How It Started
My running journey began at the age of 15, when I ran my first 5-kilometre race during high school. That race marked the beginning of what has now become more than two decades of running. Since then, running has remained one of the most consistent parts of my life, teaching me the value of discipline, patience, perseverance, and long-term commitment.
Why Running Became Part of My Life
Looking back, I realize that I didn’t stay committed to running simply because I enjoyed exercising. What kept me coming back year after year was the unique combination of qualities that running offers—qualities that align remarkably well with the way I naturally think and approach life.
Simplicity
One of the things I appreciate most about running is how simple it is. It doesn’t require complicated equipment or expensive facilities. You simply put on your shoes, step outside, and begin. That simplicity has always been refreshing in a world where many things are unnecessarily complicated.
Measurable Progress
Running provides something I find highly motivating: clear and objective feedback. Every run, every training cycle, and every race tells a story. Distances become longer, paces become faster, heart rate becomes lower, recovery improves, and goals that once seemed impossible gradually become achievable. I’ve always enjoyed measuring long-term progress, and running allows me to see that improvement unfold one step at a time.
Competing Against Myself
One of the aspects of running that has always appealed to me is that the real competition is with myself rather than with other runners. While races naturally compare finishing positions, my true goal has almost always been to become a better runner than I was yesterday. Every training cycle, every comeback after injury, and every personal best has been measured against my own previous performances rather than someone else’s. That mindset has made running both motivating and sustainable. There will always be faster runners, but there will also always be another opportunity to improve my own performance.
Discipline
Running has taught me that meaningful progress rarely comes from one exceptional effort. Instead, it is the result of consistently showing up over months and years. That mindset has gradually shaped how I approach many other areas of my life, including learning, health, and my professional work.
Mental Clarity
Some of my best ideas and reflections have come during long runs. Away from screens and everyday distractions, running gives me the space to think more clearly, organize my thoughts, solve problems, and often discover new perspectives that I might not have found otherwise.
A Long-Term Challenge
Even after more than twenty years, running continues to give me something meaningful to pursue. There is always another goal, another lesson, or another opportunity to improve. My current goal of running a sub-three-hour marathon is simply the latest chapter in a journey that is still unfolding.
Health
Over the years, running has become one of the foundations of my overall well-being. It naturally encouraged me to pay closer attention to nutrition, recovery, sleep, and maintaining an active lifestyle. Rather than seeing health as a separate objective, I have come to view it as an essential part of becoming a better runner—and, more importantly, living a better life.
Continual Improvement
Perhaps the greatest reason running has remained such an important part of my life is that it reflects a philosophy I deeply believe in: there is always room to become a little better than yesterday. Running constantly reminds me that lasting progress is built through patience, consistency, and thousands of small improvements. That mindset extends far beyond running itself and has become one of the guiding principles of my life.
Running Career Highlights
- Started running at age 15.
- 20+ years of running.
- 6,000+ km of recorded training, tracked using Garmin running watches.
- Sub-40-minute 10K.
- 1:35 Half Marathon.
- Multiple successful comebacks after injuries and extended breaks.
- Current goal: Sub-3-Hour Marathon.
My Running Journey
| Period | Milestone |
| Age 15 | First 5-kilometre race. Ran my first 5-kilometre race during high school, marking the beginning of what has become more than two decades of running. |
| University | Running became a lifelong habit. Continued running recreationally while completing two bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics. |
| 2014 | First marathon training cycle. Followed the Hansons Marathon Method while preparing for the Victoria Marathon. Logged approximately 700 km (400 miles) of training, achieved a sub-45-minute 10K, and experienced my first major running injury. |
| 2015 | First successful comeback. Returned from injury using the Hansons Marathon Method, logged over 1,100 km (700 miles) of training, and achieved a 1:35 Half Marathon personal best. |
| 2016 | Breakthrough season. Logged another 1,100+ km (700+ miles) of training using the Hansons Marathon Method and achieved a sub-40-minute 10K, one of the defining milestones of my running journey. |
| 2017–2019 | A shift in priorities. Running took a secondary role while I focused on graduate studies, research, and career development, although I continued running recreationally. |
| 2020–2021 | Second major comeback. Adopted a heart-rate-based training approach inspired by Pete Pfitzinger’s Faster Road Racing. Rebuilt my fitness through approximately 900 km (560 miles) of training while taking a more patient and sustainable approach. |
| 2023–2024 | Third major comeback. Worked with running coach Jon Aikman and adopted a combined pace- and heart-rate-based training approach. Returned to a sub-45-minute 10K before another injury similar to my 2014 setback interrupted training. |
| 2026–Present | Fourth comeback. After relocating to Montréal, I am combining the lessons learned from multiple training philosophies and previous comebacks while pursuing my long-term goal of completing a Sub-3-Hour Marathon. |
What Running Has Taught Me
- Consistency always outweighs short periods of exceptional training.
- Every comeback has taught me something new about patience and rebuilding fitness.
- My training philosophy has continuously evolved—from the Hansons Marathon Method, to heart-rate-based training, to working with a professional running coach.
- Injuries have interrupted my training several times, but never ended my running journey.
- Running is a lifelong journey of continuous learning, adaptation, and gradual improvement.
The Journey Continues
Today, my focus is on building a sustainable and consistent training routine while working toward my long-term goal of completing a sub-3-hour marathon. More importantly, I hope to continue enjoying the process of running, learning from each training cycle, and embracing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. As my journey continues, this section of the website will grow alongside it.