I can’t tell you how running changed my life.

As of this writing, I’ve been running for 6 years. While I’ve learned many lessons from this sport during that time, 6 lessons in particular stand out to me as the most powerful. And in this blog, I’m going to reveal each one of those 6 lessons.

But before I get to that, I want to first share how it all began…

Single-Handedly Tackling 42.2 Km

In the summer of 2019, I set the goal to run my first marathon.

The race would be in the spring of 2020. However, I think we’re all familiar with what happened that year. The world shut down due to the global pandemic, which obviously meant no marathon run.

But I wasn’t going to let a little flu stop me.

So, I decided to run the marathon on my own. I mapped out the route (all 42.2 km), picked the date, and designed my training program. And then, on May 30, 2021, I completed the run.

The image above was taken after I crossed the makeshift finish line created by my mom and brother. This was when I first began to really identify as a runner. While the finish time was pretty horrendous (I clocked in at 5 hours and 42 minutes), I was still proud that I ran my first marathon.

The good news is I was determined to improve for the next race…

The First “Legit” Marathon Run

A few months after the first marathon run, the world began returning to normal.

And that meant things were opening back up again, including race gatherings. As a result, I had the opportunity to run a legit marathon with a few friends. So, we all met up at the race grounds for the ScotiaBank Marathon in September 2021.

This second marathon was a reminder of who I really was:

• A runner instead of a sloucher
• An athlete instead of a slacker
• A finisher instead of a quitter
• A participant instead of a spectator

I ran the entire race—all 42.2 km—nonstop, clocking in a finishing time of 3 hours, 45 minutes, and 50 seconds (shaving nearly 2 hours off my first marathon from only a couple of months before). And honestly? It still is, to this day, my proudest athletic accomplishment.

I never would have dreamed I could run 42.2 km (or 26.2 miles) nonstop and achieve that kind of finishing time. That ScotiaBank marathon run changed me.

Racing Through 100% Humidity In Singapore

I ran the entire ScotiaBank marathon without breaks, but then I decided to take a break from marathons.

Over the next couple of years, I focused mostly on martial arts.

Namely, Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

In fact, I became obsessed with this sport. So much so that I decided to uproot my comfortable life in exchange for the adventure of my life. What did I do? In 2023, I sold my possessions, gave up my cozy salary, and traveled to the other side of the globe to train at Evolve MMA in Singapore—one of the world’s top martial arts organizations.

I met up with a friend during my stay, where we spent a night in the Marina Bay Sands hotel.

While we were there, we went for a 12 km run in 100% humidity! The photo above was taken during that run. Toward the end of it, we stopped to take in a spectacular light show at Gardens by the Bay.

Over time, I continued running 3 to 4 days a week, but didn’t sign up for any new races until…

The Servus Calgary Half Marathon

A good friend of mine named Arsh (pictured in the photo next to me) sparked my interest and ambition when he mentioned that we run a half-marathon.

The reason?

A few months prior, I persuaded him to run a full marathon (which I talk about in the next section), and he came up with the wise suggestion of running a half-marathon in order to prepare.

It had been a while since my last half-marathon, so I gladly agreed.

The race was the Servus Calgary Half Marathon.

When I think about how running changed my life, it stems from the small aspects of the sport that contributed to the bigger picture. And one of those aspects was being able to share it with others. Not just with people such as Arsh, but also the people at events.

Something powerful happens at a marathon run…

You’re surrounded by hundreds (oftentimes, thousands) of people who all share the same passion for running and racing as you. And even though you don’t know any of them, you still feel connected to those people because of a mutual passion for this activity.

The Edmonton Servus Marathon

The Edmonton Servus Marathon was the race I persuaded my friend, Arsh, to attend.

He was a bit hesitant at first.

However, it was something he had wanted to do for a long time, so it didn’t take much convincing on my part to get him on board.

On Aug 17, 2025, we arrived in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, for the race.

I’ll never forget it…

While waiting in the lane for the marathon to start, I felt the sun’s heat pierce through my windbreaker.

The sound of excited chatter from my fellow runners filled the air.

And then, the voice of the announcer cut through all the clamour with the highly anticipated countdown: 3… 2… 1… GO! 

The buzzer rang like church bells on Sunday morning—and off we went, all 8,500 of us.

It was electric.

While I didn’t complete the race at my desired time (I clocked in at 4 hours and 32 minutes as opposed to my PR goal of 3 hours and 30 minutes), I still enjoyed the run as it taught me a powerful lesson. In fact, it’s probably one of the most valuable lessons, out of the 6, of how running changed my life.

And I’m about to share that lesson (as well as the other 5) with you right now. Read on.

6 Life Lessons From 6 Years Of Running

Many experiences come to mind when I think about how running changed my life. However, if I had to distill all those experiences into a few simple lessons, there would be 6 that stand out to me the most. And with that, here are the 6 life lessons I’ve learned from 6 years of running.

Lesson 1: Failure Fuels Success

My first marathon was by far the worst.

I had no proven training regime, no experience running that kind of distance, and, quite frankly, no idea what I was getting into.

However, despite that, I actually had high hopes, as I was very optimistic about it. But things didn’t pan out the way I wanted them to. I ran out of water halfway through, the sun’s heat beat down on me, and the distance was taking a toll on my body quickly.

Aches and pains shot through my legs. With each stride, my cellphone and keys felt like jackhammers pounding against my thighs.

