The veteran cyclist and triathlete will join Mieko Carey this year to compete in the XTERRA World Championship on Sunday, October 23.
Sublemente, who was qualified for the Championship since 2009, will compete in the men’s 35-39 division.
“My training is getting better,” he told Variety.
“Basically I run, swim, and bike, but I mostly swim because that’s my weakest part in the triathlon. I keep swimming everyday to get used to the water. I heard the water there is more choppy there’s more current.”
Sublemente had just competed in Sunday’s 50-kilometer Pre-Hell of the Marianas race, winning second place right behind Lewie Tenorio.
Though a “little nervous,” he tries to feel “relaxed and easy” before entering the competition this weekend.
The XTERRA World Championship will sport a new course this year and is based at Kapalua Resort on Maui’s northwest shore. The off-road triathlon includes a 1.5-km swim, 29.5-km mountain bike ride, and 9.8-km trail run through “pineapple fields and forests,” as described by the race’s official website.
The triathlon will be expecting 650 amateur and professional athletes from 28 countries.
Sublemente wasn’t able to race in 2009 and 2010 due to financial reasons.
“This time my friends helped me with fundraisers and they helped support my travel expenses,” he said.
He also thanked Pacific Islands Club for aiding him on the trip.
Sublemente, who competed in XTERRA races on Saipan and Guam, hopes to beat at least half of the World Championship’s participants.
“After the race I will see if my time is good enough so I can apply for a professional status,” he added.
Mieko Carey is currently the only pro-triathlete based in Saipan.
Sublemente placed eighth overall during the XTERRA Saipan Championship last March. He posted three hours, 32 minutes, and 21 seconds to rule the men’s 35-39 division.
He was also the top amateur athlete in this year’s XTERRA Guam Triathlon, trailing Carey with 3:04:04. He ranked fifth overall and first in his category.
Last year, Sublemente placed third in the men’s division of the 2010 Rota Blue Triathlon.
“Now this is it,” he said.
“I’ll give my best to finish and I’ll see what happens.”
Meanwhile, Carey is scheduled to leave to Maui today.
