2023 was about starting (see the full story here).
Showing up.
Building consistency.
Proving to myself that I wouldn’t quit again.
2024 was different.
I didn’t just want to run.
I wanted to improve.
Distances got longer.
Goals got clearer.
Expectations got higher.
And with that…
Reality showed up too.
Not all progress feels good.
Some of it challenges you in ways you don’t expect.
2. First 10K — When Structure Started Working
After my first official 5K in October 2023, I followed my first real structured plan using Garmin Coach with Jeff Galloway.
The goal was simple:
Run a 10K under 60 minutes.
No race scheduled.
So I created one.
January 13th, 2024 — Track Test
- Distance: 10K
- Elevation: 18 m
- Time: 57:52
It wasn’t an official race.
But it didn’t matter.
For the first time, I followed a plan from start to finish.
And it worked.
That changed something.
Not just physically — mentally.
It showed me that progress could be built.
3. First Official 10K — When Belief Kicked In
This race was part of my half marathon preparation with Garmin Coach Amy Parkerson-Mitchell.
A checkpoint. Not the final goal.
April 14th, 2024 — 10 km d’Uccle
- Distance: 10 km
- Elevation: 126 m
- Official time: 55:32
My watch predicted 55 minutes.
I wasn’t sure I could trust it.
But I followed it.
And it was right.
That race changed something.
For the first time,
I didn’t just complete a goal.
I started to believe I could go further.
4. First Half Marathon — Learning Over Performing
This was my first half marathon preparation with Garmin Coach Amy Parkerson-Mitchell.
At first, the goal was simple:
Finish.
But as training progressed, the goal evolved.
Because consistency started to show results.
Race — Halve Marathon Nijlen
- Distance: 21.1 km (official)
- Elevation: 48 m
- Official time: 2:06:42
- Watch: 2:06:05
- Watch distance: 20.92 km
Goal: Don’t stop running.
And I didn’t.
The Distance Reality
Even though I completed the full official distance, my watch didn’t register a half marathon.
Why?
Because:
- The official course is measured on the ideal racing line;
- Runners naturally cut corners;
- GPS is not perfectly precise;
Small differences add up.
So sometimes:
- You run slightly less;
- Or sometimes more;
But the official time is always based on the official distance.
That’s what counts in races.
At the same time, I knew:
Based on how I ran,
I was capable of that distance — and even slightly better.
What Changed
This race wasn’t about performance.
It was about understanding.
- First real fueling test;
- First pacing strategy;
- First real effort control;
And I stayed in control.
That changed everything.
5. Gear Evolution — From Basic to Purposeful
At the beginning, I kept things simple:
- Basic running clothes;
- Layers for weather;
Then things started to evolve.
The First Real Upgrade
- Evadict 5L hydration vest
Game changer.
Longer runs suddenly became realistic.
The “Messy” Phase (And Yes… the Noise)
Before that:
- Bottles;
- Gummies;
- Random snacks;
And honestly…
The noise of the bottles annoyed me.
It sounds small.
But it matters.
Because comfort affects consistency.
Shoes & Rotation
- Trail → Hoka Speedgoat 6
- Road → Saucony Triumph 22
- Retired → Brooks Ghost 15 (1300+ km)
Lighting & Safety
- Petzl Swift RL 1100;
- Backup headlamp;
- Nite Ize TagLit Magnetic LED Marker;
Poles
The Real Training Shift
At first: pace.
Then:
- Heart rate training;
- Garmin HRM-Pro Plus;
And later:
RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion = effort feeling)
The most advanced skill.
Still learning it.
6. Fueling & Experimentation — From Chaos to Structure
Before 2024: nothing.
No hydration.
No fueling.
Then:
- Hydration vest;
- Gels (PowerGel);
Simple structure:
- Drink every 15 minutes;
- Fuel every 30–45 minutes;
Not perfect.
But consistent.
And consistency made the difference.
7. Sub-2 Half Marathon — Breakthrough
Second half marathon preparation:
Garmin Coach Greg McMillan.
New goal:
Sub 2 hours.
September 15th, 2024 — Semi-Marathon de Nivelles
- Distance: 21.1 km
- Elevation: 218 m
- Official time: 1:53:26
Prediction: 1:53:46.
Almost exact.
This time:
- Full distance recorded;
- PR validated;
Everything aligned.
Nijlen was the test.
Nivelles was the execution.
For the first time:
I didn’t just finish a race.
I raced it.
8. Niggles & Body Feedback — The Silent Progress
As training increased, problems became more complex.
The Insole Problem
Old insoles (not made for running).
Stacked → imbalance.
Result:
- Knee pain
Adapting on the Fly
One small but important adjustment:
Running on chamfered roads
→ alternating sides instead of always the same one.
