I came, I dove, I conquered...the Ultra Pool!

No, that's not me in the picture. :-)

Yesterday, after an early morning run training of 4x1000, 2x500, 2K warm-up and 3K cool down ( 10K total ), I didn't have the desire to go to work. I just wanted  to stay at home and relax a bit. Too much work just stresses me up, and I thought I needed a breather and what would be a better way than spending it at home with my family.

After having breakfast and taking a shower, I took a nap. 15 minutes were all I needed to re-energize for the day.

At around 10 a.m., I was feeling restless. I just couldn't stay sedentary for more than an hour. My wife noticed it and asked me what I wanted to do. I said I wanted to swim. She said no problem, I just had to drop them off at Tiendesitas and pick them up after my swim. It sounded like a good way for both of us to get our fixes for the day...me with my swim and she, on her window shopping wants. :-)

So at exactly 1 p.m., we got into the car, and sped off to our destinations.

Got at the Ultra around 1:30 p.m., changed clothes and dove into the pool.

Coming from a good swim workout last Saturday, I wanted to cross the 50-meter pool without a pull buoy or a kickboard this time around. So, without any delay, I tried.

Got short by around 10 meters on my first attempt and almost the same distance on my 2nd try. In resting, I tried to analyze my swim. 

"I am not relaxed!" I thought. That's why I struggled upon hitting the 30-meter mark.

I readied myself for my 3rd attempt. I visualized the other end of the pool and went off.

I relaxed my kick, and pulled with my arms with more force so I'd have a good pace. I was breathing welland relaxed this time around and before I knew it, I could see the "T" at the swimming pool floor...yes! I crossed it, finally!

I was so happy to have done it and wondered if it was pure luck or just a  one-time achievement. I tried again going back...and crossed it again.

It became easier for me to cross the 50-meter pool in the succeeding laps. I adjusted my breathing, stroking and kicking to my most comfortable level and was able to decrease my intervals from one-minute rests to 30 seconds in between laps. I was so happy that I did 40 50-meter laps in the duration of the work out, the last 4 laps of which were with only 15-second rests in between.

I did it, I conquered the Ultra Pool, and I'm so damn happy about it. :-)

Deo P.

Bad Legs, Bad Knee, Bad Prep = Bad Run @ RunNew

I used to rest a good two days prior to a marathon. This way, my legs are fully rested and relaxed, and come race day, they're both fresh. This was what I did with my previous races and I broke my PRs one after another with such a routine.

Too bad I didn't do it again for RunNew.

After my right knee pain two weeks ago, I stopped running for 3 days. Instead, I biked and swam at the pool in Ultra. I went back to running last Tuesday in preparation for my 15K race today. Starting your preparation only a few days from the race day is bad.... really, really BAD!

I was so confident I'd still beat my 15K PR of 1:26:28 even with minimal prep, and for this I paid dearly.

What's worse is that I didn't even rest before the race. For the past 5 days, I have not been sleeping well...going to bed at 11:00 p.m. and waking up at 5:30 a.m. to either bike or lift weights. This routine took its toll on me.

My swim training last Saturday should have ended by 10:00 a.m., but I pushed it too far when I left the pool at around lunchtime already. My legs got beaten up with all the kick drills and my personal swim time at the pool. The extended pool hours brought pains again to my right knee, but I just shrugged it off.....bad move!

As a result, I came into the marathon this morning feeling a bit woozy. Waking up at 3:00 a.m. to shower, eat, dress up and prepare my things was a struggle.

I got at the venue around 5:40 a.m., thanks to the long line at the parking lot.

I was informed the route would take us to the hilly parts of Fort Bonifacio...and I found this to be true. At only the 2nd kilometer, I already felt my legs slowly giving way to my weight and the pavement. Even if I wore a support on my right knee, there were still some stabbing pains which made me slow down on my pace.

At the 5K mark, I clocked 29 minutes already, 2 minutes off my target.

