Meet The Faces Of Garmin Women
Garmin made watches that outlast any adventure and keep up with the ups & downs of any journey.
Garmin has always been inspired by the women who live out their passions— whether on land, sea and air.
This International Women’s Day and Women’s Month, Garmin celebrates the inspiring stories of the Garmin Women in Philippines with weekly features of our women Garmin ambassadors.
Meet the faces of Garmin Women.
Mary Joy Tabal
When did you start using Garmin? How and why did you start the Garmin journey?
I started using Garmin in 2011. It was during my 2nd year of being a long distance runner. It’s when a foreign friend of ours introduced a GPS watch and my Coach was really amazed knowing that my pace will be seen, the distance will be measured thru GPS and files will be recorded. It was indeed very helpful in the progress of our trainings and indeed very helpful in my running career. Since then, I have been using Garmin and keep updating on its latest models.
What does #GarminWomen mean for you? How does it feel to be recognized as one of the #GarminWomen?
A #GarminWoman means unique, advanced, elevated, eventful, strong and bold! I am honored to be recognized as one of the #GarminWomen because it’ll mean that I am passionate, strong and fearless!
What would you say is unique about your story in your journey of beating yesterday as a #GarminWoman?
I keep upgrading my goals after beating my personal goals then to bigger goals and eventually achieving “every athletes dreams—the Olympics” and I keep on growing and bolder each passing time no matter how many times I fail.
What is your favorite activity to do? Fitness/wellness related or other activities.
Running. For me, it’s not just running, it’s the peace, the love, the passion, the drive, the determination. It’s Life. It’s a gift. And I just feel clarity and happiness when I’m running. It’s my form of mental health therapy.
What’s your advice to other women aspiring to find that work, life, sport/passion balance?
We all have goals. Whether we term them as “goals” or not, whether big or small, we all have them. Sometimes, we don’t like to admit them to ourselves. Sometimes, we let our insecurities stop us before we even start. Just do it. Stop listening to the critics inside your mind and take the first step, and then take the many little steps along the way.
I found these to be very helpful in achieving goals:
– Write down your goals and be specific.
– Come up with a smaller steps/goals then keep upgrading your goals.
– You’ve got to want it as much as the air you breathe.
– Do something every day that is goal-related. Something is better than nothing.
– Start TODAY, not tomorrow, not next week. Start today! Even the littlest step matters.
– Be persistent and patient at the same time.
What do you like most about your Garmin?
I like it because I can keep track on my previous activities which I can review and compare, I also love it for my sleeping time monitoring, my monthly period tracker, I can also count the calories I have burned, and also it’s light and fashionable that you can wear at any time, or during any occasion.
Tell us a little more about yourself.
I am Mary Joy Tabal, from Cebu City. The First Filipino Marathon Olympian. The Six-time National Milo Marathon Queen. The Philippine Marathon and Half-marathon Record Holder. The SEAGAMES Gold & Silver Medalist. The current National Milo Marathon Record Holder. Aside from running, I am also passionate in baking.
Nylah Bautista
When did you start using Garmin? How and why did you start the Garmin journey?
I started using Garmin when I decided to train for Triathlon way back in 2011. I needed a functional and stylish watch that can handle the rudiments of training and racing for 3 sports namely swim, bike and run. Garmin is a trusted brand known for its accurate GPS features which are important for navigation especially for cycling and running. Garmin is very instrumental in tracking all my training activities, daily, monthly and annual statistics. It my constant in every race that I join, from toeing the race start all the way crossing every finish line.
What does Garmin Women mean for you? How does it feel to be recognized as one of the Garmin Women?
A Garmin Woman is someone who lives and breathes health and wellness which can come in many forms, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Garmin women have the passion for life, ready to take new challenges and adventure to improve her well-being. Garmin women are open to changes and keeps herself attuned with the latest technology to keep in touch with global developments. I am humbled and deeply honored to be recognized as part of Garmin Women team and will do my best to help and inspire other women to be the best version of themselves through sports especially triathlon.
What would you say is unique about your story in your journey of beating yesterday as Garmin Woman?
