RUNNING has taken me to some of the most beautiful places on earth, including the cold wilderness of Antarctica, the deserts of Namibia, the ancient landscapes of Mongolia, as well as Laos, Lijiang, Vietnam and other places.

Ultramarathons in particular are a favourite of mine, given the challenges of running on little food and water non-stop for 7 days over rough terrain in hot and cold temperatures, up mountains and through streams.

Importantly, though, ultramarathons allow me to see parts of the world that I would never visit otherwise, and experience things that I would never have experienced – including being saved from a fast-flowing river by a Mongolian on a Przewalski’s horse, or being followed by a curious waddle of penguins in Antarctica!

I find one of the most fascinating things about running for 5 days in a row, only stopping at night to eat and sleep, is the fact that you really have to pack everything you need in a backpack and carry that with you the whole way.

Training for an ultramarathon starts 6 to 9 months before the event itself. You need to prepare your body for the tiredness, to carry the backpack (about 10 kg including the 1.5 litres of water) and slowly increase your mileage.

Usually, I start with running about 5 times a week here in Singapore where I live, slowly increasing the distance and weight. I also train at the gym 2 or 3 times a week, mostly weights and endurance. Nearer the race, during the final 2 months, I start to run back-to-back long distance runs 2 to 3 weekends per month, around 25 to 35 km each day. This is to train the body to be tired.

Of course, the aforementioned adventures took place before the Covid-19 pandemic brought a halt to foreign travel. However, for me the running never stopped. Not just because I expect to run another marathon at some point, but also because beyond allowing me to enjoy the beauty of nature and the environment, running really does help me professionally in a number of ways.

The ability to turn off my mobile phone and “disappear” for a few days, running for many hours alone, allows me to put things into perspective and helps with my creative process.

When it comes to people management and leadership, there are many benefits. Being exposed to other cultures has helped me to learn how other people from different countries think and work. This has had direct benefits and I am sure the cultural familiarity I have acquired has helped me open a number of new offices around the world, including in Thailand, Dubai and Japan.

I micromanage much less and tend to give my colleagues more freedom to make their own decisions, even if this means failing from time to time. I know from running that failure is a powerful motivational tool, and the ability to bounce back from failure – be that an injury or a deal that did not come through – makes us all better people. Running has forced me to be more even and consistent with my emotions, which is reflected in my leadership style. Being the chief executive officer of a company comes with many highs and lows, often in the same day, and I have learnt not to get too happy when things go well and not get too dejected with things go badly.

I would recommend running for anyone who manages and runs companies. It is important to understand that fitness and a regular workout routine helps one perform better in other areas of life, such as at work. So, I recommend ensuring that you dedicate a period of time every day towards training, and stick to it regularly.

For me, it has always been rewarding to be able to push my limits and go beyond my comfort zone. It has definitely helped me with the challenges I have faced as an entrepreneur and as a human being. Alain Esseiva, 59, is CEO of Alpadis Group