ONLY 17 mornings remain before the most awaited sporting event in Cebu starts: the Cobra Ironman 70.3 race. One of the 2,150 triathletes joining is my friend from way back in high school, Bernard Vonn Sia.
The businessman/proprietor of the family-owned Cebu Bionic Builders, Bernard is also a devoted husband to Cress and a proud dad to Cooper, Brie and Bliss. Here are excerpts of my interview with Bernard...
HOW DID YOU START? “In October 2011, when my medical check-up showed a slightly high cholesterol and some other ailments. My wife Cress told me to get some exercise (I almost had zero physical activities). I enlisted for the 21K of the Cebu Marathon 2012. Take note that I have never run and have never joined any fun run before.
I viewed videos on Chi running, read training methods and downloaded online training programs. Two months to train for the CCM and I did 2:38. After that I found myself joining half-marathons once a month until this day.”
“Since it wasn’t advisable to run every day to give our joints a rest, I just figured, why not get a bike? I got a road bike. First ride, Ryan Yu brought me straight to Willys in Busay. Second Ride, Mike Fernan rode with me straight to Danao. Majority of the guys I was riding with were triathletes and all training for Ironman 2012 - so I sort of got sucked in their bike training while still doing my runs.
“The swim part was last. I just toyed with the idea: I’m running and biking, swimming probably? Why not? Could it be possible to teach a 40-year-old the basics of swimming?
So, a month before my first Tri Race, I asked coach Franz to teach me the basics--boy did he have a hard time! It was frustrating but it got done.”
FEARLESS HOT MAMMAS. “In last year’s Ironman race, I was not able to register early.
Weeks before the race, I was trying to sell myself on Facebook by volunteering in case anyone needed a biker or runner for the relay. The last update I posted two days before the event: ‘Last chance for anyone looking for a cyclist or runner to substitute..”
“Then I got a message from Francis M and Marget V. referring me to the team, the Fearless Hot Mammas!
“Their runner Maimai narrated to me that their biker-actress Jennylyn Mercado could not make it. I joined the Fearless Hot Mammas. I didn’t have any expectations as I was literally a last-minute substitute. I did the 90K bike in 3:06 and got back to Shangri-La 34 minutes faster than my target time. I waited for our runner at the finish line excited, I mean exhausted.. he-he!”
2013 RACE. “I registered on the first minute the online registration opened last Dec. 1, 2012 at 8 a.m. (it was closed in four days).
“Training for an Ironman is not easy. If you get to chance upon my workout logs on Daily Mile, you will see the time that was/is spent on training.
My mileage, though, is nothing compared to the others.. I aim to finish and make sure not to lose track of my goal: ‘To be healthy for my family.’
Right now, it’s family, business and training -- anything more I take in will be impossible for me to handle.”
“Ironically, though training for IM70.3 is time consuming, it has taught me time management. It has extended my sense of patience, forbearance and humility. Sports is a good release of stress from other factors in your life as long as you don’t let the sport stress you out.”
POPULARITY OF TRI. “I can probably attribute it to social media? People see what other people are doing so they go with the fad probably? A bucket list of sorts. The downside is the lack of education and respect for the sport, which might cause injuries or fatalities. I have read of a lot of deaths or injuries from triathlon racing. That’s why as far as my training is concerned, I train using my heart rate as basis so I don’t over-train/overstrain myself. Our TTB elders also always remind us of the dangers of overtraining or doing too much too soon, our version of cruel love, hehe!”
PRAYERS. “I have this practice of kneeling in front of Señor Santo Nino at home before any training, asking for a safe workout and to ‘bring me back safely to my family after each training.’ We also pray as a group before a long ride or event asking for protection and safety. I have a rosary (from Lady of Manaoag in Luzon) that I place on the stem of my bike, that I touch and say a little prayer also before a ride.”
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