The long wait is over! The AXE Apollo National Challenge had just concluded last August 31, 2013 and the top two contenders had emerged (and I’m not one of them if you’re wondering :D). They will be sent to train at the international AXE Apollo Space Camp in the US, but wait! Did you know that a third slot is still open?
With an amazing race finally over everyone now has time to finally relax. Coincidentally, the hotel that we checked-in in Pagudpud was also where I ate lunch the last time I was here! As much as everyone wanted to check-in earlier to rest, we were able only to do so after everyone finished their respective races, which is already nightfall. Unbelievable it may seem, but some of us actually returned back to Manila soon after the race!
Morning after the race, while waiting for our breakfast
The inaugural race that is Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines last August 23, 2009 held in Pili, Camarines Sur (CamSur) saw two world champions competing: the reigning 70.3 champion Terenzo Bozzone (New Zealand) and Ironman Hawaii World Champion Chris “Macca” McCormack, with the former ruling from a come-from-behind victory (03:51:25) and the latter settling for second (03:52:18)—a testament to world-class level of competition this race brought on our shores. Cameron Brown settled for third place (03:52:31). The women’s category was anything but a walk in the park either as eleven-time Ironman Champion of the Hawaii Ironman Championship Lisa Bentley (Canada) won the competition (04:24:29) followed by Gina Kehr (04:26:11) and Charlotte Paul (04:31:26).
Lisa Bentley and Terenzo Bozzone are the champions of the first Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines (Credit: Ironman Philippines)
Terenzo Bozzone is a professional triathlete from New Zealand. After finishing school he focused on multisport and won the 2001 & 2002 Junior Men’s Elite Duathlon World Championship and the 2002 & 2003 Junior Men’s Elite Triathlon World Championship. In 2008 Bozzone won the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Clearwater, Florida setting a new course record of 3:40:10.
Lisa Bentley is one of the most successful Ironman athletes of all time with 11 wins despite never having won an Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. She is known as an excellent runner and often comes from behind off the bike to win. Diagnosed in her 20’s with Cystic Fibrosis Lisa has become a role model for much broader audience.
An Ironman 70.3, also known as a Half Ironman, is one of a series of middle-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) consisting of a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) swim, 56-mile (90 km) bike ride, and 13.1-mile (21.1 km) run. 70.3 is the total distance in miles. The whole and each part of the event is half the Ironman distance. The length of the 70.3 event encourages a meeting of Olympic distance/short course triathletes and Ironman/long course triathletes. Like the Ironman, the bike section is non-drafting. Since 2006 an annual Ironman World Championships 70.3 has been held at Clearwater, Florida, USA during the month of November. Some Ironman 70.3 events also act as qualifiers for the full Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, and it includes the Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines.
Murphy Reinschreiber, Managing Director Asia Pacific World Triathlon Corporation credits Fred Uytengsu, CEO of Alaska Milk Corporation, with finally bringing the Ironman to the Philippines with the holding of the Cobra Ironman 70.3 at the CamSur Watersports Complex (CWC).
Reinschreiber said after seeing Uytengsu’s passion, awarding the Ironman brand to the race was an easy decision to make.
“Our group is very selective at where we put our races,” he said. “But then we meet a guy like Fred. We see a venue like CamSur and a person like Governor LRay Villafuerte who is really very eager for it to happen… So the decision to hold the race here becomes a very easy decision.”
The WTC official said the Cobra Ironman 70.3 is easily the biggest event in the WTC calendar in Asia this year.
“Ironman racing is different from other sports,” said Reinschreiber. “It’s more than just winning. It’s the experience of competing as athletes. They are here to experience the local venue. They are here to meet the other participants. They are here to experience the whole race.”
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