James Cunnama’s Blog

The countdown has begun. Actually, the countdown began a while ago, but now it has reached the point where each passing day makes a noticeable difference to the total. There are two countdowns currently on in my head. The first is the countdown to my return to South Africa. One week, 7 days, and I will be on the way home. After over 6 weeks here, as fun, interesting, educational, challenging and awesome it has been, I am certainly looking forward to the familiarity of home in a week!
The other countdown which also fills me with excitement, although mixed with a fair measure of anxiety too, is the countdown to Ironman South Africa on 5 April – only 19 days to go! I am certainly looking forward to testing my fitness and strength on race day, but more than that, I am looking forward to testing out some of the new-found knowledge which Brett has been imparting to me (and the team) for the last few weeks. I have learnt a lot recently, and that fills me with anticipation for the coming event.

In news from the Subic: Last week we had photos shoots in our new race kit, which looks great. Everyone is beginning to cast their minds ahead to their various upcoming challenges as TeamTBB divides and conquers the triathlon world in the coming weeks. Ironman 70.3 Singapore is this coming weekend, Ironman Australia and Ironman South Africa on 5 April and then Ironman China a few weeks later. Go TeamTBB!

If you are wondering about the fireworks in the photo, so am I! On Friday evening I went out to the mall to buy a battery and a massive fireworks diplay erupted over Subic. It was the second time in as many weeks that there has been a big fireworks display in the area with no explanation. Apparently the Filipinos are fairly superstitious about Friday the 13th, so maybe that had something to do with it. But it makes you wonder – if you are superstitious and believe bad things will happen on Friday the 13th, should you really be messing around with tubes filled with gunpowder and high-explosives…?!

Today we had an EPIC ride. We were instructed to ride 5hours solid with not much more instruction. Bored of the usual Ocean Adventure trip (which must be done at least 3 times to make 5hrs!) Keegan, Manny and myself decided to venture beyond the Subic base. We headed out past Olongapo City on a loop which Keegan has previously explored.
The day involved many twists and turns and uphills and downhills, all fitting of an Epic ride. We rode to the top of Mt. Samat, an imposing 6km climb averaging about 10% grade, atop which is a HUGE cross (90m high) which we went to the top of in a elevator (don’t worry, we didn’t count this in our ‘ride time’), stopped and ate 1peso donuts, Manny purchased a coconut for its milk – he was thirsty (and perhaps a little delirious by this point), I punctured dramatically at 45km/h+… All in all, a great day in the saddle, good stories to tel and good workout too!

The climb up Mt Samat – near the bottom cos we still look good!

A great ‘over the shoulder shot’ by Keegan

The massive cross atop the massive hill – 90m/36 stories high! (the cross, not the hill…)

The shadows grow longer as our ride-time creeps upward…

And our faces grew longer too, as the bumpy road took its toll. (Actually I was loving it – the serious face was forced!)

The boys clearing the road ahead for me – great domestiques…

Every once in a while, you need to do a ride for ridings sake to help the motivation and focus, and let the time in the saddle take care of the fitness. Today was one of those days, and what a great day it was! Thanks boys!