Matteo Guidicelli tries hand at Ironman 70.3 Team Relay

SUBIC – Not even a sunburn could keep Matteo Guidicelli from going back to the sport he loves.
Showing his battle scars on his arms from the intense heat of Subic Bay on Sunday, the triathlete-turned-actor had the time of his life when he joined the team relay category of the 2016 Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 triathlon race here.

“Grabe yung init. Ang init talaga eh so mahirap,” he said.

But that sacrifice paid off, with Guidicelli logging an hour, 49 minutes, and 30 seconds in the run course to help Team Ford Forza place second in his first try at the team relay category.

“I usually do the whole thing, but this is the first time I did the relay. I just did the run part this time,” he said. “The relay is more relaxing because you can watch everybody get tired and ikaw nanunuod-nuod lang, so it’s fun to sometimes do the relay.”

Guidicelli said that he’s eyeing to join the whole race next time when Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship kicks off in Cebu in August.

“I’ll be doing the whole thing. I’ll be training and preparing for that.”

Family affair

It’s not just Matteo who is into the sport among the Guidicellis.

His father Luca, who Matteo said inspired him to be a triathlete, and his sister Giorgia both ran the whole Ironman. Even his younger brother Gianpaolo is also hooked to the sport, as he competed in the Alaska Ironkids a day before.

The family affair, Matteo says, makes the experience much more special.

“Family talaga lahat. My brother, sister, and papa joined. Si mama ang cheerleader namin so talagang masaya.”

That’s why the celebrity isn’t hiding his desire to draw more people to triathlon.

“When I hosted ‘The Biggest Loser’ last year, a lot of the contestants are doing runs now. I hope eventually, they’re going to do triathlon so it’s very exciting. You should try triathlon, it’s a different lifestyle. Masarap sya.”