Victory Emblem

The adrenaline rush while heading towards the finish line of a race and the feat of
completing it is best symbolized by you. Is that all you represent?  Do most of us see
you the same way? It would be ungenerous and inadequate if anyone felt that particular
way. You symbolize passion, determination, strength, discipline, pain, tolerance,
patience, self-awareness, and this list is in no way exhaustive. I looked at you as a sheer
sense of accomplishment until my debut full marathon. This day is uniquely special not
only because it marks the accomplishment of a goal, an affirmation, a dream; but majorly
since the event made me realize what you symbolize, and how incomplete a race would
be without you. At mile 22, having 4.2 miles to go, my mind only visualized the medal
that I would receive at the finish line. At that point in time that was the biggest motivation
factor other than being a marathoner at the finish line. As I approached the finish line, I
saw my family cheering and encouraging me to sprint the last 1/10th of a mile. Just as I
crossed the finish line, all that I wanted was my victory emblem, not even a picture,
which is a huge compromise for a photo addict like me. I had pictured this moment for
years, and in each one of it I saw myself receive a grand medal and pose (of course a
different pose in each of the iterations my mind ran) with it proudly at the finish line. Who
would imagine that an established race would not have a medal for the finishers’? Tada!!
I was disappointed and furious. That was just not that way I wanted to feel after
accomplishing 26.2 miles on a bright sunny (rather scorching hot) day in India .My mind
that was strong enough to complement my body through the journey did not quite like
not being awarded a finisher’s medal. There could be a million reasons why I run, but
you are one of the biggest reasons, and you motivate me to run, challenge myself with a
new task every time, and you complete my races like nothing else. A club that I run with
had made medals for the finishers who were active members of the club because a lot of
runners were disappointed about the same. While I did a 10k another day, I received the
custom-made finisher medal from the runner’s club. I was excited, thanked my stars for
running the 10k, and that is when I felt like my first marathon was complete. Having said
that, you are irreplaceable, even by another one of your kind. Every time ever since I
look at you, I remember the complete journey towards a race, starting from the training,
injuries, scars, and the discipline, patience, perseverance that goes into training, and the
grand race itself. No matter how long the race is, any race would be incomplete without
you. And after quite a few races, here I am not just writing about you but finding best
ways to display you on the first wall that one faces as they enter my house since I am
not supremely happy with the make shift arrangement I have for you at the moment.
#HeIsWhyIRun#SoulMate

The sketch is just as close to my heart as the medal; it took a lot of time and effort from a friend to sketch this beauty.

405 Gems of Running

Every runner is different. Every runner trains differently, thinks differently, and of course runs differently. However, in my passionate journey from a novice runner to a marathoner, and to a recent Triathlete I have come to realize that every runner goes through a similar grind before he/she finds her form. This post is a recollection of my journey, and the little gems of wisdom that I collected on my way!

1. Getting started: This is by far the hardest, and the most important, and hence features on the top of my list. An area where 50% of the potential runners fail! Getting off the couch and breaking through the inertia is a humongous task indeed. This habit of being inactive has to be broken with yet another habit. Running has to become a habit; it has to get fed into the habit loop - Cue, Routine, Reward. I have seen the habit loop and goal setting work well together. If you know that you want to run, and make it a habit, register for a short distance race to begin with. The race should be timed such that it gives you enough time to train but does not give you too much time to slack. To make the habit loop work, identify a cue that will trigger the thought and feeling to run, then get on to it immediately. The reward would vary between people; the adrenaline rush has been my reward until today, which is probably why this passion has become an addiction! Create your habit loop and set your goal, and kick start your running habit.

 

 

 

 

2.201. Technique & Form: Technique and form is the key for performance. It would be unfair to just give this concept ‘one’ point. I would award it 200 points, for this is the fundamental of running. The stride length, toe/heel landing, hip flexing, and keeping the form are some crucial things to look out for. Keeping the spine firm and not slouching helps with the form a great deal. One thing that a lot of amateur runners forget is to keep the core tight while running; this fuels the running and also protects the back from injury. Focus on the technique and form, have it accessed, and remember to keep working on it.

