Runner Feature #2 Super Jogger Wilnar Iglesia

SUPER JOGGER STATS:

Birthdate : July 31, 1982
Height : 5’ 3”
Weight : 64kgs.(140pounds)

IQ: 190

Resting HR  65 bpm(beats per minute)
Max HR: 300bpm

VO2max: 1,000ml/kg/min
Resting Blood pressure:120/70

Racing Blood pressure: 120/70

Personal Bests (as of this writing)

5K- 19minutes++
10K- 40minutes++ (takbo.ph 10k run 2010)
21K- 1hr 26minutes 35 seconds 
42K-3Hrs. 4 mins 45sec
102K- 15 hrs. 17 mins 33 seconds
160K-17 hrs. 36 mins.(BDM 160kms Champion)

Look, up in the sky!  It’s a bird!  No, it’s a plane!  No, it’s SUPER JOGGER!

There are theories that human beings are still evolving, and some are currently mutating to posses super powers. One of the speculation is that of runners who possess immeasurable amount of endurance, like Dean Karnazes, who could run countless of miles. This is a true story.

My 2^nd runner feature will be my strongest team mate in the Team Power Puff Boys, the Super Jogger Wilnar Iglesia. He started running in 2009 simply to lose weight, but he has gained a lot of friends and the respect of the running community. He became the first BDM 160 (100mile) champion and his record of 17:35’48” remains to be challenged. Heck, I couldn't even run 100miles in 1 week!

The Super Jogger isn’t what you would normally picture a stereotypical very thin, very long legged runner like the Kenyans or other Elite Filipino Runners. Wilnar is relatively stocky, heel striker, and there are rumors that his training is unorthodox.  His upper body is very muscular and can be easily mistaken as that of a professional boxer. However, he does remind me of another legendary muscular powerful runner, the great Steve Prefontaine.

Super Wilnar and Steve Prefontaine runs with Powerful Huge strides!

Rumors of his unorthodox training are true. One time, when we ran during our team long runs, Super Jogger was carrying a backpack with water. We ran long and hard, on hills, on flats, and even reaching 7’30”/mile (4’40”/km) at times. Some would even challenge Wilnar for a sprint. But during in one of our hydration breaks, the Super Jogger pulled out a 1.5liter of Gatorade from his backpack and gulped all of it! We were dumbfounded especially when we saw 2 more inside his backpack! So all in all, he was carrying 4.5liters of Gatorade!  I myself found it hard to even run with 1liter of fluids in my hydration belt, so I would normally carry only 500mL.  Intentional or not (it’s possible he thinks 4.5liters of fluids is light), he was doing “weight training”. Some coaches (like SCR) would laugh at this method, but Wilnar prove it works!

Last week we ran the Condura Marathon, and both of us were assigned as “Wave C”. I thought I was clever enough and sneaked pass through security and started at “Wave A”! That would save me a few precious minutes of not weaving through slower runners. I started relatively fast for my own level, I passed through flyovers and hills like they were flats! I was averaging 7’36”/mile(4’43”/km) until at 16miles(25kms), Wilnar was about to overtake me, but he started at least 12minutes after I started! I tried to keep up with him, and stayed behind him, trying to take advantage of him blocking the wind for me – and wow, while I was running behind him, the wind was very loud and I could feel the turbulence on my skin! Wilnar was virtually flying! His running form was very strong. It was powerful. It was like he was possessed with inhuman powers. He was the Super Jogger. Looking at my garmin, we were running at 6’30”/mile (4’00”/km) pace, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to sustain this for long, so I backed-out, then my left calf started to Cramp! I eventually ended running my worst marathon finish ever (will blog later about this). On the other hand, I estimated Wilnar to finish sub3hours with that amazing pace, and eventually he finished not far from my prediction. He overtook the Elite Jogger Joey who finished 3’19”, an amazing marathon debut! He also overtook other Elite Runners, and eventually finished the Marathon in a chip time of 3:04’45”!  This is strong enough for the toughest age/sex bracket of the Boston Marathon Qualifying time of 3:05! Unfortunately, the Condura Marathon is not AIMS nor IAAF certified, so Wilnar would have to run in Camsur if he wants to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Camsur Marathon is several months away, and I’m quite sure Wilnar will smash his record and most likely run a sub3hour marathon there.

Super Jogger Wilnar overtakes Elite Jogger Joey

 

So does Wilnar have alien powers from the planet Krypton?  Did he evolve after hundreds of years?  Was he bitten by a mutant race horse?  Trying to find answers, I interviewed Wilnar for this, and I was quite surprised by his humbleness and humility. He reminds me of another humble Filipino Great Champion, Manny Pacquiao.

They are the Champions!

The difference is, Pacquiao prefers to speak in English during interviews. Wilnar prefers to speak in tagalog, perhaps because he's patriotic to our own language, but I'll translate it in English for our foreign readers.

