Running is more than a physical pursuit; for many, it's a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and purpose. Beyond the miles and training, it teaches patience, humility, and the power of dreams. In this interview, we delve into the story of Georgios Savvidis, an ultramarathon runner who transformed his life through running. We spoke with him to uncover the passion and mindset that fuel his journey.

Throughout our conversation, Georgios shared powerful insights on the life lessons he's gained from running, such as the strength in patience, the courage to dream, and the resilience to face challenges head-on. From his mantra “DREAM. BELIEVE. ACHIEVE.” to the inspiration behind his podcast It’s a Long Road, Georgios reveals how running has redefined him—making him tougher, wiser, and more determined to achieve his goals.

For as long as I can recall, I have been active and involved in sports, mainly football as a non-professional player. At some point, on May 2013 I started to walk and about 4 months later I started to run. Subsequently, some days I ran and others I walked. I kept this mix for about three weeks, until figured running suited me best, and I stuck with it since. I began to run just like that, on my own initiative with no plan, nor strategy. I didn’t have the background and any prior knowledge. After getting a coach on April 2018 and under his guidance, running started to become love, passion, addiction.

Adding running to my routine has broadened my horizons and got fresh challenges, which strengthened and further fuelled my restlessness. In a sense, running redefined me. It changed my habits and lifestyle, my diet, made me tougher, taught me humility, made me prudent, and perhaps wiser.

I enjoy setting new goals, trying new things, and dreaming. I take risk and set challenges, and if I fail in an attempt, I don't regret it; I look ahead. I keep a growth mindset, a restless spirit and a zest for life. I believe there is no goal that is unattainable. To achieve this, it requires determination, risk taking, and great inner strength. The ingredients to success are consistency, discipline, patience, and perseverance. This way everything is possible! People, for the most part, don’t have what they want because at some point they gave up. They gave up on their dreams and goals. And life doesn’t owe us anything. It never gives to those in need, but to those who deserve it. The more we believe in a purpose, the more evident and clear it gradually becomes. Give ample space to your dreams so that they eventually become reality. Fight for them, because if our dreams die, we have nothing left. As an ordinary runner who, stubbornly stepping out of his comfort zone, saw his dream come true, I’d like to offer a piece of advice that encompasses all the above: Never stop dreaming!

Everything is created on and achieved with effort and hard work. Nothing in life is a given, and nothing is handed to us freehandedly and without effort. However, patience also plays a significant role. As Plato said, "The foundation of wisdom is patience". It is the switch, the key to success in everything. It is the balsam that brings healing, harmony, hope and new beginnings. To achieve goals and reach peaks, patience is needed. Those who have it and work hard will succeed. Those who don't will struggle. For every single thing, patience is necessary.

All these hours of training and especially the long runs, have evident impact, from physical improvement, to training our mental strength. We exercise patience, perseverance and strengthen our sense of self-control. Long distances are demanding. Runners often face the dilemma of whether to "continue" or "give up". Opposing thoughts fight to dominate one another. It is a mental game, and we should use long runs and a lot of hours of training, to train mentally. We are looking to build an easily accessible toolbox with ways to outsmart both our negative thoughts and physical fatigue. Managing emotions and stress is another major benefit of running. These are merits that extend and improve our daily lives beyond athletic activity. They get us to be even more resilient, determined, and strong.

On March 2023 and after completing the Six World Marathon Majors, I aimed to set my focus on a Spartathlon race, the most prestigious Ultra race of all. The magic of ultramarathons was an obsession that wouldn't allow me to rest. I wanted, like everything I do, to take it to the ultimate level, which was to qualify for and participate in a Spartathlon race. To achieve this, the first step would be to qualify by running another race, and the second to enter the lottery of the event. So, I decided to run the Olympian Road race on 18-19 May 2023 and, if I achieved a time under 27 hours, to qualify for the lottery. The Olympian Race with a total length of 180km from Ancient Stadium of Nemea to Ancient Stadium of Olympia in Peloponnese, was one of the hardest and most difficult races I ‘ve ever run. In ultramarathons the body reaches levels of total collapse. I faced a lot of problems throughout the race but I managed to overcome all of them mentally and physically. When I finally saw the Ancient Stadium of Olympia and crossed the finish line in 25h 39', I cannot describe how full, proud, happy, and content I felt! Another goal achieved and another challenge completed. You never finish an ultra the same person. I feel like every time you finish you learn something new about yourself, you become a better person, a stronger person and a richer person, just like in life.

Assuming that everything in life is interconnected and only in unison can they gain meaning and substance, running becomes a manifestation of life itself. You run, you sweat, you struggle, you try to become better, you set goals, you gain experiences, you grit your teeth, you don't give up, you fall, you get up, you continue, you fall again, and you get up again. Just like in life. There might be moments or races you abandon, but it's all part of the plan. In a few weeks or months, you'll be back at the starting line with new goals, more determined, and with a new attitude.

I believe running is an opportunity to get to know yourself better, and even discover aspects you didn't know existed. Running helped me to develop my character in more ways than simply as an athlete – It taught me the value of overcoming challenges and the importance of being able to rely on others.

My support network, including my family and coach, plays a crucial role in this journey. They provide encouragement and accountability, reminding me that I'm not alone in my pursuit of growth. My family’s belief in my potential, their love, deep understanding, and unwavering support fuels my motivation, while my coach Vasilis Krommydas offers invaluable guidance, helping me refine my technique and strategy.

When I started the Podcast It’s a Long Road in February 2021 I never expected to have such a positive response and such success among the runners. I remember I started listening to some running podcasts abroad and I found that there was no similar one in Greek language. So seeing this gap, I looked for information on the internet and decided to make this big effort myself and bridge the gap that existed in the running community. I wanted to create a platform where runners and professionals of all levels could connect and share their knowledge and experiences. Each episode is designed to provide valuable insights, whether it's training tips, injury prevention, or the mental strategies that keep us going during hard times. The goal is to make everyone even better and to motivate and inspire even more people to take up running. Ultimately, I hope listeners walk away feeling empowered and motivated. Running can be a challenging road, but it’s also one of growth and discovery. I want my audience to realize that every step they take is part of their unique journey, and that they’re not alone in their struggles and triumphs. Whether they’re seasoned runners or just starting out, I aspire for each episode to inspire them to lace up their shoes and embrace the long road ahead.

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Who: Georgios Savvidis was born on Saturday, June 3, 1972, and is the father of three children. He has a deep love for his family, traveling, running, his podcast It’s a Long Road, and his recently published book of the same title. He hopes that his personal and running experiences will inspire more people not only to take up running but also to embrace new and positive challenges in their lives.