Our General Meeting on October 5 welcomed seven guests and featured an inspiring presentation by Jethro Saint Fleur, Aruba’s fastest runner, who shared his journey, achievements, and ambitions of reaching the Olympic level. With an impressive personal best of 31 minutes and 48 seconds in the 10K and a training schedule of approximately 110 kilometers per week, Jethro emphasized the importance of consistency, discipline, and sacrifice in achieving success. The evening reminded us that whether in sports, our professional lives, or Rotary, reaching our goals requires dedication, perseverance, and the determination to keep moving forward.
A Note from the Editor
Your editor arrived fashionably late this evening, just in time for dinner and our guest speaker. Unfortunately, that means any presidential announcements made earlier in the evening remain a mystery to this edition of The Arrow. We promise to be on time for the next one... or at least aim for the starting line!
At the Meeting on October 5, we had an attendance of 42.5% and welcomed seven guests, including our speaker for the evening.
The Need for Speed: Meeting Aruba’s Fastest Runner!
This evening, we welcomed Jethro Saint Fleur, who gave us a fascinating look into the world of competitive running and what it takes to become the fastest runner on the island.
Jethro proudly holds the title of Aruba’s fastest runner at the moment, with an impressive personal best of 31 minutes and 48 seconds in the 10K. While many of us might need that amount of time just to find our running shoes, Jethro has been putting in the serious work to reach the top of his game.
Competing abroad has been an important part of his development, allowing him to learn more about nutrition, training techniques, and the best practices used by elite athletes. With ambitions reaching toward the Olympic level, Jethro understands that there is still a long road ahead. The Olympic-level 10K benchmark of around 26 minutes remains a significant challenge, but he is focused on continuing to improve.
And improving takes a lot of running. Jethro currently trains approximately 110 kilometers per week! Finding time for that kind of mileage while balancing work and other responsibilities is no small feat. Training camps and international competitions also come with their own challenges, requiring discipline, planning, and plenty of sacrifice.
Training in Aruba presents an additional challenge: with limited local competition, it can be difficult to find runners who can consistently push him to his limits. Sometimes, getting faster means having to look beyond our shores for the competition and training opportunities needed to grow.
The Secret? Consistency and Sacrifice
Perhaps the most valuable lesson from Jethro’s presentation was that motivation alone is not enough. Consistency is what turns a goal into progress.
Jethro keeps his goal visible everywhere: on his phone screen, his watch face, and even his fridge. There is certainly no chance of forgetting what he is working toward! By constantly reminding himself of his objective, he stays focused on the daily habits required to get there.
His message was simple but powerful: know what you want to achieve, understand what you are willing to sacrifice, and be prepared to put in the work.
Whether your goal is to run a record-breaking 10K, grow professionally, or make a meaningful impact in our community, the principle remains the same. Success does not happen overnight; it comes from showing up consistently, even when it is difficult.
We thank Jethro for sharing his journey and reminding us that big goals require both determination and discipline. And the next time we complain about having a busy week, we may want to remember that someone out there is running 110 kilometers while doing the same!
Fiesta Rotaria Update
A quick update for everyone marking their calendars: Fiesta Rotaria has moved to March 14. The previously planned April date has been changed, so please adjust your calendars accordingly.
Until our next meeting, keep those goals in sight, stay consistent, and remember: in Rotary, we may not all run at Jethro’s pace, but we can certainly keep moving forward together!
Looking Ahead
October 12 & 19 Regular Meeting
October 26 Koos Veel presentation
November 30 General Assembly
December 5 Rotary Golf
December 11 Christmas Dinner
January 4 New Years Fellowship