The result? I had an embarrassing finish time of about 5 hours and 42 minutes.

The race was a Titanic failure…

But I didn’t let that stop me. I committed to improving; I trained harder, ate better, and strengthened my performance. And it was only a few months later, when the pandemic restrictions loosened, that the real, in-person marathon run returned.

In September 2021, I ran again.

The goal? Finish within 4 hours and 30 minutes… The result? I came in at 3 hours and 45 minutes! I shaved almost 2 hours off my original run time and far exceeded my own expectations! I used the failure of my first marathon to fuel the success of my second one.

So, the first lesson on how running changed my life is to use failure to fuel success.

Lesson 2: Holding The Line Is The Deciding Factor

I have a rule when my shoes hit the pavement: Don’t stop.

Every time I run, whether it’s a brisk jog around the block or a marathon around the city, I make it a point to push through until I reach the finish line. And this has been a life-changing quality that running has helped me to develop.

To keep going, even when my body is tired, aching, and in pain.

When I think about how running changed my life, my attention is immediately drawn to the ability I’ve gained to go the distance. And this has been a game-changer for me in everything from practicing healthy habits to how I operate my business.

Being able to hold the line is often the deciding factor between success and failure in much of what you do in life.

In other words, you have to hang in there.

The finish line is waiting for you, but you have to keep going in order to reach it. If you can just keep pushing forward, you’ll win. You’ll win your goals; you’ll win your dreams, and you’ll win in life.

Lesson 3: There’s More In You Than You Think

I ran my first half-marathon in April 2021.

Honestly? I wasn’t expecting much. I didn’t really see myself as an athlete at the time. In fact, I thought if I could complete the run in under 3 hours, that’d be a win. So, I scoped out the route—the full 21.1 km or 13.1 miles—and showed up on race day.

But then, something interesting happened…

I had a finishing time of 1 hour and 56 minutes, and I ran the entire race non-stop! This was the day when I finally saw myself as a real athlete, and it was when I also realized that there was more in me than I thought…

Many of us have a tendency to sell ourselves short.

And the only way to break through old ceilings is to push yourself mentally, physically, academically, socially, or in any other capacity you see fit. Running taught me this valuable lesson. It facilitated the experiences that showed me I was capable of a lot more than I gave myself credit for.

Lesson 4: Be Humble Or You Will Be Humbled

Retired Navy SEAL, Jocko Willink, says, “Be humble or you will be humbled.”

I learned that lesson the hard way on my 3rd marathon: The Edmonton Servus race I mentioned earlier in this post. You see, my previous run was the ScotiaBank marathon in 2021. It wasn’t until 4 years later, in 2025, that I decided to race again.

Despite not running a marathon for 4 years, I felt confident about it.

And why wouldn’t I be? I crushed my last marathon, my diet had remained on point to support my training, and I was also still running 3 to 4 days a week during my marathon hiatus. As a result, I didn’t really take this 3rd race too seriously.

In fact, if I’m being honest with you, I didn’t think the race was a big deal.

“Pride cometh before the fall,” as they say. My aim for this race was 3 hours and 30 minutes; it would have been a new PR (Personal Record). But like a big goal with no action to attain it, I fell short.

I clocked in at 4 hours and 32 minutes…

As a result, I had to humble myself and realize that I need to do better when it comes to preparation and training. And that’s exactly what I plan on doing for the next marathon!

Lesson 5: We All Have The Capacity For Change And Improvement

You’d probably never be able to tell by looking at me now, but I used to be overweight.

When I was young, I ate junk food every day, only drank sodas or sugar-filled juices, and hardly ever exercised. At my heaviest, I remember being 170 lbs at 12 or 13 years old. Why do I share this with you? Because today, I am the exact opposite.

I eat healthy, only drink water, train daily, and keep junk food to a minimum.

And this contrast in lifestyle preference stems from running. This sport altered my identity. It transformed me from an apathetic couch potato whose favorite hobby was watching Simpsons reruns to a dedicated athlete who trains in BJJ, participates in marathons, and competes in Spartan Races.

But more than that, running has made me realize an important truth… We all have the capacity for change and improvement, regardless of where we start.

Lesson 6: Your Only Competition Is You

I noticed something interesting from running marathons.

Everyone begins at the same starting point; however, as the race progresses, all the runners inevitably fall into their own unique lanes. For example, I’ll blow past some runners, and some runners will blow past me.

I can’t control that, as there will always be runners who are both more and less experienced than myself.

But what I can control is trying to be better each race I participate in. I can control my pace, breath, effort, and endurance by optimizing my training and diet. So, the 6th lesson I learned on how running changed my life is that your only competition is YOU.

Comparing yourself to others, in any way, is a losing battle.

There will always be people who are further ahead and further behind you in life, just like there will always be runners who will blow past you and who you will blow past. The trick is not to measure your performance against theirs.

This taught me the importance of focusing on myself instead of playing the comparison game.

Final Thoughts On How Running Changed My Life

When I reflect on how running changed my life, I’m amazed by the significant impact that such a simple activity has had on me.

For this reason, I’m grateful. Not just for the lessons and experiences I’ve got to enjoy with this sport, but for the fact that I can even move, leap, jump, stride, and use my body—this incredible machine—every day. What’s more, I’m also grateful (and excited) about my future running and athletic goals!

And I look forward to continuing to share my thoughts and experiences with you in future articles on this blog. Stay tuned.