of its own, but I leave for Camsur with that confidence that finally I am biking on real, open roads. I am village biker no more! With the help of a fast-forward seatpost and a crotch cradle that is Adamo saddle, I finally learned to love the aerobars. I am no master yet on those balancing metal beams, but I am hopeful that maybe on at least a third of the bike course, I will be on aero position.

I am equipped for busted inner tubes, but how does one prepare for a broken chain, a busted rear derailleur, a broken crank, a wheelset that misaligned from a bad fall? The bike legs scare the hell out of me for the possibilities for misfortunes are greater. But I really hope to rise above that worry and enjoy the more than 3 hours I will be on the saddle. Bike safety I pray for all.

Yes, I am ready to see if my hours of labor will bear fruit. Yes I am ready for the challenge and the spectacle. Yes I am ready to be inspired and inspire.

I do not know how long it will take and in what manner it will go, but I am ready for the adventure – the highs and the lows. So help me God.

It is by sheer will that I signed up and trained for this race, but only by your grace will I finish this. Glory onto You. May Your light shine upon us all.