To keep things (and you) running, it's a must to stay determined.

With KMS Sports Fest 2024’s strong Sports@KMS spirit, let's meet 5 KMS Runners in this special edition of Humans of KMS: 5 stories, 5 different starting points, but all successfully conquered milestones that they “thought they would never be able to do”.

More than just a good habit to improve health, running, for KMSers, is also:

• A cure after a heartbreak
• A life therapy to be stronger mentally
• A push to step out of the comfort zone
• A bond to connect strongly with yourself and those around you

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#HumansofKMS #LifeatKMS #KMSCulture

Here, at KMS, we believe everyone has an unrevealed side or unexplored depth.

And Humans of KMS is the project dedicated to letting their untold stories be told.

Read, be inspired & feel the culture of KMS!

C??ng Nguy?n - “The hardest part about running is putting on your shoes.”

My starting point was a bit... different from most people when I started running to relieve my heartbreak. And I've been hooked on this passion ever since. I don't know whether to be happy or sad about this. But it's true that running has helped me forget my sorrows.

It's hard to believe that I, someone who barely passed gym class in school, can now conquer 55km runs. I prefer trail running to marathon running because trail running allows me to live my passion, travel to different places, admire the scenery, and listen to nature. When I'm in the forest listening to the rustling sounds of the trees, I feel so much better!

When I first started running, the hardest part about running is putting on your shoes, because I'm really lazy when I'm in a resting state. Why would I want to run and be exhausted when I'm perfectly comfortable? But I got addicted to running because of the significant changes it brought about. Just 3 months after I started running, my body had visible changes in appearance, I was healthier, more energetic, and my mental state also became more positive. Whenever I finish a run, my mind automatically feels a lot more relaxed, and this makes it much easier to solve problems in both life and work. It also makes me more confident and happier, which has opened up my relationships with people and allowed me to meet new friends.

Chánh Ph?m - "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

In the early days of running, I could only manage 2-3km, then gradually increased to tens, then hundreds - numbers that seemed unimaginable to me before, and I called them baby steps. The concept of “taking baby steps” in running is similar to a quote I deeply resonate with by Martin Luther King: “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” In work or life, there are challenges that seem difficult and obscure, but one must have faith and start with the first step.

Thanks to running, even a workaholic like me has become close with many colleagues. Through many training sessions and participating in many races together, everyone has gradually become a “like-minded” and very loving community to me. It is also thanks to them that I increasingly enjoy the feeling of connecting with others, as well as being a bridge to bring people closer together.

Gradually, not only stopping at training sessions or participating in races together, I also want to organize “running races” specifically for the members in the group. The feeling of waking up early to boil eggs, preparing “gear” for everyone, then pushing each other towards the finish line and celebrating together is something wonderful that is hard to find elsewhere. Later on, I passed on the experience of organizing those events to the others in the group and encouraged, supported them to host different running sessions themselves, so that everyone can continue to inspire and create more new playgrounds for others.

Th?ch Ph?m - “The first 1-2km you run with your legs, from 3km onwards you run with your head.”

In the past, I was invited by a former colleague to join running, and in the early days, when I ran 2km, I started to struggle with my inner self about whether to stop or continue running. There is a saying that I find very true - “The first 1-2km you run with your legs, from 3km onwards you run with your head”, the first 1-2km is very simple, but by the 3rd km I will start to think that I'm tired, I've run enough, I'm sweating, let's stop. At times like these, you need to have the willpower to overcome the urge to stop and keep reaching the finish line. After several times of running long distances, I have trained myself to be persistent and to fight my thoughts when I feel like giving up, and in the end, I win over myself.

Running has also made me do things I thought were impossible. For example, preparing for the IRONMAN 70.3 race has made me a person with iron discipline, always following the schedule, and managing time better. To get my body in the best shape and ready for the race, I had a strict training plan for 4 months before, sometimes I had to wake up at 2 A.M. to cycle, or take advantage of a short lunch break to go to the pool, while still having to make sure of work and other personal schedules.

This also applies to my work, there are times when I encounter problems that I feel stuck with. For example, before I started running, in difficult times like that I would think that “this is the deadend”, there is no solution to the problem, but now I know how to think differently, I have learned to think more flexibly to find solutions. If I were Th?ch of the past looking at Th?ch of the present, I would be so surprised!