The next 5K were as harsh to both my legs and right knee, and I clocked in at 58 minutes for the 1st 10K.

So much for my PR, I just wanted to have a sub-30 minutes at this point.

But it wouldn't be the case...

At the last 3K, I felt as if my right knee was shattering in different places already and I had to slow down to around 6:20-6:30 pace. It was a tough call to make especially at a great race like this, but I had to call it that way to survive and reach the finish line in one piece.

The last kilometer was almost all downhill to the finish with only the last 200 meters on flats. I tried to sprint and test my knee...it held up. Upon seeing the finish line, I increased my pace to a 5:00. The timer shows 1hr 29mins 48secs when I was about 90 meters from the line. I tried to beat the 1:30:00 by sprinting madly...only to fail by around 2 seconds...it was a heartbreaker!

RunNew was excellently organized. I was cursing Coach Rio Dela Cruz at the very start of the race when we were greeted by killer uphills...but in the end, he did a great job mapping the route. It was both refreshing and challenging and really re-affirms Coach Rio's races as the best in the running world. Kudos Coach!

Deo P.

Update: www.runrio.com has now published the official results of RunNew, and based on the results, my official time is 1:29:56, ( ranked 148 in Male, Non-MD ). I have made sub-90 minutes by 4 seconds...hehehe

Swim Training...02/21/09

I started my swim training under Coach Efren Jocson on Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Ultra. What a way to spend the morning of Valentine's day!

Though it has just been a week, and even if I just had my second session today, I could feel the improvement. Having a swim coach really helps in speeding up a person's training.

Two weeks ago, I couldn't even reach 25 meters without struggling...today, I did around 50 laps of 50 meters in different drill styles.

Last Thursday, I asked my boss if I could swim in their condominium's pool and he readily agreed. He lives in Serendra at the Fort and they have this 30-meter long pool which was good enough for training purposes. I wanted to swim to check if my first session with my swim coach already had an effect on my swim endurance.

I started with a slow swim, and I struggled to reach the other end of the pool. Looking back at how I swam the distance, I realized I did something wrong. I was raising my head too high in getting air.

After correcting my air-intake style, I was able to swim back the 30-meter pool easily! I was so glad that my initial plan of doing 20 laps turned into a 50-lap workout, with a 15-second rest in-between laps. I was so happy that I didn't mind the  almost 1 liter of pool water I drank throughout the whole work-out.

Fast-forward to this morning: Coach Efren asked me to do 20 laps of 50-meters with fins and kickboards...and I did it without sweat, a big cry from last Saturday when I did kickboards and fins only at 25 meters and almost died due to shortness of breath before I could finish it. I was getting stronger!

After the first 20 laps, Coach Efren gave me a much smaller kickboard, almost just the size of an index card. I did 6 laps of 50-meters with that and was a bit awkward at first and couldn't maintain my balance.

Then it was the kickboard again, this time with alternate stroking and right-side breathing. Did 10 laps of 50 meters of this before Coach called me and  changed my kickboard to the much smaller one....another 10 laps.

After giving me a pee-break, it was Pull Buoy time. Did 20 25-meter laps with this.

At exactly 10:30 a.m. I was done. But before I left the pool, I thought that I will try to cross the 50-meter pool without any buoys, fins or kickboard....I was able to!

Can't wait for my next swim training!

Deo P.

My Revised Training Program

Preparing for the Subic Int'l Triathlon in May and Camsur Cobra Ironman 70.3 in August isn't an easy task. There are days when you need to drag yourself out of bed to start training, and there are days when you like to go out with friends but can't 'coz you have an early morning workout the following day. You become anti-social in some ways, and you try to shy away from getting invites to parties because you fear being branded a "snob" when you say no.

But man, it's all worth it!

I have drafted a new training program for my triathlon races which will start in May. With the inclusion of my swim training, I will have been able to balance all three disciplines week in-week out.

Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Sun

Rest Run Bike Swim Run Swim Bike/Run
        10K 30K 750m 15K 1K 30K/ 7.5K  

The distances increase by 100meters for the swim, 0.5K for the run and 2K for the  bike every two weeks. Let's see what happens. ;-)

Deo P.

My Dream Race!!!

http://www.ironman703phil.com/

The reason why I'm sweating it out. The first official Ironman accredited race in the Philippines!

I will join, yes, even if I have a lousy swim style!

See you all on August 23, 2009 at Camarines Sur.

Deo P.

Of Training and Injuries

February 13, 2009, at exactly 5:15 a.m., I hit the road running, and planned on running at least 12K mixed tempo and drills. After 2K of tempo, I went to our village's basketball court to do some drills which I learned at the Nike Running Clinic. After doing the drills, it was 5 x 1000 for me at 5:00 pace. I ran the 1st 1K faster than what I wanted, at 4:43. The 2nd 1K was at 4:59, the 3rd at 5:07 and the 4th at 4:51. I rested for 3 minutes between laps to recover.

On the 5th lap, my Garmin acted up. It somehow hanged and stopped functioning properly.

At the same time, my knee started hurting. There were needlepoint pains in both left and right sides of my right knee cap. I tried to shake it off, but the pain persisted and I had  to stop running.

Stretching didn't help. The pain stayed throughout the day. I was afraid I've torn a ligament.

It was frustrating as I was training for my upcoming 15K race two weeks from that day.

I was in a limbo. Could I run the RunNew marathon?

I rested the rest of the day but everytime I would climb stairs, the stabbing pain hurt so much that I had to limp.

The following day, I braved the pain and biked 10kms going to Ultra for my swim training. The pain wasn't as bad as the day before and I was glad about it. However, after starting my swim workout, the pain came back. What was I supposed to do then? I had two choices: either stop my swim workout or continue and then let it all hang out and see what happens. I decided to take the latter.

After more than 2 hours of swim training, I biked 11 kms going home, taking a different route. The pain subsided but I noticed a slight swelling on my knee.

Sunday, Feb. 15. I biked going to the Pasig Waterpark to meet my swim coach and do some drills. After around 8 30-meter laps of buoy pulls, I stopped, as my knee started hurting again. I went home frustrated.

I remember what my father told me before: Never push yourself when you're feeling something different, as a small injury may lead to something bigger if not rested properly.

I spent the whole day of Feb. 16 doing office work and resting my knee and it worked! At the end of the working hours of Monday, my knee wasn't hurting anymore.

I woke up at 5:30 a.m. yesterday, Tuesday, Feb. 17 and ran for 10kms. To be sure I wasn't stressing my knees too much, I wore a knee support to somehow assist my knee in absorbing the impact of the pounding. I survived the 10kms without any pain.

This morning, I biked at home, using a Minoura Bike trainer, for 20 minutes at high-cadence, high gear. My knee didn't act up. I am okay!

My brush with a possible injury reminded me that I am not getting any younger, and that I need to be careful in everything that I do, as I heal slower now than when I was in my 30s or 20s.

I have opted for an active life in the 40s and I still am sure that I have no regrets in deciding such.

Age is just a number.

Deo P.

Nike Running Clinic: My 2nd session

"I left the office at exactly 4:30 p.m. 

It took me 1 1/2 hours to get to Ultra.

I was one hour early.

But I was happy.

Waiting seemed to be a bliss.

When you're attending a Nike Running Clinic."

That was how I felt last night when I attended my second Nike Running Clinic under the impressive coaching of Coach Rio Dela Cruz. I wasn't able to participate at the BHS leg last Friday so I made sure that I was running last night, and no rain or traffic would stop me.

I got at the Ultra at 6:00 p.m., an hour early for the start of the session. Ben Chan ( Photographer on the Run ), Vener ( Run Unlimited ) and Coah Rio ( www.runrio.com ) were already there.  I was excited to be there and more excited at what we were going to do, no matter what it was.

