From the Trails to the Tides: An Interview with 091runCRW’s Emilija Pajkovska on Conquering the Seas

While many in our crew are familiar with conquering mountains and pounding the city pavement, some of our members are taking the 091runCRW spirit of adventure to the open water. We recently caught up with our very own Emilija Pajkovska, who, along with a few other crew members, traded her running shoes for deck shoes to compete in the state sailing championship for cruisers. The regatta, held from October 11th to 18th, navigated the stunning Greek islands of the Sporades.

This exciting venture into a different kind of endurance sport has sparked a lot of curiosity within the crew. How does one go from running marathons to skippering a sailboat in a championship race? What is life like on the open sea? To shed some light on this incredible experience and introduce the world of sailing to the rest of us, we asked Emilija five questions about her journey.

Emilija, many of us know you as a runner. How did your journey into the world of sailing begin, and what inspired you to take the helm and become a skipper?

I actually started sailing before I started running — I’ve been a skipper since 2007. It started out of curiosity, but I quickly fell in love with the feeling of freedom at sea. You’re so close to the elements, the wind becomes your engine, and it gives you this rare mix of peace and adrenaline. Running came later, in 2012, but the two ended up complementing each other really well.

The state sailing championship in the Sporades sounds like an incredible experience. Can you share a standout moment from the race – perhaps a challenging situation you had to navigate or a moment of pure joy and perfect sailing?

There were a few unforgettable moments. On the second day there was no wind at all, so we were literally stuck in the middle of the sea — 120 meters depth below us — and we just jumped in for a swim while waiting for the breeze. Dolphins came right by the boat, playing around us. And then the next day was the complete opposite: wind, competition, strategy… the pure adrenaline of passing other boats and feeling the boat respond — that’s the magic of racing.

For those of us who have never set foot on a cruiser, the idea can be both exciting and intimidating. From your perspective as a skipper, how difficult is it to manage a vessel like that, especially in a competitive environment? What are the key skills one needs to develop?

It seems intimidating from the outside, but once you understand how the boat behaves, it becomes very natural. In races everything is faster and more intense, but it’s still fun when the crew works as one. The most important skills are awareness, teamwork, and staying calm when conditions change — which they always do at sea.

Your adventure has surely inspired many in the crew. What advice would you give to fellow 091runCRW members who are now curious about sailing? What are the first steps they could take to get acquainted with cruising and explore this new possibility?

The best first step is just to join a short cruise or a weekend training trip with a skipper. The moment you feel the boat move only from wind power, you immediately understand why people fall in love with sailing. After that, everything becomes easier — each trip adds confidence, and soon it feels completely natural.

Running and sailing both require endurance, strategy, and a love for the outdoors. How does your experience as a runner complement your skills as a skipper, and how does the “runpartyrepeat” ethos of our crew translate to life on a sailboat with your team?

Running gives me stamina, focus, and that calm mindset you need when conditions get tricky. Sailing uses those same qualities but in a shared, team-based way. And the “runpartyrepeat” energy translates perfectly on board — it just becomes “sail • laugh • repeat” — same spirit, just with a bit more salt water and wind in your hair 🙂

Oh yes, that is our pirate Emi O’Pajkovska. If you mess with her, she’ll send you over the deck to sleep with the fishes.

Prepared by Filip Popovski

Photos from Emilija’s private archive