Start. Restart. Keep Going: Chasing Our Dreams

Some of you who know me personally know that I am a runner and have been running for the last 11 years. But not many people know that running the London Marathon has been one of my biggest dreams.

You might wonder — why, if I live in London, haven’t I run it yet? Because I want to enter the London Marathon my way. As someone who feels half Londoner and half Hong Konger, I would love to run both these cities in my own terms.

Here are the usual ways to get in - and my reasons why I have not yet:

·       Public Ballot: I have not been lucky enough to get through it (yet).

·       Good for Age: I am not fast enough (yet!) to qualify.

·       Charities: The high fundraising requirements did not feel right for me personally.

But whether you are a runner or not, you probably have dreams, ideas, or good habits you have thought about starting (or starting again).
And maybe you have wondered:

• Why do I keep it as a dream instead of putting it into action?

• Is it too late to start?

• What is stopping me from starting?

• What if I failed before — can I restart?

I hope sharing my running journey — including the setbacks — will inspire you to believe that the answer is always: yes, you can start. And you can restart, too.

Talking About Luck

We often think of "luck" as something we cannot control. And yes, luck plays a part in life.
But when it comes to making dreams happen, luck often looks a lot like preparation meeting opportunity. People often say, ‘Opportunity only comes to those who are well prepared.’

For years, I kept entering the London Marathon ballot. Every single year, I applied. I did not win a place — but putting myself out there mattered.

And by opening those doors, unexpected things happened:
My husband, whom I also entered a marathon ballot, got a place in the Tokyo Marathon (a tough one to enter, as it is one of the World Marathon Majors!) two years ago. It reminded me that miracles happen only if you try.

If you think you are "not lucky enough" to chase your dream, maybe it is time to think again:
Do more. Open more doors. Increase your chances. Luck loves action.

Feeling "Not Good Enough"

To secure a 'Good for Age' place at the London Marathon, I would need to run a marathon under 3 hours 46 minutes. That is about 15 minutes faster than my personal best — a huge gap in running terms. What can I do?

There is only one answer: keep training and train smart.

The same thing applies to any dream or goal. Maybe you are not meeting the standard today. That does not mean you will not tomorrow — or next year.

When you feel stuck, a question that always helps me is: "Why is this dream important to me?" Once you find your purpose, you find your energy.

Listen closely to your answer. And when the journey gets tough — and it will — ask yourself again. Let that answer pull you forward. Stopping is okay too. Your path may be difference from others, and your life experience may demand detours. It does not mean you are not "good enough." It just means your path might be longer, or take a different shape. And that is okay.

Setbacks Happen — and It is Okay

Last August, I had surgery. When I returned to running, I was nowhere near my old speed or strength. Honestly, it felt like starting from zero and I still have that feeling.

I recently run a 10K race. In my head, I imagined I would be the last one to finish. But, I did it anyway. Because it is not about competing with others. It is about running for me.  

Running had always been more than exercise for me. It is where I find clarity, manage stress, and build inner strength. So, losing that part of myself, even temporarily, was painful, both physically and emotionally. But it taught me a powerful lesson: setbacks are part of the journey. They do not erase your dreams.

There is no time limit on starting again. You are never too old, too slow, too broken, or too late to pick yourself up and keep going. Sometimes, we are ready to train hard. Other times, we need to prioritise healing and rebuilding. Just showing up gently is enough. All of it is necessary in our journeys.

Finding Other Ways In

When traditional routes do not work, there are always other ways. I have not (yet!) secured a London Marathon place through the ballot or 'Good for Age' — but I have run other marathons: Brighton, Paris, Medoc, Amsterdam.

Each race taught me something. Each race was a part of the dream. Success is not always a straight line. It is a collection of moments where you say, “I am still here. I am still moving.” The same applies to you. Whether you are launching a business, starting a habit or quitting an addiction. Just do a little each day to get closer to where you want to be. “You are there and you are moving!” Don’t forget to celebrate the small wins.

Three Gentle Reminders When Starting (or Restarting)

If you are thinking of chasing a dream or picking one up again, here are some small but powerful reminders:

• Start small and celebrate every step
  You do not have to run a marathon (or launch a full business) on day one.
  One mile. One conversation. One email. One first attempt. It counts.

• Talk kindly to yourself
  You cannot bully yourself into success. Speak to yourself like you would encourage a close friend.

• Find your community
  Dreams grow stronger when you have people cheering you on, especially on the days you want to quit.

Final Thoughts

If you are sitting on a dream right now — whether it is running a marathon, starting a business, learning a new skill, or simply living a little differently — remember: It is never too late to start. It is never too late to start again.

Some journeys take longer than we hope. Some dreams test our patience, our strength, and our belief in ourselves. But every step you take towards them matters.

And you do not have to do it all alone. Sometimes, having a coach alongside you — someone to support you, hold you accountable, and walk beside you step by step — can make all the difference.

Coaching is not about telling you what to do. It is about facilitating you to become your better self — helping you reconnect to why you started, trust your own journey, and build a path that is true to you.

I am still chasing my London Marathon dream — and I will get there. And you will get where you want to go too, in your time, in your way.

Just start. Restart. Keep going.