I ran 4 laps at the Ultra track before we were called in for the stretching. I had dead legs due to my bike training a day earlier ( Monday ) and was hoping I'd have enough legs to last me the workouts. 

Drills followed and although I've been through almost the same drills when I was playing varsity basketball, it all seemed new to me. Everything about this clinic seem new, and I like it that way.

After stretching, the participants were divided into groups, based on our time trial results a week earlier. I ran well last Tuesday, so well that I was grouped with the "strongest" runners, which to me was either a good or a  bad thing as I didn't have the slightest idea on what we were going to do.

"Okay, you guys are going to do 5 x 800s in 3:45..."

I needed to ask someone else about the 3:45 thing as I thought I misheard it. Upon confirming it was 3:45, I raised an almost inaudible protest...that's too fast for me! I have DEAD legs!

"Okay, one group will do the 3:45, while another group do a 4:00..."

Instinctively, I joined the 4:00 minutes group.

We were asked to line up for the run. As soon as we started, the 3:45 guys blazed on the track, and pulled me with them. I finished the first 800 meters in 3:32. Jeeesshhhh, what was I doing! I knew I wouldn't be able to sustain a 3:32 pace in the next 4 laps, not even a 3:45! But there I was sprinting it out with the pack!

I tried so hard not to get sucked in with the speed of my groupmates and looked somewhere else when we started our second 800 meters to avoid being pressured to keep up with them. I finished at 3:41, still too fast for me.

On the 3rd lap, I ran with someone from the group who couldn't keep up with the pack as well, and we just ran at a 4:20-4:30 pace so that we finish within 3:50-3:55. It worked well!

After clocking in at 3:58 on the 4th lap, I was about to give up and not run the 5th 800 meters anymore. I was afraid I'd push myself over the limit and suffer from dizziness due to lack of oxygen. But decided  to continue.

I ran the 5th lap solo. I didn't want to slow down someone with me and asked my pace partner to go ahead and not pace with me as I intended to run at a pace which would enable me to complete my last lap. 

5th lap: Exactly 4 minutes.

I was thankful to have completed the 5X800 meters. Running at such a pace at such distance ( 4kms ) was new to me, and if I had Gene Simmons' tongue, it would have probably spilled out of my mouth on to my chest. As we cooled down to a walk,  I was asking Richard ( the american I met in last week's session ) to check if he could see my lungs in my mouth. Man I was exhausted!

We cooled down with a 2-km tempo run which I finished in 12:30 rather than the 11 minutes Coach Rio wanted. I had no legs anymore.

I learned my lesson well last night : DON'T DO HARD TRAININGS ON SUCCESSIVE DAYS!

When I got home, my mountain and road bikes seemed to stare at me in the face as if asking me to ride them even just for a few minutes.

"Enough sweat for me tonight boys....I'll see you tomorrow..." I said in response...

Deo P.

My new baby: A Jamis 2008 Trail X2!

After my last trail ride at Antenna in Angono, Rizal, I noticed some heavy pedalling on my GT Aggressor which wasn't there before. So upon getting home, I checked the rear wheelset and found the rims to be slightly deformed, rubbing against the V-Brakedpads which made its freewheel  rotation a struggle. 

I thought that maybe, if I was using disc brakes and not V-Brakes on my bike, I could be a better trail biker. Not that I can be as good as the others, but, I will have a more consistent pedalling pressure due to consistent rear wheel free-wheel. Hmmmm, why not try to sell my GT?

Before I even put my GT up for sale, I got to talk to a friend who owns a very slightly used Jamis Trail X2, at size 19", and who offered it to me at a very good price. Perfect!

So I put my GT Aggressor up for sale, and in  less than 4 days it got sold at a price similar to how much  my friend sold me his Jamis.....and now I'm a happier mountain biker!

Deo P.

