Relays to Remember: The Experiences of our Ka-Globe Ironman Athletes
- lifeatglobe
- Dec 23, 2024
- 10 min read
Updated: Jan 8
What does it take to complete a 1.9 kilometer swim, a 90 kilometer bicycle ride, and a 21.1 kilometer run? The Ironman Triathlon is famous for being one of the toughest one-day sporting events in the world. Our Ka-Globe athletes who completed this incredible 70.3 miles feat in Subic share their experiences as Broadband Business (BB) Relay Team members.
Addie Menes
Broadband Business
I’ve already been part of two Ironman Relays with the recent one in Subic being my most memorable race, especially being with my fellow BB teammates and Ka-Globe!
It’s been a challenge preparing for it but I’ve put a lot of effort into my mental state so that I can commit to training days. It's a daily mental battle whether to be on a saddle versus going home and sleeping early. I’ve overcome the temptation by making sure that every day, I have my gears in the car and put it on before going home so I am pushed to train even if it's indoor cycling only. I also always remind myself why I am doing this. No one will do it but only me who will complete the bike distance.
You’ll also have to make it a habit to plan ahead and not go to the battle unprepared. Always give time and focus on training. Planning is the key. Through proper scheduling, I’ve put most of my training after office for a long-distance indoor bike, and on the weekends I’d dedicate myself to outdoor biking.
Joining half-Ironman is like having a relationship commitment: you have to put your 100% because doing a long distance race requires strong mental will and physical readiness.
Matias Rojas
Broadband Business
It really takes a lot of physical training as well as mental preparations. You need to schedule a lot of drills and exercises, in between time for work and family of course. What makes preparing for an Ironman difficult are missed training schedules and the consistency of exercises and training routines.
I make up for it though with indoor exercises or execute the training the following day. Consistent workout, coaching, and focus in the mental mindset I placed for myself are the most important aspects of my training despite challenges. And I also think about the distance, that it is constant – so I train to be better every day to cover a better time.
My experience doing races has changed my life significantly - it made me realize that aspirations can be achieved, amidst pain and frustration, if you are focused and persistent. To do the individual race instead of the relay.
Tin Sabellano
Broadband Business
The most important aspect of being a female Ironman athlete is resilience. Ironman races are an incredible test of physical, mental, and emotional endurance, and the journey to compete often involves balancing intense training with other life responsibilities. Female athletes often face unique challenges, such as navigating the demands of family, work, or societal expectations, and overcoming these requires immense resilience. Resilience defines the spirit of being a female Ironman athlete, helping women reach incredible feats and leaving a legacy that motivates others.
For women considering participating in an Ironman, I would suggest the following:
Find a supportive community. Connecting with other women in the sport will provide encouragement, mentorship, and training partners, which can make the journey less intimidating.
Balance training with life. Ironman training is demanding, so finding a balance that works for you is essential.
Don’t be afraid to seek coaching. A coach can help tailor a training plan to your needs, address any doubts, and help you improve effectively and safely.
Trust your strengths and build confidence. Focus on your progress rather than comparing yourself to others. Ironman requires mental resilience as much as physical stamina, and trusting in your abilities is key.
Celebrate every milestone. Embrace every achievement along the way, whether it’s a longer swim, a faster bike ride, or just feeling stronger and more confident. These moments keep you motivated and remind you of how far you’ve come.
Prepare for race day logistics. Ironman races can be overwhelming due to their scale and logistics. Familiarize yourself with the course, transitions, and nutrition plans. The better you’re prepared, the more comfortable you’ll feel on race day.
The support of other women can play an invaluable role in the Ironman journey. Training for and competing in an Ironman requires intense physical, mental, and emotional endurance, and having a community of women who understand the unique challenges involved can make a world of difference.
With my fellow relay runners making a curve
Future Ironman goals often focus on both performance and personal growth. For me, my goal is improving finishing times, building mental resilience, and mastering consistency in training. Each new race brings a chance to learn, grow, and experience the Ironman journey in a fresh way. In the end, the journey becomes about more than just crossing the finish line; it’s about building connections, gaining strength from each other, and achieving something meaningful together.
Cynthia Mangahas
Consumer Mobile Business
I was invited by Vinnie Calnea who I know is a seasoned triathlete. I never imagined or planned to join an Ironman race, but from how she described the team support, the experience, and of course participating in a world-class race with top athletes – as a longtime runner and overall competitive person, it inspired me to join.
The training was my biggest concern. Was I going to be ready enough to finish the race? I signed up in February and the race was in June. I had already joined half-marathons in the past and was running leisurely on the side at that time, but I was not sure that 4 months would be enough to be race-ready. But I was willing to commit to a training plan.
The tamaditis you feel the first 2 months where you think… ahh, there is still time, I will just make up for my missed training next week. That really messed up my schedule, and when I only had 2 months left, I started to cram and really force myself to run whether in the morning or night, so long as I get my mileage for the week in. Because I knew that I was cramming my training, my biggest fear was getting cut off. I did not want to let my teammates down. That motivated me to get serious with my training for the remaining 2 months, ensuring that I could finish the 21K run in a maximum of 3 hours – the "budget" I allocated for myself in the relay. I focused on that.
