Kamal: Hi Faheemah, welcome to Berlin 26.2 podcast. I'm very excited to have you here and hear your running journey. Faheemah: Thank you, Kamal. Thank you for having me. Kamal: Great. Let's start with a little bit about your background. Faheemah: So, I hail from and stay in Johannesburg, South Africa. I have all my life. I'm a recreational runner, not professional, but running consumes a lot of my free time because I enjoy it. I've been running for seven years, since November 2016. It's been an amazing journey for me, a very addictive sport. I started small, with my first run being a local 5-kilometer park run, where I was the first female finisher. They asked me to join the running club, and a month later, I did a 10-kilometer race. By the following month, I completed my first 21-kilometer race. Eight months later, I ran my first marathon at the Cape Town Marathon and qualified for the Comrades Ultra Marathon. I ran my first Comrades in 2018, which was a 90.2-kilometer race that year. Kamal: Wow, so within two years, you went from starting running to completing an ultra marathon. That's amazing! And you ran Berlin this year as well, right? Faheemah: Yes, I did. I have a close friend who achieved her six-star marathon status in Tokyo this year. She inspired me to go for the World Majors, and I got into Berlin. It was an amazing experience. I didn't have any specific expectations; I just wanted to soak up the atmosphere of my first world major. It was incredible. Kamal: How did the Berlin experience compare to your expectations and what you heard from your friend? Faheemah: It met all my expectations. As a South African, I'm familiar with the vibes and feel of international races because of events like the Comrades and Two Oceans Ultra Marathons. I went into Berlin with no specific expectations, just gratitude to be there. The experience was phenomenal, and I even achieved a marathon PB, which wasn't planned. I just wanted to enjoy the race and the atmosphere. Kamal: That's great to hear. You mentioned that your friend inspired you. Can you tell us more about how you got into running initially? Faheemah: It was actually because of my brother. He is eight years younger than me and was always a footballer until he got injured and started running instead. He became addicted to running and completed two Comrades Ultra Marathons before turning 30. Out of curiosity, I wanted to see what he got out of running. I entered a local park run and finished as the first female runner. The feeling I got afterward, which I now know is due to endorphins, got me hooked on running. Kamal: That's an inspiring story. How has having a coach impacted your running? Faheemah: Having a coach has made a significant difference. As a new runner, I used to just follow what others were doing, which was unstructured training. With a coach, I've learned the importance of structured training. My coach has helped untap my potential and improve my performance. For example, before I had a coach, my second Comrades Marathon time was worse than my first due to an injury. With my coach, I've seen consistent improvement and have been able to achieve better results. Kamal: What do you get out of running, both physically and mentally? Faheemah: Definitely the endorphins. Running gives me a mental boost and keeps me motivated. There's also a social aspect to it. In South Africa, running is very club-oriented, so it's like having a family away from family. I make friends at every new marathon I enter, and it's a great way to connect with others who share the same passion. Running also helps with overall well-being and mental health. Kamal: What's next for you, Faheemah? Faheemah: Next is my fifth Comrades Marathon. I also qualified for the Tokyo Marathon through a lottery draw, so I'll be running that next spring. After Tokyo, I'll prepare for the Comrades in June. It's a busy schedule, but I'm excited for the challenges ahead. Kamal: Best of luck for Tokyo and Comrades next. It was lovely chatting with you, Faheemah. Faheemah: Thank you, Kamal. It was great to be here.