3 days OFF

3 days off, 5 min floating on the mediteranean sea, eat some tapas and drink a beer in the evening, run some nice orienteering races, walk throught Barcelona without any rush, sleep siesta and just enjoy being resting were magic to recharge (a part of) my batteries.

Sprint map

About my orienteering it was quite funny on the beggining of the race, because on the way to the first control my map flow away from my hands and I had to run to catch it and then be back on my race.I did some stupid mistakes and my speed wasnt the best for a sprint race at all. But for a vacation competition I'm satisfied :)

Now unfortunately I'm back to the hospital, to the library, to the book... and keep holding this flow till november...

M&M - maps and mistakes

After so many weeks saying I was going to post the last competitions maps, I'm finally doing it ;)! Here are maps from absolut national championship (1), long distance national championship (2) and relay national championship (3).
I succeed very well as I won all these races, but after deep analysis (you can check it on my route choices and mistakes) I'm sure my biggest problem in not concerning with my running skills...for sure 70% it's because of my (so very)weak orienteering technique. During these 3 races, overall I lost about 20'22'' (!!!) and I managed to win all....so, for sure my legs were the one which worked well (not my brains :( There's a lot to analyse and think about (BIG???) changes when planning 2011 season.

sweet candies in the mountains ;)

Give Good

I spent last week between the mountains of the north of Portugal, doing my internship in comunity health. I think the image above explain one of the most important things I've been learning here... It's been great to be working here as my tutor allows me to do consultations by my own. People here are kind and the village is surrounded my great mountains, forests and small rivers. It smells nature:)
There's still one week left here in the mountains and then it will be time to take 3 days off :) I'll try to post the maps of last competitions and tell you more about the time spent here ;) see u.....

celebrating ;)

little gift to my super heroes ;)

[sooner I'll post maps]

Time to celebrate :)

Definitely I have a bunch of good thinks to be happy. During tha last two weeks many things happened...competitions, work, studying, end of my master teses, training... and between all, mixed with a big dosage of stress, I could manage it quite well.

First of all we had absolut national championship in Sesimbra. This is one of the most (maybe the most) competitive race we have in Portugal! After bad feelings during qualification, I could manage to refocus and performed good enough to be first :) In fact portuguese junior girls have their batteries on their top and they ran so great on this race! Also, it was held the universitary championship at the same time, which I get the gold medal too :)

Of course that after one weekend out of the library, it means twice of work during the week. These next two weeks passed on a rush and when I realize it was 4th june (last friday) and I was defending my master teses, on the Aula Magna of my faculty. I'm happy with my performance here too as I get 18 on 20 maximum possible. It was awesome feeling!

And to finish as best as possible, yesterday I managed to get the gold medal on long distance national championship, on such a technicaly and physicaly demanding terrain - whinch in fact I love. I must say I was a bit afraid of this race...I was tired but mainly it was so hard to change my concentration from my master teses to orienteering. It was kind a shock to my brain :)

But definitely the gold on today's relay was what tasted better :) We weren't the favourite team to win but my team mates run so very well that my job (as the third to start) was the easiest - I just ran a normal race till the end and celebrate it this talanted girls :):). I want to thank them so very much for this victory - it was my first ever victory on a relay during portuguese champs. Susana, still junior, and very young in orienteering -her calm, passion and total focus were incredible when she passed the spectators control as the first senior. And then Isabel, already veteran, managed the first place with such a confidence and great experience that my job was nothing compared to their. They were great! Thank you girls ;)

sooooooo......after this 2 weeks I think is time to celebrate :)

Crossing the finish line

If you would come to Porto during this week you would see students wearing very strange clothes everywhere and so many festivities at every corner. We are having «Queima das Fitas»!!!

It celebrates the end of graduation courses, symbolized by the ritual burning of the ribbons representing each faculty of the University of Porto (UP). It lasts for 8 days, one for each UP's Faculty: Letters, Law, Medicine, Sciences & Technology, Pharmacy, Economics, Psychology & Education Sciences and Sports Sciences & Physical Education. During this period, a series of concerts and performances are held, turning Porto in a lively and vibrant city. It also includes a parade of the university students, sport activities, gala ball, and many other public events and traditions, such as the historical nighttime student fado serenade (Serenata Monumental).
The Ribbon Burning festivities are the big yearly celebration for the students and townspeople as well. The festivities run for a full week with the traditional nighttime fado serenade in the square in front of the Tower of Clérigos. The square is packed with students in their black capes (looking like Harry Poters :) and according to the ritual, studies are forgotten for a week of joy and all-night revelry.

The high point of the festivities is the Cortejo, a parade with dozens of elaborately decorated floats, each in the color of their respective faculties, carrying placards with ironic criticisms alluding to certain teachers, the educational system, national events and leaders. The parade is made up of thousands of "newly liberated" students set apart by their top hats and walking sticks.

In the end we're tired, but happy ;)

So... finish line is over here... But a career and much more than a job are coming!
Thanks to those who have been walking with me along this 6 years!:)