202. Core strength: Work on your “Core”. The name speaks for itself- “Core” is the core of Running. Develop it, and strengthen it for it to support the running. Core stability or abdominal stability equals no movement of the spine. Workouts such as abdominal crunches, planks, side planks, squats, etc., should be included in your daily workout plan. These along with various floor exercises have helped me build a strong, stable core, which I carefully focus on every single time I run. Having an efficient core can take you a very long way (distance) literally. A little reward pointer here- can make you look sexy!  

 

 

 

 

 

203-302. Breathe: Of course we all breathe to live. If you are wondering what is the big deal about breathing, and why have I rewarded it a whole 100 points, try to sprint through a mile at a 400m sprint pace. The world record holder for the fastest marathon averages a 4:42 minute mile. I am positive he got there with a lot of training and pacing. Physical activity increases your body’s energy requirements. Oxygen from breathing breaks down glucose to generate energy, and carbon dioxide which needs to be exhaled, and hence the breathing rate and heart race increases while exercising. Or to put it simple- breathing right helps one pace themselves better; focusing on it makes you highly self aware of your complete system. To be able to run longer distances, it is key to not lose breath and gasp. Breathing heavily and having a high heart rate through the run is not ideal for endurance training.

303-352. Stretches: Stretch for a good 10 to 15 minutes before and after the run. The stretches before the run will help ease the muscles, and warm you up for the run. It can also be used as a signal that you give your body that the miles are coming up soon. A whole body stretch routine from head to feet has been more beneficial than just focusing on hip and below. Cool down after the run and let your heart rate reach its normal. Spend another 15 minutes stretching and relaxing the muscles. This does go a long way with preventing injuries and tightness. I am a fan of the medicine ball and foam roller; give it a shot if you are looking for some deep release.

 

 

 

 

353. Stamina: If I had a nickel for every time I hear someone say “You have good stamina, no wonder you run”, I would be rich. Its quite the opposite, as you build up stamina, you tend to run faster, better, and stronger. Having good stamina through other physical activity from the past is a boon. But for most people who are just starting out, they do not possess this; they acquire it through training. Stamina is a gem you build up slowly and steadily, and treasure it. Let me tell you something, it is easy to lose the stamina you have built if you are being inactive, but also it comes back to you at an exponential rate once you get back to being active.

354. Cross training: I realized the awesomeness of this only after unintentionally giving it a passing chance. While training for my first half marathon, I began biking every morning before work. I did this hoping to lose some extra pounds, which I did, and also earned a mileage at running. My speed improved, and I could run longer with lesser effort. Recently I added swimming and biking to my workout regime, and the impact it has had on my running is well worth all the effort I put into training.

 

 

 

 

 

 

355-404.Recovering from Injuries: I will give this an easy 50 points. It can only crimple you temporarily or even permanently in some cases; it cannot dampen your spirits. Spend time understanding your body. There are some things that can be cured with stretching and massaging. Do not let an injury get the better of you, consult a doctor when you think it is not something you can solve. Some simple things to know will be to use cold for the joints and heat for the muscles immediately after an injury. Lookout for permanent solutions instead of quick fixes, kinda true for life too! We all tend to injure ourselves closer to an upcoming race and it is always hard to let go of a race. In the past when I have been in such dilemmas I always chose to run with the injuries and now with a little more experience I wouldn’t agree with my previous decisions. Prioritize, and choose the battles you want to fight. You do not want to injure yourself, and get to a place where you are never again able to run. Focus on healing and the races will come along later.

405.Gear: The general lookout about quality appropriate gears is that it is a luxury and not a fundamental necessity when you are just starting out to run. I do not suggest loading up your wardrobe with running jerseys, and fitness trackers on day 1. But as you begin to run, investing in comfortable fitted shoes, jerseys, shorts, and even socks that absorb better and are cushioned. These apparels will turn into your besties in the run. Leg and arm warmers are my ‘go to’ options when the temperatures are not very favorable. As you move on to running longer distances, adapting to running with a hydration belt becomes a survival technique. Do not view these as money being spent, view it as money well invested. The return on your investment is totally dependent on you!  

Get up, run and discover your own gems of running and do share them with me to help me get better at my passion. Let us conquer the road together.

Know What Makes "You" and Breaks "You"

I am a physically, intellectually self-sufficient individual who is emotionally needy. Don’t judge me as yet… I never said I was modest! I am very proud of my little achievements, and the faith I have in myself. My rigid conviction and perseverance are like a massive iceberg, and there has not been anything so far that has been able to break through it.

