About Me
Runner, Developer, and Creator of YearRoundRunning
Quentin van Bentum
My Running Journey
After years of playing sports and running casually, I started taking running seriously about three years ago. It began with a marathon challenge and quickly grew into a lasting passion. Early on I made many mistakes, runs were diffuclt but at some point something clicked. I found myself wanting to go further, to push harder, to see what I was capable of.
In February 2024, I completed my first half marathon. It was a milestone that felt impossible years before, but crossing that finish line showed me what was possible with consistent training and dedication. Just two months later, in April 2024, I ran my first full marathon. The jump from half to full was significant, but the rush of finishing a race became addicting. I knew I wanted to keep pushing my limits.
Throughout 2024, I did another half and full marathon but with a focus on trailrunning. With each race I kept learning something new about pacing, nutrition, and mental toughness. These races were preperation for a bigger goal I set. In October 2024, I completed my first 58km ultramarathon. That race changed everything. The distance, the challenge, the mental game of pushing through when your body wants to quit, it all clicked in a way that shorter distances never had.
In 2025, I completed two more ultras, an 80km race and a 61km race, both with significant elevation and though conditions. Each one was different, each one taught me something new about what I could handle, both physically and mentally. But my most recent challenge at the start of 2026 would test me in ways I never expected.
Why I Built YearRoundRunning
At the start of 2025, I began building YearRoundRunning. By that point, I had experienced the frustration of generic training plans that didn't fit my schedule or goals. I was tired of PDFs that couldn't adapt, plans that didn't account for real life, and tools that required expensive subscriptions just to get a basic training schedule.
I wanted to create a tool that gives every runner access to personalized, flexible training plans fir free with the option to enhance them even more. Whether you're training for your first 5K or your 5th marathon you deserve a plan that works with your life, not against it.
This platform is my way of giving back to the running community that has given me so much. Every feature, every improvement, comes from understanding what runners actually need to succeed. Having gone through the journey from beginner to ultra runner myself, I know the challenges runners face at every stage.
My Most Recent Challenge
A 100km Ultra Marathon That Became So Much More
Sometimes the best races are the ones that don't go according to plan.
My most recent ultra marathon was supposed to be a challenging 95km race with 5.3km of elevation gain, tough enough on its own. But somewhere along the course, I took a wrong turn. What should have been a 95km journey became a 110km adventure.
Those extra 15 kilometers weren't in the plan. They weren't in my training. But in that moment, I had a choice: give up or keep going. I chose to keep going. Those extra miles taught me more about mental toughness than any perfectly executed race ever could.
Deciding to keep going was one of the hardest choices I’ve ever made. The race had strict cutoff times, which forced me to push much harder than planned early on. After just 20 km, I realized I had taken a wrong turn and added an extra 15 km to the course, costing me around two and a half hours. From that point on, reaching the next checkpoint within the cutoff felt almost impossible.
Instead of stopping, I gave it everything to make that cutoff and somehow managed to get through. That effort came at a heavy cost. By kilometer 45, my body was completely worn down and I seriously considered dropping out. I had pushed far beyond what felt sustainable.
What kept me moving was a simple mental reset. I had worked too hard just to stay in the race, and giving up no longer felt like an option. I slowed down, regrouped, and focused only on moving forward. I finished the race in 22 hours and 42 minutes, covering 110 km with 5,700 meters of elevation gain.
My goal
My goal is simple: help as many runners as possible achieve their goals, whether that's finishing their first race or setting a new personal best. If YearRoundRunning has helped you on your running journey, then I've accomplished what I set out to do.
Let's Run Together
Whether you're just starting out or you're a seasoned runner, I'd love to hear about your journey. Use YearRoundRunning to create your perfect training plan, and let's see what you're capable of.