Thank you Davao for ensuring the safety of the participants in your inaugural event!

Comforting to see Phil Air Force (IM cebu didn’t have that), a lot of Navy frogmen in the swim course, the Army and police on land – not to mention hundreds of volunteers and well-wishers along the course.
The 1.9km swim course was a challenge with the waves against you in the last 500m. Considering fewer hands and legs from 1800 participants (vs IM Cebu’s 3000), I got kicked and elbowed more than Cebu and got a small bruise in my left eye 👁 🏊‍♀️

The 90km bike course from the city proper to Tagum was nice with greens and well paved roads (except for some very short rough ones) – if you’re traversing it leisurely, but not when you have to bike it with headwinds slowing you down in the first 45 kms. Coming in the race with a dislocated left elbow last January, I was a nervous wreck but the course back to transition had some nice tailwinds to help make up for the slow start 🚴‍♀️

Running the 21km run course midday in hot, dry weather was a killer. Good thing there were a lot of hydration tents with ice cold pambuhos 🏃‍♀️

Great experience racing in Davao, which hosted its first ever IM 70.3 👍

The gorgeous finisher’s medal made it really worth crossing the finish line.

They are handmade brass miniatures of kulintang gongs with embedded swimming, cycling and running symbols designed by Mindanao artist Kublai Millan. Really pretty and I think even better than IM Cebu medal last year!

What’s even better was improving our time from IM Cebu from 8:15 to 7:21 for Manny and from 8:36 to 7:54 for me 😊

And this is why we do triathlons – to see how much we can be better versions of ourselves. Ironman’s slogan of “I can” though does not hold. It should be “HE can.” We can only Swim Bike and Run through Him who gives us strength ☝️

#swimbikerun #alveoIM703davao #alveoIM703 #IM703Davao #langoypadyaktakbo #ironman #IM #thankyouDavao #TYL