The utmost desire to achieve my goals and the strong will power that fuels these desires have helped me accomplish my little achievements, and kept me from not falling off the wagon. Nutrition and water can only help so much; it is the undying determination that will take you beyond your own imagination, and help push your body beyond limits. I am my own companion on the trail, but I would not be able to help myself, and keep myself motivated without the entities that push me, support me, and of course question me. They have not been mutually exclusive, and the fact that they coexisted is precisely what helped me.

People who have pushed me are like the thrust that propels a rocket, pushes it and takes it to a whole new world, getting it to explore new territories. These are the people who have encouraged me to adopt new challenges, and have reminded me time and again not to be complacent with my existing feats, and to aim for the stars. They did not preach, instead I learnt through their experiences. They have done the same in their own lives; may not be running in particular, but in activities that they are passionate about. Pushing the limits way too soon without steadily building up to it gets one crashing down faster. Who wants to be that rocket that did not enter space, and returned without accomplishing the great feat! This is exactly when the supporting pillars come into the picture.

My pillars have always stood by me, for me. They are the people who have believed in me always. They have had this immense belief in me, and my potential even when I have been pessimistic about the path ahead. It is almost like as if their support is married to my feelings, where they have promised to be true to me in sickness, and in health. They are my pillars of strength that I lean on to, who are my fuel that keep me running. I doubt if I would have been consistent at running as an exercise for it to nurture into a passion but for these amazing pillars of strength and support. I have learnt to appreciate my support system to this extent only because there exists a class of cynics.

They are almost the opposite of the pillars, but not quite completely. They have laughed at me when I first told them I was running a 10k. In hindsight, I think they visualized me rolling like a bag of potatoes, and could never imagine me run. I have had people tell me that I am in no way close to being able to run a marathon, and that I am not in a “race shape”. I do not judge them, because they have already done their part of judging me, and my body. It instilled the flame in me to do better every passing day. They are not the reason I run, but they are the reason I do not doubt myself, because yet again they do that job effectively. There are some cynics who have converted to being neutral, and I am positive it is just that they do not voice their negativity anymore, fearing defeat at the end of the road.

The classification does not end there. There will always be entities that cannot be classified. There are people out there who watch your progress, very quietly, happy for you, and are inspired in some little way by you. Thinking about these silent observers time and again has helped me calm down, pace myself better at things that I do, and at the track as well. A friend who never said anything about my running and my passion told me these words when I was upset about an injury, “I have never told you this, I respect you for what you do. I cannot do what you do, and it is amazing that you are so passionate.” It changed the way I started looking at the people who silently adore me for my little achievements and passion. These entities made me realize experience of any kind is a teacher for all! I believe it is also important to acknowledge that there are some people right next to you who are spirit dampers. Some aim to be one, and some unconsciously take up that role in your life. They are there for you, but in a very different way. They have been the hardest to identify personally. I have easily mistaken them for my support system, and when you do realize their true self, you tend to lose a part of your confidence. They are concerned for you and your progress, but make you feel bad, and pull you down when you are not in a good place. They doubt your abilities, make you weak and make you believe that you will not be able to achieve something because you have perceived them as your support system, and your mind is not able to differentiate amidst handling a crisis. It might take a while to identify the people who play that role in your life, but it is just as important as knowing your support system because these are the people who will break you when you are not in that happy peak.

To be good at what you do, skill is important but knowing what makes you and breaks you will take you that extra mile, and help you handle tough situations better. Your own mind plays all these different roles, and it is in turn nothing but a product of your own environment.

This is my ode all those people in my life who have pushed me to do better, supported me through my efforts to run, and keep up with races at the hardest of times. I would never forget to thank the ones who have questioned my capability and thought I could not do what I do today, they share a piece of my accomplishments as well.

Tugging My "Shoestrings"

As I waited at the distribution center, hoping to be shipped to a store where I not only looked pretty but unique! I am no different than you humans, I too seek attention and do everything to draw eyes at me. My existence has just one sole purpose, and that is not just being a decorative material for a closet. 

As much as I craved to be chosen by a runner, I was equally anxious, very anxious. I wanted to be in the hands of someone who would take me out everyday for a long run, make me feel important, and help me achieve the purpose of my very existence.

