 Last November 25, 2011 we conducted a talk for the topic of Compression Apparel. Our speaker was no less than Tobias ‘Ias’ Bernardo of LightN Up marketing, they are the company that brings in Zoot and 2XU – and they have worked with the Zoot and 2XU guys directly; so their knowledge with regard to compression technology is adept.
   Everyone got a chance to touch / feel the products to better comprehend the compression technology 
Ias breaking down the apparel terms and jargons And no Secondwind session will be complete without the Q&A with matching prizes! 
food supplement from Health Food 
multisport apparel from Transition One (T1) and anti-chafe from Body+Sole 
running shoes from Zoot and goggles from Aquasphere! thank you again to our partners: Sun Broadband Pharmaton Medicard ZOOT CARBBOOM! AQUASPHERE HED. TRANSITION ONE (T1) OPTIC NERVE NEW BALANCE SLS3 BODY + SOLE ZOGGS GYMBOSS HEALTH FOOD ZYM SBR.COM THEBULLRUNNER AND FRONTRUNNER see previous Secondwind session about Tri101 here watch out for more Secondwind sessions in the coming months!
(click on the images to enlarge)
 Greetings runners! Another year has ended and 2012 brings us another opportunity for us to set new personal records and tackle new challenges! And for every runner, first and foremost is to get the right kind of shoe. Secondwind is most honored to have served runners in all shapes and sizes, varying age categories, seasoned and beginners, both local and international. And for 2011, the runners have spoken; for each category, we will be highlighting the top 3 shoes for both men and women. If you are a beginner, or just someone been wanting to try the active lifestyle or even to just become the weekend runner, then this year-end review is for you. Happy new year, and remember: running starts here. 
NB MINIMUS TRAIL – a colab shoe of NB and Anton Kupricka. Anton whose philosophy in running is strapping down to the bare essentials, and prefers a more barefoot feel; this is the end result. A versatile minimalist trail shoe that is both durable and proprioceptive in feel and ride. SRP P4,795 
NB 720 – A multi-purpose shoe, perfect also for coastal approach; equipped with 10 drainage holes, perfect for wet and dry conditions. SRP P3,995 WMNS NB 813 – dual traction, aggressive colors, sturdy design. It’s tough, functional, and perfect for the job. SRP P4,395 
For the second straight year, the Tubes Run 100 takes this award. Most runners who’re looking for a running shoe to start with, this takes the cake. Its light, flexible, and gives an exeptional well cushioned ride. SRP: P3,995.00 
This was a serious contender for this category; because it has a very attractive price point and flashy design – this is always included in the list of choice of beginners while choosing their first running shoe. SRP: P2,995 
More commonly called as the ‘Lunars’ among runners, this shoe has been widely accepted by the larger population of the running community. From your first 5k to your first marathon – this shoe can take what you dish out. It’s light, great cushioned ride, young and attractive colors, and not to mention their ground breaking Dynamic Support which gives moderate arch support for over pronators, this shoe is really hard not to consider for your first running shoe. SRP: P5,495 
NB 880 – this shoe came out with 5 color variants making it highly eligible to be considered for neutral runners. It has NERGY cushioning on the heel which gives this shoe a great ride. At first fit, runners notice the accommodating toe box and the way it hugs the midfoot area, all translates to a great run. SRP P4,795.00 WMNS MIZUNO WAVE RIDER – for the second straight year this is the defending champ in this category for the women. Its slim and low profile than the other neutral running shoes making it a viable choice for the female runner. SRP P4,995 
NIKE AIR PEGASUS – now on its 28th version, this is a marathoner’s favorite running shoe. Even after 28 upgrades and changes: Guideglide and Cushlon to name a few, this shoe just keeps getting better. SRP P5,495 WMNS NIKE ZOOM VOMERO – using Nike’s Zoom Air technology, this shoe despite its weight is amazingly responsive. And because of its external heel counter it gives great support and ride. SRP P6,495 
BROOKS GHOST – is already a favorite amongst runners. And improving its cushioning system from the Hydroflow to the DNA gave it a more superior ride. SRP P5,295 WMNS NB 890 – although not a stability shoe, this was positioned to go against the Lunars. Its light, great cushioning from the Revlite foam. Still a winner even at the #3 spot. SRP P5,195 
ASICS NIMBUS – another defending champ for the second year, the nimbus on its 13 version is hard to topple. The supremacy of the Asics Gel and the way it works with the midfoot shank plate is absolutely flawless. SRP P7,450 WMNS NB 1080 – the 1080 is NB’s plush, 360 degree cushioning shoe. The amount of NERGY gel on the heel echoes comfort step after step. Built for comfort and distance, you can count on the 1080 to deliver. SRP P6,395 
NB 1080 – the 1080 is NB’s plush, 360 degree cushioning shoe. The amount of NERGY gel on the heel echoes comfort step after step. Built for comfort and distance, you can count on the 1080 to deliver. SRP P6,395 WMNS ASICS NIMBUS – the nimbus on its 13 version is hard to topple. The supremacy of the Asics Gel and the way it works with the midfoot shank plate is absolutely flawless. SRP P7,450 
MIZUNO WAVE ENIGMA – a fairly new model in the Mizuno running collection (at least here in the Philippines), making quite an impression for runners who seek a comfortable, well cushioned ride. SRP P5,995 
ASICS GT 2160 – comfortable, good arch support, not too heavy. the GT 2100 series gives a lower profile feel than it looks. One of seasoned runners’ favourites. Asics just keeps on dialing back and improving on its design. SRP P5,900 
NIKE AIR ZOOM STRUCTURE TRIAX – a direct contender of the the Asics GT. One of the best move Nike ever did was change the cushioning system of Triax from Encap (encapsulated) Air to Zoom Air, what this means for this shoe is that it became more responsive stability shoe. SRP P5,495 WMNS ASICS KAYANO – Runnersworld shoe of the year for the past 3 years – again, we said it before and the runners agree with us on this, the Asics Gel ride and support is far supreme. The plushness of this ride is highly notable. SRP P8,100 
NB 1226 – A huge improvement from the 1225. Bigger Nergy gel on the heel and forefoot, runners say it gives a softer ride than its predecessor. SRP P6,495 WMNS NB 860 – what runners notice right away is the fit. Its roomy and the arch firmly rests on top of the arch support. Soon as they take this home and run with it, it lives up to its initial feel of great fit. SRP P5,195 
NB 870 – this shoe is designed to give moderate guidance or arch support, and maintaining a weight limit, attracting 1160 followers the the New Balance side. SRP P4,595 WMNS ASICS 1160 – this shoe is a value for money choice. This shoe was built with the mild over pronator in mind, packing only the essentials, this shoe can and will definitely go the distance. SRP P5,000 
NIKE LUNARGLIDE – the Lunars are a great choice for mild over pronators and the fit just gets better and better. Its lightweight, playful colors, soft ride courtesy of the Nike’s Lunar foam. SRP P5,495 WMNS AIR SPAN – this shoe for sometime has been undermined by runners. Finally, respect and recognition which has been long overdue is now here. A great value for money shoe for mild over pronators. SRP P4,995 
ASICS 1160 – this shoe is a value for money choice. This shoe was built with the mild over pronator in mind, packing only the essentials, this shoe can and will definitely go the distance. SRP P5,000 WMNS NB 870 – this shoe is designed to give moderate guidance or arch support, and maintaining a weight limit, attracting 1160 followers the the New Balance side. SRP P4,595 
This year, K-Swiss dominated this category, pushing aside all other brands out of the way – leaving them done and dusted. 
