MANILA, Philippines ? When Wilfred Steven ?Fred? Uytengsu Jr., president and CEO of Alaska Milk Corp., joined his first Ironman competition in 2002, he almost quit.

Like other participants, he didn?t understand the preparation and the science behind this grueling series of long-distance triathlon. Injuring his knee, he didn?t make it to 10 kilometers, a fraction of the required distance in the marathon run. He also got off twice in the bike race, suffering from cramps.

?That?s it. I?m done,? he heaved with resignation.

His wife, Kerri, a fitness buff herself, prompted him. ?If you don?t finish this, you?ll never forgive yourself!?

Although his time was way below standards, Uytengsu finally realized that the essence of the Ironman triathlon was perseverance.

?You don?t quit unless there?s an accident or your body fails you; but not if you have a bit of pain. You go in there realizing you will suffer and it?s a fact of life. Therefore, you train so you suffer less. If you improve your time, you are on the course in less duration. If you extrapolate less hours, then there?s less pain to endure,? he says.

Must-do

Uytengsu has become the poster boy of the non-traditional CEO. Instead of hitting the fairways like many businessmen, the former national swimmer started triathlon 10 years ago.

It?s his tonic to the midlife crisis of the body getting ?soft.?

Asked why more business leaders are now into marathons and triathlons, he cites the movie ?The Bucket List,? where an extreme physical challenge is one of the must-do?s before ?kicking the bucket? or dying.

He wakes up at 5 a.m. and rides the bike on Mondays and Thursdays at Heritage Park; runs around the village on Tuesdays and Fridays, and swims some 3,000 meters at Manila Polo Club on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Between the morning run and the lunchtime swimming on Fridays, he attends regular meetings. On Saturdays, he bikes up to five hours.

A few Sundays ago, Uytengsu and the Polo club triathlon team biked from Alabang to Batangas. For energy, he ate banana bread and antioxidants for breakfast; replenished his energy with gels, protein bars, Gatorade and water along the way; and finally rewarded himself with a hearty lunch at a friend?s place in Punta Fuego.

With a 55-hour work schedule every week, his goal is to pump up 15 hours for triathlon training. At 47, Uytengsu shows unflagging energy. He has competed in Ironman triathlons in the US, Singapore and Australia. From an initial record of 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer cycle and a five-kilometer run, he?s upped his ante eight times more.

His personal best is 13 hours and 12 minutes in the Ironman Australia in 2006. His goal is to improve his record to 12 hours and 45 minutes or better.

Uytengsu has learned his lesson from working hard, not smart. In his early races, he once crossed the finish line extremely exhausted that he required IV.

Now he follows sports periodization, the method of adjusting a training regimen at periodic time intervals that results in peak athletic performance. The preparation increases aerobic capacity and improves skills. Then the body is trained to be more efficient in longer workouts; once it has adapted, the training becomes more intense but done in shorter duration.

To prepare for a big race, the training is lightened to let the body recuperate.

Defining moment

Understanding the value of working smarter, he signed up with an online coach whose protegés are Olympic champions.

Uytengsu clarifies, ?He can?t load me up like a 25-year-old pro. I still have my career and family life. It?s a matter of balancing time and intensity with other priorities.?

He adds that improvement isn?t achieved by science alone. ?You must be willing to endure discomfort. Anyone who has done this will say it?s part of the game.?

His advice to weekend triathletes: ?Train within your heart level. It transcends age and ability. In all workouts, we use heart rate monitors to determine the exertion level.?

The workout not only gives him a high as the endorphins kick in, but he also describes it as ?defining? and ?introspective.?

?Many times in the morning, you?re swimming, biking or running, then something will come to you. When you?re out on a long journey, it gives you a chance to think clearer,? he says.

Uytengsu?s dedication has resulted in great pay-offs aside from a toned body with less than nine percent body fat. ?I come to the office with a clear head after a 90-minute workout,? he says.

He has set an example of passion for work which is shared by his managers. On Alaska?s business, he says the results are ?quite favorable,? contrary to the global outlook.

Although he has taken up the sport late, the 47-year-old CEO-triathlete can only think of improving. Aware of the realities of aging, Uytengsu cites Olympic medalist Dara Torres, who at 41, is much lighter and 2.41 seconds faster than her Olympic record at age 21. At midlife, she became the first American swimmer to compete in five Olympic events.

?I don?t want to put obstacles [on myself],? declares Uytengsu. ?There are great stories of people like Dara who did better much later in life.?