Nascida e criada em Portugal. Já morei na Polónia, no Brasil, na República Checa e agora é a Suécia que me acolhe.
O meu blogue, tal como o meu cérebro, é uma mistura de línguas. Bem vindos!

Born and raised Portuguese. I have lived in Poland, Brazil, Czech Republic and now I'm in the beautiful Sweden.
My blog, just like my brain, is a blend of languages. Welcome!

quinta-feira, 26 de maio de 2016

Dreams in the cookie jar #10

Samba!

When I'm worried/annoyed/irritated with something and I just don't want to think about it anymore I listen to (and if possible dance to) samba music. Samba is a very happy type of music and it never fails to make me feel better. Let's say I like "to samba" my problems away... 

Here is one of my favourite samba songs (it's about the discovery of Brasil in 1500).
Now, make some space in the living room, turn up the volume and samba away with me!


quarta-feira, 25 de maio de 2016

Learning Swedish #4

There are about 15 students in my Swedish language class. There are people from all over the world. People so different from one another, united by the one goal of learning the language of the country where we all live now. As it is a class for beginners, the teacher speaks Swedish and English during classes. That's still not enough because some of my colleagues don't speak either. Most of those who do not speak English can understand a little bit of Swedish, but I have always wondered how much they actually understand in each class. Obviously, funny situations and misunderstandings often occur. Here goes one that happened today.

We were learning about food. The teacher explained that the Swedish word for vegetables, grönsaker, literally means "green things". We all said vegetables we knew in Swedish and the teacher made a list on the board. When the list where fairly big, one of the students that had been quiet so far, happily suggested... Pesto!

Fair enough... it is something green!

Image from the internet

Na minha aula de sueco somos cerca de 15 alunos. Há pessoas de todo o mundo. Cada um diferente do outro, mas todos unidos por este objectivo comum de aprender a lingua do país que agora nos acolhe. Como a aula é para iniciantes o professor fala sueco e inglês durante as aulas. Ainda assim, não é o suficiente porque há alunos que não falam nenhuma das duas. A maioria dos que não fala inglês já fala um pouco mais de sueco, mas sempre me perguntei o quanto das aulas é que perceberiam. Claro que com esta combinação acontecem frequentemente mal entendidos e situações engraçadas. Como a de hoje que vou contar.

Estavamos a aprender palavras novas relacionas com comida. O professor explica que a palavra sueca para vegetais, grönsaker, significa "coisas verdes" em tradução literal. Fomos dizendo vegetais que conhecíamos em sueco e o professor fez uma lista no quadro. Quando a lista já ia bem grande um dos estudantes, calado até então, exclama alegremente... Pesto!

É justo... é uma coisa verde!

Göteborgs Varvet - Review

Göteborgs Varvet is the biggest half marathon in the world. In 2016, 64 000 people registered and over 49 000 finished the race. Although, don't get intimidated, because the race is very well organised and the race flows nicely. Göteborgs Varvet is also a great event for the city of Göteborg and more than 200 000 people get on the streets to watch and support the runners. In overall it is a great experience, weather you are there to run it or watch it. 


Positive
Expo - Large and organised. It has many shops with a little bit of everything for running. 
Toilets - I don't know how many toilets there were this time, but I was only in the queue for about 10 minutes before my start. The toilets were relatively clean, had toilet paper and alcohol gel to clean your hands.
Landscape - The start is in Slottsskogen park, a lovely green place with lots of space for the runners, friends and family. The course is beautiful crossing the river twice, running along it, going inside the city center through the main avenue and finishing off in Slottsskogsvallen, an athletics stadium. There's nothing more cool than to finish inside a stadium with the stands full of people cheering. 
Start groups - There were about 35 start groups, the first starting at 13h and the last at 16h. They are all organised by the estimated time of each runner. If one can prove the time by showing a certificate from a previous race (not older than a year) one gets seeded accordingly. If not, one can run a 10 Km seeding race (there are many in different cities in Sweden) and also get seeded accordingly. Both will be seeded first. Those who can't prove their time will get seeded by the estimated time typed when registering, and since that is less accurate, they get seeded to start groups after the runners who presented proof their times. Truth is... for a race with so many people it flows quite well. I have been to races much smaller and way more crowded.
Water - There were 10 water stations in 21 Km! Half of them had sports drinks as well. Each station was quite long and it was always easy to get a cup.
Showers - There were showers during the course and that felt sooooo good!
People - There are people everywhere!!! Cheering, supporting, offering beer or champagne, holding funny signs and having fun. People have fun, runners have fun!
Finish - After the finish there's plenty of water and energy drinks. Finishers also get a banana and a chocolate.
Bag deposit - I didn't use it but I know it existed. 