K-SWISS K-ONA – a lightweight racing shoe with minimal arch support. A support mild enough that even neutral runners buy into this shoe; consistently ranking year after year in the Ironman championship, that badge alone earns this shoe the much respect it deserves. SRP P4,995 WMNS KWICKY BLADE LIGHT – a sub 9oz shoe with hydrophobic characteristics, so even if you douse yourself with water, this shoe stays dry. The blade gives the right amount of cushion when needed, and firms up the faster you go. SRP P6,595 
K-SWISS BLADE LIGHT RUN – a neutral lightweight racing shoe, many runners say it gives a plush ride. So plush, that a handful of runners used this shoe for their 50k ultramarathons. Like the K-ona, equipped with Flowcool system, this shoe breathes with you as you run. SRP P4,995 WMNS K-SWISS K-ONA – a lightweight racing shoe with minimal arch support. A support mild enough that even neutral runners buy into this shoe; consistently ranking year after year in the Ironman championship, that badge alone earns this shoe the much respect it deserves. SRP P4,995 
K-SWISS KWICKY BLADE LIGHT – a sub 9oz shoe with hydrophobic characteristics, so even if you douse yourself with water, this shoe stays dry. The blade gives the right amount of cushion when needed, and firms up the faster you go. SRP P6,595 WMNS K-SWISS BLADE LIGHT RUN – a neutral lightweight racing shoe, many runners say it gives a plush ride. So plush, that a hadful of runners used this shoe for their 50k ultramarathons. Like the K-ona, equipped with Flowcool system, this shoe breathes with you as you run. SRP P4,995 And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for: 
K-Swiss K-ona - The defending champion comes back stronger. Still consistent and true to its design and purpose – this shoe is by far the most versatile and dependable racer in this category. Light enough for most runners to feel the difference when they transition from their usual running shoes. Ample cushioning which keeps you from missing your heavy distance shoes, but thin enough to remind you not to take it easy on race day.  The beauty of this shoe is in its design, the versatile upper serves as a canvas for any kind of design, with the essential synthetic overlays which straps the foot down for a good lockdown and security. The Flowcool system provides unparalleled ventilation for the runner as he/she increases mileage or speed. Just like the Pegasus or the GT, when a brand comes out with a almost perfect shoe, very little change or upgrade is made every season. They are careful not to change too much from a design perspective so as not to lose runner’s loyalty. K-Swiss hit a homerun with this shoe, it will be awhile before we see any major change in the very reliable K-ona. The result of the Secondwind Runners Choice is not a direct reflection of our opinion, but a direct result of the runner’s voice by way of sales and feedback from Secondwind Running Store clients. Secondwind can only go as far as educate and guide runners to the right selection – but at the end of the day, it is you, the runner which determines the shoe that fits you best. If you are a beginner, this year-end countdown will be most helpful for you. Even more helpful if you know your foot type. Have your foot type assessed in any Secondwind Running Store so you can take the first step into running. Running starts here. Seconwind Running Store Mon to fri: 11am – 8pm Sat to sun: 10am – 7pm 1) 45 Malingap st., Teachers Village QC / tel # 238-4005 2) Unit 3A Ortigas Home Depot, Julia Vargas, Ortigas, Pasig City / tel # 914-0283 http://www.secondwindrunningstore.com/contact/
 | 2012 | Dec 17, '11 4:57 AM
for everyone |
 March 28, 2009 Secondwind opened its doors to the running and endurance community, Philippines' first HOME GROWN running specialty store. its aim is to provide services for runners in terms of running needs from head to (especially) foot. with gait analysis, and runners helping them guide through the products - it is unlike any other sport store. with the warm reception and support of the community, we were able to open our second store in ortigas home depot november 14, 2009.
having 2 stores helped us serve more runners, and endurance athletes through guiding them to the right shoes, right apparel and equipment for them.
2012 will be another monumental year for this HOME GROWN running specialty store. Secondwind Running Store: for runners, by runners.
Training for my first Cebu City Marathon (CCM) 2012 reminded me of my previous marathons, and my first marathon in particular. 
Ito po ang unang marathon ko Nakita ko sa ilalim ng cabinet ko, kasama ng mga iba kong singlet. Sa dami na ng nangyari, sinalihan at tinakbuhan – nabaon na ng husto. Sa halagang P400.00 and kasama dito ay brown envelope, singlet at finishers shirt (while supplies last) makakapag marathon ka na noon. Walang free nutrition gel, or libreng energy drink, walang libreng tuna na delata, walang libreng gatas, walang libreng gym membership, walang major sponsors, walang paputok (fireworks) sa starting line, walang 3D map ng ruta (na actually nakakalito din naman sundan), walang medal, walang timing chip or RFID. Hindi every 1 or 2kms yung mga water stations. As far as I can remember parang every 5 nga yata. Hindi din sapat yung mga marshals noon. Binigyan lang kami ng race map upon registration at dapat memorize nyo yung route kundi, halos tiyak na mawawala kayo. maganda yung ruta ng Pasig run dahil point-A to point-B yung route na ito hindi loop kaya Masaya takbuhin. Ang down side lang, yung ibang Manila area nakakatakot (feeling ko mapapag tripan kami ng mga manginginom) at minsan hindi kaaya-aya ang amoy. Noon, hindi pa ito covered by media, wala din event photographer. Open road Yung buong marathon, may konting assistance lang sa mga major intersection from traffic aides, pero sa ibang intersection (literally) run for your life. Finish line noon halos direcho uwi yung mga tao, wala din finisher’s coral para sa mga booth ng mga sponsors. Wala din pala itong press launch or press kit, kasi hindi pa po laganap ang blogging noon. Kahit na P400 lang ito at wala gaanong freebies, kahit na hindi lubos ang marshals at support dito, uulitin ko itong marathon kung may pagkakataon. To quote Anton Krupicka (a seasoned marathoner and ultramarathoner): “running ultimately distills life down to its basic elements. That I think is a really valuable experience; specially in this day and age where life can be really complicated… …Sponsors and all that stuff is nice but its not why I run, why I run is because it’s the basic primal experience to find in life, there’s something really compelling and sustaining about that… “ What Anton said was true, in effect we have so many forms of media and gear distractions around us which makes us numb to the simple pleasures that life has given us. The simple act of getting out of bed, standing up and lacing up your shoes and running off to wherever is pure joy. Running knows no boundaries and sects. It’s the only sport where all masses start at a level playing field in one starting line. Running at its best, is when you begin to feel at peace; running becomes hard only if you begin to challenge yourself: How far can I go this time? Gano ko kaya kabilis matatapos ito? Do I want a hilly route? kaya ko na ba ang 21k? Running for some people treat it like Karate or Taekwondo, where they treat every distance like it’s a color of a belt or a level they have to go through before taking on a longer distance. For me, its better to actually take time in certain distances and enjoy the progression and improvement in performance of every run. It doesn’t matter if I’m talking to a 5k runner or a ultramarathoner – I have equal respect for