I ran the New York City Marathon on November 2nd, and the city felt more alive than ever.

Every borough, every crowd, every stranger with an orange slice reminded me why people call this the greatest race on earth.

But beyond the energy, the marathon handed me a set of lessons I couldn’t have bought.

Lessons about conviction, leadership, vision, and what it means to keep going when everything in you wants to stop.

Let’s get into it.

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Before the marathon, I was naive.

I thought 45 days of training would be enough. Naturally, I’d been keeping fit, but not marathon fit. Hyrox gives you constant dopamine loops. Quick wins. You complete a section and feel great immediately.

A marathon gives you none of that.

There are no short bursts of reward. No checkpoints that make you feel like a champion. It’s a long, humbling slug.

And somewhere in those training runs, I learned something uncomfortable but true: I’m not 25 anymore.

But I had conviction.

And the belief that this was a once-in-a-lifetime shot at something I’d dreamed about.

The morning of the race had a strange calm to it. The ferry to Staten Island felt like a meditation chamber. Runners sitting quietly, taped knees, warm layers, no bravado — just presence.

And at the start line, two things happened:

Ironically, I drank too much water and had to pee the entire race. But I held it in. Elite strategy.

Then I made one decision that shaped everything:

I ran without headphones.

No music.
No escape.
Just the city, my breath, my thoughts, and the truth.

Running through Williamsburg, the Bronx, and into Central Park — at one point, I genuinely asked myself if I was alive.

My body was suffering. My mind was loud. But I laughed at the signs, took in the humanity, and stayed grateful. I met great people along the way, saw friends cheering on the route, and felt New York in its purest form.

After the race, there was a one-mile walk to the exit and I truly couldn’t walk. That’s when the truth landed: I didn’t give my body enough time. You can’t replace time in training.

And still, two days later, I wanted another marathon. I knew what I needed to adjust to run a 3:30. That’s the wildness of the marathon — it breaks you open and shows you who you could become.

Here are the five lessons the marathon gave me — the ones money can’t buy — and why they matter for leadership.

By mile 18, everything changed.

A sharp pain shot up my left hamstring. For a terrifying moment I thought, “I pulled something. I’m done.”

But with no headphones to hide behind, I heard everything — my breath, my fear, my doubt.

Then came clarity:

Walking the last seven miles would be more painful than running through it.

I changed the script instantly:

The next miles were not running — they were wrestling. Short strides. Deep breaths. Every ounce of conviction I had.

Leadership is full of mile-18 moments.

Moments where the plan cracks, fear spikes, and you realize no one is coming to save you.

Your team doesn't need you to be fearless — they need you to hold the line until they can borrow your conviction.

Conviction spreads.
So does doubt.
Choose wisely.

Every strong moment in that race was built by the people around me:

• Foundation training
• Lifetime sessions
• Pilates for stability
• Yoga for mobility
• Recovery routines
• Coaches giving pacing advice
• Friends checking in
• People asking “How’s training?” when it mattered

Without headphones, their voices replayed throughout the race. Internal fuel injections.

At mile 10, I felt the rhythm Pilates built.
At mile 14, I felt the calm yoga taught me.
At mile 22, when my legs shook, I felt every hour of Foundation work.

No leader is self-made. You’re system-made. Team-made. Culture-made.

Organizations don’t rise to the occasion —
they fall back on the strength of their preparation and the people behind them.

Build environments where success is inevitable.

The marathon is choreography disguised as chaos.

In the weeks before the race, I visualized everything:

• The ferry
• The bridges
• The roar of Brooklyn
• The silence of Queens
• The sting of the Queensboro
• The punch of First Ave
• The Bronx reset
• The final push through Central Park
• Seeing my mom at the finish

Because I ran without headphones, the whole race felt like déjà vu.

At mile 20, when the pain cave appeared, my brain whispered the plan:

“Get to 22. Reset. Get to 24. Reset. Finish on heart.”

Most teams don’t lack talent —
they lack a vivid, shared vision.

