MARATHON STRATEGY

My triumphant completion of the Brisbane Marathon last weekend filled me with an overwhelming sense of joy and accomplishment.

A few hours earlier, as I stood at the start line, surrounded by fellow runners ready to tackle the 42.195 km journey, something caught my attention.

Beside me was a runner unlike the others - he was barefoot!

I couldn't help but be amazed. How could someone even contemplate running a full marathon without shoes?

Memories flooded my mind of Abebe Bikila, the Ethiopian runner who made history in 1960. Thrust into the race at the last minute as a replacement for an injured athlete, Abebe decided to embrace the challenge and run the marathon barefoot.

And what a decision it turned out to be!

Not only did he secure victory, but he also set a new world record, leaving spectators in awe. The sheer audacity and determination of his barefoot accomplishment remain etched in my mind as the siren for the race start sounded.

There is a vast array of options we have in athletic footwear today.

Companies like Nike, renowned for their strategic acumen, are consistently pushing the boundaries of innovation to develop shoes that elevate athletes' performances.

For this marathon, I ditched my new bulkier Nike Vaporfly-3s currently on trial from Nike and opted for my reliable and super-fast Vaporfly-2s.

In business, one of the secrets of strategy is to know all your options before acting. The game of business rarely a sprint, but more like a marathon, with no finish line!

As I crossed the finish line on Sunday morning, a wave of elation washed over me.

I felt grateful for the challenge. And as I bit affectionally into my medal, I remembered the words of Eliud Kipchoge, "No human is limited."