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That I Run

I have a knack for running.

I’ve run for the better part of my life without ever giving it much thought. I did not have a training plan, a race schedule, or knew about different types of running shoes. And I never aspired to be fast or competitive. I simply enjoyed lacing up my sneakers and going for a run in the sun.

Once in a while, I’d sign up for a random race — mainly because a friend was running — and I tagged along. On top of that, I like food and drink at least as much as I like running, so you might have never suspected I was a runner.

That changed in late 2018 when my co-conspirator-in-life and I contemplated whether we had any hobbies besides parenting, completing home renovation projects, putting long hours into the work we both love, or meeting up with friends. She pointed out what should have been obvious: My pastime is running!

Since then, running has become a more mindful practice for me, and I started consciously exploring, reflecting, improving, and striving. In addition to the simple yet profound joy of venturing out for a run, running has become a means to

  • learn about health, nutrition & rest;

  • structure my time in pursuit of running goals & other objectives;

  • revel in the joys of purposefully directing energy into both physical & intellectual pursuits;

  • connect with friends while exploring the countries & cities I have the privilege of visiting;

  • practice gratitude & reflect on all things in life: past, present, and future.

And though I am still not a fast runner, I happily compete with myself!

In 2024 — just before finishing a spectacular marathon that led me across the Bosphorus Strait from Asia to Europe — I started thinking about whether and how I might do something useful for others while spending non-trivial amounts of time on the road. I decided to raise money — once a year — for a cause important to me, and linked to one of my running goals.

In 2024, many of you gave generously to the Björn-Schulz-Stiftung in Berlin and based on the positive feedback I received, I put together this site to share a bit more about my running journey, document the successful fundraiser in 2024, and share a few resources I’ve found helpful.

Have a quick look — and let me know any thoughts you might have!

From Vienna
JT

Exploring & Connecting

I am fortunate to have lived in a bunch of different countries and to have had the opportunity to travel extensively for work and personally.

While visiting different countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, running has been a fantastic way to explore locations and cityscapes beyond hotel rooms & conference halls. In addition, running has afforded me the opportunity to connect and reconnect with friends across the globe — old & new, runner & non-runner.

To continue this treasured practice, I am listing my upcoming runs. If you are in town and have time to connect over a cup of coffee, I’d love to meet up!

As all runners know, your regular practice runs blend together after a while and you lose track of the many thousands of runs you finish. And that’s okay. 

Then again, there are a few runs that stand out because they were absolutely amazing:

Perhaps you ran as the single human on the road at 3am in the morning in the freezing cold. Perhaps you ran as one of many thousands streaming into the same direction during a race. Perhaps you ran with a friend and had an important conversation or an epiphany along the way. Perhaps you ran without navigation in a place entirely alien to you.

Whatever it is, these runs stick with you. Here are a few of the runs I have found to be absolutely amazing. I also list all the marathons I have finished — in good spirits that there are many more to come!

Running in Bliss

Raising the STakes

As a runner, you inadvertently spend a decent chunk of time on the road, on trails and in the gym. And despite the many benefits, opportunity costs are very real: You could be advancing your work, spending time with your family, or volunteering for a local non-profit.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to compensate for the nagging feeling you don’t have the balance quite right yet — allowing you to offset some of these costs.

  • Bring your family: Have your smaller kids come along in a running stroller — they love it; Pre-teen kids can ride their bike next to you & you teach them traffic rules while out on a run.

  • Stay productive: Switch up your running music with the latest industry podcasts, practice a speech, or sequence the bullet points for your next presentation in your head.

  • Give back: Many races are organized as fundraisers by local schools or other non-profits, including some global races such as “Wings for Life.” You can also try to fundraise by linking one of your running goals to meeting a specific donation threshold.

That is what I tried in 2024: With sincere appreciation for the many generous contributions you all made, we were able to raise over € 2,500 for the Berlin-based “Björn-Schulz-Stiftung.”

Diving in

In addition to spending time on the road, you also spend time on other aspects of your running journey: You study pace charts, read about different training methods, keep up with the latest gadgets, learn about nutrition, test new shoes, and chat with other runners about the best way to optimize your hydration strategy during long runs. All that is part of the excitement!

Here are a few resources I’ve found helpful in learning about running, nutrition, gear, and staying healthy. I’ll add to the list over time. Feel free to browse and please let me know if you have thoughts or guidance you’ve found useful.

A genuine thanks to all my friends and fellow runners for the advice they have shared along the way.

Updates

Here is to make email fun again!

Let me know that you’ve been on my site by signing up for updates which I will send out twice a year — no more.

And if you feel inclined, please leave me a message with your thoughts!