Looking back now, I realize that ever since I was a kid, I was always the kind of person who could focus and achieve results—as long as I had a goal.
When I was in first or second grade, my dad promised to buy me a satellite dish if I finished the year with perfect grades. That was all the motivation I needed, and I made it happen.
In fourth grade, the goal was even bigger: if I finished the year with straight A’s, I’d get to visit my family in New York for the summer. To me, that sounded like magic. Just hearing “New York” felt like something out of a dream. Failing wasn’t even an option.
Ever since that first trip back in 1999, I’ve felt a special connection to New York—something I’ve never experienced with any other city in the world. As Iman once said:
“New York is not a city, it’s a world.”
That’s why New York is my first goal out of the three I’ve set for myself. And honestly, where better to achieve a big milestone than in the city that started it all?
I have a lot of dreams, goals, and wishes—but none of them matter if I don’t have what’s truly important: health.
If you asked me today, “Are you healthy?” I’d have to say—no.
I’m 180 cm tall, I weigh 102 kilograms—that’s about 5’11” and 225 pounds—and I can feel it catching up with me. Even climbing a few stairs leaves me out of breath. I’ll be turning 38 on January 11th, and it’s sad to admit how far I’ve let things go. But I know a big part of it is connected to my ADHD and autism.
People with ADHD or autism often struggle with eating habits—and I see that clearly in myself. I hate trying new foods. When I find something I like, I can eat it every day for years.
When I worked at McDonald’s, I literally ate the same meal every day for two years. I love fast food; I could live on it. Most days, I don’t eat all day—and then overeat at night. I love sugary drinks, junk food, sweets, ice cream—basically everything I shouldn’t be eating.
It’s hard to change when you’re fighting conditions that make it even harder, but I want to prove—to myself and to others—that if you set your mind to something, no goal is too big and nothing is impossible.
And since New York is the city that owns my heart, it’s only fitting that it’s also where I’ll achieve my first major goal:
🏃♂️ Running the New York City Marathon in 2026.
From someone who gets tired walking up stairs to someone who runs 42.2 kilometers (26.2 miles)—in just one year.
Some will say it’s unrealistic or too ambitious. But I say—
If your goals don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.
I need big goals. Without them, I’ll stay stuck for another 30 years, wondering “what if.” That ends now.
I’m going to change. I’m going to rebuild my relationship with my body. Because our body is our temple.
We put premium fuel in our cars, but we throw junk into ourselves—have you ever thought about that? I’ve been doing it my whole life. But that stops here.
No more pizza. No more burgers. No more Red Bull or Coca-Cola. I’m giving it all up—well, almost all.
There’s one thing I can’t give up: the Bone-in Ribeye from Meet the Meat—hands down the best steakhouse in Queens (and probably beyond).
That’s going to be my celebration dinner after finishing the marathon. I’ll book the table ahead of time, and after crossing that finish line:
“Uber, take me to Astoria, Queens—Meet the Meat is waiting for me.”
But everything else changes. My diet will be clean and simple—only healthy food, no snacks, just water, and consistent training.
My goal—NYC Marathon 2026—is 100% achievable. The hardest part isn’t even running the marathon itself—it’s actually getting a spot. Everyone knows how tough it is to get in, but deep down, I believe it will happen. I’ve always felt that when you truly want something and keep your focus on it, life somehow finds a way to make it real.
It will take discipline, sacrifice, and strength—and that’s exactly where real character is built.
Sure, it’ll be harder for me—with ADHD and Asperger’s—but those aren’t excuses. They’re just extra motivation.
I’ll be sharing my journey step by step—my road to running the 26.2 miles (42.2 km) of the New York City Marathon in 2026. Luckily, I still have a year—because right now, I probably couldn’t even run 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).
But I believe I will.
And I promise you—come November 2026, we’ll meet again at the finish line of the New York Marathon.
Because you know what they say:
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
