Monday, January 8, 2024, I was contacted by Radio Vatan (one of the biggest radio station here in Tajikistan) via Instagram that I was nominated to their project TOP50. I was caught by surprise.
Top50 - is a national annual presentation of awards to people for their services in shaping business, creativity, life and the development of our country. To be honest, I heard of the award before but I never closely followed it. It turns out, last year during voting period, friends and runners nominated me and running club DAV.TJ for the award that was conducted online.
And here I am. Receiving this award on behalf of each of you who voted and also for all of you who weren’t aware of this nomination but deserve every ounce of this award. You are part of this great recognition as much as I am.
I would like to recall a quote from one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Kobe Bryant, whose words touched my heart long time ago:
“I think the definition of greatness is to inspire the people next to you. I think that’s what greatness is, or should be. It’s not something that lives and dies with one person. It’s how can you inspire a person to then in turn inspire another person that then inspires another person. That’s how you create something that I think lasts forever. I think that’s our challenge as people, is to figure out how our story can impact others and motivate them in a way to create their own greatness.”
I am humbled by the support of all of you and deeply appreciate your kindness and strive to make our community, those around us fitter, healthier and better individual through running and active lifestyle. Please, keep running, posting your activities, tagging every where you are and inspiring. Cheering and celebrating your every stride, every run, every sweat with you all along.
Last but not least is thank you to Radio Vatan, sponsors and all the people involved in the event. I hope this can help more people know that there is a unique community of runners in Tajikistan that are making difference. Changing people's lives one at a time.
All it takes you is one step to start. You are one step away from the best version of you.
What began as nothing more than a spark of a thought has now taken shape before us, alive and undeniable. We didn’t just imagine it, we lived it, we felt it, and we proved that a simple idea can become something powerful when we dare to believe in it. This journey reminds me that every dream starts quietly, almost invisibly, yet with courage, effort, and heart, it grows into something that touches our lives and inspires us to keep reaching for more.
At the top of the Double Pass (northern), my brother Firuz asked me about our estimated plan of when we will be reaching the finish. Based on the information we had, I said: “Best plan is we reach by 7 PM, given or taken plus/minus 1 hour.” Little I knew how things could go wrong so fast.