Coach Masirag begins his speech with a brief introduction about Vitalified Spartan and promotes the Vitalified Sports website. He highlights that it is a platform for everyone to promote the concept of moving more and living better, providing a space for individuals to showcase their achievements.

Coach Masirag warmly welcomes the new team and proceeds to provide an introduction to AIA Vitality, the health and wellness program offered by AIA. AIA Vitality serves as a platform to inspire and motivate individuals to attain healthy, longer, and better lives. An exciting part of our participation in Spartan races involves cheering on our remarkable team, known as Vitalified Spartan, as they conquer these challenging events.

In case you missed tonight's event, we have summarized the townhall meeting for you.

Since we know everyone's attention span is shorter than a squirrel's, we've got you covered with a TLDR version:

1. Meeting Place is in front of the stage.
2. 7 AM Group photo and warm up so don't be late!
3. There will be refreshments after the race, you'll see us in the parking lot. Just look for our flag.
4. If you have time, wait until the awarding time and let us give support to the winners of this year's spartan stadion.
5. Pets, Vapes, or Smoking are NOT allowed in the venue.

Just like before, Vitalified Spartan Race Team has always known how to kick things off in style. Before the big race day, we gather for our traditional town hall meeting, where we talk about the meet-up time and place, give a shout-out to each team member, share some tips and advice from our coaches, and even spice things up with games and raffles. Trust us, this ain't your average snooze-fest!

His self-doubt did not hinder him to get started over two years ago which he described as “a dream come true”. You may be wondering what he does differently as he keeps going and defying limits.

Here are 5Rs from the champ:

1. REST WELL!

Deload: Two days before the race, the training part is over. Should you want to train, deload! Try to do 50% of what you usually do from training.

Sleep: Try to get 7 hours of sleep or more per day. The best recovery is sleeping.

Relax: Don’t stress out! The champ even suggested watching a movie during your taper week!

2. REHEARSE YOUR NUTRITION:

Sodium Intake: Start practicing now! It would be hot on Saturday based on the weather forecast. Carlos recommends this, especially for those who sweat a lot like him. This’ll help you keep hydrated.

Carb loading: Not necessarily since this is a fast race. But if you think you will surpass the 1-hour mark, then you should carbo-load.

Rehearse your dinner/breakfast: Plan your meals. Carlos suggested a mixture of carbohydrates and sodium.

Race nutrition: Energy gels and energy bars.

NEVER TRY ANYTHING NEW ON THE RACE DAY!

3. RACE HARD, BUT ALSO SMART

Don’t just go fast. Have a strategy. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the race map. and know the rules per obstacle. There might be something that you don’t know that will help you conquer these obstacles.

4. REDEFINE YOUR WINS

Most racers are tied in their position with the race whether it’s Open or AG. You don’t know how you and your competitors will do on race day. The only thing you can control is your effort. Set a target for your race, what obstacles you can conquer, and what to fail. Set a specific time, and set your target for extra motivation. It’s important to show the results of your training rather than standing on a podium.

5. REMEMBER TO ENJOY: Make friends before and after the race.

Here are some Questions from the athletes that may pick your interest.

Q: How often do you train in a week?

A: I’ve been training for 5 months progression because I skipped Alviera. I’ve been, then, training 10 times per week or 11-12 times a week. Mostly, 2x a day. Running in the morning and weights in the evening.

Q: Is magnesium intake necessary?

A: For me, sodium is more important. However, if I’m not mistaken, magnesium is also part of most electrolyte drinks. Magnesium is more of a bonus.

Q: Recommended shoes?

A: Personally, road shoes. Why? Because 90% of the race will be on the road so I’ll use a cushion to my advantage. Trail shoes are good also as you’ll have stability when you go up and down the stairs. At the end of the day, the answer is whatever you’ve been training with.

Q: How do you pace in the first 5kms.?

A: Personally, I’ve been training specifically for Zone 5 for most of my races. However, most people can’t sustain it and I don’t recommend it since it’s painful. If you can do Zone 3 or 4 in the first 2 km. But this really depends on the person. Take a look at your training. Are you able to sustain staying in these zones?

Q: What are your least favorite obstacles?

A: Spear Throw & Jerry Can

Q: What keeps you going?

A: I’m a very competitive guy. I love competing with great athletes. I love making my family and friends proud. Ultimately, it’s my loe for this game of OCR. It’s the love that kept me going for the past five years.

Q: Where do we see Carlos a few years from now?

A: I think I’ll still be in the OCR space. If I’m competing? I'm not entirely sure. In terms of goals that I want to accomplish in OCR, I’d say some I’m already doing and I think I’m able to achieve those goals in the next two years. I think a few years from now, my involvement in OCR is more of championing the sport. I really love the sport. I think it has a lot of potential to grow here in the Philippines.

Carlos Dimailig is one of the Spartan Race Philippines brand ambassador, overall age group champion in the 2022 Spartan Race stadion, Age Group (18-24) gold medalist in the USA, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam from 2021 to 2022, and Age Group (18-24) South East Asia Champion in 2021.

Instagram: @lelandxiv