Alexandra Vanstalle is a mother of four kids, husband of one and runs unbelievable distances along rural tracks. Her latest adventure is to train for a 111km long trail run… Listen to her story:

• Alex was born in Oeiras, close to Lisbon, studied in Lisbon and worked at a Mexican restaurant, before setting off for Mexico and heading back to the Algarve!
• Holidays in her youth were spent in Manta Rota in the Algarve. Teenage party times!
• We talk about Praia Verde and Pézinhos na Areia.
• Her first few months living in the Algarve just outside Loulé near Boliqueime.
• Trail running and how she became addicted to it and the free group Corridas a Sexta Feira
• She joined ATR (Algarve Trail Running) and helped with the Rocha da Pena race and ended up entering the 50km run which is held in August in 40ºC temperatures.
• Alex trains 50, 60, 70 kms a week before a big race.
• We discuss the ALUT which stands for the Algarviana Ultra Trail which is a 300km race from one end of the Algarve to the other (Alcoutim to Sagres).
• If you’ve just arrived in the Algarve and want to do some great trail runs, Alex suggests heading for Querença, Salir or Falesia or even Monchique! We talk about the Cerro do São Miguel above Moncarrapacho.
• Alex’s Algarve recommendations:
  • Loulé – schools, hospitals, restaurants and safe to live in.
  • Beaches: Ilha Deserta and Restaurant Estamine
  • The west coast (Costa Vicentina).
  
  

You can find Alex online on Facebook or at http://byvanstalle.com/ where she does image consulting. She helps people build self confidence through clothing and body language among other things.