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In the last month, I participated in two sporting events. Something that hadn't happened, as far as I remember, since my high school days. One of them was the Lisbon half marathon and the other was a 12 km trail, that took place yesterday. I've been running since my college days. During the first years of that period, I completely stopped practicing sports and, due to the development of an anxiety disorder that accompanied me through the remaining time it took me to complete my Medicine degree, namely showing characteristics of burnout at times, I started running and used it as a complementary measure to my treatment. It was something very basic, with no specific goals regarding time, training mode, or distance. I just put on some old sneakers (which, from this distance, I realize that lasted for too long; being, in reality, completely inadequate for this practice), went down to the Porto waterfront, and ran towards Foz. Fortunately, through running and other changes in my life, I managed to control the anxiety that limited me in my daily life. Since that period, running has always had that primary function: helping me relax and organize my thoughts, gaining a lighter perspective on whatever may be affecting me at that moment. However, in recent months, I have gained a deeper interest in this activity. Now, I have started to think a little more about how I do my runs and set my own goals. The essential function remains the same, but the addition of these layers and the encouragement of friends like Miguel, who heads the Prime Human Performance project, finally led me to do something that, just over a year ago, wouldn't have crossed my mind: signing up for athletic events. The first one didn't go well at all. I made almost every beginner mistake and ended up well below my goals; however, I loved the whole atmosphere and experience, from the inside, of an event like the Lisbon half marathon. The last one, which took place yesterday morning, was different. The trail is an environment that I still know little about and therefore made me approach the race with a lot of caution. I don't even have proper shoes for this type of running yet, nor am I used to training in places with the characteristics that make up a trail course, but the experience exceeded, by far, my expectations. I made a good time, felt great throughout the course, and had the opportunity to go through absolutely stunning places. All of this, while witnessing the huge participation that these events have from amateur athletes, makes me think about what motivates each one of them. Most of us have our personal lives and jobs that diminish the availability to train and even to participate in races; however, the spirit that is experienced in each race shows that the sacrifice made is worth it. A large percentage of the people we see may have already passed (some a long time ago) their peak physical fitness, because time doesn't forgive in that aspect; but they continue to want to prove, I think to themselves, that they are capable of meeting the challenges they set. Personally, I still believe that sports bring me, above all, some peace of mind; however, with the addition of now also doing it in community, it allows me to meet new people and new places, while giving me the chance to continue to challenge myself. I don't want to be an elite athlete, or anything like that, but I want to know that I continue to be capable of improving my physical and mental fitness and bringing the benefits of that to my personal life, as a partner and future father; and to my professional life. Have a great week! João Pedro Neto, MD
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