Tião Moreira: The Living Memory of Trail and Running in Brazil

The Contra-Relógio Revolution

Tião Moreira was involved in the creation of Contra-Relógio Magazine from its inception. Officially launched in September 1993, the magazine was an initiative of Tomás Lourenço, a journalist for Folha de São Paulo. The idea arose from the lack of a communication medium dedicated to running at the time. "Tomás wanted to run a sub-3-hour marathon in Blumenau, but the bus missed the start, he ran nervously and finished in 3h06... but he deserved a sub-3," Tião narrates, explaining that Tomás "invented this number" to name the magazine, based on a photo of athletes looking at the clock at the start. Tomás, who also had experience in cycling, named the magazine Contrarrelógio (Counter-Clock), which initially led many to think it was about bicycles.

The magazine was the first to sell subscriptions even before it existed, a feat many considered a "scam." The trust placed in Tião, who was present at all races, was crucial to the success of this endeavor. Contra-Relógio "changed road running," bringing race issues to the forefront and encouraging entry fees so athletes could demand higher quality. Before the digital age, the magazine was the primary medium for runners to check results and times. Tião recalls the challenge of closing an issue in 1998, awaiting the results of the Pão de Açúcar Relay, when Ronaldo da Costa broke the world marathon record in Berlin. The team had to assemble a giant poster with photos of Ronaldo, a Herculean task in the analog era.

São Silvestre Race: Stories and Legends

Tião Moreira shared several remarkable stories from the São Silvestre Race, highlighting the 1990 edition, featuring Artur Barrios, Artur de Castro, Johnny Hermes Pazin, and a young Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima. He also recalled the first daytime São Silvestre Race in 1989 and Emerson Iser Bem's victory in 1997. Iser Bem, a "tough as nails" athlete, led the race up to kilometer 5 or 6 in 1996 and then stopped running, an act he himself didn't understand at the time. The following year, determined to redeem himself, he attacked the strong Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima on Brigadeiro Avenue and, in doing so, overtook then 10,000m world champion Paul Tergat, achieving a memorable victory.

Another notable story is that of Jurilda Sabino, the "Black Cinderella," who at 13 years old and barefoot, led the 1993 São Silvestre Race on Paulista Avenue, only to be overtaken by the legendary Rosa Mota almost at the finish. Jurilda's performance changed her life, with the government of Mato Grosso donating a complete house to the young woman. Tião also mentioned Angélica de Almeida, a girl from Febem who became a talent, holding to this day the 16-year-old record for the New York Marathon (2h40).

The Pioneers of Brazilian Trail Running

The conversation also delved into the roots of trail running in Brazil. Tião points to the "Volta ao Cristo" (Return to Christ) in Poços de Caldas, started in 1983, as one of the first "modern" mountain races, with a predominantly dirt course. He ran the first three editions. The "return" of mountain races, according to him, happened in 2004 with Fábio Galvão in Paranapiacaba. "From that race onwards, mountain races started to appear," he said, recalling that Fábio Galvão, who remains active today, was one of the great pioneers of the segment.

The 1990 mountain championship in Rio de Janeiro, which already offered prize money, shows that trail running is not such a recent phenomenon. Road runners, like Tião himself, often migrated to the trails. Names like Naval, Luzia, Cris Carvalho, Shubi Guimarães, Fernanda Maciel, and organizers like Gustavo (King of the Mountain in Mogi) and Juan and Diego Zarba (K42/K21) are cited as important in the evolution of trail running, many of them coming from adventure races or road races.

A curious fact is the origin of the nickname "King of the Mountain" for Zé Virgínio. During the São Paulo-Rio race (600 km over three days), a Nike competition in 2009, Zé Virgínio won a specific award for the "King of the Mountain" on the climb of Boiçucanga, which he won, and the nickname stuck.

Living Memories and Lasting Lessons

Tião Moreira concluded the conversation with the moving story of Gabi Bender, a young runner who, upon receiving two printed photos from her first marathon in Porto Alegre, cried with emotion at having a physical record in an era dominated by digital. This experience, combined with his encounter with Eliud Kipchoge, the "Pelé of marathons," reinforces the passion and meaning of his work. For Tião, being a photographer who documents running is "a good experience, a construction" and "some things are priceless." His journey, from selling photos at neighborhood races to covering the world's largest marathons, is a testament to the dedication and authenticity that made him a true "living library" of the sport.

Finally, Sidney Togumi thanked Tião for sharing his story, recognizing him as an inspiration and a guardian of the memory of trail and running in Brazil. He emphasized the importance of valuing these pioneers who "blazed the trail" for current generations.