The Real Fix
- 3D-printed insoles;
- Shoe rotation;
- Strength training;
Pain improved.
Other Issues (That Didn’t Fully Go Away)
- Long runs in rain → moisture → recurring foot issues;
- Hard skin under the left foot;
Removed by a doctor.
Expected: quick recovery.
Reality:
- It didn’t fully heal;
- It started to come back;
At that time, it seemed minor.
It wasn’t.
This continues in 2025.
9. Revisiting the 5K — Perspective
One year later.
Same distance.
Different runner.
October 6th, 2024 — 5 km, Semi-Marathon de Mons
- Official distance: 5 km
- Elevation: 22 m
- Official time: 25:26
- Watch distance: 5.34 km
- Watch 5K time: 23:49
Same principle as before:
Official time = official distance.
But performance tells another story.
From 29:34 → ~23:49 capability.
That’s real progress.
December 15th, 2024
- Distance: 26.62 km
- Elevation: 849 m
- Time: 4:33:47
On paper, it looked like the next logical step.
In reality… I wasn’t ready.
The Context I Ignored
At the end of November, I got sick.
Flu-like symptoms that turned into bronchitis.
Low energy.
Inconsistent training.
Everyone around me recovered.
I didn’t.
The day before the race, my mother tried to convince me not to go.
My wife didn’t even try.
She already knew.
I had made my decision.
The Start
Temperature: just above 0°C.
Enough to melt the ice.
Enough to turn everything into mud.
A real mudbath.
I had everything ready:
- Winter gear
- Hydration vest
- Fuel
- Trail shoes
- Running poles
I started faster than I should have.
For a while… it felt good.
Then the Race Started
The climbs came.
And everything changed.
People started passing me.
Not one by one.
In waves.
I took out my poles and tried to adapt.
But I already knew:
This was going to be much harder than I expected.
A Small Moment That Said Everything
At one point, on a rocky descent in a riverbed,
there was an older man in front of me.
Slightly crouched. Careful with every step.
I could have passed him.
But I didn’t.
Because deep down, I knew:
If I pass him now, I won’t be able to stay ahead later.
So I stayed behind.
That decision said everything about my state.
The Body Fights Back
My breathing got heavier.
Then deeper.
Then painful.
Every deep breath triggered:
- Coughing
- Pain in my chest
Running slowly turned into:
- Jogging
- Walking
- Power hiking
Kilometers stopped flowing.
They had to be earned.
Being Passed Again… and Again
In the last part of the race, something hit me.
Marathon runners.
They had started one hour before me.
They had already covered much more distance.
And now…
They were passing me.
Not silently. Not competitively.
They looked at me.
They spoke to me.
They encouraged me.
“Keep going.”
“You’ve got this.”
“Almost there.”
And I realized something:
Everyone is suffering.
But no one is alone.
Trail runners don’t just run.
They support each other.
They lift each other when it gets hard.
And that… stays with you.
This Wasn’t Perfect — But It Was Necessary
Let me be honest.
Going into that race in that condition…
Was not the wisest decision.
But I don’t regret it.
Because out there, in the cold, in the mud, struggling to breathe…
I learned more about myself than in any “perfect” race.
In the end…
It came down to one thing:
Moving forward.
The Finish Line
I crossed the finish line in:
4 hours, 33 minutes, 47 seconds
- Running: ~1h30
- Walking & resting: ~2h34
I was the last finisher.
Ahead of 8 DNFs.
And finishing mattered more than ranking.
And somehow…
That didn’t feel like failure.
What This Race Gave Me
Not a result.
Not a performance.
Perspective.
- My limits are further than I thought
- My body can struggle… but my mind keeps going
- The trail community is something special
And maybe the most important:
You don’t always need perfect conditions to learn something valuable.
11. Closing the Year — Volume & Structure
Planned: 1,200 km
Actual: 1,629.52 km
This wasn’t luck.
It was consistency with structure.
Running Club
End of the year:
I joined a running club.
Solo: Discipline
Group: Energy
Both matter.
12. What 2024 Taught Me
Key lessons:
- Progress includes mistakes;
- Data builds awareness;
- Racing builds humility;
- Health is non-negotiable;
Biggest takeaway:
Consistency builds you.
Awareness protects you.
13. Stepping Into 2025
The progression:
- 2023 → I stopped quitting
- 2024 → I understood my limits
2025 is not just about doing more.
It’s about doing better.
Direction:
- Smarter training;
- Better recovery;
- Marathon distance;
What Running Becomes
Running is not just something you do.
Over time…
It becomes part of who you are.
Final Thought
You don’t need a perfect plan.
You need:
- Consistency;
- Awareness;
Everything else builds on top.