Half marathon #18 of the 52@52 challenge was another very special run, this time on the beaches of Maragogi, in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. Maragogi is one of the most beautiful beach regions I have ever seen, famous for its natural reef pools and crystal-clear blue water that have earned it the nickname “Brazilian Caribbean.” From there, you can visit the Maragogi natural pools by boat and also the “Caminho de Moisés” (Moses Way) – an amazing shallow sandbank that stretches from the beach out into the ocean, allowing people to walk far out into the sea at low tide. It is truly a magical place, but also very crowded with tourists, boats, food and drink stands (often with loud music), and several photo spots with hammocks and heart-shaped wooden structures that you can use as long as you pay the fee to the people who set them up for the day.
Refer to: https://www.nextstopbrazil.com/destinations/maragogi, https://transferrecifemaragogipe.com.br/sem-categoria/maragogi-caminho-de-moises/, https://guia.melhoresdestinos.com.br/caminho-de-moises-em-maragogi.html.

Route Between Resort and Main Beach

I was staying at a resort a bit south of the most famous central section of Maragogi beach, so I started my run from there. From the resort, I headed north along the sand until I reached the main beach area, and there I mixed several loops: some on the beach sand itself and others on the nearby streets, before returning to the hotel again by running along the sand. It was an incredibly beautiful route, with the ocean on one side, palm trees and beach structures on the other, and that surreal turquoise water in front of me almost the entire time.​​​​

Heat, Hydration, and Coconut Water

Even with the breeze coming from the ocean, it was extremely hot during the run. The sun reflecting off the sand and the water made everything feel even warmer, and I had to stop three times to rehydrate and cool down. At a certain point, the water in my hydration backpack was already too warm to be refreshing, so it wasn’t helping much anymore. The good part is that in Maragogi you can drink cold coconut water straight from a fresh coconut at the beach stands, and it is very cheap – around a few reais, usually well under R$ 10, depending on the beach. On that day, I paid only R$ 4 for each coconut, which is incredibly affordable for such a refreshing drink. The coconut water was not only delicious and cooling, but also rich in natural salts, perfect for replenishing the body in that kind of heat. I even recorded a short video at my last stop in one of those stands, trying to capture that perfect combination: tired legs, hot sun, and a freezing coconut in my hands.

Conversation at the Coconut Stand and the Audiobook

During this run I was once again listening to the “Project Hail Mary” audiobook by Andy Weir, trying to make progress so I can finish it before watching the movie in theaters. After my first stop for coconut water, I actually paused the audio to chat with the guy who was selling the coconuts, because he told me he used to be a runner too but had stopped due to lower back pain. Since I’ve also dealt with lower back pain in the past, I felt almost obligated to share my experience: I told him that more important than just going to a physiotherapist or chiropractor is actually doing the exercises they teach you to do at home (assuming they are good professionals), and sticking with those exercises regularly, not only when the pain flares up. I also explained that, in my specific case (which may not apply to everyone), my back tends to get worse if I go long periods without running, and that it never bothers me while I’m running, even on days when it hurts to sit or lie down. It was a short conversation, but it felt like one of those small moments where running connects two strangers who are dealing with similar challenges.

When the Sand Starts to Hurt

All that beauty, however, came with a physical cost. The constant running on sand put extra stress on my legs, and my left leg was hurting for most of the way, even though it hadn’t bothered me at all in the previous two runs. The pain didn’t ruin the experience, but it was a clear reminder that beach running demands a different kind of effort and that my body still has to adapt to these changing terrains as the 52@52 journey continues.