CAMARINES SUR — The thirst for adventure has brought Leo Oracion and Carina Dayondon to the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines that begins on Sunday at the CamSur water sports complex here.

Having conquered Mt. Everest, the world’s highest peak, the Filipino pair now set their sights on a new challenge that will test their skills and determination. Oracion said he loves to try new things.

“As an athlete, ‘yun na talaga ang buhay ko. Kapag may nakita akong sports na pwedeng salihan, sasalihan ko,” the 35-year-old Oracion said.

Dayondon, on the other hand, said she wanted to improve her swimming technique.

“Ako naman noong una gusto ko lang matutong lumangoy para makapag-compete sa full Ironman in the future. Nag-try na ako sa Olympic distance ng triathlon, ngayon half Ironman naman. Step-by-step lang ako para ma-achieve ko ‘yung goal na ‘yon,” Dayondon, 31, said.

Oracion and Dayondon arrived Thursday night with their fellow mountain climbers to participate in the event that subjects participants to a 1.9-kilometer leg in swimming, 90-kilometer bike run and 21.09-kilometer race on foot.

Oracion is entered in the 30-35 years old division while Dayondon signed up for the 30-34 bracket.

Both mountain climbers concede that they can’t still compete against the sport’s top athletes.

Oracion has seen action in a full Ironman event two years ago in Langkawi, placing among the top 80.

“We’ll try our luck na makapag-finish ng magandang place. And suporta na rin namin ito sa organizer dahil magandang programa ito para sa mga atleta natin,” said Oracion. Dayondon said she would be happy just to finish the race.

“Ang aim ko muna sa ngayon is to finish. At para na rin ma-practice ko ‘yung swim ko,” Dayondon said.
 
After the race, Oracion and Dayondon will prepare for a more ambitious project, the “Voyage of the Balangay,” where they will retrace and sail onward to as far as Polynesia and Madagascar aboard a newly-built ancient vessel called balangay.

If the schedule pushes through, their voyage, along with eight of his Everest teammates and six Badjaos from Sulu, will leave on September 1 near the Cultural Center of the Philippines.