Sports
Dr. Álvaro Razuk: The Perfect Marathon, Vascular Medicine, and Formula 1
Discover the journey of the vascular surgeon who ran 19 marathons and launched a comprehensive guide for athletes.
On Stemma Sports, Dr. Álvaro Razuk shares his passion for running, from his first marathon at Disney to completing the Six Majors. He details his career as a vascular surgeon, his role on the Formula 1 medical team, and the creation of the book "The Quest for the Perfect Run," a collaborative guide to optimize running performance.
On the Stemma Sports podcast, hosts Fábio Bessa and Thiago Calamura welcomed Dr. Álvaro Razuk, a vascular surgeon with an inspiring history of completing 19 marathons, including the Six Majors. Dr. Razuk, who just launched his book "The Quest for the Perfect Run," shared details of his journey in sports, his work in medicine, and his experience as part of the Formula 1 medical team. The episode delved into the intersection of high sports performance and medical expertise, offering valuable insights for athletes and running enthusiasts.
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The Journey of a Marathoner by Passion
Dr. Álvaro Razuk's running journey began out of necessity. During work trips, without access to pools or bikes, his wife encouraged him to run. The beginning was challenging, with a painful 3 km and knee pain due to a short patellar tendon. However, his love for running grew, culminating in the Disney Half Marathon, a turning point. The experience of seeing his daughters and wife at the finish line of the 2016 Disney Marathon (his first marathon) was so significant that it motivated him to take the sport seriously.
After this race, he joined the MPR (Marcos Paulo Reis) consultancy, where he thoroughly learned about the Six Majors universe. His second marathon was Chicago, followed by London in 2017 and 2018 (achieved through a charity entry and a medical congress), Boston in 2022 (where he earned his Majors medal), and Tokyo, which he considers one of his "perfect runs" due to family presence and impeccable organization. Dr. Razuk emphasizes that each marathon is a unique experience of self-discovery, teaching how to pace energy and overcome limits. He highlights discipline and belief in the training process, comparing it to the Six Sigma methodology, in which he is a Black Belt.
From Vascular Medicine to the Adrenaline of Formula 1
As a vascular surgeon, trained at the Federal University of Goiás and with residency at Santa Casa de São Paulo, Dr. Álvaro Razuk specialized in trauma and aortic surgeries. His expertise led him to a pioneering area in Brazil: endovascular surgery using catheters, traveling throughout the country to train other professionals.
Furthermore, for three years, Dr. Razuk was part of the medical team for the Brazilian Formula 1 Grand Prix, working alongside Dino Altmann. His role was crucial in preparing the team for emergency care, with intense focus on pilot extraction training and cockpit simulations. He recounts the experience of training in Max Verstappen's car in 2023, demonstrating the precision and synchronization required to act within seconds in case of an accident.
In his clinic, in addition to aortic and varicose vein surgeries, Dr. Razuk treats many athletes with venous thrombosis, especially after long journeys. A rare condition that has been increasing among cyclists is iliac endofibrosis. Caused by repetitive axial pedaling movements, this disease leads to stretching and scarring of the external iliac artery, resulting in stenosis and loss of power. Diagnosis is challenging, often mistaken for orthopedic or neurological problems, but Dr. Razuk is one of the few specialists with extensive experience in its treatment, having operated on 16 cases, including high-level athletes like Tour de France champion, Pauline.
"The Quest for the Perfect Run": A Guide for Athletes
The idea for the book "The Quest for the Perfect Run" emerged from Dr. Álvaro Razuk's desire to share the scientific knowledge he had accumulated about running, nutrition, and performance. Dissatisfied with the lack of accessible information for the general public, he decided to compile the expertise of renowned professionals in a more fluid format. In partnership with journalist Harry, the book was constructed from casual interviews, like a coffee chat among friends, with big names in running and sports medicine.
The work features prominent co-authors such as Marcos Paulo Reis (who discusses marathon motivation), Carla di Piero (running psychology), Emerson Gomes (training professional and amateur runners), Ademir Paulino (on Kenya and Ethiopia), Paulo Puccinelli (VO2 max and the science of interval training), and biomechanics and physical therapy specialists like Rodrigo Iglesias and Isa Rossi. Fábio Bessa himself contributed a chapter. The book, although scientifically grounded with the latest updates in each area, was designed to be a pleasurable read, without the density of an academic work.
Lessons in Longevity, Resilience, and Self-Knowledge
For Dr. Álvaro Razuk, longevity in running and the pursuit of perfect performance are built upon several fundamental pillars. The most important of these is to listen to experts and believe in the process. He himself sought the help of professionals like physical therapist Fábio Bessa to prevent injuries, emphasizing the importance of learning to run correctly. Running is a mirror of life, teaching resilience, the importance of getting back up after falls, and the need for self-knowledge to manage effort and plan next steps. The phrase "Just a gel, right? And go!" summarizes the mindset of perseverance.
The episode also mentioned support from partners like Z2 Performance (supplements, notably gels, salts, and the Recover Mix), Oakley (sunglasses for protection and style, such as the RSLV 41 and Sphere Strike), and Ticket Sports (a platform for registrations and data analysis in the running world). These products and services complement the athlete's journey, offering support for training, recovery, and planning.
Dr. Álvaro Razuk's story is a testament to how passion, combined with knowledge and discipline, can lead to extraordinary achievements in both professional career and sports. His trajectory and his book inspire the continuous pursuit of improvement, recognizing that the "perfect run" is, in fact, a journey of constant learning and overcoming challenges.
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