Setting the pace for consistent leadership

RUNNING is my perfect start to the day. I hit the pavement early in the day, sometimes in an energetic and cheerful mood, feeling fast and powerful, uplifted by the company of my favourite songs; other times groggy, sluggish and stiff, only propelled along by the knowledge that I’ll feel better for having made the effort. Whatever my mindset and physical state at 6am, one thing is certain: I always return feeling revived and ready for a long and challenging day.

I first started running at the age of 16, “hitting the pavements” to relieve the pressure of school exams and improve my general fitness. Today, apart from releasing the tension in my back and boosting my endorphins, morning runs put me in the right headspace. Post-run, I’m pleased to have accomplished something early in the day and I feel ready to move on and tackle the working day with energy and confidence.

My love for running was rekindled during the first few years of my career when I was working long hours in management consultancy. Like others eager to impress when starting out, I found it hard to “switch off”. Running provided 30 minutes of escape, with my mind wholly engaged in the battle with my willpower to keep going. At one point in this hectic period, I decided to join a week-long military fitness boot camp. The adrenaline rush and enhanced well-being underlined the need for a regular routine to maintain my physical and mental health.