The Highest Return of Investment

I participated in my local Toastmasters club. Here is the script of the speech.

During the speech,I forgot some lines, and I added some but the overall message remains the same.

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Good evening, dear Toastmasters and guests.

Today, I’m going to show you an investment that will make you more valuable than a millionaire. Yes, you hear it right, Today, I am talking about running.

There are around 80 million millionaires in the world. That’s about 1% of the global population. But only about 1 to 1.3 million people complete a marathon each year. That’s roughly 0.014% of the global population. You don’t even have to run a marathon.

If you simply run 10 kilometres per week, you will still be rarer than a millionaire.

Now here’s the irony.

Running is the most basic and fundamental human activity. Once, it was directly linked to survival. If you could run, you could hunt. If you could run, you could escape danger.

Prehistorically, runners were the strongest humans.

But today, in our world of comfort, running has become a forgotten skill. We don’t need to run anymore… but our bodies still expect us to. And the truth is, runners still have a higher chance of survival. Yes, you can run when a dog chases you.

But more importantly, research shows something deeper. Running strengthens your heart, your bones, and your lungs. It reduces the risk of disease. It improves your mental health. It makes you live longer… and feel happier.

We know scientifically that running has hundreds of known and unknown benefits. Now, let me ask you a simple question. How many of you have run even 10 kilometers in the last 7 days?

Let me tell you my story.

A few years ago, I was not running at all. In 2015, I weighed nearly 100 kilos. I had back pain. My blood pressure and sugar levels were borderline. I could hardly bend to tie my shoelaces. Walking 5 kilometers felt difficult. But life was comfortable. I had a motorbike. There was no urgency to change.

No dramatic moment. No doctor’s warning. No life-changing advice. It started with a simple walk… and a slow run.

I am still a beginner. I only started running in 2023. First 2 kilometers. Then 5. Then 10.

Then 15, 20… half marathons… and eventually trail running. Last November, I completed my first full marathon — 42.195 kilometers — in 4 hours and 25 minutes.

Not fast. Not extraordinary. But I still remember crossing that finish line. I was exhausted… slow… but proud. Because I had done something my past self could never imagine.

And the change? It was phenomenal. I lost weight. My body felt lighter. I started avoiding sugar naturally. I began eating better… without forcing myself.

And mentally, I felt clearer, calmer, stronger.

How did that happened ? I investment. I invested one hour every two days. That’s 3 hours a week. Out of 168 hours… that’s less than 2%. Just 2%.

Think about it. Less time than we spend scrolling on our phones in a single day. A 2% investment…

And the return? Better health. Better energy. Better mindset. A better life.

Tell me… is that a good return?

Now, let’s clear some common myths.

“Running damages your knees.” No. Done correctly, it strengthens them.

“I don’t have time.” Check your screen time. Most of us spend 2 to 3 hours a day on our phones.

Running takes about 3 hours a week.

So what should you do?

Start small. 10 minutes. Then 20. Then 30. Don’t think about 42 kilometers.

Just start.

Running is not just exercise. It connects you back to your nature. Being close to nature is not just about trees and mountains. It is about doing what your body was designed to do. When you run, your biological and evolutionary instincts come alive. You become stronger… physically and mentally.

And there’s a bonus. When you run, you can listen to podcasts, learn new ideas, and grow your mind while you train your body.

As Socrates once said:

“No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.”

And if you need a starting point… There are running events coming up right here in Kathmandu — the Kantipur Marathon, Manjushree Trail Running, and One Run.

You don’t have to win.

Just show up. Run. Meet people. Experience it.

So let me leave you with this. You don’t need a lot of time. You don’t need a lot of money. You just need to start. Invest 10 minutes today. Because the highest return investment you will ever make… is not in the market.

It is in yourself. Run.

Happy Running..

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