I was expecting the race to be difficult. We were going to run starting at 11 AM up to approximately 2 PM, which was when the sun was at its hottest. Also, there was some elevation in the race course and I was apprehensive about that. I was also slightly uncomfortable that we were not allowed to bring electronic devices like cellphones or earphones because since I trained alone, music was vital to my weekly runs. All these factors added to my fears so I asked my family and friends to pray before and during the race, not just for me but for all racers.
I thought the run part of the relay got the best part of the deal! It was such a fun course, you really didn't mind not having music while running. There were so many spectators holding signs to cheer you on, there were fully stocked aid stations with ice, ice water, water, liniment, sweet and salty snacks, and gels. There were volunteer aid stations handing out bananas, spam, cheese, gummies, etc and they would cheer you on. I loved that and the energy you get from the crowd really helped me keep going. Also interacting with fellow runners/triathletes who were all in pain and suffering in the run like you made you feel like you are all kindred spirits and there was just kindness everywhere.
I even wound up pacing a tall foreigner who I could tell was doing the full Ironman. I just jogged in step with him and he stopped for a bit. I decided to wait for him, he said please go ahead. I went but a little bit later, he caught up with me and said he might as well jog with me. We wordlessly jogged along for about 3 kms until I stopped for an ice-cold water shower. That was it, but it made me feel good that I was able to help a co-runner along the way.
Training is key! Do not be afraid, it is worth the money, time, and effort! It was such a fun and memorable experience and I encourage everyone to join!
Glenn Benigla
Network Technical Group
The biggest challenge is incorporating the training program into my work and family life. Self-discipline and time management are really the key. I usually wake up early and do my morning training session before going to work while my wife is still in her deep sleep. It helps me be more alert, refreshed, and more focused while at work. Right after work, I usually go to the nearest gym or pool to do my second training session depending on the training plan.
Your mindset during training days needs to be: no excuses – commit and trust the process and your training plan. Imagining yourself crossing that finish line and the master showman shouting your name, that you’re an "IRONMAN," will keep you motivated to wake up as early as 4 AM and do that brick session. Weekends are usually for long bicycle rides or runs. After, I make sure I spend the rest of my quality time with my family. Sometimes I'll ask my wife to have a staycation somewhere in Subic or Clark. They enjoy the place's amenities while I do my training at the beach, at the pool, and on the long roads of Subic or Clark.
I always envision myself crossing that finish line. I usually pray while suffering and feeling the pain in the marathon.
I just completed 1 full Ironman and 1 half Ironman. The most memorable is my first half Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship in Cebu. The goal right now is to finish another one outside the country and complete it better than my last finish time. You have to enjoy the journey and don't let those missed training sessions ruin or mess up your preparations.
Jerome Aldeza
Network Technical Group
I have experienced a decade of running in various events. How I got invited to the team was, at that time, I wanted to see personally what was happening in a Triathlon event. I was curious about the running as the last leg and so I volunteered to join the team as a run relay member. I was excited since most of the time I just do BGC run clubs like the Garmin Run Club sessions.
I worried about being the last participant to finish the race and not being able to beat the cutoff time. For a 21km run, I can say I can finish it by 2hrs and 30mins regularly, but on an Ironman 70.3 relay run, I wasn’t sure about the times and conditions. You’d run on a hot time period of the day that is not my usual running weather conditions. So Coach Moi, the BB Relay Team coach, told me that every station that has water, take a splash to cool up from the sun's heat.
For my preparations, I attended the training we had. I would wake up earlier than usual, just to travel to the training venue because I would ride my bike as an additional aerobic warmup exercise before the start of training.
To be honest, more than the training, I was more worried about the transport if it does not happen in Luzon. Thankfully it was in Subic and I didn’t have to travel via plane.
I’m glad I was able to join and meet those personalities (Ka-Globe) in action and really see how all of them performed. It was inspiring and a privilege to be part of all this. My advice for Ka-Globe who wants to do this is to get sufficient training. It is not an ordinary fun run where you just sign up and have a race without training. It could cost your life.
Toni Favis
Network Technical Group
Apart from the fact that women need to train more, we constantly face everything that a woman goes through, like our monthly cycle; that can come during training, or worse, race day. Recently, more and more women are getting into triathlons, and a lot of them are as strong and fast as the men, if not faster. I love the drive and grit of women in the events!
More and more women are getting into triathlons, and a lot of them are as strong and fast as the men, if not faster.
I can only say this for everyone: You can do it! With discipline, consistency, and grit. They can also compete with the men. The community from training until race day is amazing! It helps me destress from work, care for my health, and meet new people across different walks and fields of life.
Being a triathlete, training is already part of the lifestyle. And thankfully my husband is also one, and that is how we spend quality time together. We get to train together and race as well. This also means I need to wake up early and plan my time wisely given our Globe work schedule and family events.
Being part of Ironman made me grow my mental strength, confidence, patience, and trust in the Lord. Praying more and reflecting more, I realized there are more things that I can do and can imagine! I can apply it with work too; I'm not afraid to take on challenges, knowing the challenges I've been through and God's strength.
I started this sport as a single gal, and I met so many strong, independent women in this sport! We support each other, from nutrition, training needs, the race itself, and beyond. They also have corporate work, so we're on the same page in terms of balancing work, training, and races. Seeing how each woman in this field is strong and empowers other women is amazing! It's a great community to develop your character.
I'm now preparing for a World Championship race in Taupo, New Zealand. This is for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship. For next year, I'm also lining up local Ironman races in Cebu, Puerto Princesa, and Davao, and praying I can get another world championship slot :)
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