If you’re looking for a new kind of sport (and lifestyle) that gives a fighting chance to the newbies, the underdogs, and the athletically average, the boys of the Yellow Cab Tri-Clark Team give you the 101 to get you started on the race of your life.

Words by Gel G. Galang
Photographs by Monica Barretto

The Yellow Cab Tri-Clark Team: (L-R) Abe Tayag, Bombee Narcisso, and Jumbo Tayag

Athlete. Game player. Pro. Contender. Jock. Whatever name you have for them, they are usually the people who swung higher on the monkey bars, bagged the MVP title in high school tournaments, and had their names splashed on jerseys, banners, and t-shirts during UAAP Season.

Between dog-eat-dog competition and rigorous training, not to mention the touch of luck to be born under a naturally-athletic star, the world of sports has always been a Darwinian dream case. You can’t be anything if not the best, or you will never make it to the A-Team.

In triathlons, however, skill and competition seem to almost step down a notch to make way for what is at the heart of this three-leg race. And after participating in and conquering various races around the globe, the members of the Yellow Cab Tri-Clark Triathlon Team know exactly what it is: the guts to get the glory.

Back to basics

Understanding triathlons is easy enough. It’s a non-stop, three-event race consisting of swimming, cycling, and running, with the added challenge of costume-changes that do not stop your clock time. There are several distances to choose from, which makes it easier for even novices to give it a try.

Seems no different from your regular obstacle course back in P.E. class, right? Not really. Even though the actual race is enough to get your heart pumping, especially if you’re just starting out, the training involved is actually just as important.

Take it from Abe Tayag, a Tri-Clark member and 3rd overall placer in the CamSur Tri last year. Every day of his week has an allotted period for a different training activity, ranging from lifting easy weights to weekend-long biking and running.

“You have to have a well-planned training program,” says Abe. “[But] don’t over-train. Rest is very important and part of the training.”

Training here doesn’t mean training just for an event. Though an athletic background is not a necessity, an athlete’s discipline is still a must.

Jumbo Tayag, 3rd placer in the Powerade Duathlon First Leg, Yellow Cab Tri-Clark member, and brother to Abe, says, “It’s the worst [when] teammates don’t show up in training. You end up training alone,” he says. “Imagine doing a 6-hour bike ride by yourself. You will start talking [to] yourself.”

An amazing race

Many explain entering into the world of triathlon as a result of a lifelong love of sports, but just as many got into triathlon as a short, athletic fling, which eventually flourished into an outdoor lifestyle. For the Tayag brothers, their passion for tri gave birth to the Yellow Cab Tri-Clark Team.

Formerly known as Tribe 8 Triathlon Team (with Abe as founding president), it was the brainchild of people who wanted an outlet for a different kind of sport. “The team was formed basically to train together, and to promote the sport and Clark as a venue for training and races (sport tourism),” Abe says.

Co-organizer Bombee Narciso, started out in triathlon flying solo, but as the sport grew, so did the number of his training buddies.

“The team was formed…to keep us from burning out [after] training for hours on our own,” he says. “It injected fun into the equation – training and socializing with friends.”

Just last year, the Tri-Clark team was seen in numerous races, including the CamSur Tri, the Foster Grant 70.3 World Championships in Clearwater, Florida, U.S.A, the White Rock Triathlon, and the Ironman Triathlon Championship in Malaysia.

Though the team members usually place among the top three positions in the races, they’ve had their share of mishaps and misadventures. Recalling his training for Ironman Malaysia 2010 immediately brings to Abe’s mind the calf injury he suffered a month before the race.

“I had to rest it and didn’t do run training,” Abe recalls. “Had to do the 42km run leg without training—I walked more than half of it.”

Definitely, the worst part of any sports activity would be injuries and accidents. Whether it’s a torn ligament or an unsightly gash on the knee, someone’s bound to get a trophy scar along the way. But sometimes, the story behind it makes it worth the while.

Beyond the playing field

While other sportsmen and women may differentiate their lives and lifestyles on and off the court, that boundary is non-existent for these triathletes. With the supportive and relaxed atmosphere that permeates a typical event, the competition in triathlon is anything but unbearably cutthroat – although we never said that it doesn’t get intense.

“We don’t try to elbow each other like in basketball.  We don’t cheer at each other’s mistakes like they do in tennis.  And we don’t try to cheat each other like they sandbag in golf ,” Bombee says. “Triathlon is one of the few sports where the winners go back to the finish line to cheer on those last few racers and congratulate them. I think that’s cool.”

The closeness of the team is more than just a necessary bonding for a group sport. On occasions, they find themselves becoming godfather to each other’s kids, biking buddies during five-hour rides, and even beer-mates at a night out.

“Being with friends can sometimes be the only thing you look forward to as you rise at four in the morning to run,” adds Bombee.

At the end of the day, it’s all about enjoying the time you spend on the game. “I do sports because I enjoy training and racing. I also like the competition that comes with it,” says Jumbo. “But if I lose? I go back the next day and try again.”

Whether you’re a natural athlete looking for another sport to excel in or just a regular guy or gal in need of a hobby to devote your time and passion to, triathlon welcomes everyone from all walks—and swims and strides—of life. Just make sure that you’re ready for the challenge that it entails, because it’ll definitely be one hell of a ride, swim, and run.

Sick of running the same old route everyday? The Yellow Cab Tri-Clark guys invite you to go for a run along the peaceful, scenic roads of Clark! The New Balance-David's Salon Super Tri Series will be held in Clark throughout the rest of the year, with various runs scheduled on the 1st, 15th, and 29th of this month, August 2010, including fun runs for kids! For more information and the full event schedule, go to www.supertriseries.com.

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