both. If you put it in perspective, a 5k run will be the hardest thing a beginner will ever do, endurance wise. And a marathon will be one of the hardest runs they will conquer – even for seasoned runners, it never gets easy. I never saw running certain distances (5, 10, 21, or 42), as a level that I have to complete all. I took my time before I did my first marathon. Ive had so many fears and heard so many horror stories which made me stick for years to run 5s, 10s, and 21k. In turn these experiences made me prepare for a marathon properly at hindi yung nag register lang dahil na buyo ng mga kaibigan or para masabi ko lang sa sarili ko na isa na akong marathoner. Hindi naman ako mabilis sa una kong marathon (kahit ngayon hindi pa rin), pero dahil pinag handaan ko ng maayos, hindi naman ako napag-iwanan ng lubos or hindi rin gaano masakit katawan ko kinabukasan, most importantly hindi ako na injure. “I run for the shirt” is subtly saying “because I can do this and because I prepared for it”. iba-iba ang halaga ng tshirt ko pero hindi ito katumbas ng mga shirts bench, topshop, or f&h. ang mga presyo nila ay 10k, 21k, at 42k. Mga tshirt na mahalaga at hindi nabibili sa mga mall or kung saan mang tindahan. Mga tshirt na pinag hihirapan. Kaya minsan kahit muka ng pambahay, gustong-gusto pa rin nating mga mananakbo suotin ito. Maari nga na mahal na ang mga karera ngayon, pero libre pa din tumakbo J Iba-iba ang rason ng mga tao para tumakbo. May mga gusto tumakbo para magpapayat, may iba dahil nag papa-impress sa crush nila, may iba dahil gusto mag improve ng health, may iba na sawa na sa kaka-gimik, may iba dahil likas sa kanila ang tumakbo, may iba hilig nila ang long slow distance runs (LSD), may iba gusto ang mga short distance races, may iba napapasama lang sa mga kaibigan. Kahit ano ang rason natin, mabuti nalang din na sa pag takbo tayo lahat nauwi. Walang maliit o mababaw na rason para tumakbo. Ako natutuwa ako sa mga kaibigan ko na sumusubok ng healthy lifestyle, sobrang taas ng respeto ko sa mga taong ito dahil isa sa mga pinaka mahirap gawin sa buhay ngayon ay iwanan ang ating comfort zone, at sumubok ng panibagong bagay para lang mag improve tayo in our health, and overall as a person. I started to run to lose weight because my clothes were all ill-fitting and awkward. Then my friend, Neville helped me rise from a deep and long slumber from running. Sigurado ako na marami pa dyan ang mas magarang kwento sa mga luma at sinauna nilang marathon, sana maka-kwentuhan ko sila. Sobra akong nag e-enjoy makipag kwentuhan ng mga lumang karera at istorya (baka nga senior na kasi ako). Maligayang training sa mga nagha-handa para sa marathon next year (tulad ko)! -hector I run aside from the fact that I can, kundi dahil gusto ko lang tumakbo.
Xterra: Putik Pare A recount of a first timer My introduction to endurance sport came around my elementary years (grade 7) 1995, may father bought me a junior mtb (mountain bike) at a Khumbmela store on the 3rd floor of Robinsons galleria. Instant love for 2-wheeled transportation; it was black, with only five gears at the rear. The fun in mtb carried on through highschool, and thru the years – my definition of long ride was biking to UP Diliman (i lived 2kms away from UP then) and doing 2 rounds in the academic oval! 
Coah Dan Brown, Paolo Manuel, me – paolo and i unintentionally positioned ourselves at the front Going back to Putik Pare, here is what i or we went through and hopefully you learn or pick up something from this entry (especially for those thinking about taking up a new challenge!). this is a 2-man event. One will do a 10k trail run while the other will mountain bike 18k or trail, then switch discipline, go to the mud pit together, cross the finish line together (holding hands is optional). 
Since this is a first off-road or trail event for me which involves mtb, i made sure to double even triple check my gear. Tons of plastic bag (for the dirty gear after), Gloves, helmet, racebelt, trisuit, trail shoes, bike shoes, shades, headband, gels, water, and sports watch. I intentionally did not bring my garmin in the fear of i might smash it or lose it altogether. Paolo’s strategy was to put our strongest leg as the secondary activity, so this meant i would have to bike first while he will do the run. His strategy is, it is better to be the hunter than be the hunted. Logical enough. On the bike, the most useful advise i got from my friend and seasoned mountain biker, Raffy Zamora was don’t look or focus down, look straight and look far. The more you look down on that hole or that branch, the greater the chance you will get ditched or fall into that obstacle. But if you focus far, you will find your bike cooperating with you going to that direction. Have a quick glance at your immediate front, then look far and focus on where you want your bike to go. 
Going up – the way you climb on a road bike is not at all the same on mtb. Its not all power, most times depending on the surface, its better to climb using small at the front and big at the rear (or what they call granny gears). Going down – not at all for the faint hearted; the build or lead that you have may be all lost or wasted if you hesitate on the descents. Downhills can be summed up in 1 word: commit. The moment you hesitate on a downhill, you will 99% fall or be dislodged from your bike. Trust your gear, ride the downhill, feather touch on the rear break, and commit. It will a big confidence boost if you have time to practice the mtb tracks in nuvali, maarat, and even camp Aguinaldo. On the run – at this point i was so dehydrated and so tired from the ride. the adrenalin from the mtb leg wore off. dehydrated because it may have not been the best idea not to go for a hydration pack on the mtb leg. i only drank 1/8 water from my water bottle plus i dint get to take any gel. my conscience wouldnt let me walk because i knew, my teammate paolo was pushing it on the bike - and i couldnt let him down. i went on zombie mode and just ran without thinking of the pain, fatigue, and dehydration. trail running has a higher demand on mental focus vs road running. there will be certain points that youre running alone and itll make you wonder - am i lost? run the level planes, go with the momentum on the downhills (if too technical, slow down – best to be safe than sorry), attack the hills (if too technical, walk it and look for something to assist your ascent like leaves or branches). The treatment here is opposite of the mtb; so on the bike you want to look far or where you wanna go – on the trail run, get a general view of the direction of the path, then concentrate looking down. You really want to see where you put your foot on. When you hit river crossings, its almost worth it to slow down – this is for the reason that you cant see what terrain you will step on. If you are faced with boulders or a very steep descent, sit down and scoot your way down while holding on to something. Keep your shades on as much as possible to protect your eyes from insects or debris. i myself am not that seasoned when it comes to mountain biking (basic skills from my early years just kicked in), but i hope you pick up something from this experience. On the mud pit – get it done and over with as soon as possible. Don’t hesitate, its mud not STD, it’ll wash right off. The moment your foot hits the mud at the bottom, it will eat your leg up to your knees. Be light on your feet, the longer you stay inside it, the more you sink, all the more difficult to get out. A neat trick that we discovered is when you pull your leg out, don’t do it in an upward manner. Pull it out in a butt kick motion (yes like the leg drill that you’re familiar with), brings up less mud with your leg. 
