March 20, 2025
I had never run until the year 2020.
When COVID-19 hit Canada, running outside became my only outlet for movement and social interaction. It was the only way to stay active and connect with others during those isolated times.
What began as a simple coping mechanism for my mental health quickly evolved into something more profound.
I got addicted. I now love everything about running.
Building a Support System
Rather than going solo, I quickly recognized the value of community in sustaining this new habit. Shortly after I started running, I joined a local running club.
I love running with people, especially when we’re training for marathons or races—you connect with others through these shared challenges and triumphs.
There’s something special about pushing through the tough miles together and celebrating the victories, big or small, as a group.
If I could offer advice to beginners, it would be this: Just start moving and don’t burden yourself with specific goals. But most importantly, build a support system you can lean on when motivation fades.
It’s not about how high you can soar when you’re at your best, but having a reliable way to lift yourself up when you’re at your lowest.
On days when I have absolutely no drive, I fall back on my system—the running club I joined, where we commit to showing up. After each run, my runner friends say,
“See you next time.”
Even when I don’t feel like going, I show up because I know there are people waiting for me. That accountability, that connection, keeps me going.
Creating a Workplace Running Movement
Not content with merely participating in existing running communities, I took the initiative to build one myself. At my workplace, I created a running club three years ago.
The results have been remarkable. Last year, I persuaded 22 people from the company to sign up for races together—across different distances like 5K, 10K, and 21K. This year, we’ve grown to 33 participants.
More than half of the people who signed up have never run a race before, or it has been a super long time since their last one.
What makes this achievement particularly special is its inclusivity.
Normally, these colleagues wouldn’t feel comfortable taking on such challenges on their own, but my encouragement gives them a sense of belonging—they’re part of a group of 33 people from the same company pursuing a common goal.
This collective challenge creates meaningful bonds. When there’s a circle of people doing the same thing as you, it creates a connection and makes people push themselves further than they thought possible.
Competing Against Myself
While community drives my running practice, my personal motivation comes from within. I’m constantly competing with myself, always eager to see how much better I can get compared to the previous year.
My progress has been significant. Over the past few years, I’ve managed to reduce my marathon time by about 20 minutes annually.
Having completed five marathons so far, I’ve established a consistent rhythm—running a half-marathon (21K) in the spring and a full marathon (42K) in the fall. My sights are now set on an ambitious goal that many runners dream of achieving.
Conclusion
I want to discover what I’m truly capable of, especially since I was never athletic before five years ago. I never knew I could run at all, let alone complete a marathon.
I want to see if I can qualify for Boston. The Boston Marathon represents a benchmark of excellence for distance runners worldwide. For me, it symbolizes my journey from pandemic beginner to dedicated athlete.
I’m close, not far away. And after that, I want to explore how much faster I can get. I simply want to discover my limit.
From mental health necessity to competitive pursuit, from solo activity to community builder, my running journey demonstrates how personal passion can create ripple effects of positive change.
What began as a response to isolation has transformed into a vehicle for connection, challenge, and continuous growth.