One Rising Star

“Your journey. Your pace.” It's running season, and lately I've found myself thinking about what I want from my running over the coming months. I've been considering the idea of taking on another full marathon. It's been around eight and a half years since my last one, and part of me would love to experience that challenge again. But having recently completed this weekend's half marathon in Al Ain (UAE), I'm starting to question whether now is the right time. The half marathon this weekend was never intended to be an all-out race. I wanted to treat it as a training run, see where my fitness was, find a sustainable pace and aim to finish comfortably under two hours. I achieved that, which I'm really pleased with. However, I'm not entirely convinced I could have carried on for another 21km at the same pace! The last four kilometres were definitely more of a struggle, and I could feel where my training had been lacking. Realistically, I've only been doi...

  “Somewhere between training for performance and training for enjoyment, I’m still figuring out where I belong.” Just a couple weeks ago, I signed up for Deka Fit Dubai. No specific training plan. No real preparation. And, if I'm honest, I wasn't even sure what I was getting myself into. I'd been considering Hyrox Abu Dhabi, but something in me wanted to try something different. So I signed up for Deka pretty late and decided to see what happened. Over the last few years, my relationship with training has changed a lot. I still train consistently; I run, do cardio, lift weights, strength train… but I'm nowhere near the performance level I was a few years ago and I've stepped away from competing as much as I once did. These days, I try to enjoy training without always having a target. No specific event. No particular time to chase. Just moving, keeping fit, maintaining a bit of strength, and most importantly enjoying the process. So, Deka was really about testing th...

“If not now, when?” Puerto Rico had been on my mind for a little while, but I kept finding excuses not to go; I had other places I wanted to see, traveling there can be expensive and traveling solo isn’t always the most fun. But, I've always loved traveling to Latin American countries (yes, I am aware PR isn’t exactly a country), that's essentially where my love of traveling really began. The food, the music, the energy, the language…that Latin vibe is something pretty special in my opinion. T his summer, I finally decided to stop thinking about it and just go for it, even if it meant spending a little more money, doing it alone, and arriving in the middle of a water shortage. What better way to begin the trip than with an entire plane’s  applause upon landing ? It was such an unexpected moment, but one that I later learned was all part of the cultural experience. My taxi driver continued the warm welcome on the way to my hotel, sharing local tips and giving me plenty of recomm...

 “Adventure is exciting, but simplicity has its own kind of magic.” Over the years of living abroad, I've gradually lost that feeling of excitement about going back to Canada for the summer holidays. Don't get me wrong, it's always great to spend time with my family and catch up with close friends, but after living independently overseas for so long, it's often an adjustment to essentially move back into my parents' home; I miss having my own space, my own car, and some of the routines I’ve created for myself living life solo. After working so hard throughout the school year, I typically find myself craving a holiday that feels exciting, and seeing as this past school year was especially challenging for a variety of reasons, more than anything, I really wanted time to switch off and recharge. Also, it never helps that social media is filled with everyone else's exciting adventures around the world, making it harder for me sometimes to be chilling back in my home...

"I've spent enough years becoming her to finally enjoy being her." Recently, I found myself standing at Aura Sky Pool in Dubai, looking out over a pretty remarkable city. The view was breathtaking; the kind of view people travel across the world to see. Of course, I took some photos. As I scrolled through them afterward, I found myself sitting with a few different thoughts and feelings. First, gratitude; for the opportunities I've been given, the experiences I've had, and the cards I've been dealt. Then, pride; in the journey I've been on and the person I've worked so hard to become. And finally, vulnerability; an uncomfortable feeling that seems to show up every single time I think about sharing photos of myself, especially photos that feel a little more personal, such as those in a bikini. The longer I looked through my pictures, the less I found myself thinking about the view and the more I found myself thinking about the woman in them. Maybe it...

“Sometimes the most meaningful journeys are the ones we never planned.” About two and a half weeks ago, I made a very spontaneous decision. After weeks of feeling anxious due to the unstable situation in the Middle East ( and disappointed my trip to Thailand had been cancelled ), I woke up one morning with a clear need to get away. It was impulsive, a little chaotic, and definitely not thought through, but I needed a mental break. I needed to step away from the alerts, the sounds of interceptions in the sky, and the constant ‘war’ chatter. So, I went for it and I booked a flight to France that same day ( who knew I’d be back in France so quickly - but it felt right! ). What I didn’t expect was everything that would come with that decision. Yes, I found moments of peace; time to slow down, to breathe, to step away from the noise I had been surrounded by. But the trip became so much more than that. It brought a sense of calm and joy in a way I hadn’t anticipated. Getting to see my brothe...

“Not everyone processes uncertainty the same way, and that’s okay.” The past few days have been unexpected. What started as a normal Saturday - coaching at the gym, breakfast with a friend, catching up on work with the TV on in the background - quickly changed when I heard a loud “boom” coming from outside my apartment. At first, many of us in the community assumed it came from one of the many nearby construction sites. But, within the next few hours, the loud sounds came again and again, and word spread that these were missiles and drones being intercepted in the sky. I’ve always felt safe here in the UAE, and believe it or not, to a certain extent, I still do. Like many other residents here, I have a lot of trust in the country I’ve chosen to call home for over 11 years. I’ve seen it overcome challenges in the past, such as COVID and floods, and I’ve witnessed how much the leadership cares for the residents, particularly over the last few days.  That said, it’s no secret that I a...

  "The unknown is where the real stories begin." When I heard about the Hood to Coast event happening in the Dubai desert this month, I just knew I wanted to take part. It reminded me of the Wadi Bih run I did a couple of times in the Hatta mountains several years ago, and the idea of a team relay in a new environment sounded so exciting! Of course, I needed to find some teammates. For this event though, I really put myself out there and joined a team where I didn’t know anyone. I’ve been making an effort to meet new people through run clubs and fitness events, and this sounded like a great opportunity. So, when the founder of Original Culprit ( a fitness wear brand ) decided to put some teams together, I went for it. I had a busy work week and a terrible night’s sleep prior to the event, but I’d committed, and there was no way I was backing out. I arrived at the venue ( in the   middle of the desert )  around 4:30am , and it was dark and cold outside. I met my four teamm...

“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.