First ever 70.3 Ironman in RP: World's toughest here for showdown

PILI, Camarines Sur, Philippines – A huge field of 389 ironmen, toughened in punishing terrains in Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia, push themselves to the limit of human endurance in the first ever Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 tomorrow in this city at the heart of the Bicol region.

The field, close to 500 in all and bannered by reigning Ironman world champion Chris McCormack of Australia and defending 70.3 titlist Terenzo Bozzone of New Zealand, plunge into action at the CamSur Water Sports Complex at the start of the three-leg event consisting of a 1.2-mile swim and 56-mile cycling and 13.1-mile run on a stretch of the Japan-Philippine Friendship Highway.

American Tim Marr, the 2008 Ironman World champion and Ironman Hawaii 70.3 third placer, legendary Canadian Lisa Bentley, an 11-time winner, and Australian Carlotte Paul, the 2009 Ironman Hawaii world titlist, comprise the international who’s who joining the showdown for honors in this event brought to the Philippines by Alaska president and triathlon enthusiast Wilfred Uytengsu.

Three-time national champion and former Southeast Asian Games triathlon medalist Arlan Macasieb, Nonoy Jopson, full ironman triathlete Alvin Alindogan, August Benedicto and Monica Torres will lead the local charge.

“I believe in the Ironman, I believe in sports tourism so whatever requirement thrown at us, anything is possible,” said Gov. L-Ray Villafuerte, who was joined by top Cobra Energy Drink executive Hubert Tan here.

Villafuerte said the cycling and running routes, which will take place outside the CWC, will be the main concern since it would thread through the busy highway connecting southern provinces to the rest of the Bicol Region.

But it will not be a problem, Villafuerte said.

“We notified the media, transport groups, residents and local communities along the highway and they know the instructions and schedule,” he said.

“As for this event, an international event, to be successful, we have to make a little sacrifice and everybody will have to adjust.

“But the good thing about the roads being closed is that people will go out of their homes to cheer for our Ironman athletes,” he added.

Uytengsu, who negotiated with the World Triathlon Corp. for two years to bring the Ironman 70.3 here, said he is awed by the strength of the field.

“We’re really very honored to have some of the world’s greatest triathletes here,” he said.

Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines, Oakley, Timex, New Balance, SKI Construction and Gatorade are also sponsoring the event with The Philippine STAR, ABS-CBN Publishing and Solar Sports as media partners.

The entry list shows 389 individual participants and 45 relay teams of three entries each divided into five in the corporate, 16 in all-male, three in all-female and 11 in mixed categories.

There will also be seven age-group levels like 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 40-44, 45-49 and 50-and-above with the 35-39 bracket attracting the most competitors with 77 and the 50-and-up drawing 23.

All in all, there will be 270 Filipino competitors, 17 Americans, 10 Australians, 10 Britons, eight Japanese, five Kiwis and the same number of Canadians.

China, Austria, Slovakia, Mexico, Belgium, Norway, Venezuela, South Africa, France, Sweden, Hong Kong, Singapore, Germany, Spain, Korea and Mongolia were other countries represented in this event staking total money pot worth $25,000 with the champion winning $6,000.

Ironman notes: Carina Dayondon has done nearly everything, from reaching the peak of Mt. Everest to winning adventure races to competing in long-distance, high-altitude races. But unknown to many, this 32-year-old lady learned to swim only last year. “I really don’t know how to swim because I have fear of the water,” said Dayondon. “I want to conquer it by competing in the Ironman,” she added... Dayondon’s swimming coach is Leo Oracion, the first Filipino to reach Mt. Everest. Like Dayondon, the 35-year-old Oracion is also running the Ironman....Murphy Reinschreiber, who was sent here by the WTC to personally oversee and observe the country’s hosting, said a full Ironman may be staged in RP in the future. “In the short term, the answer is no. Maybe in five years, maybe seven years down the line, who knows,” he said.