How I became the highest-paid runner in the world

One month ago a potential LP invited us to a meeting. He lives in Cyprus, and he proposed that we stay at his beach house for 3 days so that we could get to know each other better. He was interested to learn more about Begin Capital, our portfolio, investment approach, etc.

We flew in, had an interesting conversation over dinner, and then he asked:

• “Alex, do you take morning runs?”

To answer honestly: No, I don’t. Apparently, I am not all that great in running. But considering that he was 50+ years old, it will be possible even for an unsportsmanlike person like me. So I said:

• “Of course, I do! Let’s go for a run tomorrow!”
• "I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning!”

At 5:40 AM he came knocking on my door.?

• “Are you ready?!” And so we were off in 10 minutes.

I must admit that I am the type of person who sends off my last email at 1:30 AM, then watches Netflix and google following types of queries before going to bed:

• “How many tentacles does an octopus have?”
• “Did Americans really land on the Moon?”
• “Who are these bald people, and what can they give to the world?”

Cor! People like me cannot be approached with questions, assignments, or challenges before 9:45 AM.?

So, you can imagine that I wasn’t at my best at 5:40 AM. But I got ready and dressed, and so we set off for a run.

We started slowly and comfortably enough. But after 500 m, our speed increased to 10–12 km/h.

After we ran 1 km, I was still OK and pleased with myself

But at 2 km, I was getting a little nervous.

When we reached 3 km at a rate of 5:10 per km, I began to pray that soon the road would turn left and circle back to our starting position.

At 4 km, my heart rate was 180 and the road was still straight. In other words, I would still have to run this distance back at the very least. Here is where I started encountering new difficulties. My companion started peppering me with the following questions:

• “Alex, what is your net return forecast for 2024?”
• “Alex, is it still possible to make an additional direct investment of $2–3M in that Dutch start-up you told me about?” “What is their EBITDA for the end of the year?”
• “Alex, what do you think about Dogecoin?”

I confess that at that moment I was thinking only one thing about Dogecoin... “What a ridiculous death this is. I will die before Dogecoin.”

We ran 5 km at a rate of 5:05 per km. I hate embankments in resort areas. Who are these people who decided to make them so long!? They should only be 1, maximum 1.5 km long. Why make them longer!? Let's pass a law that if the embankment is longer, it must turn around and lead back, making for a total distance of no more than 2.5 km!

When my watch showed 7.5 km, I couldn’t take any more of it:

• “Could we please turn around? I still have an investment committee meeting today.”
• “Ah, I see! Tell me: how do you hold those meetings? Could I join you as an observer?”?
• “Gush...”
• ? “Oh, so you’re tired?”
• “No, I am simply concerned about you. You’re not a spring chicken, and you shouldn’t run so much.”
• “I see, son. So we will keep the run to shorter than 20 km... Let's at least pick up the pace back, then.”

I don't remember how we got back at a pace of 4:40 per km. I am reliant on what my watch reports. After our run, we swam 1 km in the sea. After that we were limbered up to take part in any sporting event.

The next day, history repeated itself completely ... 30 km in 2 days + 2 km in the water.

Before I flew back, we talked again. I was so tired that I could hardly concentrate and almost fell asleep at the meeting, but one phrase woke me up...

• “Alex, I would like to become your LP and invest $20M in the new fund managed by Begin...”

This is great news, especially since the investor is very cool. So, if you break my experience down statistically, I am quite the competitive runner: I brought in almost $700k per km. In light of this, friends, if you have any proposals involving running/cycling/swimming, then I would be happy to take part in such an opportunity, though my standard rate would apply. However, I am willing to offer a 50% discount to my first clients.