Fitness

Last Men Standing

Last Men Standing
Most guys associate age with retirement. These men carry on as the country's elite athletes. Know their method to maintenance

By Carol H. Pajaron; Photographs by Paolo Picones of M4 Collective


Conventional wisdom dictates that an athlete peaks in his youth. On the contrary, the Philippines' sure standouts to this year's Asian Games in Doha, Qatar are near or past 30. And they display no signs of slowing down.

Why should you? A 2006 study published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness suggests either age group can excel equally in fitness and sports. Investigating age's influence on recovery from high-intensity endurance exercise among well-trained cyclists, it was found from three consecutive days of maximal 30-minute lab trials that there were no significant group differences between young and veteran subjects for initial fitness or training status.

But what would most benefit from a toughening exercise is your mind. According to American sports psychologist Jim Loehr, emotional resilience and mental endurance are keys to peak performance. Inherent talent or skill can only take you so far (and may diminish as you get older), he says, without faith and focus against frustration or failure.

Take it from three of our top athletes, runner Eduardo Buenavista, shooter Jethro Dionisio, and judoka John Baylon. They share their strategies to getting stronger, smarter, and better with age.

Eduardo Buenavista, 28



ACHIEVEMENT

Two-time Olympian (67th in the 2004 Athens Olympic marathon); Philippine record-holder for multiple long-distance events (5,000-meter and 10,000-meter); Silver, XXIII Southeast Asian Games, 10,000-meter run); Champion, local and international road and distance races

ADVICE: SHRUG OFF A SETBACK

Long distance runner Eduardo Buenavista is already a local legend. Given his reputation, a glimpse of his slight and familiar frame can intimidate other race competitors. His name has been synonymous to success but he's also been taught by failure: In the 2005 SEAG, Buenavista won the gold in the 5,000-meter event but was denied the distinction on account of inadvertent physical contact with a Thai runner.

He laments losing the battle at the boardroom but it makes him more appreciative of his achievements. "Yung hirap mo araw-araw. Pati yung pagod, araw-araw," he says. "Tapos, isang iglap lang, wala na yung panalo."

Buenavista admits it's hard to divert your disappointment, but faith in himself and God has kept his motivation to stay in the game. "Tanggap ko na lang yung mga ganyang bagay. Sa sports, may panalo at talo talaga," he adds. "Kaya di dapat kalimutan ang Panginoon sa ambisyon mong manalo."

TRAINING TIP: DO IT DAILY

Be it for exercise or training, keeping a daily regimen does wonders for your game, according to Buenavista. "Sa araw-araw, ensayo ka lang," he says. "Hard training talaga. Kasi ang training, hindi biro e. Kailangan talaga, puspusan."

Further proof of how Buenavista pushes himself: He stays at an apartment in Baguio as competition nears to elevate his conditioning. "Malaking tulong kasi high-altitude dito. Manipis yung hangin. Marami din na training area na pwedeng pag-ensayuhan."

To attain longevity, he advises finding inspiration among family and friends to support your endeavor. "[Para] ituloy mo ang pagpursigi sa training," says Buenavista. "Kasi kung anong pangarap mo mararating mo rin."

FINAL WORD ON WISDOM:

"Enjoy the experience of competition when you're new to the game. There are things a coach cannot teach. Marami akong alam na technique dahil sa kumpetisyon. Doon ako nakakakuha ng diskarte."

 

 

Jethro Dionisio, 34



ACHIEVEMENT

Practical shooting: World champion, 1990, 1992, 1993: Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting, California; World champion, 1993, 1994, 1995: World Shoot-off Championship, ColoradoTrap/clay shooting: Silver, XXI SEA Games, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Silver, Asian Clay, Bangkok, Thailand; Bronze (individual and team), Asian Games, Busan, Korea

ADVICE: DO MORE WITH DISCIPLINE

At 14 Dionisio was well on his way as one of our most accomplished practical shooters.

After impressive finishes in local and international competitions, he shifted to trap shooting in 2000. He's always up for a new challenge, but he balances the exhilaration from the experience with a keen sense of discipline. It's a minimum requirement, especially for his sport. "We make use of real guns and we're using live ammunition so we could easily hurt somebody if you don't know how to use it," explains Dionisio. "Discipline is very important."

He also counts determination as crucial to the Filipino character. It's what enables us to use what's considered as weakness to our advantage. "We have to work harder compared to athletes from other countries because financially, we're not really supported, and our equipment isn't at par with theirs... pero iba ang will ng Pinoy."

TRAINING TIP: RELAX AND RUN

Shooting is both a mental and physical game, so Dionisio has made a habit out of meditation to steel his nerves. "[And] I think if you are well prepared during the competition, you won't be as nervous."

Part of his preparation goes beyond the range. Dionisio goes to the gym weekly, and jogs or runs at least 30 minutes on the track.

FINAL WORD ON WISDOM:

"I'm more mature now. I know how to pace myself. When you're young, there's no holding back—you do what you want to do. You can do well and crash at a particular tournament. I'm older so I'm more stable. I've become steadier."

 

 

John Baylon, 42



ACHIEVEMENT

Seven-time gold medalist, Southeast Asian Games; Bronze, World Masters Judo Championship 2003; Four-time ASIAN Judo champion in four weight divisions

ADVICE: BEAT YOURSELF THEN YOUR OPPONENT

As if 15 years of judo training (mostly spent in Kudokan, Japan) weren't enough, Baylon has also earned his brown belt in Brazilian jiujitsu. His drive hasn't wavered despite age and injuries. "If you push yourself, age won't matter," he says. "Minsan kasi nagpapatalo tayo sa sarili natin. Kung tutuusin kaya pa talaga yan ng katawan—kaya lang ikaw mismo, give up na sa sarili. Kapag tinalo ka ng sarili mo, wala na."

Baylon adopts this no-fear attitude. He recalls winning against a 19-year-old Korean who had quipped upon their first meeting, "Wow, like my father." Baylon defies expectation by betting on himself when others won't. The harder you work, the better your chances at success because, "you've prepared well for that opportunity." He also subscribes to fighting to the finish. "Sa judo, hindi mo alam ang mangyayari. Kahit one second na lang, pwede ka pa manalo o matalo," explains Baylon. "Maraming umiyak sa one second na yan. Hangga't may oras sa amin, may pag-asa."

TRAINING TIP: PLAY SMART AND STEADY

Baylon strongly advises against crash diets as it changes your performance. "You become less than 100 percent," he says of weight loss. He's not one to favor quick fixes over careful strategy.

Physical limitations are part of getting older, so you need to know how to make spot adjustments. "Diskarte lang," he says of surviving his sport's five-minute skirmishes. "You rely on technique. If your foot hurts from one move, then go for the other option."

For Baylon, time also becomes precious. He doesn't like it wasted. "Napansin ko pag nagpupunta ako sa gym, pati sa judo, mas mahaba pa ang time nila sa kwentuhan kesa dun sa talagang program and training nila," says Baylon. "Laro na (sports) nilalaro pa natin. Kaya minsan yung improvement natin mabagal."

FINAL WORD ON WISDOM:

"In my 20s, I was too aggressive. Pero yung diskarte at gulang, mahina. Di pa ako na-injure noon, kaya asa iyo pa ang lahat. Ngayon halos lahat ng injury meron ako. Hindi mo na pwedeng tapusin agad ang laban. Nag-iisip ka na. Pag may chance, tapusin agad. Pero pagnakita mong alanganin, hindi ka dapat pasok ng pasok basta-basta. Utak lang yan."

 


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