The podcast series continues and not with anyone, but with our group trainer Snezhana Terzieva and her partner Ivo Andreev, who shared with us their passion for sports and more specifically running, what pushed them there and why.

Don’t know what “On Protein” is? Or did you miss an episode? Check out our YouTube channel HERE or read the highlights from last week’s episode with the amazing Sammy Hosney. We guarantee you’ll have something new to learn from each of our guests.

Before we share with you the highlights of our conversation with Snezhi and Ivo, we’ll tell you a little bit about the drink our hosts and guests had in our fourth episode. We cheated on the protein and mixed up a dose of electrolytes. What are electrolytes for? It’s a nutritional supplement, an essential part of the cocktail for all long distance runners, as well as those who enjoy longer workouts. When sweating profusely, the body expels many valuable substances, and electrolytes – salts and minerals, restore balance and help the permeability of substances in the cell. Basically, electrolytes help you endure more during a workout or race.

About running and sport in a seemingly normal family

When did you start playing sports together?

Ivo: Our relationship has undergone many metamorphoses. We have changed, so our relationship has changed. Why we started playing sports is a very long story and has a basis with our first child – Ivaylo. He had a serious health problem and we went through surgery with him. When we came back from Germany from that surgery, Snezhi started going to group workouts and she really, let’s say, started the train in that direction.

I remember being very jealous of her because she would leave for practice in one mood – she might be a little sour, or nervous, or in a normal mood. But every time she came back, it was like she’d taken some kind of stimulant – one of those cheerful, wonderful moods. I remember the first workout I went to with her and I was like, “Wow, these women… They squat a lot more than men, they’re obviously a lot stronger!” They really got my heels in that first workout. Then little by little we started.

Were you a sports person before that period?

Ivo: When I was a kid I was into sports, but then at about 17, unfortunately, I got into the murky swamp of drugs. For the next almost 10 years I was very deep into the heroin game and the other addictions that go with it. I have a dozen communes that I have been in. Thank God in 2007 I was done with heroin, came back to Bulgaria and started from scratch – I had no friends, no one. I just started a new life. Little by little I started to play sports. First with levers, fitness with friends, etc., and I was still into partying, fun, long weekends… For our son’s transplant I had to be a donor and in Germany, while I was preparing for the operation, there was no gym to go to. And I thought I should start running, I don’t need equipment for that. There was a park next to the hospital and I started running ⅔ km there. After we came back to Bulgaria, Snezhi started training so vigorously, and I started to gradually remove my other bad habits. First I started playing football more often, then Bodypump – I really like this type of workout, it’s unique. Eventually I switched to mountain racing. Now I feel like I’m living another new life with these races. I’ve been actively racing and training for three/four years now, Snezzy combines these things too.

Snezhi: After Ivaylo’s transplant, I thought that things just need to change. A child with a transplant has to live a healthy life and from there on we started to change too.

What is running for you?

Snezhi: To me, it’s variety! You get away from everything, you’re just there, that’s all you do. You’re not thinking about the everyday problems.

What would you say to your 3 year old self?

Snezhi: I was very shy as a child, by the way, and maybe that’s it – “Don’t be so shy because it gets in the way at certain times”.

Ivo: I’ll use my grandmother’s quote like that, she used to say to me, “Little Bride, life is a struggle”. So I would say to myself, “Brace yourself because life is a struggle and don’t run away from hardships because they not only make you stronger, they make you happier.”.

Is there an optimum for someone who wants to run/participate in marathons?

Snezhi: I think it’s different for each person, I don’t have a day off.

Ivo: Elite athletes train between 20 and 24 hours a week, and that includes different workouts. I am not an elite athlete. I may be good, but I’m good among amateurs and I have a job and limited energy. I mean, if I set out to pretend to be an elite athlete, that means I won’t be able to do my job. My program has to be adequate, I have to distribute my energy in such a way that today I can do all my tasks, I can train and I can sleep. I think everybody has to realize what they are.

How does the preparation of a non-professional runner go?

Ivo: I should have about 120km up or down per week, and at the moment I’m being trained by a coach. I used to be very erratic, doing whatever I wanted, but now I see that it’s more sensible to have someone with a lot of experience tell me “It’s better to run lightly to have an effect than to be constantly at your max and not be able to recover”. I can say that I prepare specifically for each race.

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Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel or listen to us on Spotify and the Apple Podcast.

And look for a new episode coming soon! Keep an eye on our channels or social media for more information.

Keep improving your Next Level! 😉