At twenty-six, living alone in Amsterdam and navigating a new chapter of life, I signed up for my first marathon.

I thought I was training to run 42.195 kilometres.

I wasn't.

What began as a goal to complete the Amsterdam Marathon became a journey through discipline, self-discovery, friendship, family, and the pursuit of untapped potential. Through early morning runs, difficult training days, moments of doubt, and small victories that nobody else could see, I learned that the marathon was never really about running.

More Than 42.195 is a deeply personal memoir about growth - not just as a runner, but as a son, a brother, a friend, and a young man building a life far from home.

This book is for anyone who has ever stood at the beginning of a challenge that felt bigger than they were.

For anyone who has wondered whether they are capable of more.

And for anyone who has discovered that the most meaningful journeys are rarely measured in kilometres.

Because 42.195 was only the distance.

The real journey was everything it took to get there.