Negative
Course - The landscape is nice but it is a tough course... There are two or three bigger hills, one of them around 15 Km, which is tough. Those you know about it before. What you don't expect is that tiny little-but-long-like-hell-hill in the main avenue, around 17 Km, to kill you the way it does. I have walked the bloody thing dozens of times by now and it is not even a proper hill, but when your legs are dying it feels like mount Everest. This doesn't necessary have to be a negative, so be aware and turn it into a positive!
Price - It's an expensive race, there's no way around it. The start kit doesn't even include a t-shirt, but we are in Sweden, and things are expensive.
Stairs - Who the hell invented the super steep stairs for the runners to go up and down after the finish line??? One gets to the goal, gets a medal, drinks and snacks and then to go out of the runners area has to necessarily go through a set of stairs. It is so incredibly painful! If there's no other way could the stairs at least be less high and steep?


terça-feira, 24 de maio de 2016

Göteborg Varvet 2016

Last Saturday, me and the two usual boys ran the biggest half marathon in the world, here in Göteborg. We waited for it for months and I have trained for it intensively. It was the first time I completed the training I wanted without any injuries or sickness in between. On top of that, two weeks ago I made a test run and did 22 Km in an awesome time beating my personal best by more than 4 minutes. I felt great and as ready as I would ever be. That turned out to be a mistake...

No Sábado passado eu e os rapazes do costume corremos a maior meia maratona do mundo, aqui em Gotemburgo. Esperamos meses por este dia e eu treinei intensivamente. Foi a primeira vez que fiz um programa de treino sem me lesionar e sem ficar doente a meio. Além disso, há duas semanas fiz uma corrida de teste e corri 22 Km num tempo fantástico (para mim), batendo o meu record pessoal por mais de 4 minutos. Senti-me confiante e preparada para esta corrida. Isso foi um erro...

The LyckaTill team

On one hand, I was over confident about my ability to set a new record in an official race. On the other hand I felt under pressure, by myself only, of course. Silly, I know. Truth is I made the number one mistake in this race: I ran too fast in the beginning. Afterwards, I hit the wall hard and I had to walk parts of the course. I barely remember the last 5 Km as if I was in another dimension then. I got to the goal exhausted. The race itself was not as fun as it could have been, but the atmosphere around it was still great. The boys did well regarding their condition (unfit and/or injured). The supporting team had a lot of fun with us, witnessing our nerves, stress and excitation all together before the race and our funny walks afterwards. My time was not even that bad, especially for someone who walked for more than 1 km during the course. 

Por um lado estava super confiante que ia conseguir um novo record numa corrida oficial. Por outro lado sentia pressão, vinda de mim mesma claro. Parvo, eu sei. A verdade é que isso me levou a cometer o erro numero um de corrida: começar demasiado rápido. Depois bati no muro, fiquei sem energia nenhuma e tive que andar. Quase não me lembro dos últimos 5 Km, como se os tivesse feito numa outra dimensão. Cortei a meta completamente exausta. A corrida em si não foi tão boa quanto poderia ter sido, mas o ambiente em volta foi fantástico. Os rapazes portaram-se bem mediante as condições (pouco preparados e/ou lesionados). A equipa de suporte fartou-se de rir com a mistura de stress, nervos e excitação que nós tínhamos antes da corrida e depois com os nossos andares engraçados. O meu tempo nem sequer foi assim tão mau, especialmente para quem andou mais de 1 Km.

In long distance races I always cross the goal wearing a flag of Portugal.
Em corridas longas cruzo sempre a meta com a minha bandeira de Portugal.

To make my day more fun, on the way to the car just after the race, I oversaw a concrete block on the side walk, hit my knees hard on it and flipped over. I only noticed when I was on the floor. It was not too bad and I laughed at myself a lot. In 24h my knees got swollen and blue and that was definitely less funny.
On Sunday evening, I started feeling sick. I spent Monday laying down and taking pain killers. Today, Tuesday, after sleeping a lot I'm almost well. I guess I did exhaust my body to the limit. Running does not have to be like this. Running is not about pain and exhaustion. I know that. I just have to learn how to control my euphoria a little bit better and manage my energy in a more even way. 

Lesson learned! 

Para tornar o meu dia mais engraçado dei um tombo a caminho do carro, logo depois da corrida. Não vi um bloco de cimento no passeio, bati lá com os joelhos à bruta e virei-me. Só dei conta quando já estava no chão. Não foi muito mau e ri-me tanto que nem me conseguia levantar. Em 24h tinha os joelhos inchados e azuis, o que foi definitivamente menos engraçado.
No Domingo à noite comecei a ficar adoentada. Passei a segunda feira deitada e a tomar comprimidos para as dores. Hoje, terça. depois de ter dormido muito já estou quase boa. Acho que puxei mesmo o meu corpo até ao limite da exaustão. Correr não é isto. Correr não é dor e exaustão. Eu sei isso. Só tenho que aprender a controlar melhor a minha excitação e a gerir melhor as minhas energias. 

Aprendi a lição!
Göteborg, May 2016, 1h56m20s

Now, I'll just go back to training because there's more to come!
Agora vou voltar aos treinos, porque há mais para corer.


PS. I'll make a review of the race in the next post. If you are not as crazy about running as I am, feel free to skip it. Other posts will follow shortly :)

quinta-feira, 19 de maio de 2016

More than running

One of the worst things you can tell a runner is "why do you go to all these races? You never win anyway!".