This was the most fun endurance race that we've done for 2011! Certainly the first of many! in fact, this was our exact words in the car, on the way home: that. was. THE. most. fun. EVER! great, great race! marshalls was where they should be, safety measures were taken, route was definitely challenging, superbly organized. Paolo and i ranked 14th out of 70 plus teams, and 11th in all-male. Not bad for our first try, not bad at all (good strategy pao!). In a nutshell: - Mid 90s mountainbike - Late 90s triathlon - Early 2000 fell in love with running, marathon, ultramarathon - 2009 to present, triathlon - 2011 Xterra or off-road triathlon Full circle. Falling in love with mountain biking & trail running all over again. in behalf of paolo, we would like to thank our supportive wives, mayen and chin for letting us do what we do :) Pictures borrowed from: Makoy Almanzor, Tricia Chiongbian, Ani de Leon, and Xterra Phils (thank you thank you)
by Enzo Hipol
 -Experience in putting it on It was difficult to pass the sleeves along the foot, especially at the heel and ankle area. Once it passed the said area, wrapping the sleeves around the calf and aligning it was relatively easy. -Initial fit and feel Initially, it was something that wasn't constricting at all, but having it on was something that made you always aware that something is hugging the calves. It is not like socks that you wear and forget you had been wearing something at your feet at all. The sleeves applied firm, but consistently distributed pressure to the legs. With my relatively bulky calves, the sleeves seemed to act as a support from extra muscle oscillation.
-On the bike fit and feel With my first ride wearing the sleeves, I took it to a 1 hour moderate paced ride on the trainer. Just like when I first wore the sleeves, it made me conscious that something is hugging my legs more and more for the first 20 minutes of the ride. For the rest of the ride however, my legs seemed to have adapt to the feeling and wasn't bothered at all. There wasn't any noticeable improvement in my riding performance, but having the sleeves on wasn't also a hindrance. -On the run fit and feel Immediately following my first ride with it, a 2 x 2mile transition run was made within a couple of minutes after. Honestly there isn't really much to say about my initial run with the sleeves because it was like wearing socks or something you would forget that you had on you all along. It was like there was nothing wrapping my legs at all. My legs didn't hurt but it also didn't feel like something fantastic is happening. It was just being cool, not minding the bike-run it was subjected to that day. -On recovery After the bike-run workout, the sleeves was still on my legs for five hours. Something to note however, just before the ride, my legs were sore before putting the sleeves on. When the sleeves were removed five hours after the bike-run workout, surprisingly my legs were actually less sore than it was before wearing the sleeves. It looks like, for me to feel the benefits, the sleeve would have to be taken off to normalize the sensation being experienced at the calf area. Maybe I was just wired from the finished workout that my brain was just sending deceivingly less pain sensation. I can’t be sure about what really happened, using the sleeves more would help me have a better idea on how it acts on recovery. On my legs at least.
Enzo's street credit: 
ran a 43 minute 10k off the bike in the 2011 Subic Intl. Triathlon 1'43 on a 20k run, after a 91k bike and 2k swim in the 2011 Whiterock Triathlon
Secondwind Running Specialty store will be hosting a talk on COMPRESSION TECHNOLOGY. This talk will cover most of the basics of compression technology, and most FAQs (frequently asked questions) - Does it work - What does it do - Does it prevent cramping - How do you know if it fits right - What kind of compression to get - Who needs compression - Can I wear this during sport - Can I wear this after sport, and many more - Is it exclusive to runners - Is it exclusive to triathletes The talk will be conducted by David Almendral and Tobias Bernardo of Light’N Up Mktg, who distributes Zoot and 2XU here in the Philippines. Both David and Tobias is well versed when it comes to compression technology (both are runners and triathletes as well). They have worked closely with point persons from Zoot and 2XU, they know their products inside and out! And much like all of the previous talks of Secondwind, registration is FREE! 
(coach Norman, Tri 101) Not just that, participants also get a chance to walk away with a prize or two. A fair warning though, big winners from previous raffles were the ones who went to the stores to register and dropped their business cards (some just wrote on a piece of paper)   
(some of the lucky winners) Prioritization of the raffle prizes are 1) those who went to the stores to register and dropped off business cards or contact info, 2) those who called in to register, 3) walk-in 
Make new friends and learn new things at the same time! 
(click image to enlarge) Join us for a talk on the overview of COMPRESSION TECHNOLOGY you can register by 1) dropping by any Secondwind store, list your name and drop your contact details for the raffle! 2) call in to register and whenever you're free, drop your contact info at any Secondwind shop to join our raffle 3) just walk in REGISTRATION IS FREE! November 25, 2011 (Friday) at 6PM Ortigas Home Depot Hall4 (front of Secondwind Ortigas)
www.secondwindrunningstore.com Ortigas: 9140283 QC: 238-4005
| TRI 101 | Oct 10, '11 1:53 AM
for everyone |
I remember, back in 1997 when me and my friends discovered triathlon: Gatorade Everyman sprint triathlon series – this poster we saw in Extreme mountainbike shop in Delta, Quezon Ave. Back then there were only 3 teams that we know of; MTC, Manila Triathlon Club and the IronPIGS (people in good shape – if my memory serves me right), and the Batangas boys of Abet Alon Alon. During that time (pre-internet, pre-texting), information about training and racing was scarce and hard to come by. Now, with the boom of the active, endurance lifestyle – information is readily available. And as a part of our service to the community, we always try to pay it forward by helping the budding runner, the newbie triathlete, or basically those who want to adapt a positive change and take on the challenge of a healthier you. Previously we came out with our first TRI101 talk 
 
Featuring coach Ige Lopez, owner of TransitionOne multisport apparel and ITU certified coach. Then we had the talk on Knowing Your Body Better, prevent common running injury. For this talk we featured Dr. Randy Molo - a cyclist, avid runner and member of Team Secondwind, official doctor of the Azkals, head of the sports medicine in St. Lukes. 
There were more requests of these similar talks, or for more topics. And as our next step, we are bringing back again the Tri101, this time featuring coach Norman Pascual of team Hebalife and ITU certified coach 
(coach norman, second from left – with triathlon students at TriUnited Matabunkay) Learn or explore the world of multisport to supplement your running. Some members of team Secondwind, having discovered multisport – has greatly helped our running and endurance, strength and speed. Some of our teammates are products of Coach Norman as well! This is not to say to forget running, rather to just help add vigour to every step of your run! If youre a seasoned triathlete, tell your friend about this talk; if you have a friend whose even thinking of trying or may want to try multisport – FREE REGISTRATION!!! Its a great way to have a feel of the community, listen to training and racing stories, and most of all – learn how to manage or incorporate swimming, and biking to your running! Interested attendees may register by going to Secondwind Running stores or just simply calling the store at THE STARTING LINE 402B Autocluster Bldg A, Westgate Center, 1781 Alabang, Philippines: tel # 828-7679 SECONDWIND - 45 Malingap st., Teachers Vill. QC : tel # 238-4005 SECONDWIND - Ortigas Home Depot, Julia Vargas st., Pasig City : tel # 913-0283 Seats are limited, so come as early as you can! Again, this is FREE REGISTRATION! In the spirit of keeping with the tradition of giving away raffle prizes to attendees... 
