“Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” You’ve heard Samuel Beckett’s famous mantra, haven’t you? Our colleague, Zlati, reminds us about it in the context of leading an active lifestyle and challenging yourself in sports, life, and work.
He has been a Senior Project Manager at ICT Strypes for more than 2 years now working for one of our biggest clients. However, you might have seen him winning many of the tennis tournaments for amateurs in Bulgaria or even running at the most challenging ultramarathons around.
We can’t ignore the fact that one of the best in amateur tennis in Bulgaria is part of our team. How did this all start?
- I started playing back in 2014, but I really progressed over the last 7–8 years by competing at various levels. 2024 has been my most successful year yet, highlighted by victories in the singles and doubles tournaments in Veliko Tarnovo, which ultimately led to winning the Arena Tennis League. I’ve also secured wins in various tournaments across Plovdiv, Yambol, and Sliven in the past. Advancing in this sport is no easy feat, especially when some competitions demand a whole weekend of play in a day. Still, the satisfaction of pushing beyond limits and achieving great results is incredibly rewarding.
And we know that tennis is just not enough for you as a sport anymore. How about trail running?
- When you play tennis you only put part of your body under pressure, but I needed a bigger challenge to help me boost my energy and stamina. This is how I started considering trail running as the right one. I had watched several marathons before, but Tryavna Ultra 2024 was the one that triggered my new passion. I took part in the 23 km distance last summer and was one of around 1000 participants who run every year.
How did you take that decision and did you ever
regret it?
- Signing up for the run was rather spontaneous, around 2 months in advance. I had never run more than 5 kilometers before so I was about to see if I can push my limits at a marathon which attracts top international runners every year.Of course, while running, you sometimes doubt you will ever make it to the final and you think you are never doing this again. In my case I did make it to the final and 3 days later I was looking forward to the next run. Later in the summer I took part in K3 Ultra and also ran the 52 km distance at Orehovo Ultra which I consider the toughest challenge so far.
So, you brought your passion to the next level. Do you have any advice for people who would like to advance the same way?
- I knew nothing about trail running and began preparing on my own. However, I was glad to discover the ICT Strypes Running Team with over 20 members who were really advanced in the field. With their support and with the guidance of experienced trail runners online I learned that when having your strategy for making it to the final you should have in mind the route and the right time to speed up and down, to maintain your breathing and pulse, to feed and hydrate your body properly, and to use the right tool that lets you know where you are and what is ahead of you during a race.
How can one maintain balance between sports, work, and personal life?
- To me it looks natural to spare some time and keep yourself in shape several times a week just as it is to watch a movie or read a book. We all know that physical exercise also stimulates mental health, reduces stress, and eventually contributes to more energy and productivity at work. My hobbies also let me connect with other people. On the one hand, I have the great
chance to play tennis with professionals who are among the top 800 players worldwide. On the other hand, I can enjoy trail running being surrounded by wild nature. More and more often, I share these experiences with colleagues from ICT Strypes, as it turns out that we have a lot of sports lovers in the organizatio
It sounds like you are not giving up anytime soon. What is ahead of you?
- I would like to challenge myself further and take part in longer trail runs covering the 80-kilometers distance. I am also considering taking part in the Vitosha 100 famous race in its next edition. Some of the trail runs give you access to the UTMB World Series which means that any good performance on a national level can give you the opportunity to run side by side with some of the world’s top skyrunning professionals. I could not be happier if one day I take part in such a race together with my colleagues from the ICT Strypes Running Team.
And your advice for anyone who is still thinking about taking up running is…?
- Challenge yourself and you will discover strength and power you never knew you had. Trail running is like the “antidote” of modern way of living and sometimes we really need to take it in to relax and have a fresh restart. And for the ones who still have doubts in their potential: try and fail, learn your lessons and fail better next time.
Got inspired by Zlati’s dedication? Read more of our stories here