Fabiano, A Journey to TDS
“I know that the first 1km non stop running is hard, but keep at it and in no time, you can be at TDS, UTMB
“Do you know what you’re doing? Do you have all your sh💩t?”
I was less than impressed the first time I met Fabiano. It was the 2nd year of the Mega Munter. The toughest 48km in the Wellington Region. The compulsory gear checks were done, I had done the briefing, and we were about to carpool down to the coast.
Then this dude just appears,
“Is it too late for the Mega Munter”
… if I wasn’t stressed enough being responsible for a race for only the 2nd time, here was this guy who couldn’t even turn up on time!
That day, the Mega Munter won. Fabiano narrowly missed the river cut-off but still completed the 32km standard course.
I arrogantly thought that would be the last I would see of him. The Mega Munter had defeated him. But Fabiano is relentless. This was just another day of learning for him. I’ve enjoyed following along his journey since, and he never ceases to surprise me.
Today, he’s a software developer for Weta Digital, which is an amazing against-the-odds story in itself. You see, Fabiano is from Brazil. He was born into a situation that doesn’t produce software engineers.
“I was born into a crazy world. My parents were criminals. Fortunately, my Grandparents raised me. When my Mum and 2 siblings went to prison, my Grandfather decided enough was enough. It took everything he had to get me to NZ.”
Fabiano now had a new home, but the darkness never truly left. He slipped into a world of depression and dependence on alcohol. His family couldn’t cope any longer. He got the boot. Packing up his daughter’s toy box sent him into a spiral, ending in a suicide attempt.
Fortunately, that’s not where this story ends. At a fork in the road, Fabiano turned left for glory. Like many people, the 2020 lockdowns were difficult. Fabs started to run. He had many mentors and coaches who saw something deep inside him that he couldn’t yet see (Thomas Russel, Adrian Owen and Jill Lister Martin, Swan de Avio & Myra Moller).
The first challenge for Fabiano? Training for the 2021 Kapiti Half Marathon. 10 months to take his overweight, alcoholic body into a cocoon and come out the other side as “A Runner”
Look at these before-and-afters. If someone ever tells you that running is bad for you, show them this.
Before
After
The goal? Finish under 2 hours. He didn’t just scrape through; he smashed it! He finished in 1:55.
His confidence was now through the roof, and he felt invincible. He had a new partner supporting him. What could he not do? Scrolling through Facebook in post-event bliss, a little event popped up: “The Valley Ultra,” just three weeks away. Feeling like he was the Jesus statue in Rio, back in Brazil, he signed up.
"How many Ultras have you done?"
"I did a half marathon 3 weeks ago."
“…. … oh ok”
Most of those around him were surprised and concerned. But Charles Navarro wasn’t. Charles showed Fabs a video of UTMB.
“What is this magic? How can such a thing exist?”
He was now transfixed. I must do this. I need to get to Chamonix.
This triggered a shift in Fabs’ life. All things must lead to Chamonix.
Part of that journey has been becoming a Tailwind ambassador. They’ve supported him in his transformation along with the support of good friends who are also part of the cult.
Talking to Fabiano, it’s clear that it’s not just ticking off the challenges of races that are important. It’s who he has become through this process. He’s a changed man in every sense of the word. He was destined to become a statistic, but now he’s pushing to become uncommon amongst the uncommon.
The thing that lights him up the most? His Kids.
“My kids see me as an accomplished athlete. My daughter says, "I want to be a runner like you, Daddy."
“I use this new life to inspire others to get out of whatever dark place they are in. I even got a personal trainer degree and coach people.”
“The greatest high in trail running for me has to be the tribe. I found so many like-minded people who are positive and supportive and want to help and be helped. It's a community of givers. I don't think I have any lows in trail running. Even when I DNF a race, I always take it as a place to learn and reach out.”
“What keeps me going is definitely my kids, my partner and my new found friends, and also the wish to always be better than yesterday, to inspire and help the community.”
So what’s the next challenge for the Flying Fabiano?
‘Sur les Traces de Ducs de Savoie’ AKA TDS at UTMB. You know, just the hardest, most technical course on offer at the UTMB Trail Festival.
But that’s about right. That’s who Fabiano has become. He doesn’t shy away when it gets tough. He doesn’t sign up for a challenge and then takes the easiest option. It’s fair to say that he is pumped about TDS.
“TDS excites me for many reasons. First, it's altitude, 9000 meters vert for 145km, which is an amazing challenge, and I can't wait. Also, the fact I will be in the UTMB week on the first and probably second most difficult event only, I think the PTL takes the cake, it is the most technical of that week's races, and I just can't wait to put my body and mind to the test”
There is no doubt that this will be his hardest challenge to date. The Tarawera Miler will feel like a park run in comparison. But I have faith in him. He’s grinding hard.
“Everything that I am doing is worth it, every sacrifice, every hill repeats hahaha, I see the course every day in my mind. In my dreams, when I eat, I am living it. I’m even going to work with the full compulsory kit”
“Every single free second I have now is for training and my kids. My social life doesn't exist, I don't just want to complete the TDS, but I want to do well. All the races I've done are part of training for it, the way I am choosing events is if has an absurd amount of vert I am in. That is why Revenant, TMR, 3 Peaks, Northburn 100km, and recently Mt Oxford Odyssey had to be on the list; I had quadrupled my efforts, running more and taking more vert this year already than in the first 6 months last year.”
“Next The Faultline Ultra 100 miles distance . I work by always pushing always more, I know I will have a lot of criticism for saying this, but I don't believe in tapering. Our ancestors were always on the move, hunting, foraging, running for food or from becoming food and that is my approach, to conquer or die trying.”
I’m excited to see Fabiano take on TDS. He’s already had an amazing year. You can follow his progress on Strava and Instagram. Mind you, with all that running, he doesn’t have too much time for the gram these days. If his journey has inspired you and you don’t know where to start, he has some advice.
“For anyone starting in this sport my advice is always keep challenging yourself, for some people start walking can be a challenge so go for a walk, just get out there, I was 110 kgs now 69kg, sober, happier, resilient.”
“I know that the first 1km non stop running is hard, but keep at it and in no time, you can be at TDS, UTMB and listening the proud words from your children "I want to be a runner like you Daddy"
Since writing this, Fabiano went on to crush the Faultline 100-mile race, finishing in a time of 30:54:12. This is faster than his two previous Tarawera times on what many would say is a tougher course. All things are looking good for TDS.
I’m excited to see Fabiano race at TDS this coming UTMB Festival. With a lot of hard work and a little luck … we might just see the flying Brazilian sprint into the finishing chute on trail running’s largest stage!
Fabiano would also like to thank Pure Health & Fitness Gym and Tailwind NZ for supporting his UTMB dream.
Beautiful!