The secret to Maritess Bitbit's winning edge
MANILA, Philippines - Cebuana mountain bike expert and SEA Games gold medalist Baby Maritess Bitbit has no secret when it comes to becoming the best in every sport she enters. As a member of the national mountain bike team, this 31-year-old athlete also excels in other endurance sports such as kayaking, duathlon, cycling, marathon, and adventure racing.
No secret, but maybe an edge — in the heart of her training is an innovative gadget called the Polar Heart Rate Monitor, which assumes the look of a typical sportswatch on her wrist but actually delivers much more sterling results.
Currently using Polar’s latest RS800CX unit — which offers the ability to record a wide range of performance details and comes equipped with a WearLink®+ transmitter WIND — Maritess is provided with the most accurate measurement of her heart rate every time she trains or competes in various competitions.
“I am obtaining the right and best ways to improve my training and competition capacity because I can easily determine my own zone. Knowing such detail allows me to maximize my energy expenditure,” she notes.
The Polar Heart Rate works by monitoring her “fuel pump” — her heart. This is the first of the key ingredients that can help determine how hard she can work and for how long. With the Polar Heart Rate, she can make the right decision every day when it comes to the right intensity in her workouts. This prepares her for competition, to be as fresh as she can possibly be.
Being “fresh” means primed, well-fueled to meet the stresses, and well-recovered from the rigorous training regimen. This advantage has paid off and she emerged better prepared than the others who participated in several local races like the Terry Larrazabal Mountain Bike Festival in Subic, Danao City International Mountain Bike Challenge, Xtrail Mountain Bike Series in Lucban, Quezon, Puerto Princesa XC Mountain Bike Challenge last January, and the recently concluded 100Km Singapore Mountain Bike Carnival.
Maritess sustained this level even in international competitions. She bagged three medals in the 24th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007 — two bronzes in Cross Country Mountain Bike and Individual Time Trial, and a gold in the 124-km Road Race. She is now training for the 25th South East Asian Games this December in Laos where she is once again expected to bring home some medals.
Polar Heart Rate Monitors are available at Toby’s outlets, select Time Depot stores, and leading bike shops nationwide. For inq uiries, call 671-9765 locals 39 and 41; e-mail customercare@sriphils.com; log on to www.sriphils.com or www.polar.fi.