Vision is emotional GPS.
It calms chaos, aligns energy, and gives people something to run toward.

Vision is the architecture of execution.

From mile one, I made a decision:

Run like a competitor.

Not fast.
Not reckless.
But intentional.

Teams don’t do what leaders say. Teams do what leaders signal.

If you coast, they coast. If you push, they push.

Intensity isn’t aggression.
It’s care.
It’s saying, “This matters.”

Winning cultures are built by leaders who run every mile with intention.

Mile 20 was my cave.

Crowd noise disappeared.
My hearing dulled.
Everything narrowed to breath, pavement, and pain.

This is where people break.
But it’s also where people transform.

By mile 24, I was on fumes.
By mile 25, I felt gratitude for the suffering.
By mile 26, I saw my mom — and that moment hit like a lifetime collapsing into one second.

The cave made the finish meaningful.

In organizations, the cave shows up as:

Adversity doesn’t break culture — it creates it.

This is where trust is born.

I ate everything people handed out:

Orange slices, bananas, pretzels, gummies, tissues, Vaseline —
all from strangers who just wanted runners to feel supported.

Every snack was a tiny act of love.

And the signs were also iconic.

Some made me laugh.
Some made me emotional.
One reminded me: I GET to do this. This is a privilege.

The branding was a masterclass.

New Balance owned the marathon so well I bought my mom a sweater and myself a hat a week later.

Nike wrapped an entire ferry in “NYC energy will carry you — Just Do It.”

Tag Heuer stood tall in Park Slope with “Designed to Win.”

Branding is emotion under pressure.

The marathon handed me a mirror.

A mirror that showed me

Money can buy gear, training, coaches, supplements, and tech, but it cannot buy these lessons I’ll take for the rest of my life, and my next race.

On November 5th we hosted an afternoon designed to bring high-performing leaders together through movement, connection, and play. Four courts at Padel Haus were booked out for friendly competition, and open play that gave everyone a chance to meet new people while breaking a sweat.

Throughout the two hours the entire space felt electric and organic. People were cheering, rotating partners, sharing stories between rallies, and connecting in a way that felt natural and energizing. It was not just a sports afternoon. It was a reminder that leadership grows through presence, movement, and community.

We were very happy with how the small event turned out.

Our partners helped shape the experience from start to finish. TagX created a standout lounge that became the social hub of the event.

Brands like Parker, Othership, Impact Kitchen, Droopy Sand, Getcha, Aryloom, and Power added texture to the space and made the whole environment feel intentional and elevated.

The real win came after the final points were played. People lingered. They kept talking, kept connecting, and kept finding value in the room. The 2 our event got shut down after 4, which was a real win for the team.

That is what this event was about. Leaders showing up. Leaders engaging. Leaders building relationships that last longer than any rally.

November 5th set the tone for what is possible when you mix movement with community. And this is only the beginning. Stay tunes for more events like this.

At Polaris Partners, we look for brands that embody performance, innovation, and purpose. TAGX is built on all three.

Born at the intersection of design and discipline, TAGX creates athleisure wear engineered with precision and developed to perform.

Every piece is crafted for people who live in motion — the founders, athletes, and creators who push boundaries daily. Every piece is created to ensure maximum fit quality and comfort. You can feel the detail the moment you put it on.

They aren’t just for ultra high performers either. They are made for everyday performance.

Their commitment runs deeper than style. From Ultrasilk™ fabrics to a relentless focus on fit and feel, TAGX reflects a mindset we share: that detail powers performance. In a world where comfort often comes at the cost of capability, TAGX proves you can have both.

This partnership isn’t just about apparel — it’s about aligning with a philosophy. Made to perform. Designed with precision!

Violet brought that same level of care to our event and to the community. She supported our vision, showed up for this community, and helped elevate the experience for all of you. As you may have seen in the TAGX Lounge you were hanging out in.

For 15% off use SKV15, on their website and check out their gear here.

Talk soon,

SKV