It takes time for the mind to forget the pain

Mafalda Sigmarsson, a Portuguese national who has lived in Iceland for six years, achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first woman to cross the finish line in the 106-kilometer Hengils Ultra race. She completed the challenging course in 19 hours, 59 minutes, and 7 seconds.

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The running world is unique and that made me very excited to keep running.

Sigmarsson's running journey began in early 2024 with the goal of participating in the Lisbon Marathon later that year. Inspired by a conversation with another runner, she decided to commit to a full marathon, giving herself eight months to prepare. Despite an initial challenging experience with her first marathon, she found herself captivated by the supportive and unique atmosphere of the running community.

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The biggest role. In the Reykjavik Marathon, I hit a wall at kilometer 38. I called my husband and told him I was done and that I was going to walk home, that I couldn't do it.

Without a formal coach, Sigmarsson relies on a training program generated by ChatGPT for her marathon preparation. She balances her running with a full-time job and raising two sons, focusing on maintaining good personal fitness without taking it too seriously. This approach has allowed her to consistently improve, notably shaving 90 minutes off her marathon time in just 10 months leading up to the Reykjavik Marathon.

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The body had it, but the mind was bothering me.

Sigmarsson highlights the crucial role of mental fortitude in endurance running. She recalled a moment during the Reykjavik Marathon where she hit a wall at kilometer 38 and considered quitting. However, upon learning she was in eighth place overall and fourth among women, she found renewed energy and pushed through. In the Hengils Ultra, she experienced a different kind of race, feeling good throughout despite challenging weather conditions, including horizontal hail, which she met with laughter, underscoring her positive and resilient mindset.

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I was in a tremendously good mood the whole time. I can't explain why. I am Portuguese and don't like bad weather and I was fighting through horizontal hail on the course and I just laughed. I just felt good.