Beyond the Sport: Jonathan Pagaura
The Starting Line:
Every journey has a beginning. What’s the story behind your first race, and how did it shape your love for the sport?
My first triathlon was in Jagna, Bohol—a sprint distance race.
I never initially had any interest in participating, but one of my friends who was racing brought me along, and I ended up joining too. Back then, I was using a borrowed mountain bike with slick tires. Despite that, I managed to finish the race and discovered the joy and effort involved in triathlons.
Paul Jumamil, who was part of Team Alaska at the time, became one of the athletes I looked up to in triathlon. He inspired me to pursue the sport further. I aspired to be like Paul until I eventually came to know several elite triathletes.
Rituals and Rhythms:
Do you have any pre-race rituals or routines that you swear by? How do they set the tone for your performance?
I don’t really have a ritual, even back then. What I usually do is pray and talk to my bike, telling it that we’ll help each other during the race. I just hope to avoid any mechanical issues and finish the race safely.
Chasing Challenges:
What’s the most challenging race or event you’ve ever participated in, and what did you learn about yourself through that experience?
At the National Age Group Triathlon in Camotes back in 2017, I found myself competing against national team members. I didn’t expect to be right behind Kim Remolino and ended up finishing 2nd overall. That was the moment I realized I could actually compete at a higher level.
From there, I focused on improving my performance by applying proper nutrition and refining my techniques, including the swim start, exiting the water, and transitioning off the bike.
Fuel Philosophy
When it comes to performance nutrition, what’s your golden rule? How has Arise helped you in breaking personal limits?
In the past, I used to bring chocolates to every race. Later on, I tried GU gels but didn’t really feel much of a difference. In 2019, I gave VCAA a try, and during an FTP test, I learned the importance of hydrating every 20–30 minutes.
At that time, we didn’t have a nutrition sponsor, so we had to buy everything with our own money. When I started using ARISE, I tested it during a race in Dumaguete. I noticed that it didn’t cause any throat irritation, and I was able to save on gels because I didn’t feel hungry during the race.
However, during the Tabuelan race, I had to take some gels during the run leg as my legs were starting to cramp.
The Unseen Athlete
What’s a side of you that most people don’t see when you’re competing? Is there a particular moment when you’ve surprised even yourself?
Yes, even the smallest things can make me happy, and I can confidently say that I’ve achieved a lot in racing. In the past, I could only admire the things I wanted, but now I’ve worked hard and finally have them.
Dream Destination
If you could compete anywhere in the world, no limits, where would it be and why?
An Ironman race abroad is the event I dream of experiencing. I hope that one day, my name can bring honor to both myself and the Philippines.
