As sports tourism booms in the Philippines, Team Kapwa is always on the go, ready to go the extra mile. We couldn’t get enough of our first-ever Ironman 70.3 Cebu participation in April, so we joined again with a strong mind and dedication to win.
On July 12, 2024, Team Kapwa, along with our cyclist Romeo, traveled excitedly to Bohol with John Rueth, who competed in the individual race. This time of year is perfect for the event as the hottest season is over, and we were fortunate to have ideal weather conditions—neither too hot nor too wavy.
The Day of the Event
On July 14, 2024, the team woke up early to prepare for the big race. We had coffee and bread for breakfast, with John ensuring everything was ready, thanks to his extensive checklist on his iPad. By 5:30 am, we were set and departed from our accommodation to the event venue at Bellevue Resort, Bohol. Family and friends, sharing the same excitement as the participants, eagerly awaited the start.
As the race began, everyone was cheering and tracking our progress using the Ironman tracker. The team consisted of Melvin (swimmer), Romeo (cyclist), me (Devie) as the runner, and John competing individually.
The relay tent buzzed with excitement and nervousness as we awaited each transition. Melvin performed exceptionally, breaking his personal record by completing the 1.5 km swim in just 31:05. On the other hand, John, in the individual race, was confident of making it to the top 3, finishing his swim in an impressive 24:29 and transitioning to the bike with our team member, Romeo.
As a first-time participant, Romeo did an amazing job, finishing the 40 km bike race in 1:45:37. Meanwhile, John finished his bike segment in an impressive 1:04:23. For the final transition, Romeo passed the chip to me, and I ran 10 km in 1hr 15mins. Although it felt slow to me, it was a great personal achievement. John, in the final leg, successfully secured a top 3 finish by completing the run in just 45:29.
Indeed, the spirit of Kapwa was evident, showcasing sportsmanship and teamwork to succeed and achieve our goals. Our dedication and determination were the keys to our success.