Raffle details: - Participants of the talk may drop by the The Starting Line and any Secondwind stores between today and the day of the talk to register for the talk and drop their business cards at our ‘shoe box’ or bin
- No purchase needed
- Raffle is exclusive for tri 101 talk only
- Raffle winners must be personally present – no proxy
- If the winner is absent, the prize goes back to raffle
...here are our co-presenters for this talk which we would like to thank with utmost gratitude for the support and for the great raffle prizes and who share our vision in paying it forward  Get a chance to win exciting surprises from: Nathan, Optic Nerve, Hed, Zym, New Balance, Transition One, Carbboom, Zoot, Aqua Sphere, Body+Sole anti chafe, Nutribar, SLS3, Gymboss, Medicard, Healthfood, Zoggs and Sun Broadband! you may win a brand new pair of Zoot footwear, goggles, energy gels, energy bars, apparel, bag, just by attending! Thanks also to our media partners: TheBullRunner, Runnersworld, FrontRunner and swimbikerun.ph Tell a friend, bring a friend, tell a friend of a friend! Meet new friends! Trade training and racing stories with fellow enthusiasts! See you on October 28, 2011 – Friday 6PM Hector - Secondwind running store
This review is suppose to help budding runners or endurance athletes who are starting to calculate their performances, how fast they can run, are they improving on their workouts or drills, how hard they can go on repeating workouts. Having a timer on hand is crucial and proven most beneficial in trainings. Some example drills wherein you may need a timer or sports watch: 1. Hill repeats – the first climb will be your benchmark, and then succeeding attempts will ideally have to be less of the prior climbs 2. Interval runs – for example youre on the track oval, and your workout is intervals of 100 meters; you or your coach have to maintain or if not run better than a certain time 3. Even as basic as you just want to see how long or fast you can cover a familiar route 4. If you want to build up on speed, and have an intense track workout, a timer will definitely help you achieve your goals Since this is focused on the timer or timing feature of sport watches, i will not be discussing peripheral features of other watches. This review is concentrated on workout related features of sports watches. Key things to look for a sport watch - Ease of use / navigation - Easy to read displays or data - Weight or built – watch has to be unobtrusive depending on your sport or activity - Water resistant – for when you sweat, or when you decide to do water sports Sportline  This is your basic off the shelf sport watch, actually reminds me of your generic sport watches; but don’t be fooled, Sportline has been in the sporting goods business for some time now. Timex Ironman (shock resistant) 
This is a staple for most runners or triathletes – heck before the dawn of GPS watches, all athletes were wearing a Timex. Its basic, its dependable, it delivers, and it bears the ‘IM’ brand. So if its good enough for IM athletes, it should be good for us ordinary folk. Casio G-Shock 
Because some athletes need to stay fashionable even during sport, the G-Shock is a growing trend nowadays. The downside of wearing a G-Shock for sport is that its too chunky – other than that, if you’re just starting to run or engage into sports and you happen to have a G-Shock already because you’re trendy, you can live with this. Sportcount  This is a new gadget that just landed on Philippine shores, so allow me to talk a bit more about this. This gadget fits comfortably on your index finger and it doesn’t matter if youre a righty or lefty.
The display is almost the same as Timex 
But larger than the G-Shock 
The simplest feature i value the most about this is the ‘one hand operation’ 
It’s a novelty we have never thought of putting weight on. With the conventional timing watch you have to use both your hands to counter-push the button that you are trying to access. Having to operate this with one hand helps you to: (running) - Helps you to focus on your speed workout - Pay more attention on drills and the distance - You won’t forget to lap your timer (tapping the Sportcount becomes muscle memory) - You wont lose count on how many laps youve done on the track - Because everything is on one hand, this lessens the probability of you tripping over as you are ending your intense run – while you try to slap on the stop or lap button - Gives you a recap on your fastest and slowest lap - Gives you a timing breakdown per lap as well as total elapsed time (swimming) - Helps you to focus on your speed workout - Focus on your drills, breathing technique - Pay more attention on drills and the distance - You wont lose count on the laps youve done on the pool - Gives you a recap on your fastest and slowest lap - Gives you a timing breakdown per lap as well as total elapsed time To end this review, here is the ‘tale of the tape’ | SPORTS TIMER FACE OFF | SPORTLINE WATCH | CASIO G-SHOCK | TIMEX IRONMAN | SPORTCOUNT | | PRICE (Php) | 4,500 - 3,000 | 7,000 - 5,000 | 5,000 below | 1,400 - 1,800 | | DIGITAL DISPLAY DIMENSION (CM) | 2 x 1 | 1.9 X .4 | 2.1 X .8 | 2.1 X .9 | | WEIGHT (GRAMS) | 47.3 | 66.8 | 54.6 | 10.1 | | TIMER / CHRONOMETER | YES | YES | YES | YES | | LAP COUNTER | YES | YES | YES | YES | | ILLUMINATE | YES | YES | YES | NO | | FASTEST LAP | NO | NO | NO | YES | | SLOWEST LAP | NO | NO | NO | YES | | AVE LAP | NO | NO | NO | YES | | TOTAL TIME | YES | YES | YES | YES | | ONE HAND OPERATION | NO | NO | NO | YES | | ALARM / BEEP | NO | YES | YES | NO | | POWERSAVE / AUTO ON & OFF | NO | NO | NO | YES |
By all accounts, the Sportcount has proven itself useful and a true innovation on sport timing. Available in all Secondwind Running Stores QC 238-4005 Ortigas 914-0283 http://www.secondwindrunningstore.com/contact/
BREATHE.RUN shirt out now. P595.00
can fit boys and girls size from XS to XLlimited design
available in both Secondwind QC 238-4005 Ortigas 914-0283
by Gregory 'Ugi' Maranon Dear Family and Friends,
I want to share with you my first Ironman experience in Jeju Korea, best experience so far.....
Swim
The day before the race, we checked out the swim course at 7am to test
the cold waters of Jeju. More than the anxiety of swimming in cold
water the first time, we were confronted by fog blanketing the water.
We could not see the water from the beach, how can we navigate the swim
when all we could see is fog, even the buoys were hardly visible.
During race morning, there was still the fog over the water. There were
talks that swim leg might be canceled if visibility did not improve by
7am, no...not another China. Fortunately, the fog lifted and the
organizer announced everything is a go. My swim in 20 C water was a new
experience, it was cold, but with a wet suit on it was comfortable. The
water(s) was surprisingly calm, hardly any waves. Waves and turbulence were
created by the 1000 plus swimmers in the water. I actually enjoyed
swimming in a wetsuit. It was like swimming with a pull buoy. The
wetsuit just made my legs float and made me feel very light and fast. I
was surprised at my swim time of 1:12, I couldn't believe I swam that
fast. I screamed when I finished the swim, happy and relieved to have
completed the 3.8km swim in good time and felt good. I actually had low
swim training mileage for the Ironman. I did not really enjoy my swim
training of 4km in a pool. My longest swim was 4 km and I only did it 3
times, most of my swim training was 2 to 3 km 2 to 3 times a week. So I
felt extremely well about my swim time despite the lack of training.
Anyway, running on the beach to T1, I felt light headed, which was
normal, but made it difficulty to remove the wetsuit as I felt out of
balance. I probably took 5 minutes in transition, where I had put on my
bike shoes and helmet in the changing tent, not my usual transition of
shoes locked on the bike pedal and bike helmet waiting on the bike, I
made a leisurely walk to the bike rack not feeling in a hurry (There was
still a long day ahead so what's the rush).