Running is more than going to races, therefore amateur runners run to beat themselves and not other runners. Otherwise it would be like inviting Gordon Ramsey over for dinner and expect to cook better than him. 
Running is so much more than the 2h I run during a race.
Running is the excitement of beginning a new training plan.
Running is slowly improving over the weeks and feel good about ourselves.
Running is the awesome feeling that comes after finishing a run that we almost skipped because the weather was bad.
Running is also about the days you just couldn't make it.
Running is eagerly wait for your favourite race since the day you register for it, months before it happens.
Running is the butterflies in you feel in your belly the week before the oh long awaited race day.
Running is also about picking up your start number and feel all the excitation in the air.
Running is about guessing or predicting your time, knowing that no matter what... it's ok.
Running is so much about the meal you eat after the race. And that extra piece of chocolate you know you deserve.
Running is about the rest allowed after a race, weather you did well or not. 
Until you start it all over again.

You see now? I do win every race!

quarta-feira, 18 de maio de 2016

Dreams in the cookie jar #9

I dream of a world who belongs more to the people who do it better, and less to the people who brag about it better.

Image from the internet

terça-feira, 17 de maio de 2016

Sara Jump - Marstrand

Sweden, the country where in your bag for the day you pack both sunblock and warm gloves! And of course, the spring hat (as described by a fellow blogger)!

Suécia, o país onde na mochila para o fim de semana se coloca protetor solar e luvas quentinhas! E claro o gorro de primavera (como descrito por uma colega blogueira)!

Marstrand, Sweden, April 2016

segunda-feira, 16 de maio de 2016

Marstrand - Around the island trail


The hike around Marstrand takes about 2h, pausing for a loooot of pictures and to enjoy the view. The trail goes through different kinds of terrains, such as rock, narrow paths and soil, but always with an amazing view. Here is our summary of the trek.

A caminhada em volta de Marstrand demora cerca de 2h, com pausas para muitaaaas fotos e para apreciar a vista. O trilho passa por vários tipos de terrenos, como rocha, caminhos estreitos e terra batida, mas sempre com uma vista espectacular. Aqui fica o nosso sumário.





The eye of the needle, a narrow passage between two cliffs.
O olho da agulha, uma passagem estreita entre duas rochas.











The photographer enjoying a deserved break!
O fotografo a aproveitar um descanso merecido!

domingo, 15 de maio de 2016

Marstrand - Sweden


Marstrand is an island on the west coast of Sweden, not too far from Gothenburg. We went there over the day, when I still had my free card for public transportation in the whole region, using 2 buses and the shortest ferry ever (less than 5 minutes). Marstrand is hugely popular in the warm season but in the middle of April it was not crowded yet, although it was a beautiful sunny day. The core of the island is a park that is at a higher altitude with a castle sitting on top. There are several trails connecting the castle to the shore on different sides of the island and a bigger trail surrounding the island itself.

Marstrand é uma ilha na costa oeste da Suécia, não muito longe de Gotemburgo. Nós fomos lá passar um dia quando eu ainda tinha o meu cartão de transportes públicos gratuito para a região inteira, usando 2 autocarros e o ferry mais rápido de sempre (menos de 5 minutos). Marstrand é muito popular na época mais quente mas no meio de Abril ainda não tinha muita gente, mesmo estando um dia de sol lindo. O coração da ilha é um parque que fica mais alto, com um castelo no topo. Há vários trilhos pela ilha que ligam o castelo à beira mar e um trilho maior que rodeia a ilha toda à beira mar.









Castle Carlsten




View over Marstrand / Vista sobre Marstrand

In 1719, during the Great Northen war, the Danish-Norwegian naval army invaded the island and some of the locals hid in St. Erik's cave. At the entrance of the cave there's a big stone, called the Pulpit (picture below on the left), then used by a priest to give people some comforting words. The small waterfall in the picture to the right is the sacrificial spring, that was believed to have miraculous waters and where people could pay punishment by donating something valuable to it.

Em 1719, durante a grande Guerra do Norte, o exército naval Dinamarquês-Norueguês invadiu a ilha e alguns locais esconderam-se na cave de St. Erik. À entrada da cave há uma pedra grande, conhecida como o Púlpito (foto em baixo à esquerda), de onde um padre proferiu palavras reconfortantes às pessoas. A pequena cascata da foto à direita é conhecida como a cascata sacrificial, à qual se atribuíam águas sagradas e onde as pessoas podiam cumprir pequenos castigos ao doar algum de valor.


St. Erik's cave

Arfvidsson's Bed Chamber, where according to the story a woman gave birth.
Arfvidsson's Bed Chamber onde reza a história que uma mulher deu à luz.


The Lilly pond


A forest of short trees / Uma floresta de árvores miniatura

Sacrificial stone - the hole in the middle was probably made so blood could flow away.
Pedra de sacrifícios - o rego no meio foi provavelmente feito para que sangue pudesse escorrer.




Södra Strandverket


I hope you enjoyed Marstrand and I will show you more pictures soon, from the hike we did around the island. Johan managed some really cool shots!

Espero que tenham gostado de Marstrand e em breve vou mostrar-vos mais algumas fotos da caminhada que fizemos em volta da ilha toda. O Johan conseguiu imagens muito fixes!