Q&A:

1. How did you get started in running and was there a runner(s) who inspired you along the way?
 - I started running two years ago. In 2009 I want to lose weight by going to the gym with my boss and other officemates. I usually stay longer on treadmill and stationary bike to sweat more rather than lifting weights. Then one of the usual guy there at the gym told us to try running on the road than on treadmill and do join races. It happen that my colleague have already ran some races so I got curious and from then I search on the net how to register on the race that I also see on the television and read on the online news. My first run was 2009 DZMM Takbo Para sa Kalikasan. I joined the 3k event. During this race I was inspired and motivated by the small children who outran me. That's why I still continue to run and run and one thing I like about running is the camaraderie and friendship that you can gain aside from the health benefits.

2. What is your best 5K, 10K, 21K, 42K, 102K, and 160K?
Bro pasensya na pero di ko tlga alam un sa mga short distance na PR ko..kasi matagal na din eh at bihira na din ako sa short distance sumali.. (Bro, I’m sorry but I don’t really know my short distance PR’s, it’s been a long time and I rarely race short distances.)
5K- 19minutes++
10K- 40minutes++ (takbo.ph 10k run 2010)
21K- 1hr 26minutes 35 seconds 
42K-3Hrs. 4 mins 45sec
102K- 15 hrs. 17 mins 33 seconds
160K-17 hrs. 36 mins.(BDM 160kms Champion!)

3. What is your favorite race(s)?
 For me my favourite race/s is the Milo marathon because it’s the longest running event in the country and dito makikita mo tlaga ang iba’t ibang uri ng mga runner’s. (this is where you’ll see different kinds of runners)

4. What is your favorite place to train?
 My favourite place to train is at Meralco compound kasi wlang bayad, mejo malaki din un isang loop ng compound so di ka mabobored kahit makailan ikot ka at konti ang sasakyan then may mga puno pa. (Meralco compound because it’s free and it’s big so you can run on that big loop and there’s only a few vehicles inside and they have lots of trees too.)

5. Favorite running shoes and gear?
 No brand in specific naman ako with regards sa shoes, pero usually adidas sapatos ko kasi medyo mura eh. With regards to gear wala nmn ako masydo gadget na kelangan..  (Any brand as long as it’s adidas.)

6. Reasons for running?
Before i run to lose weight, but now i also run because you can explore places more and you will meet and gain new friends.

7. What do you feel about Jogging? Do you also jog?
 There is no problem in jogging. Dito nga magsisimula ang lahat kasi di nmn sa umpisa na puro takbo ka na agad eh,madedevelop na lang na tatagal at titibay ka sa mga races dahil na rin sa mga practice. (Everything begins with Jogging, you can’t always begin with running all the time, you have to train and practice well to be strong in races.)

8. What do you enjoy when you're not running?
 What i enjoy when im not running is I do movie marathon naman..hehe.. (What a coincidence!)

9. You were awesome in the Condura 42K 2012 and in the Bataan 160K 2011, where you became the country's first champion. How do you train for these events?
For the BDM 160K last year aside from running I do cross training exercises such as swimming and cycling. For condura, I didn’t follow any program I just do running, swimming and cycling that almost everyday if I fail with my planned training, I must at least run.

10. Did Rona and Shiela inspire you to run a great ~3:04’45” marathon yesterday? How are they doing by the way? 
Yes they become my motivation during my condura run. That if ever I feel my legs are giving up I said to myself that I offer this pain for rona and shiela and I ask god to give me strength to continue running for them and also the cheers from running friends.
Thank u po sa support at pagtitiwala. As of Monday un nadischarge na daw sa ospital si rona,i hope gumaling na agad din sila at sana di na maulit un ganun..kaya ingat din tlaga tayong mga runners. (Thank you for the support and for believing in me. As of Monday, Rona already left the hospital and is already updating her facebook profile. I hope that kind of incident would never happen to us runners again, we all need to be careful when running.)

10. Do you have some special secret training philosophy, or do you simply have super powers? 
Wala bro eh..i just train train and train. (None. I just train.)

11. What are your future running goals?
As of now, if I will have resources I want to run a international marathons like in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Macau, China(great wall), and the ultimate goal if ever given a chance is to be able to qualified to Boston Marathon and also join international ultra marathons.

12. In the spirit of Valentine's Day tomorrow, do you have a girlfriend? What is her name?
Yes, her name is Maricon Oliveros

Thank you Super Jogger Wilnar Iglesia for your time in answering my questions, I'm sure you will keep on inspiring a lot of runners out there, and also few joggers like me. Good luck with your international marathon plans, I wish you could run the Boston Marathon soon so you could give inspirations to BQ aspirant like me. I also certainly hope you could join international Ultra Marathons and represent our country. Team Power Puff Boys, Team CB, and Team Endure will be certainly be more proud, as we all are already proud of you! Also, please give my regards to Miss Maricon, Happy Valentines Day to you two!

Please stay tuned for the JoggerNatz's next Runner Feature #3: Cover Girl Michelle Estuar