Bike
I felt good when I hop on my bike. The bike course was rolling, almost
like the bike ride from daan hari to naic, uphills and downhills. The
trick to doing well on the bike is to speed up really fast on the down
hill to get that momentum so climbing the hills becomes easier. I was
running 45kph and a max of 58kph on the downhill. I was glad I bought a
comfortable lazer aero helmet a week before, that helped me get more
aero. The roads here were smooth and well paved in asphalt, this made
biking enjoyable, no pot holes to worry about. I stopped 2 times during
the bike course for a bathroom break and to stretch my legs, resting for
2 to 5 minutes. I think that help in preventing any legs cramps during
the bike. The weather conditions during the bike was mostly cloudy and
cool, but the sun came out from time to time. I heard comments from some
of the westerners that the weather was hot and humid in Jeju, but
compared to the Philippines this is cool biking weather. I did not think
I sweat at all during the bike. The aid stations on the bike course was
well stocked with water, gatoraide, banana, and gels. My nutrition
during the bike compose of diced hopia, which I brought from home,
banana, gatoraide and some gel. I normally stopped when I get gatoraide
and banana from the aide station, they did not give any sports bottles
during the race, so we had to pour the drink into the aero bottle.
Looking back at the race organization, I think Camsur is a much better
organized race than Jeju, not just because of the sport bottles they
hand out in Camsur. In Jeju there was no welcoming committee in the
airport at all, not even a banner that said Ironman Korea. Even, the
after race party was no fun, just food, no beer. no entertainment. Back
to the bike leg, I entered T2 finishing the 180km bike ride at 6 hours
12 minutes. Similar to my swim time, the bike was faster than what I
expected.
Run
I did not have to rack my own bike at T2. Someone was there to catch my
bike. I just rush to the changing tent with my T2 bag and quickly
removed my bike shoes(no fancy dismount), changed socks( I felt fresh
sock would prevent blister on my marathon) and wore my new nathan fuel
belt. I exited the changing tent in maybe 2 minutes. I saw Eya at the
changing tent and told her, "see you in 5 hours". The run started with
a steep down hill. My legs felt good running down hill, they seemed
fresh no soreness from the bike. My initial strategy was to run to the
aid stations and a quick rest at the aide stations while taking in
hydration and nutrition. The run course is said to be the most difficult
run course in an Ironman. This was what the winners in the men and
women claim during the awarding speech. The run was a two 21 km loop
with a total of around 20 hills to climb. I was not thinking about the
number of hills or that I had to run 42 km, I was just thinking "next aid
station" . My goal was just to get to the next aid station to get water,
gatoraide, banana and gel. I managed to run continuously through 9 aid
stations and hills, I started walking on the longest and steepest hill
toward the end of the first loop. I got a great idea from Javy, when I
met him in the run course. He said he will walk the up hills and run the
down hills. It was a great strategy to follow, obviously if there are 20
uphills, then there are also 20 down hills. I was still planning to
finish in 13 hours. So I thought, sprint the down hill and and walk the
up hill. It was a good thing the aid stations were positioned either at
the bottom of the down hill or on top of the down hill. I got to refuel
before and after my sprints on the down hills. Strange thing was, the
run leg became hot, running 4 to 5 pm and the sun was up and hot, the
sky was still bright until 8pm. The aid stations were also bathing
stations, they had tubs filled with ice water, sponges, portable shower
devices. It was a relief to wash my face with cold water, pour cold
water on my head, thighs and calves. It was a good thing I wore my
k-swiss kwiky blade light, my feet were soaked but felt dry. It is the
best running shoes I wore ever. My feet did not blister and my toes did not
cramp through out the marathon. I sprinted the final down hill toward
the finish line with a total time of 12 hours and 25 minutes, my
marathon time was 4:46. My teammate training partner, Don, passed me in
the second loop of the run, he had a steady run pace and finished 12
hours 15 minutes, a marathon time of 4:25.
 For those planning to do their first Ironman, I highly recommend Jeju
despite the difficult run course. For us Filipinos, Jeju weather is
perfect for racing. I think a first Ironman should be done in a
temperate country, the cooler temperature makes an Ironman less
difficult to do. Another plus factor in Jeju is the big number of
Filipino participants, it is good to have the support of the Pinoys.
There were 22 filipinos, we had the 3rd biggest contigent, only China
and Japan had more athletes. All the Pinoys crossed the finish line,
except two, who got cut off on the swim leg.
K-Swiss BLADE-MAX TRAIL by hector (prologue) Rain arrived in manila Wednesday noon (ish), and everyone from facebook to twitter was hopeful that the weather will let up the next day (Thursday). So waking up Thursday at 4:30 am, i was hopeful and eager to get a run in; and then i saw (something like) this 
So i sent an sms to training buddy Bobby Go, that i will skip on the run under the rain so as not to aggravate my colds (for the record, i still run with a mild fever and i know some of you do too!). and with TriKING being just around the corner, no point in getting sick now if it’ll just throw me back to square one in training. So i went on with my day, and went to work, for the second day, no training. Lunch time, the rain stopped – so Jeremy, Neville (teammates) and i sped off to Ultra for a swim. And then back to work, my rhinitis came back with a vengeance. So it was like a gloomy day all over again. And just when the rain struck again, a car emerged approaching the store’s parking slot 
It was the Fedex guy, with a delivery. A few years ago, K-Swiss running shoes were unheard of; a few years ago, K-Swiss being one of the dominant brands in triathlon was beyond everyone’s imagination. And just when you thought, K-Swiss was done breaking barriers; i receive this from K-Swiss Inc. friend, Steve Locke 
K-SWISS BLADE-MAX TRAIL Out of the box, i was surprised to see such an aggressive looking trail running shoe, let alone from K-Swiss. Its a minimal shoe that packs so much in terms of mileage.  It has a gusseted tongue to prevent debris and liquid from getting in 
Ion-Mask technology that has hydrophobic features to prevent water from seeping in 
Seamfree Tech –call out on the toe bumper to make the shoe weigh less, and provides less irritation over long distance trail running 
Small improvements add up: heavy duty laces, and points of reflectivity to increase visibility 
Pull tab on the heel for easy on and off wearing; external heel counter to protect your feet from big rocks on those aggressive ascents 
The way it works, Blade-Max suspends the guideglide superfoam (yellow portion) sits on top of articulated foam bed (grey portion) positioned to maximize impact absorption. 
Progressive cushioning technology, giving you a softer ride, for maximum comfort on trails 
Aosta 2 – carbon rubber, durable heavy duty outsole 
Dual traction outsole maximizing traction for your technical ascents 
Rock Block protection plate – allows you to run carelessly through unforgiving terrain without worrying any cause of discomfort to your feet 
This shoe was like sunshine to me, on that rainy-rainy Thursday. Currently, i have 2 things on my mind: 1. The feel of running on these shoes (good thing im going rafting in CDO with the missus) 2. What will K-Swiss do next? coming out August 2011, SRP: 6,695
Improved stitched branding / race bib holder  adjustable fit  small expanding pouch for keys or small change Pouch comes with provision for identification in case of emergency (personalize it the way u want) 
able to hold up to 4 gels 
Secondwind Racebelt 2.0 P350.00 available 4/30/11
 Features: - points of reflectivity on high visibility areas - NB compression, compression fit, strategically provides support to tarted muscle groups - lightning dry keeps you dry, hydrophobic fabric, quick evaporating moisture management - odor resistant fabric - excellent fit and comfort
ventilated mesh panel behind the knees to provide maximum comfort
Points of reflectivity PU injected laces for easy grip Sealed back pocket, weather resistant to protect your contents. Media ready back pocket, it has an earphone cord passage.
has also emergency contact details in case you encounter an emergency.   SRP 2795 (also available for women) one of the many things that New Balance apparel has to offer. We dont know how to up-sell, we just know our gear.
