The recently held Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines was one of the year’s most awaited multi-sport events, gathering both Filipinos and foreign triathletes. Amidst the enchanting sights of Cebu’s waters and roads, the ArmyNavy South Tri Team conquered the event through determination, drive, and teamwork.
“The best thing about the South Tri Team is that it is a very family-oriented team. We look out for one another and cheer each other on until the finish,” remarks Huxley Yu, one of the team’s youngest members and among the five who competed in Ironman 70.3.
Formed in 2009 by a group of nine from spin class, the ArmyNavy South Tri Team has since grown to 40 members, all with the common goal to celebrate life and fitness through swimming, biking, and running. Composed of professionals from various fields who are mostly residents of Santa Rosa, Parañaque, and Alabang, the members come from varying age groups who all share a deep passion for multi-sport.
Backed by the home of the best burgers and burritos ArmyNavy, the South Tri Team regularly trains together. According to Rico Ibana, who also competed in Ironman 70.3, “The team usually has long Saturday bikes in Nuvali, Sunday runs around Festival Mall Alabang, and swimming sessions at the Palms Country Club.” He adds that anyone looking to train can easily find a companion as there are also dedicated running, biking, and swimming groups within the team.
“Each training session is a bonding activity,” Ibana adds. The team’s bond is further intensified by what happens after training – eating. This, Yu says, is where ArmyNavy comes in, “One of the treats after long rides and runs that the team has is a meal at ArmyNavy. We ride and run often so ArmyNavy subsidizes a large amount of post-training meals.” Yu and Ibana agree that the team and ArmyNavy are a great match because both share the same standards of excellence and quality. “The food at ArmyNavy is filling and fresh and perfect for training and after racing meals,” Yu further comments.
Truly, the support from ArmyNavy was essential in fueling their journey to Ironman 70.3. With such a grueling race consisting of three events – swim, bike, and run – training for the Ironman 70.3 is no easy feat. Preparations took as long six months, with long, regular sessions dedicated to improving speed work and technique. It is at this stage that the team’s support became a big factor, and Yu and Ibana can attest as to how the motivation of their teammates greatly helped them in their Ironman journey.
Also known as Half Ironman, the Ironman 70.3 is one of a series of long distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation. The 70.3 stands for the distance in miles covered in the race which is composed of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1 mile run.
This year’s Ironman 70.3 is headlined by Cobra energy drink and held in Cebu. The course started with the swim event at the Shangri-La Mactan Beach, while the bike run traversed four cities that showcased urban Cebu. The run was held along the roads of Punta Engaño where thousands of townsfolk lined up to witness the sporting spectacle.
Yu says that most of the members who joined placed in the Top 10 in their respective age category despite cramping up during the run. And while some were not able to finish before the cut-off time, the enormity of the event and experience of being in the Ironman 70.3 itself was already something worth celebrating.
“The most memorable moment for me during the race was seeing the race course lined by the locals in the city. They were cheering for every triathlete that would bike or run by them and it was very uplifting to be cheered on amidst struggling through the race,” Yu shares.
Through the unwavering support of their teammates and ArmyNavy, Yu and Ibana are confident that the South Tri Team will only get stronger and better as they tackle future races. “We’re glad to have a family like the ArmyNavy South Tri team backing us up. There is never any pressure to win races, just as long as we do our best and still enjoy the race. At the end of the day, we are competing with ourselves and we train hard not to beat the person beside us, but to be the best versions of ourselves,” Yu concludes.
