A
beginner’s guide to the country’s biggest cycling festival
Hundreds of
cyclists are expected to participate in the second leg of PRURide PH 2019, the
country’s largest cycling festival, from May 24 to 26 in Subic. As part of its
advocacy to promote health and fitness, the event features inclusive and bigger
cycling events perfect for everyone, from inexperienced beginners to seasoned professionals.
The festival held
its first leg with the Criterium on
April 7 in Filinvest, Alabang, where hundreds of participants joined different race
categories by bicycle types such as fixed gear, mountain bike, and road bike.
For newbies who are
venturing into cycling, PRURide PH has these helpful tips:
Before the race
- Register on the
website. Go to pruride.ph
to secure your slot until May 19. Choose from the categories, sign up, and
select your payment method to register completely. The website is your
best buddy for detailed information on race routes, dates, venues, and
prizes. You can also follow Pru Life UK – Official on Facebook for more
up-to-date announcements.
- Study the events. Know
the events and routes to match your skills and mood, and to familiarize
yourself with the actual terrain. Will you join a competitive race
(Masters Race) or just a fun ride (Gran Fondo)? If you’re joining the Gran
Fondo, will you take 30, 60 or 100 kilometers? Will your route be flat or
hilly? Will there be a lot of long curves? Knowing these will help guide
in your training.
- Train. Work
out ahead of the event so you can be on top of your game on race day.
Deadlifts, squats, and leg presses are good for the legs while endurance
exercises help in long bike rides. A stationary bike can help you adjust
intensity and speed. Outdoor rides can also help simulate the course.
- Check your bike. Make
sure your bike is ready for before the race day. Clean the chain and
drivetrain, make sure the tires are well pressurized and that all parts
are intact. Don’t leave anything untested.
- Hydrate. Increase
your water intake before the festival so you can stay hydrated when you’re
finally on the road.
During
the race
- Eat the right amount
of breakfast. Don’t eat too much as it can
affect your digestion during the event. Avoid proteins like meat or eggs,
and stick to carbohydrate-rich food like oatmeal, toast, and waffles.
- Be there early. Show
up at least an hour before the start of your category so you have time to
prepare. Give your bike a once-over, make sure you have all your items
with you, identify where the aid stations are, and pin your race number.
- Start slow. It’s
going to be a long ride so pace yourself. Go on a comfortable speed and go
faster as you reach the finish line. You can also join a group and
“draft,” a racing term where cyclists ride in a close line so they can go
faster with less effort. Fuel your body to maintain your energy levels
with a banana, a carbohydrate-based energy bar, or a sports drink.
- Check out other
PRURide events and family and barkada activities. PRURide
PH has a lot in store for its Subic leg. There’s the Masters Race on May 26, where competitive cyclists take the
same route as the professionals. The Gran
Fondo, also on May 26, is a
series of non-competitive challenges in 30-, 60-, and 100-kilometer rides,
to be joined by ambassadors Kim Atienza, Gretchen Ho, and Zoren Legaspi.
Want
to witness more than 25 local and international teams from across the globe battle
it out for qualifying points for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics? Watch the UCI 2.2 Stage Race on May 24-26.
Other
exciting activities include the Virtual
Race Grand Finals, where finalists from the 6-leg preliminaries compete for
a carbon fiber road bike worth P150,000, and the Philippine Strider Cup, where kids aged xx to xx battle for the
finish while straddling a leading no-pedal balance bike brandin the world.
You
can also join other fun activities like zumba sessions, an inflatable
playground, massages, health check stations, face paint stations, and special
performances from bands Callalily and Gracenote.
After
the race
- Cool down. Don’t
just stop at the finish line. Cool down by gently cycling so the blood
vessels that expanded during the race can relax. After you get off the
bike, keep moving so your muscles don’t tighten. Walk for a few minutes so
they can contract.
- Eat protein and stay
hydrated. Repair your muscles by eating
protein-rich food like beef, chicken, fish, or nuts. These can help repair
muscles. Continue the hydration process by drinking enough water to
replenish the fluids lost as sweat.
- Rest. Rest
is the best way to recover. Sleep activates muscle-building hormones so
get at least seven hours in bed after the event. A massage is also helpful
because it will help prevent knots from muscle overuse.
British life
insurer Pru Life UK holds the annual festival to promote cycling in the
country. This is part of the company’s We DO Health campaign which strengthens
its commitment to promoting health and fitness among Filipinos.
Register at pruride.ph
until May 19 to join the biggest cycling festival in the Philippines. All
participants will receive a PRURide PH 2019 jersey while finishers will get a
medal. To make it more exciting, cash prizes of up to P2 million are up for
grabs.
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About Pru Life UK
Established in
1996, Pru Life UK is the country's pioneer of insuravest or investment-linked
life insurance products, and is one of the first life insurance companies
approved to market US dollar-denominated investment-linked life insurance
policies in the country. Since its establishment, Pru Life UK has expanded its
reach to over 160 branches in the Philippines, with the biggest life agency
force of more than 27,000 licensed agents, and has emerged as one of the
country’s top three life insurers based on the Insurance Commission’s 2017
rankings in terms of new business annual premium income.
Pru Life UK is a
subsidiary of British financial services giant Prudential plc. Headquartered in
the United Kingdom, Prudential plc has an extensive network of life insurance
and mutual funds operations around the world covering Europe, the United States
(US), Africa, and 14 markets in Asia. Its regional office, Prudential Corporation
Asia, is based in Hong Kong. Prudential plc has over 26 million customers
worldwide and manages £657 billion of assets as of 31 December 2018.
Pru Life UK and
Prudential plc are not affiliated with Prudential Financial, Inc. (a
US-registered company), Philippine Prudential Life Insurance Company,
Prudentialife Plans, Inc. or Prudential Guarantee and Assurance, Inc. (all
Philippine-registered companies). Pru Life UK is a life insurance company and
is not engaged in the business of selling pre-need plans.
For more
information: www.prulifeuk.com.ph
Sources:
3.
https://www.realbuzz.com/articles-interests/cycling/article/top-tips-for-your-first-cycling-race/
