Pacing for success: Lessons in leadership, life and the long run with Oshri
About the series
Ever wondered what our Tribe gets up to outside of the office? How well do you know your colleagues, really? We’re on a mission to find out more about the secret lives of our Tribe to uncover the hidden talents, passions and hobbies that add colour to the amazing characters we’re lucky to work with. We hope that with this series, we all might discover shared interests and deeper ways to connect with each other.
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For many, running is simply a way to stay fit or clear the mind. But what happens when the discipline of distance running translates directly into the way we approach our daily work, our goals and our teams?
We sat down with our legendary COO & GC Oshri Harari to learn how the persistence required to push through a grueling half-marathon mirrors the determination needed to thrive like a champ in both business and life.
How long have you been running and what inspired you to get started?
I have been running for about 25 years, though there were periods when I was less consistent. During my military service, I was chosen for a course to learn how to coach my team in running and oversee their training in the gym. In a way, I didn’t choose running, it chose me.
Do you run marathons?
For the last few years, I have been running around 180–200 km a month and participating in at least two half-marathons a year. However, I don’t run full marathons, following a joint decision with my family. Training for a full marathon requires a great deal of valuable family time on weekends and holidays – a commitment I’m not willing to make. At the same time, I’ve brought my daughters into running. Once a week, I run with one of my daughters as part of a running club at her school, and I also run 5K races with them. Separately, I started a running group about three years ago. It now has around 20 active members, mainly finance and tech guys, who run together every Saturday morning.
What bizarre thoughts or mantras keep your legs moving during a long race?
I build playlists in advance, they usually start with slow-tempo tracks and gradually pick up speed as I gain more mileage. The last 5 km are dedicated to pure techno - no lyrics, just high BPM. I try to stay focused and distribute my energy along the way. My mantra – something I’ve also taught my daughters – is: "Fast starters fade, smart runners win! And that applies to life." Therefore, you need to pace yourself, even when the adrenaline kicks in!
Lucky socks? A specific hype song? What is your most non-negotiable pre-race quirk?
None of the above. But I have a few funny running habits. I have to start running on a five-minute mark, like 7:00 or 7:05, and I can’t just start at 7:03. Worse than that, I must finish every run on a round number, such as 12.00 km or 12.5 km.
How does your running grit translate to your daily work?
A core understanding that achieving goals requires hard work and determination, even when conditions are far from ideal: whether facing harsh weather during a run or a challenging business environment. More importantly, reaching a target is only the beginning. Maintaining achievements and continuously improving demands even greater effort, consistency and persistence. The advantage of work over running is that success is a collective team effort, allowing us to engage people and manage workloads effectively so that everyone shares in the accomplishments. I always try to encourage my friends at Liquidity to run as much as possible because I genuinely believe it can only do them good (both mentally and physically), and whenever I get the chance, I also try to run with them.
Of all the finish lines you’ve crossed, which one is your absolute favourite and why?
About two years ago, I ran a half marathon and hit a personal best pace of 4:35/km. By the final kilometers, I already knew I was going to break my record, and I was walking on air. My wife and daughters were waiting for me at the finish line – my daughters even ran the last few dozen meters alongside me, shouting with huge pride!
You’ve certainly inspired us all, Oshri! So what do you say, Tribe – should we start a global Liquidity running club??