As she walks by me, she gives me a second look, finds me attractive and wants to give me a chance. Excited and anxious, I try my best to make her feel comfortable as she steps into me. I felt her strong yet pretty feet enter firmly. She walks in me, jogs a little, and jumps a few times to see if I fit her bill. She walks down to the full size mirror to check out if we looked good together. I could see her eyes were tired from testing many like me. However, I see a glint, a short crooked smile, I jump in joy at the prospect of her taking me home. As I am being boxed to go home, I lie on the table and see this glittery card being swiped into the machine, Voila! The deal is done. Like your insurance agreements with these tricky asterisk marks, we too face them in the form of return policy! Though I had this little fear of being returned, a huge sense of pride rushed to my head, for being the chosen one! She unwraps me places me on her fancy glass shoe rack right next to yet another old, withered, and unattractive running shoe. Damn, the competition never ends; not until I kick the bucket!

 

Swirling in my own thoughts, wondering if she is an early bird or someone who would get her run later during the day; I stayed awake the whole night anxious to get to know my new buddy! I have never looked forward to dawn as much, and finally the sun is peeking out; she enters the room, slips on a pair of formal heels and heads out to “tik tok”. Are you kidding me? I have to wait maybe another 12 hours for her to take me out on our first date! If only wishes were horses, I would ask for a voice, by which I could loudly express how desperately I have been looking forward for our run, and many more of them! I wish she understood that. I wanted to see the world with her, through her lenses. Oh wait, did the sun just vanish? Who really gave him the authority to go on vacation and have the rain gods cover for him instead? This day cannot get any worse I thought, she is definitely not taking me out today.

As my lady walks home tired, places her heels back on the shelf, I look at her intensely, hoping to catch her attention. She reaches out towards me, and turns to the old unattractive guy next to me. Well, she is more comfortable with him, may be just likes him more and shares a strong electronic bond with him. Puzzled, she turns to me, touches me and takes me into her palm, looks at me, loosens me up and slides her feet into me. She finally chose me for the day, and I cannot wait to hit the road. We are fond of each other, and I make her comfortable, get her to every finish line strong.

She has run uncountable number of half marathons, marathons and ultra marathons with me. We seem to have this unique bond, which is so overpowering that even on a tired bad day, all she looks forward to is our run, together! She takes such good care of me, keeps me clean and treats me with all due respect and oh my, she plainly adores me just as much as she is in love with running. I could not have found a better match. She is my true soul mate! Some paths in life have to be walked alone, but if you have a buddy like me, even those journeys are not alone. 

With time, I have become old, worn out and I do not think I am able to provide the same comfort I used to. I did not want to become that old guy in her shoe rack that she did not look at anymore. I have achieved my purpose of existence and our sweet successful relationship was coming to an end. I felt a million daggers stab me. Though I wasn’t ready to be replaced, I knew my time was coming to an end. No one can take my place in her life. She walks into the house, with a fresh young guy, who looks exactly like I did. With the realization that she looked for me in her new companion, I rested in peace in her rack, looking at her take him out everyday. She has not forgotten me. She still takes me out every once in a while and respects me just the same way, cherishing our symphony, and I see her and say, “We had the best run!”

**This comes from a runner who has all her running shoes stacked one next to the other. I respect, and have special memories with each one of them. They have made me the person I am and they will continue to have a special place in my heart.

TO GYM OR NOT TO

Gym- used to be a “summer” thing right from high school days for me. The 3 months of summer vacation used to be the time I used to miraculously pull myself out of bed to hit the gym, and decide to lose weight, and reincarnate myself before I go back to school. However, the end result would be returning to the new academic session without much progress. Somehow this is one classic fault all of us end up making. It takes years of bad eating habits, little or no exercise, to put on those extra kilos, but all of us expect to shed them wondrously over summer!

In this rapidly evolving lifestyle on earth where nowadays everything is measured by time & money, we tend to expect instant gratification from our bodies too. The first rule of learning is that weight loss is not a goal it’s a byproduct, and strength training being the goal. Each body acts and reacts differently when you put them on gym machines, but one common factor is- Consistency!

The first time I looked at my gym regimes, as more of a way of gaining strength rather than weight loss, was when I heard my sister talk about it. She is a firm believer of strength training, and I am getting there. Having said that, it is true for me that a gym habit is harder to sustain as compared to an outdoor training schedule. The reason it is harder is because there is no “instant” result. The amazing results are seen over time. I have personally seen strength training benefit me after almost 6 months of consistent efforts.   

