Personal Development

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Join the Elite 135: GameZone Tablegame Champions Cup

The Philippines is gearing up for one of the most anticipated events in the world of online card gaming—the GameZone Tablegame Champions Cup (GTCC). This prestigious Tongits tournament is set to take place in June, bringing together 135 of the nation’s top players in a fierce competition that showcases skill, strategy, and the rich Filipino […]

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Ultra runner walking in desert

Should Runners Take Electrolytes? Here’s When It Matters Most

Picture this: You’re hitting your stride on a long run, feeling strong, focused, and ready to crush those miles ahead. Then suddenly, the dreaded cramps kick in, your energy levels plummet, and you’re left wondering if you’ve made some rookie mistake in your preparation. As someone who has battled through countless runs in the unforgiving

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A runner smiles on a stormy running track after running 10k in under 40 minutes

How I Became a Sub-40 Minute 10K Runner in 6 Months (After 10 Efforts)

Most stories that start with “It was a dark and stormy night” promise to deliver a lot from the start. They can also have the potential for an anticlimax and even cause a bit of an ‘ick’ response to those privy to the storyteller’s love for the dramatic hook.  Still, this was the poetic and

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The running track where I got my last 5k PR, Chiang Mai University Running Track.

I Went Running 5K Every Day For 30 Days: Insights & Outcomes

Running 5K every day for 30 days was the perfect challenge for me to celebrate the end of the burning season in my adopted city Chiang Mai. With the fresh air and gorgeous views back to enjoy in all of their glory, I had also recently finished a 100-day no-alcohol challenge. Determined not to fall

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How to train for high altitude hiking

How To Train For High Altitude Hiking: Detailed Guide (From Experience!)

Learning how to train for high-altitude hiking is one of the smartest choices that you can make if you truly are committed to undertaking this often physically and emotionally demanding challenge. On this blog over the years, I have documented a nice handful of successful high-altitude hikes/climbs in all corners of the world, however, there

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A man walks past Durham Catherdal

I Built a Six Figure Online Business & Lost It: What’s Next?

Originally published: August 3rd, 2015. (Edits at the end of article). I wasn’t sure about writing this post and I’ve stalled on it for many months. I’ve always been very open and candid about my financial situation, but then again – I’ve always been broke as a joke and it’s weirdly a lot more socially acceptable

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Photo of two soldiers smiling sent from World War 2 letters

Letters From WWII: Lessons From My Grandfather’s Pen

This post about reading letters from World War 2 was originally published in 2012, shortly before leaving my hometown forever. I still stand by these life lessons and I’m forever grateful for my grandfather’s sacrifices/suffering and to have had an insight into his mind when he was a young man in a difficult situation. In

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A man is lonely in a crowd while his classmates are talking outside a building

Why We Feel Lonely in a Crowd (& What To Do About it)

Originally published: October 13th, 2014 “Do you ever get lonely?” This is one of the most common questions I get asked regarding the disadvantages of long-term travel. Lonely when by myself? Hard nope. Lonely in a crowd? Hard, HARD yes! After running out of reasons to leave my hometown after years of living with a Black Sheep

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Stop believing hacks

Stop Believing Hacks & Enabling Charlatans: Get BUSY!

“Life hacking” is making people lazy and entitled and you should stop believing hacks that want to make a quick buck off you while you cascade into a depressing pattern of failure after failure. Before a seething mob of butter-in-coffee drinking, Tim Ferriss fanboys come and (ever-so-efficiently) burn me at the stake at the next TED conference –

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Man in sports gear raises arm aloft outside a white temple in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

How Long Does it Take To Run 100 Miles? (Average Per Level)

How long does it take to run 100 miles? How would you fare in a 100 miles ultra? What are the world records for running 100 miles?  The third question is a lot easier to answer, the first and second requires a bit more nuance such as lifestyle factors, age, experience, training and terrain of

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admin day marathon des sables

100 Miles Ultramarathon Packing List (Detailed Gear Guide!)

An ultramarathon packing list for running 100 miles comes down to the weather, personality, and personal goals amongst other factors. When I ran The Marathon des Sables I just wanted to survive and get through the race. Although I did just that I learned that I took way too much gear and therefore I was

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My 2020 in review: Goals Achieved, Goals Missed and Plans for 2021

For obvious reasons, 2020 has been an unforgettable year that many will try to selectively obliterate from their memories. On a personal note, it started weird for me well before the global pandemic kicked off. Not just surface level weird, but A Clockwork Orange kind of weird. After starting the year visually impaired, with frost-bitten

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Ultra runner walking in desert

My 2019 in review: Visiting my 100th country, buying a mortgage-free apartment, 6 marathons in 6 days…

I’m a little late to the party here, but I do have that old chestnut of an excuse of going blind on a massive mountain on my side. We set off for the Aconcagua expedition on the 29th of December 2019 but as the vast majority of it ran through into 2020 I will omit

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happiness is only real when shared quote

Is Happiness Only Real When Shared? Unravelling The Theory

The quote “happiness is only real when shared” derives from the cult travel movie and book ‘Into the Wild’, by Jon Krakauer Based on a true story, the film documents young, fiery and free-thinking Christopher McCandless’s less-than-conventional road trip into the Alaskan wilderness, in search of life’s true meaning through the lens of his own

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