Some passions don’t arrive with fireworks—they grow quietly, shaped by habit, discipline, and a willingness to keep going even when motivation runs thin. Julyenne Lauryn Soriano didn’t set out to become a runner, but somewhere between obligation and curiosity, she found a rhythm that changed how she sees herself.
Learning discipline early
At 16, Soriano is a Year 12 student who has spent nearly her entire life abroad. Outside the classroom, her days are filled with music, gym sessions, and the occasional attempt at cooking. But long before running entered the picture, dance defined her routine. She began formal training at 11 and quickly fell in love with performing—not just for the stage, but for the structure it demanded. “What I love about it is discipline,” she said, crediting dance for shaping her resilience at a young age.
When running stopped feeling like a chore
Running came later, in early 2023, and at first, it wasn’t love at first stride. It was meant to support her dance conditioning, something she felt “kind of obliged to do.” Still, she kept showing up, even when it felt more like a task than a choice. That persistence paid off. As dance gradually moved out of the picture, running stayed—and slowly became her own.
“I’ve always wanted to be an athlete and train consistently,” she shared. Football briefly crossed her mind, but starting at 15 felt unrealistic. Running, however, felt accessible. It was there, waiting.
Finding space to breathe
What surprised her most wasn’t speed or endurance, but perspective. Running, she said, “makes me think not everything is so deep.” The simplicity of putting one foot in front of the other gave her space to breathe, reset, and focus.
Her father played a quiet but pivotal role, encouraging her to join BELONG DXB, a Dubai-based fitness community known for its inclusive, no-pressure environment. “My dad saw them and persuaded me to join, and I’m like yeah okay,” she recalled. That casual yes turned into consistency—and belonging.
For Soriano, the mantra remains straightforward: “Stay focused.” It’s a mindset shaped by years of discipline, now carried forward with every run.
