I didn’t start running because I loved it.
I started because of FOMO.
Back in 2019, a year after I graduated and started working as a Software Engineer, I saw people around me — colleagues, some 5 years older, some even 20 — showing up fit, consistent, disciplined.
They weren’t talking about it.
They were just doing it.
And I remember thinking:
Am I missing something?
So I started running.
No big plan. No long-term goal.
Just trying not to feel left behind.
At the beginning, it was messy.
Short runs. Inconsistent effort.
Some weeks motivated, some weeks completely off.
But over time, something changed.
Running stopped being about them.
It started becoming about me.
Six years later, in 2025, I signed up for my first marathon.
I chose Bangkok.
Still no coach.
Still no running background.
Just a structured 21-week plan — built through AI prompting, adjusted along the way.
I didn’t aim for something crazy.
Just one clear goal: finish in 4 hours 30 minutes.
Race day came.
And somehow, everything aligned.
I crossed the finish line exactly on target.
Not perfect, but precise.
That moment wasn’t just about finishing a marathon.
It was proof that:
- consistency works
- structure matters
- and you don’t need perfect conditions to achieve something meaningful
Now, I’m stepping into something bigger.
A 66.4KM ultra trail race.
3,300m+ elevation gain.
At Trail of the Kings – Lake Toba by UTMB.
And this time, the challenge isn’t just the distance.
It’s everything around it.
I train 100% on a treadmill.
No mountains. No trails.
I work 9–9 as a full-time Software Engineer.
And I’m also a full-time caregiver for my mom.
I could hire help — and maybe I will closer to race day —
but right now, I choose to be present.
There’s no professional coach guiding me.
Just plans I build, adjust, and trust.
Some days feel strong.
Some days feel repetitive.
Some days feel like I’m not doing enough.
But every week, I show up.
Long runs. Back-to-back sessions.
Hours simulating climbs on a treadmill.
Strength work to prepare for descents I’ve never actually run.
It’s not perfect.
But it’s consistent.
Somewhere along the way, the reason changed.
This is no longer about FOMO.
It’s about exploring limits.
- What can I build with constraints?
- How far can discipline take me?
- Can I trust the process I created myself?
I don’t know how race day will go.
66K is long.
The terrain is real.
And I’ve trained in a very unconventional way.
But I do know this:
I’ve done the work.
I’ve stayed consistent.
And I’ve earned the right to try.
From FOMO runner…
to ultra (soon).