The return to competitive training

After attending the Nike Running Clinic last Tuesday, I woke up early the following day to bike-train around the UP Oval. I planned on doing 30kms or roughly 15 laps around the oval, and increase the number of laps every week to complete 50kms before the Clark International Duathlon.

I started my bike training well. However, at the last stretch of the 1st lap, after shifting to a lower gear, the chain and cogs of my bike malfunctioned, probably because of the timing of my shifting. The chain skipped forward, causing me to re-shift back to a higher gear. By gearing higher, my pedalling became heavier, and I needed to stand up on my bike to put more pressure on the pedal and maintain my speed at 35kph. 

I was on my 3rd cadence standing up when the chain skipped forward again, a dangerous bike malfunction. I almost lost my balance when my right leg and arms dipped due to the sudden lightness of the pedals. I swayed to the right, good thing there was no vehicle nearby. I speed- wobbled and almost lost control if not for my uncleating my bike shoes and tapping the ground with my right foot.

I rode to my car and hung my bike on my bike rack to check what happened. Spinning and shifting the gears, I didn't observe any problem, so I went back to my training.

The chain again skipped forward when I put pressure on the pedal, and after around 5 laps of this happening again and again, I gave up, putting my whole training to a sudden stop.

I sent my bike to my favorite LBS, AllTerra. After checking the crankset, chain and cogs, the mechanic tested the bike, it wasn't skipping anymore. I tested it myself and geared heavily in a low speed, it did not skip. The mechanic said it could have been a case of prolonged mis-shifting, which I hoped was right because replacing the crankset, chain and cogs would have cost me serious money.

So after Tuesday's measly 2.8K run at the Ultra and a 10K bike ride in UP, I was yearning for a more serious training for the Clark Duathlon. I was already behind schedule and the weather wasn't cooperating. I planned on running last Friday, but it rained! Traffic was so bad around Metro Manila that I came in late for Coach Rio's Clinic at BHS. 

Saturday was a busy day for me running errands and completing some documents for my family's migration plan to Canada. I tried lifting some weights to just sweat even a bit, but still, not enough to satisfy my sweat requirements.

Sunday: Waking up at 5:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning must be unthinkable for most people, but not for me. This was the day that I will bike to Club Manila East and sweat my guts out with a 40K ride at race pace. After eating a light breakfast, I prepared for my planned workout...and then suddenly, I remembered I registered at the RunNew marathon on the 22nd of Feb! I will be running the 15K leg and it has been almost two weeks since  I ran anything longer than 5K!

Changed plans. Instead of biking, I opted to run at least 7.5K just to get my competitive running groove back. I needed to prepare for my 15K run and I needed it immediately.

I ran 10K instead of 7.5K. After my 1st 3K, I got my second wind and could run as long as I could, for as long as I wanted. Air circulated in and out of my  lungs with clock-like precision, and the cigarettes I smoked during the past 4 days weren't evident. I could still run, and probably at any distance....

...and so I thought....

My legs became wobbly on the 9th kilometer. Oh man! My legs couldn't hold on to what my lungs can handle. My quads became heavy and stiff, and my previous shoulder pain came  back. Enough! My body was telling me.

So at exactly 10K, I gave up. My  heart rate went down from 160bpm to 130bpm in less than a minute, and I knew I could run more if I had the legs and limbs to do so. Enough for today, I kept reminding myself.

I did the 10K in 58mins, 17secs. 

Not bad.

Going home after the run, I did 300 crunches to cap my workout. Before eating breakfast, I checked the internet for the registration details of the Clark Duathlon, and to my surprise, it was moved to March 29 instead of March 8, which means I can train longer! YES!

Deo P.

The Nike Running Clinic

I've read about this clinic at www.takbo.ph and intended to attend weeks ago. However, due to some early morning workouts, I always opted to go home instead of dropping by Ultra to check it out, until last night.