Contrary to popular beliefs, to be an endurance athlete, it is not just enough to be able to run right or run fast. It is a bundle of style, stamina, and timing. While running can improve your style and stamina, it is strength training that helps to carve your muscles strong enough to give you the edge over achieving good timing. This is the key to improve your timing for a half marathon from 2 hours 30 minutes to a flat 2 hours!

 

 

 

 

 

Gyming has helped me gain strength to do a variety of activities than just run. I never paid any heed to my upper body strength, and all that I ever cared about was my leg strength and stride length. Now that I am on my way to being a triathlete, I am looking at it more holistically, and believe that a gym workout does go a long way in substantial value addition. It helps me get a whole body workout, and concentrate on muscles that need that extra attention for better performances at my races.

Bashing the common misconception that outdoor activities are better than the gym, essentially because your body gets used to the machines, and once you quit the gym you tend to put on all the weight you apparently lost, and in most cases put on double the weight you lost! Well though there is some truth in that, but that’s not the gym’s fault or the machine’s fault, it’s ours! It is true for any activity. When you quit your physical exercise and continue carb loading without burning them, you will put on the weight. It is simple math! I still remember the weight gain from the days I quit dancing and playing table tennis. If that happens to be a mind block, get rid of that, and take the help of the weights and machines in your gym to help you get in shape.

Quick lifestyle pointers

1.Don’t bite more than you can chew.

I have done this several times (I know you have too…!). I would decide to workout, get in shape, and be over ambitious about the whole thing. I would try to go for a run, hit the gym, and play a sport. Result- end up doing neither! Well, take it one at a time, stabilize each activity and add an activity to it when you are ready for more. The first activity that you want to take up would vary from human to human, and I would urge you to choose what you sounds most fun to you, so that it motivates you to keep it up.

2. Do not combine two difficult tasks, and make it one impossible solution.

To get up from the couch and start running is tough and challenging enough. If you are not a morning person do not try to add an extra layer of challenge by choosing the morning hours to run. I do agree that a work out in the morning is excellent, but when you are trying to inculcate a fitness habit, do not combine it with a waking up early in the morning habit. If you have struggled with the later for years, it is only going to stand in the way of inculcating the former habit.

3. Identify the appropriate workout

Most times, we all follow the fad. When we see everyone around run, we want to run too. Is that the appropriate workout for you? Evaluate this without a bias. Do what makes you happy, that is the only way you will have a sustained interest. The same rule works at the gym as well. I am a huge fan of cardio. I hit the gym for cardio mostly, and slowly added weight training to it. If I had aimed at weight training as soon as I started off, I wouldn't have been able to keep at it, for the simple reason, it does not interest me as much as running!

 

 

 

 

 

4. Seek results, without paranoia. (Yes… Seriously! Easier said than done.)

We all want to see results from anything we do, which is perfectly the way the human brain is wired. It could be weight loss for some, increased strength for some, and improved vital stats for some other. It could be anything, but make sure it is measurable, and you are monitoring progress using the pertinent measure, and at a defined frequency. When you do not see results, do not freak out or obsess about it! Try to find out what is obstructing you from reaching the goal, and evaluate what you would need to do differently. Fretting and losing hope will not help you keep at the road to fitness.

5. Follow a workout plan at the gym

This could be a mix of cardio, weight training, floor exercises and HIIT. Develop a plan and follow it, this would take you a long way. This helps you not get bored with the workout, and lets you explore the limits of your body. Apart from making the workout more structured, it is satisfying to see that you have adhered to the plan you signed up to follow.

6. You can create your own gym in nature

If you really do not like the closed space and cannot tolerate working out inside 4 walls, you can find creative ways to workout outdoor. You can always push up and work on your triceps on a park bench. Most parks also have slides and various structures for kids to play, which you could use for a pull up. You could always do planks, lunges, burpees, squats, abdominal crunches, kicks and planks outside in the midst of nature.

 

To put a long article short, whatever you start out to do, be consistent!

First Stride

It all began on this the 1st day of March 2013. The first day of the month! Like most fitness/weight loss “I need to fit into that skinny jeans this year!” resolutions that are taken on the first day of the each month, my conversations with myself were none different. Perhaps the only difference was that this time, I was determined, and I had a definite goal in mind- to run the half marathon that was coming up in July. Even before I decided to begin my training I had signed up for the run, used this as a “no excuse phenomenon” for fighting my demons. This is the time-tested trick that I use for all my races until today! 