I personally experienced the painful loss of a dear loved one and running helped a lot in my grieving cycle. I discovered the joy of running and its huge benefit in weight loss and physical health. Mentally, running became a form of meditation to clear my mind thinking that I can achieve anything and that nothing is impossible. It can be physically challenging but the endorphin high gives you a sense of euphoria and personal fulfillment. I started signing up for short distance races first and gradually leveled up to joining half marys and eventually finishing a marathon. After crossing each finish line, there’s an inner voice that gives you the self-confidence to beat no one but yourself. You challenge yourself to get better on the next race, either by getting a faster time or running a longer distance. It’s constant work in progress to be better than who you were yesterday.
What is your favorite activity to do?
I love to swim, bike and run. My journey in triathlon started with running and amongst the three, it’s the simplest and requires lesser gear vs swimming and cycling. With running, you can just grab your favorite running shoes and run every road and mountain you can. We have endless roads ready to be conquered by your strong legs. All you need is motivation, determination and commitment.
What’s your advice to other women aspiring to find that work, life, sport/passion balance?
If you want to achieve something, don’t wait for the right moment instead make every moment right for yourself. Many of us wait it out until we have time, resources, network etc. So many conditions set in our mind when all you need to do is Just start working on it. No matter how small it is, take the first step to do your passion project. If you want to lose weight, begin your healthy lifestyle. Take simple and baby steps to achieve your goal. Celebrate small wins once you make progress. You will eventually discover that your strength and potential is limitless once you do what you love and once you find time to do what makes your soul happy.
What do like most about Garmin?
Garmin is user-friendly. For a non-techy person, exploring Garmin’s features is simple with its clear screen format features and easy to navigate buttons. I love the Garmin app which shows the complete stats of each workout. I specifically like the Training effect feature which measures the quality of each workout. I’m after performance, not only for myself but especially to my students. Garmin app gave the tools to measure if each workout will give gains to achieve our goal. Another cool feature is you can get free workouts and training plans too from coaches across the globe.
Tell us a little more about yourself.
I’m an age group triathlete doing 140.6 distance triathlons. Completed 9 full Ironman races and will do more in the pursuit of my Ironman Kona dream. I share my passion in swimming, cycling and running through formally coaching beginners and intermediate athletes. The active lifestyle keeps my sanity from juggling my day job as a full-time entrepreneur and retail consultant. I race to challenge my limits and I coach to help people to discover their strengths and become the best version of themselves through sport.
Precious Que
When did you start using Garmin? How and why did you start the Garmin journey?
My Garmin journey started back in 2019, when we partnered with them to lead the Garmin Running Club in BGC. Since then, a lot of people are asking me about how helpful it is to have a sports watch, and even asking recommendations on which model to get.
What does #GarminWomen mean for you? How does it feel to be recognized as one of the #GarminWomen?
Being a Garmin Woman for me is to be able to embody the identity and the values of the brand. And being recognized as one, I feel honored that people believe that I can be someone that represents a brand in a positive light.
What would you say is unique about your story in your journey of beating yesterday as a GarminWoman?
I think it’s more of exploring myself, like stepping out of my comfort zone to be open to try things such as yoga, pound, juijitsu, ballet, barre and many more to come to be able to continuously beat yesterday.
What is your favorite activity to do?
Currently (amidst the pandemic), my favorite activities are HIIT and Bodyweight Strengthening workouts with my friends.
What’s your advice to other women aspiring to find that work, life, sport/passion balance?
My advice would be that you have to take time to make time. Meaning, you need to take a moment to manage your time, have a calendar or a to-do list to set your priorities – work hours, family time and “me” time including your workout/exercises. Having a healthy body promotes a fresh mind, and that helps us function better and complete our tasks in less time.
What do you like most about your Garmin?
I actually have two Garmin watches, Venu and Forerunner 245 Music. With Venu, what I like the most about this is it has a period tracker, perfect for women with its sleek and stylish design. And with the Forerunner 245 Music, I like the training effect feature of it. As an athlete and coach, I like looking at the performance data so I would know what I need to adjust or improve.
Please tell us a little more about yourself.
I grew up in the district of Tondo, Manila. I am a former track and field athlete, and my deep love for the sport paved the way for me to become an assistant coach and eventually pursue fitness training and personal coaching. My passion is to share my knowledge and experiences to help others become better and stronger versions of themselves. When I’m off the fitness track, I devote my time as a sales manager and an entrepreneur.
Lexi Noval
When did you start using Garmin? How and why did you start the Garmin journey?