A fellow mountain biker invited me to come along, together with other mountain bikers from www.pinoymtbiker.org. I posted on his thread and said that I was joining. That post made me committed to attend, and I wasn't able to squeeze out of it last night even if I felt sluggish.

There were a lot of runners already when I got to the Ultra track. What made the number of runners swell was the fact that there was another running clinic being held by a runner known in the running circle, Baldrunner. 

Saw and shook hands with some old friends as well. Ben Chan, a colleague in the photography industry, was there. Vener from takbo.ph was in his running outfit also. Saw the famous Ani De Leon of the Kona World Triathlon Championships who appeared to be coaching two caucasians. Some familiar faces whom I ran with in my previous marathons were there. It was a night of newbie, novice and advance runners...great crowd.

An american approached me and asked what time the clinic would be starting. His name's Richard, who was attending the clinic for the first time also. We had a short chat prior to the start of the clinic and went separate ways after we were asked to do a 5-lap ( 2km) warm-up.

The participants were grouped in 3, the first-timers, the not-first timers, and the fast runners. The first timers ( the group I was in ) were divided between men and women. We were asked to do 4X400, 2X400 and 1x400 runs around the track with a 10-minute rest in between. This  was done to check our times so they could categorize our running and fiitness levels, so that an apt training would be programmed for us. 

During the huddles, an annoying participant was always asking questions as if trying to tell everybody that although it was his first time, he wasn't a newbie. I kept silent and just listened to him. Some of his questions were:"Paano kung matagal na tumatakbo, sasabay pa ba sa newbies?" and "Time-trial ba to? So pabilisan? Okay yan!". I was looking somewhere else while hearing his questions which I believe was full of arrogance. I marked this man whom my friends and I referred to as Mr. 100%.

The men were called in  at the starting line for the 4X400 meters or 1.6 miles. We were to run at our best pace but slow enough for us too complete the 4 laps. Mr. 100% placed himself at the front, with others who were, I think, annoyed with him as well.

We were given the go signal and Mr. 100% sprinted. Immediately, he was like 20 meters ahead of me. I was telling myself not to get pulled by his sprint, to relax and maintain a 5:10 pace because from the looks of it, Mr. 100% is a newbie runner and won't be able to hold his pace for the whole run...I was right!

After 2x400, Mr. 100% started slowing down, together with the others he pulled with him. I was able to maintain my pace and at 2 1/2 laps, I went past Mr. 100% and the others who already stopped running and started walking. Crossing the 3rd lap, I was ahead of everybody with the second runner a good 10 meters behind. Approaching the finish, I was all by myself and took a quick glance behind, Mr. 100% wasn't anywhere near my 100-meter perimeter. If I remember it right, I clocked in at 8:46 for the 1.6km run. Great!

After less than 10 minutes, we were again called in to run a 2x400 which meant two laps around the oval. As usual, Mr. 100% sprinted, and was again a good 20 meters ahead. I increased my pace, faster than my first run. I think I ran at an average pace of 5:00. I wasn't able to get the actual reading because my Garmin acted up. Anyway, caught up with Mr. 100% at the start of the 2nd lap, passed by him really fast when he started slowing down. Was ahead of him by 30 meters in crossing the finish line. I came in second, and I don't know who was first, all I know was I smoked Mr. 100% the 2nd time around.

The 3rd run was 1x400 or 1 lap. Our group was divided in two and too bad Mr. 100% was thrown in the other group. Oh no! I said to myself, as my motivating factor was gone. It was both good and bad for me, as I didn't put in my best effort for the final lap, finishing 5th out of 7 runners. I realized after the final lap that I am a long distance runner and not a sprinter, which was good as I only intend to join marathons not sprint races.

It was mostly socializing after the runs and though I wanted to run more, I saved it for another day and just enjoyed the company of my running friends. I'll see them again on Friday at BHS, to attend the next session of Coach Rio's clinic.

Deo P.

