Up Close, and Personal

To me, sport stands for...

It’s my life, my everything. Whatever I am today is because of the sport.

A sports personality I look up to...

Kenenisa Bekele

On a typical training day...

I do: 6 hours of training each day.

I gear up with: Watch and shoes are my mains.

I eat: Bhakri is a staple. Apart from that fruits and dry-fruits.

I listen to: nothing while training.

I recover with: an afternoon nap in the day and thorough hydration. Massage and ice baths after harder sessions in the week.

I cross-train with: Swimming and S & C.

My idea of an effective training session is...

Fartleks are my favourite kind of workouts. It is effective and helps me improve my timings.

The moment I discovered my athletic potential was...

I used to play Kho-kho in 7th grade. It’s a very technical game and I never got tired. This is what my coach recognized and encouraged me to take up running. After my 10th grade I took up running full-time.

The toughest aspect of being an athlete...

Understanding the importance of rest & recovery and diligently following it. Maintaining a disciplined lifestyle is the toughest aspect of being an athlete.

The three biggest lessons I have learnt so far in my athletic career is...

1.Discipline in every aspect of life

2.Patience- Longer distances require immense patience

3.Keeping that mind calm- Similar to patience but, keeping that mental dialogue in control is important especially in longer distances.

Before a big race, I tell myself...

Run the race you’ve practiced for and beat the Kalidas of your practice sessions. You are your own competition. Focus on beating your own timings.

The toughest competition of my life was...

The recent TMM23. I was in the lead until 30K after which I cramped. It was tough to even get to the finish line but I pushed myself to place 3rd. Once I crossed the finish line I couldn’t move for 2 hours. It was tough.

The most memorable moment of my sporting career so far...

In 2010, I competed in the Junior National, 10,000m where I won the second place. I remember the race was on the 29th December in Bengaluru and I was in Pune competing in a Inter-school race the same day. I had to take a flight the same day and beat time to reach the venue. The runners were at the start line when I reached, where I had to request the guards to halt the race for 2 mins to kit-up. I went ahead and got a Silver medal that day and I have no idea how I did it. My body had not recovered, I was competing for 3 consecutive days before that. The race I almost thought was not a possibility for me was where I got recognized from. It was a very memorable day.

My training sanctuary is...

Balewadi Track, Pune

My dream starting line is...

The Olympics Marathon

I nourish my soul with...

Catching up with my friends and buying books (I never really find the time to read them) and I also enjoy trekking once in a while.

I have chosen to associate with Unived because...

I love the fact that this an Indian company and hence I trust it for my marathon fuelling.

My 2023 goals are...

A sub 2.15 Full Marathon

My 2023 race schedule is...

New Delhi Marathon

Pune International

Delhi Half Marathon

Tata Mumbai Marathon in 2024