Time to RUN

Balancing his responsibilities in the working world, with his ferocious pursuit to reach each one of his goals, Gregor //Areseb, is not only using exercise to stay fit and healthy, but has committed himself to helping others reach their fitness goals.
A business owner, track and field enthusiast, and all round nice guy, Gregor shared his journey with sports, healthy living, and making your dreams a reality at any cost.
Greg started running during his time at St Francis Primary School in Tsumeb, in the north of Namibia. From the age of nine, his father would take him after school so that he can do the one thing he loved doing; running. As the years went by, he developed a considerable amount of skills and understanding of the sport and later transforming into a long jump athlete.
Greg studied for a Bachelor in Accounting and Finance at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), which he completed in April 2015. He says he keeps a work, life balance by making time for what he needs to do to make his dreams come true.
“I sometimes get home at nine after boot camp and still do my work out for the day, and again at 04:30 in the morning. I figure, if I can spend eight and a half hours working for someone else, I should spend more than that on myself and my dreams,” he said.
“I would describe myself as someone who has unwavering resolve. I am determined to do well in whatever I do, and as an individual driven by excellence. I am serious about most things in life; always ensure to make enough time to see the humour and peace in my day to day life” he further said.
Greg grew up in Tsumeb, where he says there was very little to do, which he says also meant that he had a lot more freedom to do whatever he wanted to do. “While there weren’t many places to hang out, you had more time to pick up a hobby or learn a new skill and really work on it,” he recalled.
“That reality gave me an opportunity to cultivate my ambition and love for fitness and sports from an early age. Now I look back and feel grateful to have used my time growing up effectively and efficiently,” he also shared.
As of 2004, Greg started attending Jan Mohr Secondary School because of his high interest in sporting activities. There, he further trained with some of the most seasoned long jump and triple jump coaches from both Jan Mohr and the Welwitchia 77 Athletics Club under the guidance of Coach Letu Hamhola and triple jump sensation, Coach Harry Kharigub.
“Having so many influential people in my sports career, I managed to break the u/19 Namibian long jump record formally held by Stephan Louw, which had stood for 12 years before it was broken by me.
“After I started studying, I became part of a small group of athletes that competed at the World Student Games, the highest level for university games for athletes. That and other achievements had me drafted into the Vision 2016 olympic development team, which I unfortunately had to forfeit due to my injury as well as other study commitments,” Greg shared with The Zone.
Inspired by his parents, Greg said that their way of life and the example that they have set for him and his siblings motivated him to push harder and harder every day. “They remain my everyday inspiration along with Dwaine ‘The Rock’ Johnson, for his unending drive and ambition,” he said.
Even though he has always been active, he says he started taking care of his body and life in general after he injured his knee and was inactive for about six months. When he got to the hospital for treatment, he had met a double leg amputee that encouraged him to live his best life, and dance and run as much as he can and could. “Now I devote my life to make that reality possible for those who never had it,” said Greg.
At the moment, Greg is an also a coach at the Rudi Louw’s boot camp, where he is an equal share holder. Besides that, the young sports enthusiast also has a clothing line called RUN that he recently started with the help of a close friend, Enzo Jantjies.
“The idea behind the clothing like came after I struggled to buy existing brands because they don’t relate to what I am doing. I wanted to wear something that made me work harder during my sessions. I wanted it to have a subtle but noticeable brand logo.”
“The statement ‘RUN’ doesn’t just apply to the art of running, but also your lifestyle, finances, business, basically everything. Everything needs to RUN and you are in charge of getting it there. So RUN it!” Greg encouraged anyone that wants to take charge of their reality.
HE says that people are the most rewarding part of living life in the ‘fitness zone.’ “It’s all about inspiring people. Having the ability to change someone’s life without even having met them is an awesome experience,” he said.
For those that want to live a healthier life, Greg says that he would tell them to “stop making time for everything else but you.”
“You deserve to spend an hour a day being selfish and working on your personal health and feel-good-factors. Your body needs you to be at your best” he encouraged.
During his time as a trainer and working on his own body, Greg says that he learned that you always get what you work for, consistent effort and belief breed consistent success and personal happiness.
“Having laser like focus in your pursuit to achieving a goal can keep your feet firmly grounded as you are happy with the little that you have, and thus practice a considerable amount of gratitude” he said.
Currently he works as an Associate Auditor at PKF (Namibia) Chartered Accountants and Registers Auditors, where he is working towards finishing his articles and also on enhancing his knowledge base in management accounting and auditing.
“In addition, I want to complete my Sports Science degree and do a course in Public and Motivational Speaking,” he shared.
In closing Greg encouraged as many young Namibians as possible to pursue their dreams. “Not everybody will understand your dreams now, but make sure you know what you want to achieve. Surround yourself with friends and people who inspire you, people who have more hunger and desire to seek greatness, fail, and keep failing until their dreams eventually submit to them,” he advised.
In the next ten years, Greg says that he wants to settle down and maybe have three children one day, with a chain of lifestyle centres and plans to have inspired a lot of people to live, do and be better.
Keith Vries