Wait for it to kick in Secondwind
QC 238-4005 Ortigas 914-0283
 Its Triathlon season and triathletes more than runners are meticulous about their gear more than any other athlete in the world. Always has to be the lightest, and the toughest out there. It has to be able to take all the punishment the athlete can dish out. Runners are no pushover; if runners don’t meet their target time, its either they only blame 1 of the 3: 1) training 2) injury 3) shoes. runners distinguish the value for money – and they know that the most valuable investment in the sport of running is shoes. In a nutshell, this is what you need to know (WEIGHT BASED ON SIZE 9US - click on image to enlarge): 
Brooks Green Silence – make an eco statement with this shoe. Its light and it does the job. Same texture of outsole with the musha. As many happy runners there are using this shoe, there is quite an alarming number of runners who find the asymmetrical lacing of this shoe annoying (just like asics had with their kayano 15 – which they switched back to traditional lacing). Asics Piranha 
weighing in a little less than 5 oz, this shoe is untouchable in being light. Advantages of wearing a lighter shoe delays fatigue and tiredness on your legs while running; you will reach the finish line before you even begin to think of taking that hydration stop. Mizuno Wave Musha  the AP midsole rides well, same with other mizuno shoes. The traction on this shoe specially on the forefoot is questionable. Though its hard rubber, quite smooth and flat.
All four K-Swiss racing shoes has been Ironman proven in the run leg - which is a marathon distance (42.195 kms after swimming and biking) under the scorching sun in the island of Kona, Hawaii - so ‘nuff said about them. 
[photos courtesy of www.slowtwitch.com] L to R: kwicky blade light, blade light run, kruuz, k-ona K-Swiss’ investment in athletes and R&D has really paid off. Since their penetration of running and triathlon in 2007, they are now synonymous to performance, and having what it takes for the toughest athletes. If you want something tried and tested by the most demanding race in the world – K-Swiss dares you to take your pick. New Balance 820 
this shoe is bang for the buck. For P3995, you get a tough lightweight shoe. In this category, being tough is hard to come by. Because of its all carbon rubber outsole, this has more probable chance that it will run with you through numerous races and get you faster to the finishline than your average running shoe. Comes with elastic laces, so it suddenly widened its attraction to multi-sport athletes; the Abzorb cushion is really comfortable and will be ready for any punishment you will dish out. RC 1300 
Is a track inspired shoe, what this means is that if you want supreme traction and zero energy loss from your foot to the ground – look no further. With the TPU injected hard rubber outsole on the forefoot – this is where the action is at; this shoe breaths of speed and power. There it is friends, a wide array of speed machines for your demanding events. The questions you have to answer are 1) how much do you value your race day? AND 2) how fast do you want to get there?
This is a shoe guide which is dictated by a local taste. Combining purchasing power, preference in design and colour, and most importantly fit and feel. We can’t always just follow what other countries dictate. Each and every runner is different and we have varying needs from runners in other countries such as interior, colour, breathability, materials, and most importantly price. As a direct result of the footwear that we sell / move in all our stores. This does not directly translate that these are the shoes we indeed recommend that are the best shoes for you (the consumer), but rather to help you in your future purchases. As we always say in Secondwind, fit and feel is a matter of personal preference. And just like any popularity race, we gathered our data, to share and hopefully help runners out there on their next shoe purchase. You have casted your choices and votes – For the first time in Philippine running history, we present to you the Secondwind Consumers Choice Award for 2010! Neutral / Cushioning 
What they say: Asics Nimbus – soft landing, very good transition heel to forefoot. Time and again, the Nimbus franchise has always kept up with the demands of runners. P7,450 Mizuno Creation – gentle impact, good contours, nice color designs. Very formidable ride, if youre a runner who values cushion over everything else, you really should try this out. P5,495 Cushioning (Beginners Choice) 
What they say: K-Swiss Tubes Run 100 – flexible, lightweight, well cushioned ride from heel to toe. P3,995 Neutral 
What they say: NB 758 / 759 – accommodating toe box, value for money neutral trainers, high mileage shoe. Also goes well with shorts and jeans! P4195 Mizuno Wave Rider – low profile, slim looking, soft ride. Good shoe, that is justly priced! P4495 Lightweight / Racing 
What they say: K-Swiss K-Ona – low profile, soft ride, lightweight and attractive colors. K-Swiss really hit the jackpot with this design, specially with the Flowcool technology. A versatile shoe that is really designed to take punishment from training to racing. P4,995 Stability 
What they say: Asics GT 2140 / 2150 – comfortable, good arch support, not too heavy. the GT 2100 series gives a lower profile feel than it looks. One of seasoned runners’ favourites. P5,900 NB 769 / 760 – great colors, lightweight for a stability shoe, and comfortable. P4995 Stability (Mild) 
What they say: Mizuno Wave Inspire – hands down winner in this category. bang for the buck, good marathon shoe, impressive colors. This could very well be the pound for pound shoe in this category. Good price, good looks, not bad performance in supporting over pronation. P3,995 Trail 
What they say: NB 812 / 813 – dual traction, aggressive colors, sturdy design. Its tough, functional, and perfect for the job. P4,395 Best shoe for 2010 award goes to 
Many were surprised with the presence of K-Swiss in the running and multisport scene. Their attention to the athlete’s needs, and their closeness working with their endorsers such as Mirinda Carfrae, Chris Lieto, and Raelert really paid off. The shoe really breathes of performance and style. This shoe really just encourages you faster turnovers, smooth heel to toe transition, and their patented flowcool ventilation system to keep your feet a minimum temperature while running – even in harsh weather conditions. K-Swiss is really fortunate that majority of their athletes made it to the top 20 in the recent Ironman championships. Home run for the K-Onas. visit us at: ortigas home depot, tel # 9140283 45 malingap st, teachers village tel # 2384005
 New Balance compression apparel
- mens & wmns sleeveless P2995
- mens & wmns half tight P3995
- mens & wmns long tight P4295
[ limited quantities only ]
features
1. moisture management
2. antimicrobial fabric for odor free garment
3. control - engineered fit and panels enhance muscle performance
4. comfort - flat seam panel stitching
5. breathe - knit in key hot zones
6. points of reflectivity
7. anti slip - with elastic grips
8. UV 50+ protect
Mos Cut insect repelling wrist band P120.00 Anklelite no more batteries, no waste stores 6 hours+ of flashing 360 degree light. fits perfectly in your ankle or as an arm band. rechargeable light for runners, walkers, & bikers charge via solar or artificial light ZYM sport drink tablets "lower rates of perceived exertion... able to push harder at the end" - Runnersworld "provides all the essential electrolytes you need on race day" - Triathlete magazine visit Secondwind stores for a free taste today [ while supplies last ]
