1.9-kilometer swim! 90-kilometer bike! 21.1-kilometer run!

Sounds impossible to conquer in one day? Not really!

Triathlon may seem fairly new to the Philippines but with the second edition of the prestigious Cobra Energy Drink Ironman70.3 Philippines hitting the country, triathlon is becoming popular to sports enthusiasts!

Bicolandia’s Camsur Watersports Complex has long been established as the premiere extreme sports and adventure hub. With world-class cable wakeparks and facilities, back-to-back exciting sports events, and warm hospitality from the local community, Camsur, once again, made sure that the Philippines is in the global sports map of triathlon!

The hottest Ironman 70.3 undoubtedly has become a spectacle with more big names joining the call to test their limits! Be it celebrities or hard-core triathletes, these powerhouse folks surely wanted to go the distance!

This year, more than 800 participants from 34 countries accepted the challenge to unleash their real strength! 604 individuals competed solo while 79 relay teams dipped their toes into one of the planet’s most grueling endurance races!

 From defending their titles, striving to set their personal bests, or simply crossing the finish line, those who took the challenge have various reasons to push their limits-- the Ironman Way!

Just before the break of dawn on race day, the Camsur Watersports Complex was abuzz with activity as racers prepared their essentials in the transition area.

The 1.2 mile swim started at the Lago del Rey then broke into the world class CWC cable park.

Pete Jacobs was the first out of the swim course, closely followed by defending champion Terenzo Bozonne and Leon Griffin.

The “Grand Dame of Triathlon” Michellie Jones led the Ironladies trailed by 2009 Ironman 70.3 Triathlon of the Year Magali Tisseyre and Asian Aquathlon Champion and Naga native LC Langit.

The Pros and Elites showed that every second counts! As soon as they got out of the water, they quickly changed to their bike gears for the next part of the race-- the long, gruelling bike leg!

Age groupers and relay team bikers tried to catch up with the Pros. Some took time for recovery in transition one while others hurriedly pedaled their bikes out of CWC complex!

One-legged Rudy Fernandez drew cheers from the crowd! This popular “Iron Man of Asia” showed that becoming an Ironman is grueling yet possible as long as you put your indomitable heart with every stride!

The bike leg was a punishing 90-kilometer two out-and-back loops from CWC complex to Nato Port in Sagnay, passing by 4 municipalities of Camsur - Pili, Ocampo, Tigaon and Sagnay. The scenic Mount Isarog and beautiful rice paddies gave each triathlete an enjoyable bike cruise! Yes, hard reeling can never be boring in Camsur!

 The Bicolandia heat surely made spinning more punishing but the villagers tried to relieve each triathlete with their loud cheers and warm support!

Jacobs, Bozzone and Griffin maintained their lead in the men’s pro division. Tisseyre and Jones fought neck and neck for the top spot, while 2009 Putrajaya Ironman 70.3 Champ Rachael Paxton lagged 5 minutes behind for third position.

Meanwhile 23-year old Philippine long distance champion Neil Catiil and Filipina ironman distance triathlon record holder Coach Ani de Leon zoomed their way for the Filipino Elite’s leadpack!

The road to finish is inevitable for each racer but some had to quit their quest early including last year’s Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines 3rd placer and 9-time Ironman New Zealand Champion Cameron Brown.

The road is punishing but with one more leg to go, there’s not much left to do but eye the finish!

From the 56-mile bike ride, the racers now faced the last leg of the competition - a grueling 13.1 miles of run on Camsur’s simmering asphalt and village roads.

From the transition area at the CWC, triathletes emptied the last of their tank reserves as they ran through Maycatmon to San Antonio and back!

Organizers tried to splash water on the hot asphalt to ease the shock from the heat. True to his promise, Governor L-Ray Villafuerte provided sprinklers to ease the heat but the competition just kept getting hotter!

The last leg is the last chance for racers to catch on the leaders and this year’s Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 was definitely filled with a lot of surprises!

Pinay Elite Ironman Champ Monica Torres closed the gap on her rivals in dramatic fashion to become the first and only back-to-back champ for Camsur’s 70.3 edition. Ani de Leon led through the swim and bike leg and just when everyone thought it was in the bag for de Leon, the feisty Torres never lost focus and ran her way to finish line first, much to everyone’s surprise!

The 26-year-old Pinay clocked 5 hours and 19 seconds to keep her crown in the women’s Pinoy Elite division while de Leon crossed the finish line just less than two minutes later.

Neil Catiil snatched the Pinoy Elite crown from defending champ Noy Jopson whose race number 13 may not have been so lucky, while holding back veteran triathlete Arland Macasieb from taking the lead.

Macasieb may have been first off the swim leg, but Catiil pedaled and ran his way to the finish line ahead of the elite Pinoys, collapsing right after from exhaustion.

As the racers trickle down the finish line, the crown cheered on each and every one of the athletes who fully understood the grueling task they’ve just accomplished. While the pros and elites basked on their podium finishes, the rest of the brave athletes rejoiced and celebrated their own personal victories.

65-year old retired officer Brigilio Balaba is proof that age shouldn’t stop you from being an Ironman!

Even celebrity Piolo Pascual was very happy to have contributed to his relay team's finish!

The Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 marked another success in displaying our “tunay na lakas!”

From the Pros, Pinoy Elites, celebrities and politicians, to ordinary citizens, who just by crossing the finish line, all displayed extraordinary strength of body, will and spirit! Theirs are personal victories and memories that will definitely last a lifetime! - September 4, 2010 show