Everybody can complain about life potentially. Quite often, this is the way we choose, not always understanding the «philosophy of the positive», which is offered by foreign culture. Really, why does this whimsical American Forest Gump run? For what, from where or from whom? Running to prove that he is worth something. Worthy of respect, because he can overcome obstacles; admiration, because he is able to really be friends; imitation, because it can be faithful. This is the heroine of the popular TV series «Xena – Princess of the Warriors». But today Zhytomyr.Travel does not write about it, but tells about it Zhytomyr citizen Nastya Kokhanchuk, whom the fans call Xena

«I am from Zhytomyr, and I was born here. My story with a run started a long time ago: once I was engaged in athletics, was a sprinter and ran for short distances. But at the age of 18 he dropped out – became an adult (laughing). Seven years later I started again, with what I had with my aunt, but then we just ran the streets for ourselves and for health»

«I made my first official rally in Kyiv, with the Olympic stadium. And then in Zhytomyr gathered a «handful» of unofficial runners who were just engaged until I created a public organization ZTbig»

«There are no conditions and restrictions for membership in our public organization, except for the desire to run and enjoy life. There are no professional athletes among us, we just meet and «break»: we run, we take a crossfit, and then drink together tea. For us, for some reason, there are very young people – mostly all 35. People of all ages, different professions, there are lawyers, managers. I do not even know if there are high officials or bosses among us»(Laughs)

«Running is a philosophy. When I have some hardships or bad thoughts, I wear sneakers and run. Five to six kilometers – and your head is «clean». No bad thoughts, no negative. I have a huge number of friends throughout Ukraine, but among them there are no sad people, closed, locked in themselves. We are all fun! Even when we run on a result, we overcome the distance, always do it with a smile. When it’s hard, when you’re tired, you’re still trying to smile. When there is no strength at all, I ask my father to help. He is not with me next, but always before the run, I send my thoughts to heaven, and he helps me from there. This was the case in Ternopil, when I put my personal record. He asked mentally: “Daddy, make me not give up». And it happened – I was able to»

«I train myself – such a self-taught, but I still have results. In my training there is no technique, there is simply a desire to achieve the result. When I just run in the middle of the week or I plan to run on a Saturday, I invite everyone who wants, sometimes even in social networks. And I do not take on training newbies, because they will be hard, and I must focus on training at this time»

«To keep myself in shape, I am engaged in many different things, except for running: crossfit, fly-stretching, fl y yoga, half-sport – tricks on the pylon, climbing wall. It helps to grow. Especially since I sometimes take part in races with obstacles. It can be racing for five kilometers, but there will be 25 other obstacles: handlebars, chains, logs, it is necessary to run under the wires. Somebody says that it is not useful, but if you do it for pleasure, then it will be in favor. Even if you want to eat a huge piece of meat, then you do not have to think that this is not quite useful, you need to feel the pleasure of the process, and not to reprobate your thoughts that the figure will be spoiled. We have to do everything with pleasure!»

«Running has changed my life and now it takes 80% of my time. If you take away running from my life – everything, I do not. I even have my fans who call me Xena (Laughs). Apparently, I’m curious that many people can not do what I do»
«RACE NATION»- is a race with obstacles, where all interested persons take part. In general, you can start training at any time. For some reason, the majority starts after thirty years. Perhaps people change their lives, circumstances or preferences, consciousness change, and then they just start to run. If you go out to the stadium, you will realize that you are not yourself, there are so many people, even grandparents running. And you begin to think: “Yeah, they can, but I’m not?” And forward!»

«A guy with no hands is running with us. And when it’s hard when there is no strength, I start to think: «He may, so I can do it. He’s hard, but he’s running». And then the second breath opens. Do not panic for yourself is also bad: you can “dig up” yourself. Every person has his own limits, and you need to know about them, understand what you can, and why you need to train. Every person should be responsible for himself»

«We have a team – four guys and I, captain. When the team prepares, I always say: «We go to the goal together, it is important for everyone. But the race is a run, and health is above all else. If you feel something wrong, no medals are needed»

«I realize that I am a leader, and that’s all thanks to the sport. Due to the sport, a rod appeared, I learned to overcome my own fears. Once I did everything on the principle «I myself», and now I’m not afraid to seek help from another person, I became more confident. Even the pace and posture are changing, and people notice it. When you become a positive person yourself, the same people are attracted to you»

«Everything in our head, and on any question there are always two answers – positive and negative. And you always choose yourself»

«My medals are my gold. No, they are not of gold, I just do not change them for anything, no matter what they offer me. For each of the medals are training, sweat, work. And material values … It’s just material values: today is – tomorrow there is no»

«If I had a lot of money, I would have made in Zhytomyr a place for the rest of the elderly people, because now they have nowhere to rest. In the cinema they will not go to the sports field too. Where? They probably go to the towns or watch serials. If they could come to a certain circle of dances where they would dance as they could, they would communicate. Sometimes older people gather in a water park and sing. But in the winter they can not do this – it’s cold»

«I always say that I must smile. Do not want to get sick – live on the positive! If a person is engaged in some kind of business, she will not have time for bad thoughts»

«RUN LIKE GIRL» – my first serious run. I came there just to get pleasure, did not put any serious problems. From run, crossed the finishing ribbon and thought that, apparently, on a holiday everyone is given an opportunity to enjoy – before each party the finishing tape. Asked my name, and I still do not understand what happened. Only when they called for rewarding and presented the medal for the third place, then it became clear that he became a winner. I received this medal only after three months of training. This is my most memorable medal»

«I love nature in any form, it’s nice to even admire landscapes, sitting on a bench. In our hydropark, strange beauty, beautifully near the monument to the eternal fire – quiet and romantic! This is Zhytomyr!»

Translated by Aliona Matushevich