Running with a Purpose
3 weeks ago, YouTube star Nathaniel Drew announced he is running the Paris Marathon on April 2, 2023. We immediately reached out to him after we saw his post about possibly starting a weekly running club. Let’s make this clear: A Dreamer’s Holiday is not running a marathon. The last time we ran long distance was a half marathon in 2010. To be honest, the training and the race at the time was quite gruelling…borderline traumatizing that it mentally restricted our ability to run beyond 3 miles. But this opportunity was too good to pass. So we decided to take a chance and join this running group. Only run what we felt comfortable and not let anybody influence what we set out to do.
As a foreigner it can be challenging connecting with locals, let alone finding a community in a completely different country and/or continent. We lacked the typical work and school environments where majority of the natural social interactions occur. Many suggest participating in activities as a way to bond and establish new relationships. Could a spontaneous decision like running lead to something special?
On January 22, 2023, we ran with Nathaniel and five other individuals along the Seine river, past Notre Dame and all the way to the Bois de Vincennes. It equated to seven miles! It has been over ten years since we ran that type of distance! We enjoyed conversing with six total strangers as we passed each mile. To our amazement, we shared other similar interests such as a love for music, a drive for independence with work and a rare passion for delicious food. These are experiences that we will truly cherish forever. Though the group easily doubled our distance, we did not let that dictate our personal goals and desires. We are here to have fun, interact with others and discover more about ourselves.
The following Sunday, we ran the opposite direction towards the Eiffel Tower and to the Bois de Boulogne. This time we reached 7.25 miles. We expect the gains to be slow, especially as we approach beyond our mid 30s. It is more important to us to be very mindful of our capabilities and limitations. The gradual increase in distance and adequate rest and recovery are some of the keys to injury prevention. So to add to our laundry list of things we try to juggle in life, we are throwing in some long distance running to our weekly routine.
It’s funny to think that sometimes we go through the motions in life and forget how fortunate we are to have the chance and ability to live in a city like Paris. We forget to live! We overlook the value of “play!” We neglect that there is an enormous playground to explore and wander. You can gain a whole new unique perspective of Paris while running. You stumble upon unbelievable things that you wouldn’t have otherwise discover by other means of transportation. We are experiencing the beauty of the City of Lights with a small group of special individuals. So here’s to running next Sunday with Leo, Daniel, Andrey, Hamza, Laurence and Nathaniel. All running with a purpose.
