Sports
Rio Marathon: Love, Growth, and Challenges for Yann and Lu
Yann Rodrigues and Lu Amaral share their journey, the evolution of the Rio Marathon, and their personal challenges.
Running power couple Yann Rodrigues and Lu Amaral share their five-year history with the Rio Marathon, a stage for significant life moments. They detail the race's impressive growth and their expectations for the current edition. Yann aims to complete the 42k in 'sub 3' hours, while Lu targets a new personal best in the 21k.
Stemma Sports hosted Yann Rodrigues and Lu Amaral for an inspiring conversation about the Rio Marathon, a race that has become part of the couple's history. In their fifth year participating in the event, they have witnessed firsthand the evolution and impact of the race, which has served as a backdrop for significant personal and athletic milestones in their lives.
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Rio Marathon: More Than a Race, A Love Story
For Yann Rodrigues and Lu Amaral, the Rio Marathon transcends the physical challenge. The event is a stage for unforgettable moments intertwined with their journey as a couple. It was during the 2022 edition that Yann asked Lu to be his girlfriend, and last year, the engagement proposal happened right there. With good humor, Yann expresses the desire for next year to bring a "child" into the story, perhaps with a gender reveal at the finish line. This emotional connection reinforces the race's importance to the couple.
Exponential Growth and Personal Challenges
The couple highlights the remarkable growth of the Rio Marathon, not only in the number of participants — which reached 70,000 registered entries for the event — but also in quality and structure, driven by partners such as Adidas. Yann emphasizes the importance of seeing the race gain increasing prominence on both national and international stages.
For this edition, their objectives are clear: Yann Rodrigues is preparing for the 42k, leading a "sub 3-hour pace group" with 60 athletes from Bora Juntos. Meanwhile, Lu Amaral will tackle the 21k, aiming for a PB (personal best), even after having run another marathon just two weeks prior. Lu's quick recovery and determination exemplify a focus on high performance.
Yann also shared his experience at the Boston Marathon, which, despite being emotionally and physically challenging due to a hamstring injury, proved to be a great lesson in mental resilience. He hit the wall at 32km but managed to finish in 2:58, a time above his expectation (2:46), but one that required immense willpower.
The Unique Experience of Running in Rio
Running in Rio de Janeiro, with iconic landscapes like the Christ the Redeemer and Corcovado, offers a unique experience. Lu Amaral confesses that, although highly focused on her performance, the energy of the crowd and the beauty of the sunrise are impossible to ignore and provide an extra boost, especially after 17km when fatigue starts to set in. Yann Rodrigues, on the other hand, adopts a strategy of enjoying the scenery during the first 5km and 10km, then fully focusing on pace and strength for the 21km and 42km segments.
May the energy of Rio inspire the couple to achieve their goals. Good luck to Yann Rodrigues and Lu Amaral in the race, and may the finish line be filled with new achievements and, perhaps, another memorable chapter in their shared story.
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