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By Rhick Lars Vladimer Albay
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Sunday, April 23, 2017
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Nikko Huelgas celebrates after claiming gold in the 28th SEA Games in East Coast Park, Singapore in 2015. The former De La Salle Green Tanker is set to offer some inspiration when he joins the inaugural 2017 Capiz International Triathlon, TriAksyon today in Roxas City.
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ILOILO City – With the start pistol set to fire up the inaugural 2017 Capiz International Triathlon today, 2015 SEA Games gold medalist Nikko Huelgas – one of the contenders in the this year’s race – has a few tips for budding triathletes joining TriAksyon.
“Sa mga interesado mag-triathlon, ibibigay kung advice yung mismo aking pinagdaanan, so step by step,” shares the former De La Salle Green Tanker. “Umpisa ka muna sa swimming, alamin mo yung mga technique [improve your] endurance.”
“Pagnatutunan mo nang maayos, lipat ka na. Puro running naman. Sali ka mga Fun Run, kahit one-kilometer run, tapos three kilometers, tapos five, tapos 10K,” adds Huelgas, who finished in the Top 10 of the 2015 New Taipei ASTC Triathlon Asian championship.
“Sumali ka muna ng aquathlon, yung tinatawag nila na swim-run. Tapos pag-naenjoy mo, para sayo na talaga ang sport na toh.”
Also joining the star-studded TriAksyon today are Philippine swimming icon Betsy Medalla, elite triathlete and model Kim Kilgroe, professional sportswoman Monica Torres, and John Leerams Chicano of the Philippine National Triathlon team.
Though already a decorated triathlete, Huelgas is bracing for precarious terrain and unpredictable weather in today’s race.
“Sa [competition today] feeling ko uulan, so mag-iingat talaga ako, kase may laban pa ako the week after,” shares Huelgas who’ll also be competing in the Subic Bay International Triathlon next week, the qualifier for the upcoming SEA Games.
The triathlon course is set to take triathletes on an arduous journey that passes by numerous Capiz landmarks and tourist destinations, heritage site Sta. Monica Parish Church (that houses the biggest bell in Asia) in Panay town and the city’s new development area Pueblo de Panay, among them.
Participants are also expected to take a plunge in Capiz’s bountiful waters, with a 1.5-km swim from the People’s Park to Mantalinga Island and back.
Aside from being the swimming area, Roxas City’s Baybay Beach – which boasts a 7.5-km shoreline – will also serve as a viewing area for those who wish to witness the historic event.
TriAksyon has three main events: individual categories Standard Distance (1.5km swim, 54km bike, 12km run) and Sprint Distance (750m swim, 22km bike, 6km run), as well as Relay Distance (1.5km swim, 54km bike, 12km run) which can be joined by teams of three, each participant tackling just one of the stages of the competition.
The 2011 and 2012 back-to-back national triathlon champion Huelgas shares that he advocates joining triathlons because the discipline tends to shape athletes holistically.
“It really makes you happy, gives you a healthy lifestyle, a very good influence. Tapos na cha-challenge mo palagi sarili mo to become a better person. Nahu-humble ka rin kase talagang pinu-push mo ang sarili mo – makes you think you can do more. Mas nagiging matapang ka na tao.”
The 25-year-old triathlete also admits that an Olympic medal remains one of his main goals.
“Definitely, lahat ng sinasalihan ko parang stepping goal on the way to the Olympics. So one race at a time natin,” he ended./PN
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