Beyond Level5:
Aaron Inocencio

Why I Got Involved

In late 2016, I was going through a tough time in my life and I knew things needed to change. The following year, I decided to pick up running as an outlet. In the beginning I could only run for five minutes, but I knew then that this was what I was meant to do. By September 2017, I could run for 30 minutes straight, and it was all up from there. I continued to practice but my own personal barriers prevented me from entering races.

It wasn’t until five years later that I participated in my first race – a 5km charity run with my Level5 colleagues. To be surrounded by all the other runners who were about to make the same journey gave me a sense of community, I felt like I found my calling at last. In 2023, I ran my first official 10km race in 54 minutes and 30 seconds. It was such a thrill that I pushed myself to participate in eight more 10km runs and three half marathons that same year – and I’m not stopping there!

What It Means to Me

Running has become a journey of self-discovery and adventure. It brings me so much joy to be able to push myself and celebrate the shared joy with the other runners. I see it as a platform where people unite for a common goal of self-care and reminds me that I’m not alone in my struggles. It has three significant meanings for me:

1. It’s a commitment to maintain my physical and mental health.
2. It’s a reminder that I’m not alone in life’s battles and there’s joy to be found in the fight.
3. It’s a challenge to myself to overcome my fears and meet new people!

I view life as a never-ending marathon, with support stations along the way. I’m grateful for the support I’ve received from everyone at each point of the journey.

I look forward to the possibility of meeting you in one of these races!