It’s all in the mind.

As a runner I think it’s as important to train the mind as it is the body. If you’ve ran before you know what I mean - your really don’t want to get out of bed at 6.45am, but once you you’re back from your jog you feel amazingly fresh and full of energy to start the day. The more you train your mind and build it up before the morning (or whenever you run), the easier it will be to get up - IT’S ALL IN THE MIND. That’s why I believe running is a great way to give myself discipline. I really felt the results of that when I ran my first ever official race back in December: a 10km mini-marathon in Porto.

Yesterday I bought a copy of Runners World to help motivate my running objectives for this week, as I’ve been feeling quite lazy lately. They’ve got great tips, including ones from professional marathon runners. Reading the magazine online doesn’t give me half the motivation it does when reading it in my hand - the experience feels much more real, mirroring my motivation level! I really hope physical books and magazines never cease to exist - there really is no substitute to the real thing!

Porto Mini-Marathon update: We ran the 10km race on Sunday!

Finally an update! Here are some photos of me and my boyfriend before the race, getting ready and being dropped off downtown ready to warm-up and gather with the rest of the participants! Following a light lunch and having not drunk not too many liquids prior to the race, we were ready to experience our first ‘real’ racing event in our city! 

Running this 10km race was a very humbling and rewarding experience. The mind is a very powerful thing, and although we might not think about this everyday, it very much influences how much power and perseverance we put into focusing when exercising. I noticed my motivation and determination to complete the race without stopping was very clearly transmitted to my whole body.

There were 4500 athletes in total present, many of them professional runners. The adrenalin, the competitive rush in the air (one of the things I love most about practicing a sport) and the beginners feeling of being at a ‘real’ race, was unexplainable! The 10 kilometers came along faster than I thought. I started off pretty slowly, as I know my rhythm and body quite well, I can’t push it at the start. This enabled me to speed up a faster pace after the 7km mark, giving a boost to my competitive motivation. However, I had to control this speeding up with slow and deep breaths throughout, as well as keeping my back and chest very straight. I completed the race in 1h2min, quite tired, but with calm breathing, and no pain, just sore legs. The winner completed the 10km race in 28min..can you imagine that?! Absolutely amazing!

This was certainly a personal achievement for me, and one I hope to repete again in a near future. Now I have a personal time to beat, and I know how my body and heart behaves with running for as long as an hour.

I believe in No pain, No gain. No challenge is too hard, it just depends on you wanting it. 

                               The view at the starting point of the race! 

Picked up my runners kit and credentials after lunch, and here it is! A raspberry Powerade, an event t-shirt, Personal number, and a magnetic band to attach to my shoe.  

Now for some rest before leaving to the 10km mini-marathon in a couple hours! 

And so the day has come! This afternoon at 18:00h, the 10km Porto mini-marathon kicks off. This was my power breakfast this morning in preparation for this afternoon:

• A glass of freshly squeezed orange juice (4 oranges) 

• A plate with: 1 natural yogurt + 1 banana + rasberries + 1/2 pomegranate + raspberry granola! 

Now I just need to collect my number and be there on time :)Now for some power lunch and relaxation! Let’s goooooooooooo

T-4 days: for 10km Mini-Marathon!

It’s four days until the Porto Mini Marathon I am running on Sunday, which takes place downtown. It starts at 18:00h so we will be running in the dark, which will be interesting for me, as I always train during the day. Training has been tough: I’ve started to try and run longer distances for 1hour max without stopping, and running up+down some slopes as I know the trail on Sunday downtown has lots of steep roads. 

And below are some of the beautiful sea-side views I run beside everyday when at home (photos taken this morning on my iPod), next to Parque da Cidade and Avenida do Brasil. I can’t complain, right? :) 

More updates to come! 

My first Mini-Marathon: Training

For a couple years now I’ve been jogging on a regular basis, and it’s become a sort of healthy and fun addiction. Now that I’m back home for Christmas break, and awaiting for internship replies and interviews, I’ve running again in Parque da Cidade, a park near my house.

My Dad who is also an avid sports man, goes to the gym regularly and goes rowing on weekends, has asked me if I went to participate with him in the 18th Mini-Marathon in Porto, on the 18th od December. It’s 10km long, and 13 days away! When I go jogging I don’t usually run more than 6-7km, so this will be tough! I have accepted his challenge, now all we have to do is sign-up on the website and start tougher training routines.

These are my tired legs and feet after this morning’s jog. I’m super excited about this challenge, I’ve always loved having a sport in my life. Apart from horse riding I never committed myself to any other sport, and now with this firm objective inside my head, I’m determined to accomplish it. I’ll report back with how it’s going! 

A route of the mini-marathon of the 18th December, in my city of Porto is below:

So the time has come where I’ve begun getting rid of some of my ‘heavier’ possessions before packing and leaving Hyper Island in a few weeks, as official school time ends, and internship periods begin.

Yesterday, it was time for my sweet bike to go. I’ve had it for 7 months, and I bought off a previous IAD11 student, and happily enough I managed to sell it on to a current student, in DM13. Happy to know it’ll be in the ‘family’ for a bit longer! 

Little friend at my stables : )

Bendjy smells the carrots…

A Super Idea: A Bike-Part Vending Machine

The kiosk in Minneapolis, called Bike Fixtation, offers basic bike tools, a repair stand, and a vending machine full of useful goodies, including tubes, lights, patch kits, and snacks.

Why haven’t they thought of this before, everywhere? … great, simple, and useful innovation for everyone. Love this. 

via GOOD. 

A fluffy, cuddly, lazy, pet filled weekend. That’s home :)