Mountain Biking 02/01/09

After taking time off from training for 3 days, I went back to sweating it out yesterday by joining a group of mountain bikers conquer the uphill climbs of the Angono earth formations. Target highlight is the Angono Petroglyphs which showcases the wall writings of the pre-historic people. Though I have been there as a photographer, it thrilled me to get there on my mountain bike.

Left the house with my newbie trail-biker friend Che Katigbak at 6:00 a.m. and proceeded at the meet-up place in Club Manila East. After  around an hour of waiting for the "manongs" ( these are the veterans of the Rizal trails, youngest of which would be around  50 years old with the eldest at 67 yrs. ) and the other riders, we rolled off. Met other bikers from www.pinoymtbiker.org along the way and joined with them.

The start of the climb was at the foot of the hill going to a place called "Antenna" where a cell site antenne is located, thus, giving its monicker. It would be the highest we would climb at more than 200 meters above sea-level. The straight distance from the foot of the hill to Antenna was roughly a kilometer, which makes the elevation at more or less 45 degrees. What's worse is the roads are rough earth with some loose rocks.

The first climb was a short one at around 200 meters, and it was easy. However, the more serious climb which started a few meters from the first was more "hellish". I miscalculated the 2nd climb and had to eat my ego by pushing my bike upwards. I sprinted in front of the pack when I saw the climb, thinking it would only be around 200 meters like the first one, only to find out it was way more than that. I was at 3/5 gear and had no time to change gears. Unclipping my cleats, I stopped and filled my lungs with air. I got burned.

It was walking after that for around 150 meters. I couldn't ride my bike as the climb was too elevated for me. I re-learned my lesson, something which I forgot after more than 3 weeks of no mountain biking.

The next climbs were harsher, with loose grounds and rocks flying all over. There were parts that we had to walk our bikes as the soil were unstable and our tires skidded even if we were on granny mode.

When we finally reached Antenna, the group rested for a while to drink some Gatorade and re-energize. After more than 10 minutes, it was the trails again.

The next trail was downhill, and took us in the middle of a grassland called "kalmot-pusa" ( cat's scratches ) due to the high grass that would somehow scratch your body ( or worse, your face ) if you aren't able to avoid these. It was very scenic, with the rider infront of you disappearing in the tall grasses. There were big rocks along the trail and these we had to watch out for.

Reaching another scenice site, we stopped for our group photo with the whole Laguna De Bay as our background.

Going to the Petroglyphs meant we had to ride pavements and through Eastridge Golf Club. There was a portion of downhill ride where you will speed up to around 47kph then turn left at a 90 degrees angle. Newbies are not suggested to attack this part at speeds more than 30kph, they need to burn their brakepads. I almost overshot the turn. Good thing I was able to lean my  body to the left. I was like 3 feet from hitting the gutter on my right and getting thrown out of my bike to the grassy vacant lot...whew! Close call!

Finally reaching the rough road going to the Petroglyphs, we were warned that we needed to avoid an exposed pipe inside an unlit tunnel as it may cause us to crash. Indeed, it was dark inside the tunnel and I wished I had my headlights on. I hit the exposed pipe and almost endoed, good thing I was riding really slow and careful.

Upon reaching the Petroglyphs, the guys and me had our photos taken. These photos are to be our souvenir. hehe

The guys decided to exit via "Crusher" on our way back to Club Manila East. They took us to a stretch of road at Mahabang Parang where a rider could "slingshot" his way to a 35degree climb. It was about a kilometer of  drop ( around 38 degrees ) and about 600meters of 35degree climb. I attacked that portion at 54KPH and pedalled about 200 meters going up. A fellow biker, Archill, attacked that portion at 70KPH and almost didn't pedal on the way up anymore.

We stopped at a "carinderia" along the National Highway. A short "chika-chika" and everybody went their separate ways.

It was a great 37kms ride, and I look forward to going back to Antenna, just have to get my rear wheel fixed.

Deo P.