Men of Iron

Congratulations to all those who joined the Cobra's Ironman 70.3! This event is just 5-years old (3 years in Camarines Sur, 2nd year in Cebu) but it seems like it's been around forever. Thanks to the very popular brand name, exceptional organization, social media and of course, ideal setting, the sport has grown in leaps and bounds.

I was there and saw triathlon's rise in popularity in the 90's, how it went underground for a few years and its comeback (for good, I believe) when the Ironman brand was brought here in 2009. While the first three editions of the half-Ironman was in CamSur, local triathletes who were passionate about the sport, jump started the event here with small, not even well funded but well organized events participated by even more passionate athletes. Fast-forward five years triathlon has grown beyond anyone's imagination.

People are attracted to the glamour of the event, especially when any Tom Dick and Harry can race not only with world-class athletes but also with World Champions. You can't do that with F1 or the NBA.

Yes, triathlons may look glamorous, but believe me, its not. It's doesn't feel so when fatigue, cramps, blisters and hunger starts to kick in. I'm talking only about the race day but if you count the times that these people have gone to bed early and miss a few parties or got out of bed on a rainy day to do a few laps on the pool or in the oval, or stay away from that Krispy Kreme and the cappuccino well, you get the picture.

Triathlon, according to my friend and veteran triathlete Eugene Sanchez, is nothing but pain management. People have ways to managing pain- some run away from it and some just suck it up! Endurance athletes like triathletes, long distance runners and cyclists, belong to the latter. In endurance sport, speed and physical ability is not as important as the ability to manage pain. You may be familiar with the author and his famous quote, "Pain is temporary, Losing is forever!"

Fees et al

It always irks me when some athletes, people who know better, complain about registration fees. Of course, there is a fee to be paid unless you are Chris Froome or Kobe Bryant, meaning, if you are a professional athlete. For "athletes" like us, we join an event for fun and entertainment. But a few people forget that in this day and age, you pay for fun and entertainment just like when you go to a concert or have a massage.

Organizing events like triathlons, cycling or marathons needs money to make it run efficiently. Money is needed for road closures, permits, staff, advertising, timing mechanisms, marshals and profit for the organizers. The better-organized events, the higher the registration fees, in other words, you get what you pay for.

Case in point is the Cobra Ironman. Registration fee is 225 USD, about Php9000, which may sound expensive. But if you look at the class of the event, the safety measures and the experience, you are getting more than what you are paying for. So stop complaining about registration fees. If you think it's overpriced, then stay out of it.