Background

My interest in running began when I stopped playing football after twelve years. I suddenly had a lot of free time, so I took my dad's old running shoes and went for a run. Running felt very different from team sport. There was no coach and there were no teammates, only me and the pace I could manage that day. This felt strange at first, but over time it became the thing I liked most about it. My first race was the half marathon in Zwolle. It was a big first step, but I wanted to try it. I finished in 1 hour and 45 minutes. That day I knew I wanted to keep running.

I missed training with other people, so at the end of 2025 I joined AV PEC, an athletics club. The group pushes me further than I would go on my own.

Combining sports and study

My focus is on the road distances: 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon. I want to keep improving my times on each of them and I try to do that with steady training and small steps. Besides running, I do two to three strength sessions a week. Running and strength training help each other, and I notice that I need both.

That became even clearer after a serious case of shin splints, also known as MTSS. It forced me to slow down and build up again more carefully. I learned to listen to my body.

I also study Business Administration. Fitting lectures and assignments around training takes planning, but the discipline from one helps with the other. I am still early on, and I want to see how far I can take it.

Would you like to follow more of my studies? Click here for my LinkedIn page.