The Long Run: Finding Healing Through Ultra-Marathon Training
A Story of Endurance, Self-Compassion, and the Power of Moving Forward
The trail stretches ahead, disappearing into the mist of Madeira's stunning and rugged mountains. Sixty kilometers. 3,500 meters of climbing. Eleven hours of putting one foot in front of the other. For Asia, this isn't just a race—it's a meditation, a prayer, and sometimes, a place to cry.
Over the past year and a half, I have had the immense fortune to participate in weekly hikes through the magical Sintra hills of Portugal led by a very special and wise human being named Asia. There's a sacred alchemy that happens when women walk together through wild places, their conversations flowing like mountain streams—meandering, deep, and utterly honest. Their words weave between breath and birdsong, unguarded and true. In these precious exchanges with my friend Asia, where the rhythm of our steps on forest floors unlocks the deepest truths, I learned something profound: that the tender work of healing trauma and the fierce grace of ultra-marathon training are twin rivers flowing from the same sacred source—both requiring us to breathe through discomfort, to move with patience through valleys of pain, and to trust that even in our darkest miles, we carry everything we need to reach the light.
The First Steps: When Everything Feels Broken
"Everything seemed to be failing at the time," Asia recalls about her return to running seven years ago. A two-year-old daughter, a crumbling marriage, a brutal return to work after maternity leave. She laced up her shoes not with goals or expectations, but as "a desperation act"—seeking space that was purely her own.
Women carrying the weight of abortion trauma often find themselves in a similar place. The world continues spinning while they're frozen in grief, shame, or confusion. Like Asia reaching for her running shoes, the first step toward healing isn't about having a plan—it's about honoring the instinct that whispers, "I need to move toward something different."
For Asia, that first run wasn't about speed or distance. It was about finding her Self again. About remembering that life could not fail her because she possessed a body that could carry her toward peace.
Learning to Listen: The Body Knows
Ultra-marathon training demands what trauma healing requires: learning to distinguish between the voice of fear and the voice of wisdom. "Usually it starts with the body," Asia explains about those moments when everything screams at her to stop. "There are aches or sensation[s] of being weak, then the mind kicks in—doubt creeps in, suddenly the pains are unbearable."
This is the same territory women navigate when healing from abortion trauma. The body holds memories. The mind creates stories. The spirit searches for meaning. In both ultra-running and healing, the breakthrough comes not from pushing through pain, but from learning to breathe, slow down, and ask: "What do I really need right now?"
Asia's transformation from a "drill sergeant" approach to one of self-compassion mirrors the healing journey perfectly. "For the first two years, applying drill and hard, merciless training led to exhaustion, chronic injuries and body stiffing up," she shares. "I did not enjoy running—I would wait for the last race of the season to happen so I could stop and finally rest."
Sound familiar? How many of us have tried to heal by being harder on ourselves, by pushing through, by treating our tender hearts like they're weak instead of wounded?
Be kind to yourself, talk to yourself, think about yourself the same way you would about your dear friend, someone you love and care for.
The Turning Point: Choosing Curiosity Over Fear
Everything changed for Asia during her first 21-kilometer trail race in September 2022. "This experience was significant as I not only started to believe in my physical abilities but most importantly noticed how powerful the mind and the spirit were."
This is the moment when healing truly begins—when we stop asking "What's wrong with me?" and start asking "What's possible for me?" When we replace the harsh voice of self-criticism with gentle curiosity about our own resilience.
"The real achievement is the mindset switch from 'I don't think I could do it' to 'I want to try and see where it will take me'—fear has been gradually replaced with curiosity," Asia reflects. "With this mindset there is no longer any limit on how far you can run or what you can achieve."
The Solo Work: Finding Your Rhythm
Ultra-marathon training requires thousands of miles of solo practice. Long runs where you learn to manage your energy, test your nutrition, and discover what your body needs to keep moving forward. Similarly, healing trauma requires deep solo work—therapy sessions, journaling, meditation, the quiet work of learning to trust yourself again.
Asia describes her solo runs as sacred time: "Sometimes my run is about gratitude, sometimes is a prayer, sometimes I cry. Almost always though it ends with a sense of relief and joy and a strong feeling of being part of something much greater."
This is what healing looks like too—not a linear progression, but a spiral dance of emotions, insights, and gradual integration. Some days you run with gratitude, some days you walk through tears, and some days you simply put one foot in front of the other because that's all you can do.
The Community: You Don't Have to Go It Alone
And here's a key that Asia learned can transform anything: "You don't need to do it alone, don't be afraid to ask for help. Reach out to groups and communities which can provide you with the support you need. This includes going to a therapy. A stranger's compassion can be very powerful."
While the solo work is essential, healing—like ultra-running—is ultimately a community effort. Asia has found her tribe among fellow trail runners, people who understand that the mountains will test you, that some days you'll want to quit, and that the real victory is in showing up for yourself and others.
Training together creates a different kind of magic. There's accountability without judgment, shared wisdom without comparison, and the profound comfort of knowing you're not the only one who has stood at the starting line wondering if you have what it takes.
An Invitation to the Mountains
For women in the Cascais or Sintra areas of Portugal, Asia extends an invitation that goes beyond just running. She's creating space for women to experience the healing power of movement in nature—whether through stunning hikes or challenging runs through some of Portugal's most beautiful terrain.
"When in nature it's important to activate all your senses—no music, listen to the birds instead," Asia advises. "We underestimate or even ignore the healing properties of nature. Start there."
If you're carrying trauma—from abortion or any other life experience—and you're ready to explore what healing might look like with your feet on the ground and your heart open to possibility, Asia's community might be the perfect place to start.
Contact Asia via WhatsApp at +44 7725 830051 to join these transformative outdoor experiences.
The Finish Line That's Not an End
After eleven hours in the mountains of Madeira, Asia crossed the finish line with mixed emotions: "I was happy I made it (I really wanted to take my shoes off, my feet were screaming for freedom) but on the other hand, I was sad that the journey was over. I made it, what is next?"
This is the paradox of both ultra-running and healing: the finish line is never really the end. It's a checkpoint, a moment to celebrate, and then a new beginning. The real victory isn't in the completion—it's in the transformation that happens along the way.
Asia's journey from burnout and desperation to finding her tribe in the mountains offers hope for anyone facing what feels impossible. Whether you're dealing with abortion trauma, depression, burnout, or simply the weight of being human in a complicated world, her story reminds us that healing is possible, community is essential, and sometimes the path forward is as simple as putting one foot in front of the other.
Enjoy the process- the journey is what matters, reaching the finish line is a cherry on top of the ice-cream.
The mountains are calling. Your healing is waiting. And you don't have to go alone.
"I can honestly say, without exaggeration, that running saved my life. It can be anything, anything which brings your attention and senses to 'now'." - Asia
Ready to take your first step? Contact Asia at +44 7725 830051 to join a community of women finding healing through movement in the stunning landscapes of Portugal.