How popular is distance running to the general public in Brazil?
Do people recognize you on the streets? MG: Wherever I go in Brazil, there is always someone that recognizes me on the streets and asks for my autograph. In Brazil, the sport is growing in popularity, and more and more people are starting to follow the news of our sport. As much as I did not imagine that my victory in New York would have a significant effect here in Brazil, in fact, I have participated in many television programs, was awarded a medal of honor by the President of Brazil [Luiz Incio Lula da Silva], and I was chosen by some Brazilian magazines as the Sportsman of the Year. This makes me believe that the sport of running is indeed very popular here. MR: How long do you plan to rest before gearing up for training on the track? What are you doing during this rest time? Spending time with your wife? Celebrating your win in New York? MG: To be honest, I have already returned to my training program, obviously [with attention toward] recovery, but at the beginning of the year my
