When his son passed away, this man vowed to run the NYC Marathon every year; An interview with Jorge Euran
Instagram Handle: @jorgeeuran
Day Job: I am an entrepreneur. I own a few companies and brands. The main one is Alveni (www.alveni.com), we specialize in digital signage and interactive kiosk solutions.
BELIEVE&TRAIN (Sport meal hangers) www.believeandtrain.com
KimakArt (www.kimakart.com) dedicated to promote Mexican premium handcrafted products.
I also have a non-profit in Mexico that promotes running, healthy habits among kids (Meta 42). www.meta42.mx
Here’s a blog post that I hope you read, about my best marathon :) https://believeandtrain.com/blogs/one-step-at-a-time/my-best-marathon-part-1
INTERVIEW:
AER: What got you into running?
JORGE: Well, when I was studying my MBA in 2001-2002, part of the program involved having a trainer so we could exercise and he put everyone to run almost daily. I really hated it, I got bored and I couldn’t pace myself for even half a mile. But then I began liking it, it became an activity to relieve stress, to talk to our professors while running, to listen to music… so it was a perfect time for me to relax, think about stuff & in general, enjoy the outdoors. From there, I got myself in many 10K races, I think I have ran like 40-50 so far.
In 2008 my second son passed away and by trying to find a reason for it, I believe his goal in this world was to teach me something. And this is: Every minute that you are in this world is unique, amazing and valuable. So if I am here now, I have to make the best of it. Because I might not wake up tomorrow.
I had always wanted to run a marathon but I thought it was too hard for me. So at that moment, I realized I needed to do it, for me, for my son… and to live to the fullest, enjoying every second of life. I was in NYC at the time during the marathon, so I promised to run it in 2009 and every year until I die. So far, I have kept my promise and I intend to do it this year here in Austin, virtually!
AER: If you had to give yourself a life motto you live by, what would it be?
JORGE: Never give up!
AER: Do you think your kids have learned from watching you train for marathons?
JORGE: Yeah, I believe it teaches them a lot:
- a) That nothing is impossible if you try hard enough
- b) That to reach your goals, you have to constantly work towards the goal, and it will not come easily, but if you really want it, you will get it.
- c) That a long term goal can be divided into smaller goals. I believe that kids in general just want instant rewards and it’s hard for them to imagine that they will have to CONSTANTLY train for months for a marathon or study weeks for a test, or work months to finish a project. But at the end, the reward is worth all the effort.
My kids run too. They have run 5ks, 10ks and they love it.
AER: Favorite race distance and why?
JORGE: The Marathon is my most special race because of my son that passed away, I began running marathons (specifically the NYC marathon). A marathon involves a lot of commitment, persistence and it shows me that nothing is impossible if you try hard enough. And this is the lesson I remind my kids each time I run a marathon.
The Half marathon is my favorite to run consistently, it’s a great distance to enjoy the race and it doesn't involve long & hard training like a full marathon.
AER: Do you find balance through running? If so, how?
JORGE: Yes, life is about balance. I truly believe in living a positive life and being healthy. Running or practicing any sport should be an essential part of everyone’s life. Running helps to maintain a healthy body, and a healthy mind since running allows a person to spend valuable time with himself.
AER: Dream race or dream goal?
JORGE: I would love to do all the World Majors. So far I only have 2: Chicago and NYC. But my dream race would be to run NYC marathon with my two kids when they are older. This would be amazing!
