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Garbage collector in Navegantes achieved second place in the 5 kilometers of the Itajaí Half Marathon after overcoming depression through sports and transforming her daily work routine into high-resistance training
The story of overcoming by Maria Ângela Costa, known on social media as “Ângela Poderosa,” moved athletes and residents of Santa Catarina after her achievement in the 7th edition of the Itajaí Half Marathon. The information was released by the ND Mais portal, which highlighted the journey of the garbage collector who turned sports into a tool for emotional recovery and now collects impressive results on the tracks.
Last Sunday (14), Maria Ângela achieved second place in the 5-kilometer category of the traditional race held in celebration of Itajaí’s 166th anniversary. The feat gains even more significance considering that the competition brought together runners from more than 100 cities, representatives from 10 Brazilian states, and participants from abroad.
More than a medal, the result symbolizes a journey marked by challenges, discipline, and an impressive capacity for overcoming obstacles.
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Running emerged as a way to overcome depression
Every day, even before dawn, Maria Ângela begins a routine that demands intense physical effort. Around 4:30 in the morning, she is already awake to fulfill her shift as a garbage collector in Navegantes, on the coast of Santa Catarina.
What for many could represent just a heavy job also became her main training ground.
Originally from Rio Branco, Acre, and currently residing in Santa Catarina, Ângela found in running a way to face one of the most difficult periods of her life. According to her, it was precisely sports that helped her overcome deep depression.
“I suffered from depression and what got me out of depression was sports. Otherwise, I was nothing without it. When I’m sad, I go out to run,” revealed the athlete.
The connection between work and physical activity emerged approximately eight years ago, when she joined the urban waste collection service. Since then, running has become part of not only her training but also her professional daily life.
The garbage truck became a training track
While many runners need to fit their training into specific schedules, Maria Ângela finds in her own work hours an opportunity to develop physical endurance.
Daily, she covers long distances following the collection truck of the company Recicle. The constant effort required by the activity ended up functioning as natural training for street running races.
The routine is so intense that the athlete became known by the local residents. According to her, the encouragement received on the streets played an important role in her decision to pursue a career as a collector.
“People saw me running and shouted: ‘Go, warrior, you can do it!’” she recalls.
Before working in Navegantes, Maria Ângela also worked for three years at the company Ambiental, in Itajaí, as well as a period at Saay’s, gaining experience in the urban sanitation sector.
Over the years, she transformed the often invisible image of public cleaning professionals into a powerful message of determination and perseverance.
Training, gym, and diet require extreme discipline
Even facing a routine considered exhausting, Maria Ângela does not give up on complementary training.
After finishing her shift, often around 6 PM, she still finds time to perform muscle strengthening exercises at the gym. The goal is to improve performance in competitions and reduce the risk of injuries.
The preparation includes specific strength training, technical support, and a diet mainly based on natural ingredients.
Recently, the athlete also started a new sports consultancy focused on gaining speed, aiming to improve her results in upcoming races.
With her simple and spontaneous manner, she sums up the philosophy that drives her daily:
“Those who have a goal must chase it, because dreams don’t have legs, but we do.”
The phrase has become a true portrait of her journey.
Next challenge is already set
After the podium finish in Itajaí, Maria Ângela is already focusing her attention on a new competition scheduled for August, in Navegantes.
The preparation continues at an intense pace, but there is an additional challenge: reconciling the exam schedules with her work shifts. According to her, it is necessary to carefully plan each participation so as not to compromise benefits earned through attendance at the company.
Despite the difficulties, the motivation remains high.
The athlete states that she dreams of continuing to evolve in the sport and seeks partners who can contribute with registrations, equipment, and expenses related to the races.
“I love running. Getting help to pay for my races is everything. And I am very dedicated,” she says.
Her story shows that great achievements do not always originate in sophisticated training centers. In some cases, they arise on the streets, before sunrise, driven by the strength of those who decided not to give up.
By transforming an extremely exhausting routine into fuel to achieve sports results, Maria Ângela Costa has become an example of overcoming obstacles that inspires not only runners but thousands of Brazilians who face daily challenges in search of a better life.
And you, do you believe that stories like Maria Ângela’s show that determination can overcome even the most difficult obstacles in life?
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