Run, Forrest, run!

Merriam Webster defines the word "motive" as follows: Motive (noun) - something (as a need or desire) that causes a person to act.

Since I have been in Rio for about 5 weeks now, I have been motivated by the physique-loving aura of the Cariocas (people from Rio). In Rio de Janeiro at any time of day or night you can see someone either working out, running or riding a bike. It is nearly impossible to not be motivated to transform your physique. And I don't mean just young people, but rather people of all ages. It's as if the sun calls out to these people and and causes them to run like lemmings to chase after the "fountain of youth."

I have attempted to join those individuals by "malhando" (lifting weights), running and biking. I picked up a hybrid "Caloi" brand bicycle. Although I like it, my next purchase will definitely be a road bike. The reason is that the riding position is much more comfortable on a road bike, especially for long bike rides. I have also been watching my diet and probably have shed 8 to 10 pounds of fat! For some reason, I just feel like I have more energy here and more motivation.

So far I have kept a running log as a way to track how I have been transforming my physique. My two biggest running accomplishments have been my running around the permiter (7500 m or 4.66 miles) of the Lagoa (lake) and the entire length (back and forth) of Copacabana beach (8000 m or 4.97 miles). As for my biking, I've gone from my apartment all the way to São Conrado beach, which is a pretty difficult ride since you have to cross a pretty steep hill on the way there.

Also, not visible on this map is a street called Rua Professor Gastão Bahiana.
This street basically connects the Lagoa to Copacabana and features an extremely steep hill, which I've only attempted once so far. I had to stop three times just to make it up because I refused to walk my bike up. I'm not sure stopping was the best idea because once you stop, it is that much harder to get going again.

One of the French exchange students, Romain, is training for a marathon in Paris. Maybe I'll join him the next time he tackles the Lagoa...