Lao Tzu once said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” but to this legendary IRONMAN triathlete coach and businessman, it goes more like “A thousand miles begins with Journey.”
As a seasoned athlete, mentor, and entrepreneur, Coach Reujen “The Rockstar” Lista has exemplified resilience and discipline in both sports and life. Having participated in numerous IRONMAN events, including the 2022 IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, he has dedicated over sixteen (16) years to the pursuit of fitness and has over ninety (90) students training under his belt. His remarkable story is one of perseverance, transforming personal hardships into a testament to the power of dedication.
To those who might have gotten confused as to the meaning of “A thousand miles begins with Journey,” Coach Reujen was a talented underground musical artist in the 80s and is a very good friend to Journey’s lead singer, Arnel Pineda. But during his musical career, Coach Reujen faced significant personal challenges, which prompted an addiction to drugs and alcohol. However, through his discipline, dedication, and perseverance, he was able to conquer these hurdles in his life and turned to fitness as his motivator. Moving forward, he went on his way to complete over fifty (50) IRONMAN events and erect multiple businesses.
Coach Reujen founded Rockstar Triathlon Coaching and is a Level 2 certified coach, guiding students of all ages and different backgrounds, myself included. His method of motivating people to push beyond their own expectations has yielded great success in transforming those with the will to change. Here are some testimonies provided by fellow triathletes whom Coach Reujen has mentored.
“Working with rockstar coach Reujen has been transformative! The expert guidance, personalized training and nutrition plans, and unli-budol to races and events have helped me reach levels I never thought possible. From a 200 lbs couch potato into building endurance for a 6-hour 70.3 IRONMAN, his knowledge and encouragement kept me motivated every step of the way. Don’t stop believing! Let’s fucking go!” — Patrick Cuison, 37
“From zero to IRONMAN in 12 months. I had never run much more than 10k, cycling was casual weekend fun, and I couldn’t swim 25m without gasping for air. Enter Coach Reujen, the purveyor of dreams and the most supportive and inspiring coach I could ever have dreamed of, transforming everyone around him with infectious positivity. You will quickly realize that you are capable of so much more than you thought, and Coach will show you just how to become that person that you dream of being. I’ve now completed 2 70.3s and 2 IRONMANs and have even bigger challenges ahead, and I’m constantly proving there are no limits when you have the right coach and teammates to support you.” — Steve Burns, 50
“Becoming an IRONMAN felt like an impossible dream—until I met Coach Reujen. He builds unwavering confidence in your ability to succeed and provides personalized training programs that ensure steady progress. His dedication sets him apart—his relationship with his athletes goes beyond the transactional. Coach Reujen gives his heart and soul to help you achieve your goals. If you dream of becoming an IRONMAN, he’s the guide you need.” — Munmun Nath, 42
Transforming who you are into who you want to become may be a difficult task; many undergo the trials but do not possess enough resolve to see it through. Whether it be today or tomorrow, everyone is given the power to decide what happens. As they say, if there’s a will, there’s a way. There is nothing more powerful than self-motivation and believing in yourself to change.
Congratulations to Coach Reujen Lista, Bianca Tan, Anthony Cunningham, & Czarina Tan from team Rockstar Gold Tri for their podium finish in TRI FACTOR olympic triathlon held at Subic freeport by Go Clark events.
Coach Reujen usually finishes his races with his signature shout-out, “Don’t stop believing.” To all aspiring health enthusiasts and future Ironman athletes, you can follow Reujen Lista on Facebook.
See you on the road soon.
Paul Chua, PhD MNSA, is an advocate of continuous learning both local and foreign. He completed “Transforming Urban Mobility: Introduction/Components To/Of Transport Planning for Sustainable Cities – University College of London (UCL); Transport: Planning, Development and Management – Galilee International Management Institute; and”Strategic Management of Regulatory and Enforcement Agencies” at the Harvard Kennedy School
Originally published by The Manila Times on February 20, 2025.
View the original publication at The Manila Times ↗