When Running Becomes a Calling
If you had met Ivan Polukhin in his school days, you probably wouldn’t have picked him out as a future athlete. He was never the fastest in PE, and he carried the label of “not sporty” for years.
But sometimes, inspiration arrives from unexpected places. For Ivan, it came from a moment of tragedy halfway around the world.
A Spark Born from Resilience
It was 2013 when the Boston Marathon bombing shook the running world. While many felt fear or sorrow, Ivan felt something else: curiosity. How could so many people come together, year after year, simply to run? What did running mean to them that they kept showing up, no matter what? That was the question that got him moving. He laced up his trainers and began to run — alone, without a plan, just to see how it felt.
Discovering Runday
Fast forward five years. By then, Ivan had already built a habit of regular runs. But it wasn’t until 2018 that he discovered the magic of running in a community. A friend, Amy from the Peace Corps, told him about Runday: a free, weekly 5 km run that gathered people every Saturday.
“I didn’t even know that these things existed!” Ivan remembers. “I knew running clubs were a thing, but not this—people meeting every weekend like a family.”
From that first event on, he was hooked.
Chasing Personal Bests
On February 29, Ivan did something remarkable: he finished first at the Trukhaniv Island Runday with a time of 18 minutes and 5 seconds. But ask him how he felt crossing the line, and you won’t hear celebration. You’ll hear determination.
“All I want is to run faster,” he says. “I’d be happy finishing last if I knew I ran my best time.”
That’s the beauty of Ivan’s story. It isn’t about competing with others—it’s about testing himself. His Runday personal record is an impressive 17 minutes and 39 seconds. But in his mind, that’s just a milestone on the way to more.
The Freedom of the Run
Ask Ivan why he keeps coming back, week after week, and you’ll hear the same answer every time: freedom. Running isn’t always easy. Some days, your legs are heavy, your mind protests, and every step feels forced. But in that struggle, he finds something worth holding onto.
“You feel that it was all worth it,” he says. “When there is desire and motivation, impossible is nothing.”
Why Runday Matters
Ivan’s journey is proof that no matter where you start, you can choose where to go. Runday isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress, community, and the belief that everyone deserves to feel proud of their effort. If you’ve ever doubted your abilities, think of Ivan. And remember: every runner was once a beginner.
Join Us Next Saturday
Want to discover what’s possible for you? Come run with us. Whether you walk, jog, or sprint, you’ll find your place here.
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