Week #Fitspo Singapore. Luigi Castelli

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Name: Luigi Castelli (@luigi_runs)

Age: 45:00

The height. 1.75 m

The weight. 65 kg

Occupation: Sales Manager

Food: A unique combination of ginger, beetroot, carrot and orange, consistent with a predominantly Mediterranean and plant-based diet that emphasizes plant-based proteins over meat consumption.

Exercises. I don’t stick to a specific exercise regimen. Instead, I stay active every day by doing activities like tennis, cycling and maintaining an active lifestyle, such as frequent trips to the supermarket with a bag full of IKEA groceries.

Question. Did you play sports when you were young?

– Yes, I was a sports enthusiast. When I was a teenager, I was involved in all kinds of sports. I dove headfirst into the world of swimming, kicked and went through karate lessons with my family, and you know soccer was practically a religion in my Italian family.

Then there was my wild roller-skating ride through the rink, and I even jumped on a skateboard as a kid. You could say I was a casual sports sampler.

What were you into growing up?

While working in China, I was introduced to the world of badminton, which I loved for its unique combination of speed and technique. It amazed me to see how the older players easily beat the younger ones with a simple flick of the wrist. I have been happily playing badminton for several years even after moving to Singapore.

Over the past few years, when the pandemic limited social gatherings, I gradually gravitated toward running. It offers greater flexibility in terms of choice of location, time and of course distance.

When did you start taking running more seriously?

Up until about three years ago, I was just a regular, casual runner. You know, the kind who used to run a few kilometers just to calm my mind and get some fresh air.

The story continues

But then fate intervened in 2021 when I stumbled upon an article about a British athlete who broke the Guinness World Record for the longest triathlon in Singapore. He set a total of 7,519,670 kilometers, divided according to the triathlon ratio (most kilometers are allocated to cycling, then running and swimming, respectively). Every now and then, this athlete’s feat keeps coming back to my mind. Unbeknownst to me, the seeds of what would become a great personal endeavor were planted.

And so began my epic journey from slow sprinter to long distance runner.

What made you decide to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest triathlon by a man?

I decided I was going to attempt the Guinness World Records (GBWR) for the longest triathlon and started it in mid-June this year with the aim of finishing it within the next year. It is a challenge that requires a strategy, a well-thought-out plan, and most importantly, an iron-willed discipline. Taking on a record like this is like trying to turn the impossible into something that’s just “I’m possible.”

It’s all about overcoming what your mind is telling you and realizing that with a shift in your mindset and determination, even the most epic feats can turn into “You’re crazy!” to “You did it!” To quote Danesh Daryanani in his article about my GBWR journey, ‘My I Can’ is about ‘I can’ and ‘we all can’.

I am also raising money for two charities on this trip.

What were some of the challenges you faced as you began preparing for this experience?

My initial task was to familiarize myself with the three main disciplines of triathlon: cycling, swimming and running. This task was like trying to learn three different skills at the same time, similar to learning three different languages ​​at once. Developing into a well-rounded athlete was no easy feat, as it required conquering unfamiliar territory, and each division presented its own unique set of challenges and risks.

Running thousands of kilometers was very demanding on the knees and leg muscles in general, swimming hundreds of kilometers was as difficult as preparing for an underwater odyssey, especially considering that water conditions are greatly affected by tides, wind and underwater water. currents.

Becoming proficient in cycling requires understanding the basics of racing bikes, including its inherent risks such as pedaling and maneuvering through Singapore’s congested traffic.

Preparation for the challenge took more than three years, with the main goal being to reach a reasonable level of comfort in each discipline while handling the daily demands of long periods of exercise.

When it came to building endurance for the entire triathlon, it seemed like a complex equation to manage that required careful planning and unwavering commitment.

It was a challenge to push my boundaries and embrace the unknown, even as my heart and mind screamed “No,” I challenged myself to face these frightening parts head-on, refusing to succumb to my initial discomfort.

Gradually, with perseverance and determination, I went from being an apprehensive newbie to someone who was somehow comfortable taking on the challenge of triathlon and pushing the envelope.

How did you overcome these challenges?

First, having a plan was crucial. It wasn’t just a random sketch, it was a meticulously detailed road map. I had to strategize every step of the way, from my training routine to nutrition and even recovery. Training was a significant part of the equation. I put in countless hours every day. Discipline was the unimaginable hero of my journey. It was about sticking to my workout routine, even when my inner voice was trying to negotiate an extra hour of sleep.

In those moments, I had to muster my resolve to curb my procrastination tendencies. Once my body was conditioned, it was time to tackle the mind. It was about convincing myself that the victory of crossing that finish line was worth all the sweat, pain and dedication. So, in essence, overcoming these challenges was a multi-pronged approach. It required meticulous planning, relentless training, unwavering discipline, continuous self-motivation and a great deal of mental strength to pull it all together and perform as a triathlete.

You’ve been preparing for this for about three years. How did you know you were ready?

Three years of preparation and the confidence to still be fully prepared is beyond comprehension. You don’t really understand your readiness until you take that first step. It’s about minimizing risks to a manageable level, just like preventing muscle cramps or making sure your bike is in good shape.

You can be reasonably confident that you’re ready to start, but getting to the finish line remains uncertain. That’s what such efforts are all about. the shadow of uncertainty always looms. It’s about having faith in your own readiness. Waiting until you feel 100 percent prepared is a never-ending waiting game, so the key is to sink in and trust your preparation to carry you through.

When you were young, did you encounter situations that made you distrust yourself?

I think it’s safe to say that most of us faced some type of hardship in our youth. What really matters is how we interpret these challenges and use them as opportunities for our personal growth. These experiences act as important life lessons, shaping us into the strong individuals we have become today.

When did you feel the least confident about yourself?

I firmly believe that the focus should be on the effort put in to achieve the goal rather than dwelling on moments of self-doubt. Trust is often a volatile aspect of the human journey, and it’s natural to encounter moments of uncertainty.

However, what really matters is the determination and commitment you put into achieving your goals. It’s not about when we feel least confident, but how we direct our efforts to overcome challenges and achieve our goals with unwavering dedication.

Have you ever struggled with your body?

I have come to accept and accept my body, realizing that it may go through changes at different points in time. Instead of fighting these fluctuations, I have learned to appreciate and love who I am in the present moment. It’s about embracing acceptance and accepting that our worth is not determined by our bodies or weight, but by the content of our character and the love we have for ourselves.

Are you happy with your figure now?

It all comes down to self perception. I strongly believe that when you have a healthy mind, you naturally have a healthy body. I am happy with my body now because I have found a harmonious balance between my physical well-being and my mental state. This triathlon challenge has played a significant role in promoting this balance between my mind and body.

If you could change something about yourself, would you?

I have reached a point in life where I have learned to fully embrace and accept myself for who I am. It’s not about looking for change or change in myself, but about truly living and allowing others to do the same.

This perspective is based on the belief that authenticity is the truest form of self-expression, and is a gift we offer not only to ourselves, but also to the people we meet along our life’s journey. So instead of worrying about potential changes, I choose to focus on living as my most authentic self.