[by hector t. yuzon] The night before i packed all my tri stuff like clockwork: - trisuit - Zoggs predator mask - Crocs for the run from the pool to the transition area - Optic nerve response - Helmet - Bike (of course) - Bike shoes (duh) - Socks - Asics DS trainer (fyi asics was the chosen brand of the recent ironman champion) - All in my tailwind multisport pack Sleep early (ideally). I was already in bed by 10, and my sleep was really shallow, tossing and turning until 1am – needless to say i woke up tired. On the way there, riding with jay Nacino – my coffee spilled and luckily my shorts absorbed everything – saving jay’s seat. I was so disappointed at myself. Jay: bakit, isa lang ba shorts mo? Me: oo Jay: ahahahaha! Me: some American pie shit going on here.. When we got there, i was greeted with a surprise of another teammate who was secretly in multisport training for 2 months specifically for this race – Enzo Hipol. Nice surprise! I wanted to be articulate and supportive but all i can utter was ‘whoa’ for like 17 times. As i was preparing all my stuff in the transition area, i realised i forgot one important item – did you notice from my checklist what that was? Racebelt! (such a rookie mistake) Mikey: pare, (sarcastically) pang ilang karera mo na ba to? (sabay iling) Me: uh... Good, good (plain dumb luck) thing Paolo had an extra racebelt! (what an unnecessary pre-race stress) Timing chip, body marked – check! Went to the pool with team manager Paolo to see the map and study it (supposedly if we were early). We missed the briefing, so we asked Mikey since he already did the NAGT earlier this year but he kept giving us dubious answers like 1.5 km swim, and instead of 3 loops, he said it was 5. Good thing we got to talk to coach rick! So i went back to the transition area to change from my warm shirt to my trisuit top. Unzipped my pack, and guess what – no top! I left it in the car! I quickly looked for our teammate who was holding all our car keys. My teammates told me just race bare torso cause i wouldn’t make it back in time Me: anong oras ba age group natin? Mikey: 7:15! Me: ano oras na? Mikey: 7:14! I thought they wouldn’t start on time, so i ran! I made it back to the transition area, changed and ran again towards the pool. And then the siren from coach annie’s megaphone went off! I couldn’t believe it, the one time i was banking on Filipino time to work for me! Absolutely no cooperation! Me: ito na ba yung 30 – 35? Coach annie: hindi pa, pero late ka, Kayo na next Buti nalang hindi ako nag dive! Kwela! What a rough morning... i was so thirsty and tired from the stress and from the running that i think i drank a little water from the pool :P Yeah, mikey wasn’t too pleased with that too. And we’re off! Swim was ok, bike was.. uhm.. well i biked. And the run felt great. After crossing the finish line, we were all comparing notes – yes, because non competitive people like us compare times, notes, and splits. Then awarding came, and wow was it a good day for team Army Navy, they were like winning in one age category after another. I even joked my teammates that to win in NAGT, i would a) Transfer to Army Navy b) Live in alabang and try to win in the resident category, i could work as a guard It was a not bad day at all for Secondwind-Filinvest: 
Secondwind-Filinvest family [ eya maranon, ugi maranon, don velasco, arion maranon, migs castro, enzo hipol, paolo manuel, hector yuzon, mikey macainag, thea torres] Eya Maranon 5th place overall in minisprint Enzo Hipol (his NAGT debut) 2nd place 20 to 24 Paolo Manuel 3rd place 25 to 29 Of course being in our Pinoy culture – picture time! They even had a picture with the winners only. Buti pa sila. Coach rick: and now, we’ll just wait for the 30 to 34 category Thea: (looking at me) hmm.. Me: di rin! Sobrang dame namin, at competitive pa age group ko So thats that. Team manager Paolo Jazz said “tara na ligpit na” made sense, and right about time. In the transition area: Paolo: bakit yan gulong gamit mo (referring to jeremy’s training wheels) Me: ah nakalimutan ko lang, tinamad na rin mag palit Paolo: bigat nyan! Me: onga e Paolo: susi ko? Me: nasaken Paolo: tara na Me: oo, oo Coach rick: and now, for the 30 to 34 age group! At 3rd place, with a time of 1’59 blah.. blah.. blah.. Paolo: o! Diba 1’58 ka?! Me: (abruptly standing up from gathering my stuff) wag ka ganyan, kinakabahan ako L Coach rick: and for 2nd place, with a time of 1’58 Hector Yuzon! Is he still here? Me: yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! (while running and playing hurdles from the transition area towards the stage) [ at this point, Secondwind-Filinvest team was already scattered all over the place as we were clearing out the venue – so we were all shouting from all different locations of the venue ] I swear to you, with the adrenaline that i had, i jumped over the chest-high fence in one single bound! It was exhilarating, ive never placed in NAGT before so it was a big deal for me. Of course, at this point my friends were all laughing and cheering at the same time because we all thought the show was over! Ganon pala yon. Ganon pala ang pakiramdam ng maka pwesto. I’ll also be the first to admit, i was just lucky that some of the stronger people i know in my age category was there like, javy, elmer, eric, ias, and many more stronger athletes than me – still. Something that was not supposed to happen happened! I placed – to quote Eminem’s first MTV award “uh oh, was this not suppose to happen?” 
The last time i was on the NAGT stage was in 1997 or 1998, 3rd place for 19 and below but it was for Neville – hehe. The price you pay for leaving early or always in a rush. Its funny how the race ended. I woke up tired, stressful pre race, and i walked into that race not at all confident. Im just thankful that so far, my preparation for TriUnited is coming into form, i hope i don’t lose focus until the big day. And to think, it was the most attended race, having to close the registration early. I wish i could get that lucky again on my next race. Sorry for the long write – i just had to relish this because i know hindi na muulit. Usually when my lolo asks me “eh nananalo ka ba?” i usually say “no. Pero nag enjoy naman ako” Long story short, i asked Eya if we could take another ‘medal’ picture – this time including me J 
Youre probably thinking: 1) Big 2) Bulky 3) So not fashionable (good bye fashion, hello function)
Wait until you use this. If my memory serves me correctly, i think i shouted ‘wow’ under water the first time i used this. I saw every detail of the tiles, i was able to see farther under water, plus its a known fact that yellow or brighter lens provides better depth perception. Honestly goggles like these is not hydrodynamic so it wont make you swim faster. What it does really is to give you a more comfortable swim over a long period of time. As the design dictates, bigger goggles sit on the bones and not on our eye sockets.
I have yet to test this in open water – but after 3 weeks of use in Ultra, it went beyond my expectations  1) Very comfortable 2) Clear 3) Stable 4) Not easy to fog (in my experience, it fogged a little as i neared 2k mark) 5) Easy adjusting clip on the sides
Admittedly, i myself was a skeptic as very few endurance athletes opt for this kind of goggles  I was thinking before purchasing this, i thought to myself: i already have the zoggs predator, so might as well try the predator mask so at least id have more options to tinker with.
Also, i had my share of kicks, elbow blow, and occasionally braising my face against the lane line in the notorious ‘washing machine’ swim in triathlons – so i was thinking if i do get hit again, it wont be as painful with the small goggles.
Note to first time users: don’t be frustrated if at first use, water seeps in. As all faces have unique bone structures, you have to find your own ‘sweet spot’ wherein absolutely no water seeps in and the fog is at a very minimum.
To date, all my regular goggles are taking a break –
Swimming with the predator mask is like seeing everything in panoramic, IMAX.  Zoggs Predator Mask P1,750.00 Blue / yellow lens White / blue lens
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