One Rising Star

“Some of the best days are the unplanned ones.” While staying in Nice, I woke up one morning and decided it was the perfect day for a little adventure. Without much planning, I hopped on the train and headed to Monaco, ready to see where the day would take me. The journey was very spontaneous; one moment I was in France, and the next I was stepping into a completely different country. That’s the beauty of Europe! I started my day exploring the Prince’s Palace and wandering through the charming streets of Le Rocher’s old town while taking in the views from up high. From there, I made my way down to Port Hercule, strolling along the harbour and admiring the yachts before climbing up to Monte Carlo Square and the iconic casino. A pricey lunch in a fancy cafe followed (as expected), but it was all part of the Monaco experience I guess.  I wrapped up the day with a walk through the very elaborate Christmas market, soaking in the festive atmosphere before making my way back to the train ...

“Rester, c’est exister… mais voyager, c’est vivre.” My time in France began in Paris, where I met up with my parents for a few days of exploring the city. I couldn’t wait to finally use my  Canadian  French and take in all the iconic sights , such as the Eiffel Tower, l’Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, and Notre Dame. Wandering the city on foot, soaking up its energy, and sharing those moments with my parents made it especially meaningful. The trip also included hockey, with a short visit to Cergy to watch my brother play an away game before we hopped on the train to Bordeaux, where he currently lives and plays professional ice hockey. There, we caught a home game, watched an away match on the big screen at La Cage, a Québec-roots restaurant that felt like a little taste of Canada, toured the city, and spent Christmas with his family. Of course, I did find my way into a little CrossFit box too to do a couple workouts. Bordeaux was cold, but festive, and I loved how walkable it...

  “Some moments are soft in pace, but solid in memory.” A few days in London felt like the perfect way to begin my winter travels.  Reconnecting with friends I hadn’t seen in a few years, reminiscing about the good old Dubai days, sharing favourite memories, and laughing until our cheeks hurt made the short stop incredibly special. It was one of those easy, unhurried breaks where every moment felt light, warm, and full of joy. The city itself was glowing with Christmas magic. Twinkling lights, festive decorations everywhere, and relaxed strolls past decorated homes, Big Ben, the London Eye, Christmas markets, Covent Garden, and charming streets and corners brought the season to life. A truly beautiful way to kick off the holiday travels.

“The Only Bad Run Is the One That Didn’t Happen.” Last week, I signed up for one final 10km race for the year. I was excited to experience a new location in Dubai and a fresh route. There’s always a little extra motivation running somewhere different, and I was genuinely looking forward to seeing another part of the city. Not long after the start of the race though, it became clear to me that things weren’t quite right. I had a feeling early on that we were running too far in one direction, and by the time I reached 5km, it was obvious. Like many others, I turned around and headed back toward the finish line. I learned later on, after the race was complete, that the signs on the course had been removed, and many runners, myself included, kept going in the wrong direction. The race was a huge mental battle. Confusion crept in early, and running while knowing the distance might not add up properly made pacing very challenging. It was disappointing crossing the finish line knowing I didn’...