While we are proud of each of our teammates no matter the distance or finish time they accomplish, in the spirit of friendly competition Team ENDURE keeps score on only one thing: the yearly H-Endure vs. SH-Endure medal tally. Our erstwhile “Battle of the Sexes” has the requisite trash talking and hard training in order to avoid getting “chicked”, but it’s is all in good fun.
H-Endures
For 2012, the men’s ranks were bolstered by the entry of two male K-Endures, Brent and Dale Valelo. Both are members of swim teams and actively participating in multisport events.
Brent snagged 12 medals: Alaska Ironkids Run – 1st place (2k run); Bert Lozada Swimtastic – 3rd place (team relay); Alaska Ironkids Aquathlon 1 – 1st place; Alaska Ironkids Aquathlon 2 – 2nd place; Wetshop Aquathlon – 1st place; Alaska Ironkids Triathlon – 2nd place; Alaska Ironkids Triathlon Championships – 2nd place; Cherifer Little League Swimtastics Championships 2012 – gold medal (team relay – freestyle) and silver medal (team relay – medley); Run BGC – 1st place (500-meter dash); ASTC Asian Duathlon Championships STK – 1st place (800m run, 3k run, 400m run); and Anvaya Cove Invitational Triathlon – 1st place.
Dale took 3rd place at Anvaya Cove, and 1st place at the ASTC Asian Duathlon Championships STK (400m run, 2k bike, 200 run). Between the two brothers, the H-Endure medal tally stands at 14.
Not to be outdone by the kids, the full-grown H-Endures also performed well. Jixee Lagunda warmed up for his maiden Ironman 70.3 last August by winning 2nd place at the Snails Aquathlon in May, and followed it up with a 5K 2nd place finish at the Takbo Para Kay Kristo.
Bong Zandueta’s only multisport event for the year was the Wetshop Aquathlon, but he finished in style with 3rd place in his age group (which shall remain a secret).
Melvin Pangan, who did the Timex 220 in Bohol in 2011, focused on ultramarathons and trail runs in 2012. His focus paid off with six podium finishes: Marriott Hotel Fun Run 1 – 1st place age group; Marriott Hotel Fun Run 2 – 2nd place overall; King of the Mountain 60K – 5th place overall; Unionbank U-Run – 1st place overall; Dahilayan Ultramarathon – 7th place overall; and Nuvali Trail Marathon – 3rd place overall.
The total H-Endure medal tally winds up at 25.
SH-Endures
ENDURE is proud of our ladies, who are some of our fiercest contenders. K-Endure Abby Vizcarra is a frequent podium finisher, and in 2012 she had a combined 11-medal haul: 7-Eleven Tour 700 Bike Race – 1st place (40K women’s open); Shimano 2nd Dirt & Play Mountain Bike XC Race – 3rd runner-up (women’s open); Wetshop Triathlon – 2nd place AG; Animo Triathlon – 2nd place AG; Run United 2 – 1st place AG; Gabriel’s Symphony Triathlon – 1st place AG; 36th Milo Marathon – 8th place AG; Alaska Ironkids Triathlon – 2nd place AG; Alaska Ironkids Triathlon Championships – 3rd place AG; RunBGC – 1st place AG; McHappy Day Fun Run – 2nd place A. Her win at the 7-Eleven Tour 700 bike race was against grown women cyclists!
Izah Sueño, a former La Salle varsity swimmer, added two medals for finishing 2nd place AG at Tri United 2-Long Distance in Laiya, Batangas and 2nd place AG at the Ironman 70.3 Philippines, Cebu.
Three more Sh-Endures added to the medal tally. Hanna Sanchez made her official triathlon debut at the Subic Bay International Triathlon by placing 3rd overall in the Sprint distance. Already an experienced swimmer (formerly of the La Salle varsity swim team), Hanna took 1st place AG at the Ateneo Aquathlon, 1st overall at the Animo Triathlon aquathlon, and 1st overall and 1st in her age group at the Yvonne’s All-Women Triathlon aquathlon. She is also an ultramarathoner, finishing 2nd overall at the CDO-Dahilayan Ultramarathon.
Noelle De Guzman, also known as Kikay Runner, took home 4 multisport medals and 9 running medals: Ateneo Aquathlon – 3rd place AG; SuBIT – 5th place AG; Animo Triathlon – 5th overall; Unilab Active Health Duathlon – 1st place AG; Todo Responde Run – 1st place; Skyathon – 2nd place; BMAP Great Bank Fun Run – 2nd place; 36th Milo Marathon – 3rd place (10K); Men’s Health Urbanathlon – 2nd place; Midnight Run – 1st place; United Colors of 88 Run – 2nd place; Sunpiology Run – 3rd place; Race for Life – 1st place.
Also at the Race for Life, fellow Sh-Endure Ellen Encinares bagged the 3rd place on the podium.
This brings the Sh-Endure medal tally to… 32!
2012 Final Medal Tally: H-Endures 25; Sh-Endures 32
What a close competition! The Sh-Endures win the 2012 ENDURE Battle of the Sexes.
As the 2013 race season heats up again starting this summer, so too will ENDURE’s Battle of the Sexes.