I only started falling off the bike when I started using bike shoes and cleats.

10k walk-jog-walk -- I didn't understand how people could run the whole 10k!

Our first race together

The beach at Shangri-la Mactan is amazing!

Ze husband with Coach Don #goals

Slowpoke haha!

I cringe now that I see this much pink

"Psychologists call this the difference between a performance-approach and a performance-avoidance mindset. When you adopt a performance-approach mindset, you are playing to win, focusing on the potential rewards of success. Under a performance-avoidance mindset, however, your focus is on avoiding mistakes and circumventing danger.

Research out of the University of Kent in England shows that when athletes compete with a performance-approach mindset, they tend to perform above and beyond their expectations and perceived talent level. A performance-avoidance mindset, on the other hand, tends to be detrimental. A 2006 study published in the journal Sport and Exercise Science found that performance-avoidance goals “led to worse performance and evoked higher levels of self-handicapping when compared to performance-approach goals.” The same theme applies to practice and training. If you are scared of failing and making mistakes, it’s only natural that you’ll hold yourself back."

That article triggered the realization that simply finishing was no longer an option for me; my Type A personality wanted more. When I looked at the best in the sport, I knew that they should be my benchmarks of what good, great and best could be, nothing less. Now I wanted to push the envelope and compete.

Sunburn? Check. Hair damage? Check.

So compete I did. It dawned on me that I was my biggest competitor - all those nagging doubts, gnawing fears and dark insecurities - and that the only way for me to endure and thrive was to put in the work and shut out the distractions. From training sporadically to training with intention and consistency, one day I suddenly found glide in my swim; power on the bike; and speed in my run. From feeling like an imposter, at some point I finally accepted another aspect of my identity - that of an athlete.

My Tribe

In the same way that it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a tribe to become a successful athlete. 

It truly began with my husband believing that I could do it, even if I couldn't believe it myself. He welcomed me into his world, into a passionate community of athletes. I've met and worked with wonderful people so far - the Shell Cycling Club; Coach Allen Santiago of GAS Coaching; Martin Ilagan of Forward Motion Performance; Tita Denden Abuan; and our favorite stores, The Brick and Multisport Hub. 

Shell Cycling Club

During races, fellow participants cheer for you when you struggle, even offering help when needed. I'll always remember the guy who ran with me during the last few kilometers of my first race; the guy who called for mechanics when my bike chainring dropped and twisted; and the lady who gave me salt sticks when I had leg cramps, among others. It is an honor to be part of this community.

My husband and I chose well when we decided to train with Coach Don Velasco. #KnowYourNumbers was definitely the dealmaker among all the coaches I had surveyed. Much of my progress I attribute to his smart scientific approach to training and his words of encouragement (i.e. words that feel like those Slap Bets in How I Met Your Mother - I'm pretty sure he's going to turn up the volume of my training after he reads this).

First (and hopefully not last) podium finish!

What's Next

I have a looooong way to go! Being a naturally competitive person, my standards (whether for school, for work or for training) are benchmarked against the likes of Daniela Ryf and Lucy Charles (read: ambisyosa!). But, my real competition is always with myself - silencing inner demons; reaching milestones; beating personal records; and finding joy and meaning amidst the pain and fatigue. Back to work then - onwards and upwards!

See the color coordination?

*Some photos from Bike King PH, Don Velasco, Rickpets Lens, and Brian Dee

"Everyone succumbs to finitude. I suspect I am not the only one who reaches this pluperfect state. Most ambitions are either achieved or abandoned; either way, they belong to the past. The future, instead of the ladder toward the goals of life, flatten out into a perpetual present. Money, status, all the vanities the preacher of Ecclesiastes described hold so little interest: a chasing after wind, indeed."

• I used to spend a quarter of my day on social media, obsessed with the latest updates, with sharing highlights of my life, and with crafting how I wanted to be perceived. Entire weekends would go by with me logged on the entire day to watching other people live their lives in the virtual space. Today, I am more deliberate with my use of social media, intentionally limiting usage to no more than a few minutes per day. I use Instagram to document meaningful moments and Twitter to update myself with current events and self-help tips. I hardly use Facebook these days.
• Since I limited my usage of social media, I found extra time on my hands. Now I am more present for my family, friends, and work. I am noticing the little things, remembering the big things, and hearing myself think clearly.  I am reading more books, listening to my podcasts and finally training for my first triathlon. 
• Training for a triathlon, of course, takes time, effort and commitment. As a complete newbie, I know I have to hit several milestones before even attempting my first race. So, I'm back to being a student by researching on the sport - books, blogs, podcasts, Twitter feeds. I've trained for and finished my first 10k run; learned how to ride a bike; and learned how to swim up to half a kilometre. I'm looking forward to working with a coach; finishing my first duathlon; finishing my first aquathlon; and finishing my first sprint-distance triathlon.
• I got rid of my insecurities and self-limiting beliefs so I could embark on my triathlon journey. I am now okay with sunburn and darker skin. I now accept that my body will change. I am okay with starting from scratch and with the possibility of failures and injuries. I accept the risks and sacrifices. I am allocating the time and effort. I have a long way to go, but like marriage, it's about the long haul and being in it to win it. It helps to have a supportive husband too.