spot_img
27.6 C
Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

Herbalife triathlete recalls Norseman experience

- Advertisement -

FOR a triathlete coming from a tropical country, taking a swim through the waters of the Hardangerfjord to the local town, Eidfjord in Norway can be a scary experience.

“Para kang naligo sa yelo. Refreshing ang dating kapag dito sa atin ginawa. Parang cold water bath. Pero doon, hindi. Cold water talaga. Manginginig ka talaga,” said age-group triathlete Laarni Paredes.

The 38-year-old Paredes, the co-skipper of the Herbalife-Tri United team, recalled her experience Monday when she became the first Filipina to join the 2017 Isklar Norseman Xtreme Triathlon.

She was among 246 anxious athletes who jumped from the bow of a ferry into the dark and icy cold waters of the fjord at 5 a.m. at the sound of a horn.

The Norseman Xtreme Triathlon is described as a non-Ironman branded, point to point, triathlon race held in Norway annually. 

- Advertisement -

It has a four-km bike course, followed by 180 kms of biking and 42.2 kms of running. 

Paredes, a mother of one and works as a home-based digital content manager for a US-based company, eventually reached the finish line in 17 hours, 34 minutes and 57 seconds. She placed 17th overall in the women’s age group bracket.

Triathlete Laarni Paredes (center) gets a toast from Herbalife GM Rosalio Valenzuela. At right is Laarni’s husband-coach Omar. Peter Atencio

But for Paredes, the swim leg isn’t the hardest part. It’s the bike stage.

“Mas mahirap iyung bike. Four kilometers lang ang swim. Iyung bike, 180-kms. Basa ka all the way. And there were portions na may snow,” added Paredes, who talked about the experience with her husband-coach Omar.

A swimming coach at University of Perpetual Help-Laguna, Omar was the first Filipino to join the race last year.

They were joined in their discussion at the Shangrila Hotel Makati by Herbalife Philippines general manager Rosalio “Bong” Valenzuela.

Local bet Lars Christian Vold won the elite men’s division in 9:52.10, while Anne Nevin ruled the women’s side in 12:04.18. In the age-group side, it was Alexandre Mitschke who stood out, while Henry Strzalkowski of Poland topped the men’s side.

The athletes kept their pace for 180 kms in the bike course, going through four demanding climbs and break-neck descents.

On the other hand, the 42.2 kilometers and 1,700 vertical meters of running were all that stood between the athletes and the right to claim their finisher shirts for Norseman 2017.

To prepare for the event, Paredes said they had to stay in Norway for at least a month to acclimatize to the tough conditions.

Preparing for the event, Paredes was blessed with nutrition support she got from her sponsor, Herbalife,  which provided her with a morning meal in the form of H24 F1 sport and H24 Rebuild Strength after workouts for recovery.

She was also able to use H24 F1 Sport before a workout for fuel.

There was also NRG, which was a staple during training and racing for that energy boost.

Then, there’s H24 Prolong, which helped her as a dual source of carbs and electrolytes.

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles