Rising Strong: Sheila Po Co’s Journey of Grit, Growth, and Glory

The Spark of Endurance:

What initially drew you to endurance sports, and how has that passion evolved over the years?

It started out as a love for the sport, Underwater Hockey, way back 2006, just wanting to be out there and play with friends and compete. Then things moved on to “you know, I want to improve more, getting better at what I do”, so I started hitting the gym, doing land drills and it slowly became a habit. My relationship with working out evolves from obligation to a source of joy and fulfillment.

Defining Moments:

Can you recall a race or training moment that changed the way you approach your sport, either physically or mentally?

It was a triathlon race in Surigao, where my legs locked up so badly off the bike. I’d guess that I was dehydrated, pushed too hard on the hills or maybe coupled with nutritional deficiency. In my succeeding races, I tried to learn everything necessary to make sure I am fueled correctly. From carbs to electrolytes. Also, I make sure to stay hydrated and well rested during race week.

Fueling for Greatness:

Nutrition is a cornerstone of your performance. How has fueling with Arise impacted your training or competition, and what role do carbs play in your routine?

Athletes know that carbs are an important factor of one’s diet because they are the body’s primary source of energy during trainings or races. For me, nutrition is very personal and what works for one doesn’t work for another. I started taking Arise Carb drink, during my trainings for TWM Tabuelan and I’ve noticed that I’ve maintained my energy level all through out without having the effect of tummy discomfort. Thanks, Arise!

The Mental Marathon:

Endurance sports are as much about mental strength as physical. How do you keep your mind sharp and focused when you’re deep into a race or struggling during a long training session?

It’s usually not the body that gives up first. It’s the mind! So before the race, I practice visualization in my training to prepare for every possible situation and to improve my execution comes race day. I visualize positive and negative scenarios so that I will know what to do if something goes wrong. By visualizing these scenarios, I’ll have a specific plan in place and instead of panicking, I will be calm, cool, and collected.

Off-Track Insights:

What’s one thing people wouldn’t guess about you when you’re not in your athlete mode? Any quirky hobbies, guilty pleasures, or surprising talents?

Painting, drawing, fashion designing, accessory making, just being creative are one of the hobbies people cannot guess about me. Maybe they find that surprising coz I guess I identify myself to others as someone who has an active lifestyle.

Fueling the Future:

If you could inspire the next generation of athletes, what would you tell them about balancing ambition, resilience, and enjoying the journey?

As adults, we know having an ambition is a good thing. It drives us towards achieving our goals with a sense of purpose and direction. If we have this goal oriented mindset, it can contribute to our personal development and success in life. It is our responsibility as parents, and coaches to mentor the next generation. Impart to them that hardships in life are inevitable. We can either let them get in our way, or use them as opportunities to learn and grow. Developing resiliency skills, can enhance one’s ability to tolerate and manage stress in a positive way. Lastly, as a christian parent, we are accountable to God for the way we raised our children. It is our responsibility to teach the next generation who God is and His Word, as the basic instruction here on earth.