I started using Garmin 2 years ago because I wanted to be more efficient with my training, workouts and daily habits. I saw that Garmin has several features that could help me make the most of my daily routine
- It helped analyze my sleeping and stress patterns so I could figure out what times were best for me to rest in the middle of work, and what times I should wake up and sleep based on how my body reacted to daily
activities. - I also loved how accurate Garmin’s GPS is during outdoor races, other watches I used before didn’t show the real area and distance I ran, but Garmin showed me my real route, and helped me pace myself.
- Garmin also has a lot of training features that ranges from yoga, cycling, strength workouts, cardio, swimming…etc. But of course my favorite is running — especially because you can program your watch to
“coach you”. I’ve been using the interval run feature, and I no longer need to check my phone and have it on my hand to know when to tell me to go slow, speed up or rest… I just wait for my watch to buzz… so it’s very convenient.
What does #GarminWomen mean for you? How does it feel to be recognized as one of the Garmin Women?
I feel proud and honored of course to be a part of the Garmin Philippines Family. Being able to represent a brand that I really believe in gives me butterflies when I think about it.
Garmin to me is not just a watch brand, it represents people from all walks of life, who want to make the most out of their life by understanding what their body needs. You may be in a corporate job, but you wearing a
Garmin watch that helps you manage your stress so that you can be the best boss to your employees, it will inspire you to move and be healthy so that you’re able to have enough energy to finish work and spend time
with the people you love. You may also be an athlete challenging yourself to do better, or pursuing your dreams to reach the podium!
No matter who you are, or where you are in your life, you’re wearing a Garmin watch because you want to do better. To create your life best life.
So to me, being a #GarminWoman is just that. To live by example. By showing how I can create my best life, no matter what that looks like at the moment. Whether it’s working as a Global Operations Manager, growing
my FlexFit community, or training for races. To live in the moment, and enjoy the journey life has to bring.
What would you say is unique about your story in your journey of beating yesterday as a #GarminWoman?
To me, beating yesterday doesn’t simply mean just doing better than my previous run or training day. It means becoming a better person than I was yesterday. I have struggled a lot with my insecurities, self-diminishing
thoughts, imposter syndrome, managing my emotions, and having a victim mentality. Beating yesterday to me is rising above these thoughts in my head that have limited me for the longest time. All of which I wasn’t
aware of till about ¾ years ago. It was only then I was able to recreate my life for the better – after becoming aware of self-deprecating habits.
What is your favorite activity to do?
Fitness/wellness related or other activities will be fine.
Right now, chatting with my Flexsisters in Flexfit about our latest mindfulness session, exploring unique ways of working out… Running, of course! and SURFING.
What’s your advice to other women aspiring to find that work, life, sport/passion balance?
Fitness is different for everybody, so routines would be different as well. What works for one person might not mean that it would work for you. It’s really like trial and error, so be kind to yourself would be my number one
advice. No one has their A-game on all the time. So it’s natural to feel tired, or lose some motivation. And that’s ok. Listen to your body, and try to figure out what works for you. It also helps to be part of a supportive community. You are a product of your surroundings, so if you’re constantly interacting with people with the same goal, chances are, it’ll be easier for you to make choices and act on tips that move you towards your goal.
What do you like most about your Garmin?
I love several things about my Garmin Venu at the moment:
- The music! I’m able to listen to my Spotify music anywhere I go
- I like exploring and fusing different kinds of fitness, so I’m happy that I can create my own workout tracker, on top of the sports apps already built in.
- I’m able to understand my body better, and how i can operate through my day with the pulses sensor, stress tracking and menstrual tracking. My boyfriend also appreciates the fact that I’m able to notify him to prepare for my mood swings… LOOOL
- I also like that I’m able to train more efficiently. Knowing my heartrate zones, and when I still can push myself to exert more effort gives me more awareness in my capabilities.
Please tell us a little more about yourself.
I was born in Manila, but raised in Iligan City. That’s a small city in the island of Mindanao, so my days growing up were spent either in school, tutor, my mom’s ballet/dance classes, or mountain biking with my dad. Fitness for me has always been a way of bonding with my friends and family. Now, I’m a global operations manager of a machine learning company based in San Francisco- called Scale AI. And I’m based in La Union since the pandemic, so I started surfing! Right now, I’m also focused on growing an All Women’s Lifestyle Community called FlexFit South East Asia.
