Bonum Cursum

I remember when my daughter was just 5 days old—tiny, wrinkled, and yet somehow already holding the family together with the sheer power of her cuteness. It was around that time I made what I now consider questionable decision. You see, I decided to run the 100k race. Yes, 100 kilometers. What was I thinking? I signed year before, after previous edition of this race.

But here’s the kicker: my wife, who had just gone through the emotional and physical rollercoaster of childbirth, looked at me and said, “You know what? Go ahead. Go run your race.” Now, you’d think I’d be met with a series of stern looks and a long list of reasons why I should stay home and help with the newborn. But no, she actually gave me the green light. Was it because she was tired, delirious from sleep deprivation, or maybe just wanted a break from me? Probably all of the above.

Looking back, I can’t decide if I was being ridiculously selfish or if I just needed an excuse to not be in the house, changing diapers and learning to decipher baby cries. “I’m gonna do this for me,” I thought. Maybe running this 100k would be a metaphor for fatherhood. Struggling through the pain, pushing through the exhaustion, and crossing the finish line with a sense of accomplishment… and then maybe passing out at the end because I haven’t slept in 5 days.

But my wife? She didn’t bat an eye. She probably figured if I could run 100k, I’d at least be too tired to mess up anything else when I came back. “Good luck, honey!” she said, probably knowing I’d be limping around the house for the next few days and offering to change a diaper would seem like a Herculean task at that point.

It wasn’t really about the race or the navigation, even though I’ll admit I was pretty proud of myself for not getting totally lost (or at least for not getting completely lost). The real adventure began when I got home. It was around 5:00 AM, and I thought, “Okay, quick shower, sneak into the bedroom, and I can maybe catch an hour of sleep before the baby wakes up.”

But no. As soon as I reached for the door handle, I heard my wife’s voice: “You’re not going back to sleep. The baby’s already up.”

Boom. There it was. After 100 kilometers of grueling running, I thought I’d earned at least a short moment of rest. But nope. Fatherhood doesn’t take breaks, especially when your daughter’s decided that 5 AM is the perfect time to start the day. And honestly, that moment—right there, with my hand on the door handle, realizing I was about to face another day of diapers and feedings—was way harder than running 100 kilometers.

Looking back… hmm, was it worth it? On one hand, I felt like a hero crossing that finish line, but on the other hand, I barely made it to my own bed. Three years later, sitting here with a cup of coffee, I realize sometimes it’s worth going all in, even if it means you don’t get a single second of sleep.

So, was it worth it? Maybe not physically (because let’s be honest, I was barely functioning), but in terms of memories—it absolutely was. It’s one of those stories you look back on and laugh about, even though when you were living it, you weren’t sure whether to laugh or cry. And you know what? Despite being completely exhausted, I think it was totally worth it. Because if that was the price for all the moments we’ve shared since then, then… it was worth every kilometer.

Sometimes, you’ve got to go all in. Take that risk. Push yourself out of your comfort zone. It’s easy to stick with what’s safe and predictable, but every once in a while, it’s worth playing the “va banque” card—even if it feels a little crazy at the time. Sure, life can be tough, and we can’t always control everything, but there’s something incredibly satisfying about shaking things up.

It’s not just about changing things in your personal life, either. Sometimes, it’s about adjusting how you approach work and responsibilities. Maybe it’s about realizing that work doesn’t always have to follow the rigid, traditional path we think it does. There’s a lot more flexibility than we give ourselves credit for, especially when we step back and look at the bigger picture.

At the end of the day, it’s about finding balance. Yes, being a parent is demanding, but there’s always room to tweak your life, to take that step, and to create space for what really matters. Maybe, just maybe, the risk—whether it’s running a 100k or making a big career change—is what makes the journey worthwhile. So, here’s to going for it sometimes. Because in the end, it’s those bold moves that make life the adventure it’s meant to be.