H?ng Thái - “Running is easy, but easy to… give up on.”

In the past, I wasn't into sports, but I felt that my health wasn't good, so I decided to choose a sport to stick with. Taking advantage of the Lunar New Year running event at KMS, along with the encouragement from my colleagues, I chose running to start and have been hooked ever since.

Running is easy, but easy to… give up on, during the first days, anyone can put the shoes on, however, maintaining consistency and dedication can be challenging. Unlike other sports, running requires no opponent, no one to push you but yourself. Running has brought about many changes in myself and my life. I used to be quite unhealthy, but after running regularly, I no longer get frequent colds. I can feel the positive energy that running brings. This sport has also “forced” me to do things that I never thought I could do before. When I first started running, 5km a day was too much for me, but now I've conquered challenging ultra trail races with a best record of 85km.

Each race has its own unique emotions, but the most memorable one was probably the Vietnam Mountain Marathon 2022, my first long trail race at a distance of 70 km. It was already dark by then, and the trail in the forest was extremely slippery under the heavy rain. I still had 30 km to go, and both my legs were cramping. With each passing kilometer, I had to struggle mentally with whether to stop or continue.

Throughout the remaining part of the race, my body was in excruciating pain, but I thought I had come this far, so I had to be determined to finish! The result of my determination was that I had to walk backward up the steep hills in the final section, and finally crossed the finish line at midnight. In that moment, all the pain suddenly disappeared, replaced by an overwhelming sense of pride for having pushed my limits to complete that grueling trail.

Running for me is like life, it helps me train my willpower, be ready to face difficulties and fears, and be persistent in my goals. The finish line is like the sweet reward that helps me unleash my inner potential and personal limits. Moreover, I have also learned positive things, and even become close friends with the members of the running community around me.

Minh Nguy?n - “I like trails that are a bit unsafe, like having to jump from rock to rock when trail running.”

My running journey began with a farewell gift from my former boss - a pair of running shoes. They were the most expensive shoes I owned at the time, so I was determined to put them to good use by running with them. And as a result, I've been hooked ever since. Running has helped me change and connect with my body and mind in a deeper way. Before I started running, I was a very picky eater. Now, I eat more and enjoy my food more, and I haven't gained any weight. In fact, I'm fitter and healthier than ever before. One additional benefit is that my already tanned skin has gotten… even darker. Occasionally, when I visit my hometown, people ask me why my skin is so dark, like I've been working in the coffee fields.?

My most memorable running experience was during the Tet holiday in 2021, right after the pandemic. I decided to stay in Saigon for Tet to avoid potentially exposing my family back home to the virus. That year, KMS was organizing a “Chay Trau” race, so I decided to run in a different district each day of Tet. That's how I discovered so many great new running spots! I love road running because I can run anytime, anywhere. I just grab my shoes and head out the door. And even when I'm running alone, I still enjoy the experience. Running gives me the space to connect with myself on a deeper level. Whether I'm dealing with work stress or personal issues, I can always count on running to help me clear my head.

As for trail running, it wasn't until much later that I was “introduced” to it by my colleagues at KMS. Trail running is exciting because the terrain is constantly changing, and there are many places that can be dangerous if you're not careful. Especially on the rough, rocky sections, you have to focus and make quick decisions about where to put your next foot, being agile enough not to slip. I like trails that are a bit unsafe, like having to jump from rock to rock when trail running, just like in my work, I don't like things that are too smooth and simple, it has to be a bit challenging to be interesting!

The first time I ran a race, it was the Dalat Ultra Trail 45km. I completed the first 30km smoothly, but then it started hailing when I stopped at a checkpoint, and my running partner had to DNF. The next section was a straight uphill climb, all mud, so many other runners got injured and gave up. I was discouraged and considered giving up too. After sitting and thinking for an hour and a half, I saw a teammate run by and we gave each other a hug of encouragement. I felt like I had been rekindled and decided to keep running. I burst into tears of happiness when I crossed the finish line.

It was also thanks to my teammates that I became more courageous and was able to finish longer distances, up to the 70km Vietnam Mountain Marathon so far, and I still get scolded by my friends: It's almost race time and you haven't trained at all yet!!!