“I ran alone to improve my stamina and escape my languid daily life. It is an exercise that can be done regardless of time and place. However, when I ran wearing any sneakers I could find, people around me started telling me, ‘Buy jogging shoes or marathon shoes and run.’ At that time, I visited a sporting goods store, and they were holding an event where people who bought marathon shoes would be given a ticket to participate in a 10km short marathon. So I participated.”
Wihara is running on Namsan Mountain in Seoul. She started running in 2018 to escape the languid daily life and transformed into an ‘iron woman’ who ran the full marathon course in 3 hours, 17 minutes and 36 seconds. Reporter Shin Won-gun laputa@donga.com
Wihara (37), a children’s clothing designer, started running in 2018 when she lost stamina due to repeated overtime work. He said he started running because “there was a running boom and it was the easiest exercise to do.” Now, six years later, he is a rising star in the world of Masters marathoners. He, who is participating in the 2024 Seoul Marathon and the 94th Donga Marathon 42.195km full course held on March 17, said, “This time, my goal is under 3 hours and 15 minutes. And he said he would run for the single (under 3 hours and 10 minutes).
He started running in the summer of 2018 and completed the Adidas Myron Seoul 10km in September of that year in 59 minutes. He said, “Running was so much fun. He had many people running. It was really amazing. So he went out for the half course and also completed the full course.” Although he enjoyed physical education during his school years, he did not particularly enjoy sports. But he had no idea that using his body would bring him so much joy. After starting running, he enjoys a variety of exercises including yoga, gym, hiking, paddleboarding, and climbing.
Wihara running in the Pocari Sweat program. Provided by Mr. Wihara.
“Running is my main exercise, and other exercises can be seen as auxiliary exercises to become good at running. It’s not just me, my running friends enjoy various types of exercise. Since running focuses on the lower body, I needed to strengthen my upper body as well, so I did yoga and climbing. Once you do any exercise, your body feels refreshed. I feel better… . “More than anything, I like being able to meet a variety of people.” In March 2019, I completed the full course for the first time in the Seoul Marathon and Donga Marathon. His record was 5 hours, 4 minutes and 22 seconds. In September of that year, I ran the Adidas Myron Seoul 10km pacemaker in 1 hour and 20 minutes. As Mr. Wi was making rapid progress in the 10 km, the competition organizing committee assigned him a pacemaker. His best 10 km record is 41 minutes.
When the 2020 novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spread, I went to the mountains. This is because indoor sports facilities as well as most outdoor facilities were closed, and marathon competitions were also canceled. I climbed mountains in the metropolitan area, including Gwanaksan Mountain near my home (Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul), as well as Dobongsan Mountain, Bukhansan Mountain, and Bukaksan Mountain. I also went paddleboarding on the Han River in Seoul. He said, “I also did yoga on the paddleboard.”
Wihara is doing yoga while riding a paddleboard on the Han River in Seoul. Provided by Mr. Wihara.
In the second half of 2022, as the spread of COVID-19 subsided and the marathon competition was held, I participated again. He has completed the full course 13 times in total so far. Among them, the highest record is 3 hours, 17 minutes and 36 seconds set at the Son Ki-jeong Peace Marathon in November last year. He said, “I remember winning 6th place in the Son Ki-jeong Peace Marathon. “Other places award prizes for 1st to 3rd or 5th place, but this competition gave prizes for 6th place,” he said.
“My full course record was not that good, but last year, my record improved after participating in a program provided by Adidas. Coach Yoo Seung-yeop of the national marathon team guided me. As expected, learning from an expert is very effective. “Ahead of this year’s Seoul Marathon and Donga Marathon, I am receiving guidance from coach Kwon Eun-joo, a former national women’s marathon team member, through a training program provided by Pocari Sweat.”
Mr. Wi said, “My friends said, ‘I don’t understand how you can get good records with this kind of posture,’ but Coach Kwon is also teaching me with a focus on correcting my posture.” Marathons must be run with minimal energy consumption, but Mr. Wi said that he ran awkwardly, holding his back backwards due to his somewhat bouncy running style. Director Kwon said he was correcting it. Coach Kwon, who set Korea’s highest women’s marathon record of 2 hours, 26 minutes and 12 seconds in 1997, is currently teaching masters marathoners.
Wihara is warming up before running on Namsan Mountain in Seoul. Reporter Shin Won-gun laputa@donga.com
Mr. Wi trains with the Pocari Sweat program every Wednesday. And I am working through my weekday schedule. He said, “Director Kwon gave me a lot of time.” It’s mainly 60, 80, and 100 minute runs on the track. Rather than focusing on distance, run by focusing on your posture.
Although Mr. Wi runs alone, he likes to run with friends. Every Thursday evening she runs for Phil Lady, a women’s marathon club. The first Friday of every month is run by a club called ‘1987 RRR’, and the last Friday evening of every month by a club called ‘Tootto’. The rest of her friends run comfortably. Unless you are doing LSD (Long Slow Distance), which you must do during training ahead of a competition, you usually run 5 to 15 km. LSD is long-distance training that involves running over 30km.
Mr. Wi also talked about young people running these days.
“You know this. Young people make maps using GPS (Global Positioning System) while running. It’s called a kind of GPS art. These days, the area you run on is displayed on a map using smart watches. I also drew a lot of maps while running alone during COVID-19. And there are also runs on specific days. On March 1st, it is 3.1km or 31km, and on Liberation Day, on August 15th, it is 8.15km… . Running on my friend’s birthday. For example, on May 6th, you run 5.6km. Rather than just running, we run with various meanings. “It’s really fun.”
Wihara (right) poses after serving as a guide runner in last year’s Super Blue Marathon. Provided by Mr. Wihara.
I also do a lot of volunteer work while running.
“As I hung out with friends who ran, I naturally found myself helping others. I have been volunteering with briquettes at Toto Running Crew for 4 years. I also worked as a Bit Sharing guide runner, helping visually impaired people run together. Last year, I served as a guide runner in the Super Blue Marathon, where disabled and non-disabled people run together.”
A lot of things changed while running.
“I’m not naturally overweight, so my weight hasn’t changed, but my physical strength has improved. Above all, I gained abs that I didn’t have before just by running. In short, I became healthier. I used to not eat breakfast often and slept a lot in the morning, but while running, I became a morning person. Since the marathon is held early in the morning, it would be difficult to run without eating. As a result, I developed the habit of forcing myself to eat breakfast. “I also enjoy early morning runs with my friends.”
Wihara displayed the GPS map he drew while running in the photo. Provided by Mr. Wihara.
Mr. Wi said, “In the future, I want to participate in the world’s top six marathons, including Boston, New York, Chicago, Berlin, London, and Tokyo.”
“I like running because it is a really honest exercise. As much effort as you put in, it comes out as a record. So, you run more. I also like the atmosphere of jumping together and saying ‘Ui-sha’ and ‘Ui-sha’. I was originally a fun run person, but as my records have improved recently, I am becoming more greedy about records as well. More than anything, I enjoy running. “I will run for the rest of my life.”
Reporter Yang Jong-gu yjongk@donga.com
2024-03-16 03:00:00
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