Today, exactly one year ago, I lined up for my first ever race — a 21KM trail run that felt completely beyond my capabilities at the time.

Now, as I get my head in the game for UTCT100, I’m struck by how far I’ve come. From that first nervous 21km, through 35km, then 55km, to now standing at the precipice of 100km — a distance that wasn’t even in my realm of possibility back then.

And, as I look back, I’m reminded of the importance of having a sense of purpose in life.

Not just for achievement, but for the sake of growth, fulfilment and joy.

Once again, I have experienced firsthand what real purpose does to a person and the lesson it teaches us that we can’t learn in any other way.

But don’t get me wrong, when I speak about purpose, I’m not talking about pursuing a risk and tension-free life where everything feels good and within our control. Quite the opposite.

I’m talking about committing to something bigger than yourself — something that pulls you forward and challenges you to transcend your current limitations.

To live WITH purpose includes moving through highs and lows, victories and setbacks. Stretches where everything clicks and days when nothing feels right. It’s joy and pain, drive and exhaustion. Moments of passion and days of apathy.

The funny part of it all is that we don’t get to choose when these things happen. But when these moments hit (and they will!) we do get to choose how we respond — we get the opportunity to lead ourselves through it.

And this is where real growth begins.

When you’re faced with challenges that bring up parts of yourself you don’t know how to handle, don’t want to acknowledge, or haven’t faced before. When every fiber of your being wants to run, hide, shrink, or tap out, it’s your purpose that keeps you showing up.

It’s when your commitment to a worthwhile cause or goal has become stronger than your doubts, your fears, or your desire for a soft, comfortable and predictable life.

These are the moments that matter most. Not because they reveal our character, but because they forge it. And that (or at least to me) is the real reward of living with purpose — not the money, the medals or the titles, but the person you become in the pursuit of your goals.

Now, with UTCT just around the corner, I realise this truth more than ever. I’ve trained harder than ever before, I’ve put in the work, and I’ve kept going, even in the face of adversity.

Even on days when I’ve felt like nothing more than throwing in the towel and tapping out.
And while crossing that finish line will mark my first 100K, it represents something far more significant — a testament to the resilience, wisdom and perseverance forged through every step of my life’s journey. To the person I’ve become.

But this isn’t just about running ultras. This is about living with purpose.

Through years of coaching and my personal experience, I’ve come to understand purpose in a very specific way. It’s not some lofty, abstract concept or a perfectly crafted mission statement.

Purpose, in its most powerful form, is simply accepting and committing to the challenges in front of you. Whether you have chosen this challenge, like my decision to run ultras, or that the challenge has chosen you — in the form of unexpected setbacks, heartbreaks or losses.

In both cases, these challenges offer the same opportunity — to confront and transcend your limitations in order to fulfill the highest and most truthful expression of ourselves.

When you have something meaningful to pursue, every obstacle becomes an opportunity for growth. Every setback carries the seed of strength. Purpose naturally builds resilience — not through forcing yourself to be tough, but through finding meaning in the struggle.

As Friedrich Nietzsche once famously said, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”

I’ve experienced this firsthand over the past year. Despite reaching new peaks in almost every area of my life, I’ve also faced some of my toughest personal challenges.

Loneliness. Uncertainty. Heartbreak. Setbacks. Moments that could have derailed everything.

But what I’ve learned is that when your WHY is bigger than your problems, you don’t have the luxury of swilling in misery. You don’t get to hide or tap out when things get hard.

Because something more important than your temporary feelings is calling you forward.

What I’ve learned, is that when you have something meaningful to pursue, something that truly matters to you, it becomes your North Star — guiding you through both the challenges you choose and the ones that choose you.

So here’s what I want you to understand: it’s not about ‘finding your purpose’ it’s about living with purpose, about embracing change and challenges, and allowing them forge you in the person you’re meant to become.

This is why I’m sharing this with you now.

Because as I prepare for UTCT, as I reflect on this year’s journey, I’m reminded that the greatest gift of pursuing something bigger than yourself isn’t the external reward — it’s who you become in the process and the impact you have on those around you.

The question that I want to leave you with is this:

What challenge are you choosing?