There’s a quiet stillness just before dawn. Most of the city is asleep, but Afzal Siddiqui is already tying his laces, stepping out into the soft silence of the morning. His day won’t pause again—being an entrepreneur means running a business that doesn’t sleep. But for Afzal, this is the one hour that belongs only to him. On these early roads, he’s not the boss, the planner, or the problem-solver—he’s simply a runner chasing breath, clarity, and rhythm.
From Walks with Dad to Ultramarathoner
Afzal’s journey didn’t start with dreams of marathons or finish lines. It began with something much simpler—a morning walk with his father.
“My dad is a fitness freak,” he says, smiling at the memory. “He used to go for a daily jog, and I just joined him to give him company.”
What began as a son’s quiet companionship soon became a calling. Along those walks, Afzal met members of the local running community, and what started as small steps quickly became a stride into a new identity: runner.
“Running and Business—They Both Demand the Same Thing: Grit”
Afzal’s dual life—as an entrepreneur and an endurance runner—means every day is a juggling act. Long nights at the office, early alarms, and endless to-dos leave little room for rest. But he’s found a formula that works: alternate days of running and mixed workouts, squeezed into a schedule that most would call packed.
“Time is the biggest challenge,” he admits. “But I make it work because this matters.”
For Afzal, running isn’t a hobby—it’s a lifeline. The stress, the deadlines, the weight of responsibilities—they all dissolve, if only for a while, on the road.
“Some Days, You Don’t Want to Show Up. But You Do.”
We all know those mornings—the ones where the bed is warm, the body is tired, and motivation feels far away. But Afzal’s secret weapon is community.
“It’s my running group and my passion that keep me going,” he shares. “They make me show up even when I don’t want to.”
In that sense, he says, running is just like entrepreneurship. “You don’t always feel ready. But you learn to show up anyway.”
From 10Ks to the 100K Dream
Afzal has built his running journey mile by mile. From 10Ks to multiple half marathons, then on to fulls, and now, ultras. And he’s not done yet.
His next target? The 100K Hell Race.
It’s a goal that would intimidate most, but Afzal lights up talking about it. The name might sound brutal, but for him, it’s a badge of pride in the making—a test of endurance, both mental and physical. A different kind of finish line. A new summit to chase.
“Marathon Running Is a Patience Game”
When asked what advice he’d give to someone just lacing up for their first 5K, Afzal doesn’t hesitate.
“Marathon running is a patience game,” he says. “It’s not about speed. It’s about staying in the race, mentally and physically.”
That mindset—steady, grounded, long-haul thinking—is something Afzal brings from the track to the boardroom. Whether in business or on the road, he believes the best victories come to those who endure.
Sorgen Along the Way
Like many runners, Afzal discovered compression gear during his longer runs—thanks to a friend who saw his effort and recommended it. Now, his Sorgen compression socks are a trusted part of his recovery and endurance toolkit.
“They really help me during my long runs,” he says simply. No overstatement. Just a runner who knows what his body needs—and respects it.
More Than Just Miles
Running hasn’t just reshaped Afzal’s fitness—it’s reshaped his life.
“If I wasn’t a runner, I’d still be an entrepreneur,” he reflects. “But I’d be running a very different race.”
For Afzal, running is a metaphor, a mirror, and a measure. It’s how he reconnects with himself amid the chaos of business and life. It’s how he resets, recharges, and keeps moving forward.
Follow his grit and gear-shifting strides: @sid_afzal
About Sorgen Spotlight
We shine a light on runners who inspire us to lace up, learn, and live better. Stay tuned for more real stories, real sweat, and the science-backed gear that keeps our community moving.
