I got into running from a completely different kind of sport, football. I’ve always loved team sports. I spent years playing football, and I was pretty good at it… I even broke my leg once because of it.

But when I got into software development field, another passion of mine, things changed. Without really noticing, I started moving less. No more regular matches, less walking, and fewer physical activities. Life became more static. It was also harder to organize games as I moved from place to place.

At some point, I told myself; “I need to try running”.

At the beginning, it wasn’t enjoyable at all. It felt hard, repetitive, and not very rewarding. Unlike football, where improvement feels immediate and shared, running progress is slow and personal. You don’t always see quick results.

But with time, something changed.

Running became more enjoyable. It turned into a mental game, something deeply psychological and rewarding. I started appreciating the quiet, the actions, and the discipline it builds. I’ve always run alone, and I still do. I’ve never gone for a run with a group.

The reason I’m writing this today is that I achieved a new personal record in the 5K; under 30 minutes. After 3 years of running.

For a long time, I was doing mostly slow to medium-paced runs, because I really enjoy that kind of rhythm. But recently, after reading more about running and training, I decided to push myself a bit more. And it paid off.

Alhamdulillah, first and foremost.

Some lessons I’ve learned in running and in (life):

• Consistency means showing up, even if it’s just once a week, or even once a month. Keep going.
• Small steps lead to real results. It’s not just motivational talk.
• Divide and conquer works. Break big goals into smaller ones.
• Have a plan. I didn’t at first, and my progress was slower because of it.
• Start small, and you’ll do big things.
• Start slow, and you’ll become faster.