I’m a runner (or want to be) #2
Short stories about freedom and peace during my runnings
Do you want to read my first article? Click here.
Today I woke up remembering my runner journey and how I miss my partners during my practices and races. I’ll start with: Brother’s time!
Since from the very beginning of my racer journey, my brother has been encouraging me, believing in my potential and running some races. Every race we started together, but poor brother, always waiting for me in the end: I’m older than him, what can I do?!
The first race together was the Braves Mud Race! 5km + 50 obstacles. Probably that was my first official race, but it was kind of a more fun race than a properly a race, do you know what I meant?! It was cold and it was a long journey, madness!
We had lots of fun that day with our friends, and we decided to participate in the same race one more time. We got prepared ourselves, with hard training, we made a t-shirt for the event and friends again!
The Mud Race used to be super fancy in our city. Nowadays, I have no clue about it, but back then it really was, and the race staff decided to organise a running trail race.
There we went again! I, my brother and a friend of ours!
That time, it was my first trail race, uneven ground and temperature variation. We could choose between 5 or 13km, and of course, my brother did our registration for the longest distance: 13km!
What?! I had never had run more than 10km around my home! 13km up to “the mountain”?! I would die!! Of course, I would not!
We did it!, I did it! Almost unprepared with my equipment: trail race using my training shoes, I do not recommend it! It was difficult and funny at the same time because I kept nearly slipping all the circuit. I needed to pay attention to my mind, breathe and the way.
Well… It is time to move on!
Not only during the races, but my brother also shared with me some of the most important moments of my whole life. We decided to move to Italy, to face new challenges! (I’m pretty sure if I were on my own, I’ll not be here, in Ireland today, thanks to my brother!)
In Italy, we started our adventure in Castelraimondo. A small city surrounded by nature! And there he encouraged me to keep running!
It was tough because of the summer, I consider myself a rookie at that time. The city I come from in Brazil the summer isn’t as hot as Italy’s, I can tell you!
The other day, I was walking around the city and I met some people running in there. I gathered some courage and went to talk to them: Hi! I’m new around here and I was wondering if I can practice with your group. I started and I learnt a lot of running terms in Italian, we’re always getting better our language skills right?!! Finally, they invited I and my brother to run a race with them in San Severino Marche: 5,5km.
It was our first race in Italy. I thought it would be easy, I ran already 13-km mountain race, it was on me! But it was not.
It was my toughest 5,5km in my whole life! Not because it took me 31 minutes to finish it, but it was so hot for me. It doesn’t matter, it was a pleasure, I was living and running in Italy! Also, after that race, we got some beers and pasta :)
A few months later we decided to move to the North of Italy, Lecco, Lombardia. At that time I got a better idea of how to find a friendly group and keep running! The place’s gorgeous view there it’s always an invitation to outdoors activities, it’s a beautiful place! I joined the group Women in Run Lecco for running.
My brother did some tapasciata and races with us, and some times we ran out running together around the Como Lake.
I believe that with this group and my brother, I reach the most rewarding achievement of my running days: ResegUp! 24km +1800m on the top.
It was my favourite and hardest race! I reached the top, appreciated the view and finished it, I have no words to explain that sensation!
I knew that I could do it! I practised hard, I took care of myself, despite the difficulties, it was a pleasure to run surrounded by my brother and friends supporting and helping me to grow and finally to finish the race.
More stories about our adventures are upcoming, but I think all those words are here to share with you a little bit how important it is when you have someone who believes and trust in you, it is much better if this person is your best friend and your brother :)
Thank you maninho to be part of my journey, even now, living in different countries. I look forward to running with you again in this windy place!
To be continued…
Well, If you arrived here: Are you interested in running? Are you a friend of mine trying to motivate me reading my articles (thanks so much!)? Are you like me? Do you want to start but it’s hard to? Leave a comment :)
Thanks so much for reading out my words until here, I really appreciated it!
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I have written some articles in Portuguese, Italian and English.