Palaui Island Aquathlon 2007 - Cagayan North

Hey that’s my wife running good uphill.

That’s me on top of Palaui Island at the Lighthouse. Running uphill 2 kms 1st leg. 

The lovely athlete couple, me and Ethel, posing at  the Transition 1/2  and Swim Lane.

Palaui Island Aquathlon Challenge 2007

Sta. Ana, Cagayan North, Philippines

We left Callao Cave at about 12:00 NN and proceeded to Sta. Ana, Cagayan North about 160 kms more.

We arrived at about 2:30 pm at Cortez  Beach Resort in Sta. Ana for our lunch and lodging.

On the dawn of Saturday, about May 19, about 5 am, we left for Pier Irene.  We traveled about 30 minutes by several boats in Palaui Island.

We had several stops. One in Shell SLEX for our first dinner in travel. Another stop at about 1 am Friday to relieve the bladder. The next was in Tuguegarao City for breakfast. Oh we were stopped by LTO entering Cagayan Province and we were held for about 20 minutes.

We are two buses of 50 athletes, organizers, sponsors and media. The organizer is Triathlon Association of the Philippines and among the major sponsors are Speedo and Cagayan Export Processing Zone Authorithy, in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

On the way to Callao Cave, there are two ways. One needed to ride a banca and cross the Pinagcanauan River then go up 187 concrete stairs. Another is a longer by about 5 km to Quibal with some rough road going direct near the entrance of Callao Cave. We went first to the first site to ride small bancas but then change mind and proceeded to the Quibal.

The priest held mass attended by some athletes. The altar is carved on wall made of limestone and skylight (big hole on top where the sunlight comes in).  Another chamber further has wider and higher skylight.

 Boat Ride to Palaui Island.

The day was cooperating.  It is cloudy, not hot and not humid. The sun tries to peep behind the clounds but failed. The sea is calm.

One banca can ride only 6 to ten depending on the size of the boat for safety purposes.

There were several small islands we passed by going to Palaui Island. There is marsh about 10 meters by 20 meters and you can see the shrubs floating and swaying with the waves.

You can describe the ride as picturisque seeing the islets which are formation of stones and grasses.

Another boat was racing with us but later went just behind us at about boat length only. He is drafting and if it was a bike, then it is illegal.

Nearing Palaui Island, we can see the Lighthouse on the peak of the island. I was just wondering how lonely to live and maintain the lighthouse.

During my last Triathlon in Ayala Alabang and Duathlon in Festival Mall, I was able to talk to few guys only. 

Although I am still have some knee pain (stressed MC Ligament) and shoulder injury ( hit by friend falling from banana boat in Puerto Galera), I run and swim.During downhill run, I felt some pain but still decided to swim. The dive after run was very pleasing and relaxed my quads and hams. It was a good swim but at the last 200 meters I lost my focus and swam and swam and I found out I was off course by about 75 meters. The water was very clear and I can see the deep bottom. I swam back to the line and finished the 1^st lap of 500 meters. I decided to DNF since my MCL was starting to hurt.

We took our superb brunch which is local recipes before the awarding.

At about 10:00 am, the race was done. Everybody enjoyed the lighthouse, the beach and some went to the waterfalls.

It is white sand beach even you out to the sea the bottom is white sand. The beach is shallow, up to waist deep far enough to play around. Futher on one side is quite deep and has corals with plenty of colorful fish.