CAMARINES SUR — World-ranked international triathletes consider the humid weather here at the CamSur Watersports Complex as one of the big stumbling blocks in their performance in Sunday’s 1st Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines.

Australia’s Charlotte Paul, one of the notable foreign professionals competing in this inaugural RP race, admitted the heat “will definitely be a challenge” to all participants as far as surviving the grueling 1.9-kilometer swim, 90km bike, and 21.09km run middle-distance event.

“It might probably change the way the race could go. We’ll just have to learn to be sensible on our game plans,” said Paul, a two-time Ironman champion.

Australian Chris McCormack, one of the heavily-favored triathletes to win the race, agreed that “it’s going to be a hot race” – referring not only to the weather but also to expected tight competition.

“It’s my first time here in the Philippines and I’m pretty excited to race here,” said McCormack, a seven-time world cup champion, who also won 11 Ironman races.

New Zealand’s Cameron Brown, a four-time medalist in the Ironman world championship, agreed with his rivals, saying “the heat and humidity might take its toll despite we’re quite used to such weather.”

“The run [leg] will definitely be hot. But it’s in the most grueling challenge that we find the most satisfaction,” Australian Pete Jacobs, a runner-up in the Ironman Australia, said.

Some of the prized triathletes included in the race are seven-time world cup winner Tim Marr of the United States, 11-time Ironman titlist Lisa Bently of Canada, Americans Bree Wee and Gina Kehr, and veteran triathlete coach Lance Watson.

Around 500 participants, including 35 relay teams, have signed up for the race with more than half of it composed of Filipino athletes and sports enthusiasts.

Foreign athletes came from 20 different countries.

Among the top Filipino triathletes competing are former RP team member Arland Macasieb, Monica Torres, Amanda Carpo, August Benedicto, and Kim Mangrobang, to name a few.

The individual races are classified into three: the professional competition, Filipino elite, and age-group composed of nine age brackets. Relay events are divided into mixed, corporate, all male and all female.

“It’s high time for us to have a world-class sports event in the country that has an international caliber like this,” said Sunrise Events Inc. president and Alaska Milk CEO Wilfred Uytengsu.