Going back to my grueling first day of running- just as I was tying up my shoe lace, I recalled my childhood days of playing table tennis at the club every other day, and the high intensity cardio workout my dance classes put me through every weekend. I stood at the front door for a minute and imagined myself running. Like in comic strips, you could draw an imaginary cloud over my head. In that cloud I was running…running like a deer, graceful...with a smile. Running through the breeze! Self-confidence touching the mercury, I told myself “this is easy!”  As I started running, in less than 400 meters, my cloud vanished! The self-confidence meter burst with the pounding noise that my heart was making, I lost every positive thought as I gasped. I didn’t know which was louder, my panting noise or my heart pounding. I was less than 400 meters away from home and all I wanted to do was just walk back home. Yes, just walk back or may be roll back home. As I dragged myself home, to describe how my brain processed my self-image in one line, I would say “Unhealthy unfit individual who has ruined her fitness by doing nothing!”

I felt uncomfortable in my own skin. I felt a huge weight pulling me down, making me weak. I sensed defeat, felt challenged, and the only thing I wanted to do was take on this challenge and taste victory. After almost passing out on the couch, and being close to giving up on myself, an idea came to my mind. I decided to break the 13.1 miler into smaller chunks, which looked very achievable. I visualized the finish line, the medal, and the sense of achievement, which have been a driving factor to keep at the war between my mind, and my body. I paced myself better, and jogged the following day; in a week I was able to jog a kilometer without a break. This is when I realized that a lot of endurance running is focused on the simple rule of breathing right. Focus on your breathing and you can conquer the track! I kept at this, and jogged everyday, and increased the mileage week on week, initially with an incremental rate of 100% which eventually reached a flatter 20% week on week. This was not easy at all!

I pushed myself harder every following day, and finally reached a point where I didn’t have to push myself mentally. I did not get there miraculously; the benefits I gained from running paved the path for me. It has been a pleasurable journey ever since, that I enjoy, share, and preach. I would be lying if I told that I have never had to push myself after that, but it was more about pushing my body, and my willfully excited mind has done a great job until today. This post is dedicated to all those people out there taking their first stride, and looking forward to many more to come.

Even today, I remember the 1st day of March 2013 so vividly, the heart pounding, the legs cramming, and the little voice inside that said “give up…we can do this tomorrow”. The secret is to push past that, and to push today!   

#FirstStride #Keep@It #EndlessMilesToGoBeforeYouStop

About the Blogger

An endurance athlete turned a novice blogger. A girl with a story, passionate to share her life changing journey on becoming a self-trained marathoner and a long distance runner.

An Indian, a city lover, now living in a small town amidst the cornfields in the Midwest, USA. An explorer by heart, most of her childhood was spent playfully involving herself in every extracurricular activity that later became a skill, which represents her attitude and perseverance to achieve every goal. A professionally trained Indian classical dancer since the age of 6, she also aced every inter school table tennis tournament. When she got time from her professional training, she played tennis and swimming as more of a hobby!    

Running was not on her sports column, until one day a close friend raved about his experience as a runner. Enthralled, and more curious about his passion, she allowed her friend to influence her into picking up this new hobby, and help her take her initial strides, and keep at it. At the age of 23, running which started as a new hobby turned into a challenging habit. Captivated and consumed by it, running became the focal point in her little world. Being someone who is most likely suffering borderline ADD, she ran her first 10K with hardly any training, soon after that she registered and started training for her 13.1 miler. Having run a few half marathons over a couple of months, she decided that it was time to make her mark at a full marathon. With just 7 weeks of training, she ran her first marathon in India during a scorching summer. She is currently training to accomplish a 70.3 half iron-man. Like any other sports person, she has travelled through her share of injuries, challenges, obstacles, and self-doubts. A huge believer of affirmations, this blog is a dedication to her belief, and an initiative to help readers motivate themselves to RUN and also seek fitness. This blog is nothing more than a mere narration of short stories from her life. She writes to give her readers a sneak peak into her endurance lifestyle. Endurance sports is no longer a passion outside work, it is a lifestyle change that she is fond of, and has largely benefited from.