Augustinos Paschalidis is an inspiring man, capable of running the marathon of his life in an ethical and beautiful way. How sport aesthetics apply in running?
It seems that people’s meaning-making in sport is closely related to whether people have satisfying experiences of the sporting activity, in relation to their life situations as a whole. What’s your story?
My essential contact with sports started in 2016; till then I occasionally flirted with sports, but without any substantial involvement. Running and especially the marathon is due to the essential bond I have developed with sports.
Before that milestone, I lived a totally different life, including couch habits, the dull style and the unhealthy diet. My weight did not allow me to enjoy simple everyday things; I could hardly breathe when having a walk; climbing a ladder was a torment; my sleep was unstable, my shopping for clothes was a real torment. So, I couldn’t enjoy the small things that make life pretty.
So at some point, I changed my mind and I decided to stop bad habits, poor nutrition and unhealthy life. Additionally, I decided to welcome a balanced life, careful diet and sports! Since then, I really live a different life thanks to sports and a healthy lifestyle.
Sport aesthetics are mostly lived through the senses of the body, but are unique per person. How you, as a marathon runner, are experiencing the world aesthetically, as part of your participation in running?
Every participation in a marathon is a unique experience; this is because you are in a different position, with different conditions, expectations and goals. The beginning of each race is determined by the end of a long period of preparation; but also it is the starting point of ” let’s have fun now”! Every step of the 40,000 steps you take brings you closer to the goal; the atonement; the purification if you like, as it is in Greek ancient drama!
Although you run on your own, it’s actually an aesthetically social experience; you give and take a warm hug before and after a race, or after a hard workout; additionally friends-supporters wait at the end of a race to applaud you and to take photos of that unique moment; others send their positive thoughts with messages just before your race or try to make you laugh and relax; you hear acquaintances and strangers applauding you during the race and giving you courage during the race; or the volunteers support you with a smile on their face, trying to give you the necessary strength to continue the race. All these compose a unique setting that few things in the world can offer you!
From the aesthetic benefits to the mental perks, there are reasons why so many people are addicted to hitting the pavement. What are your reasons?
Running helps us become better and more complete people. Someone will ask how this is possible; as we try to achieve difficult things, we are constantly discovering new aspects of ourselves and the world as a whole. We find ourselves “digging” in our hearts and souls. At the same time, we meet interesting people and we realize how much we need each other to move forward.
Additionally, we feel strong and able to face all kinds of challenges and obstacles. We are happy and full of energy. We learn to make comparisons between our own situations and not between ourselves and others.
The body affects the spirit and vice versa. The opinion of the ancient Greeks “a healthy mind for a healthy body” is not by accidence. Having experienced two totally different situations in terms of my physical condition, I believe that mood and energy have nothing to do between these two conditions.
Body image refers to “a person’s feelings about the aesthetics and attractiveness of his or her own body”, based on Wikipedia definition. How do you perceive your body image?
My view of body aesthetics is a balanced and non-extreme distribution of body mass. I neither like the bony body not if it is it too bulky. The ideal for me is the fit and muscular body without excessive extremes, which – in my opinion – spoils aesthetics.
I cannot hide the difference in psychological state, self-esteem and confidence I earned when I saw my body changes towards an aesthetically beautiful and shapely form, due to diet and exercising. That also helped me to achieve goals that initially seemed impossible!
What are your future plans?
I never want to stop running! Lately, I have slightly reduced the volume of training due to obligations. I definitely miss the “routine” of daily road training and the pursuit of a better performance; this, I will definitely be back in the process at some point in future. What I would definitely like to do is inspire people to get involved in running or sports in general and improve their lifestyle; this is a minimum return on the road movement and that it has given me.
By the way, I would like to thank you for hosting me on your blog; it was a beautiful discussion.