What is your history with sports and athletics?
I started running in 1998 and ran my first half marathon at the inaugural Mumbai Marathon in 2004. I completed my first full marathon in 2007, followed by Ironman 70.3 Goa in 2019 and my first 50K ultramarathon in Jaisalmer in December 2021.
Growing up, I was never much of a sports person. In fact, I dreaded sports periods at school and was pretty bad at most activities. The only exception was badminton, which I learned as a child while living in Indonesia.
Towards the end of my school years in London, I fell in love with squash. I started playing more seriously in 2004–2005 with my brother-in-law. Even today, I would still call myself a novice, but I absolutely love the game.
What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?
Running has really opened me up as a person. It taught me to set goals and work towards them. More importantly, it showed me that I could actually achieve what I set out to do. This was something I often struggled with in my professional life, where I didn’t always have the same confidence in myself.
I feel most alive when I’m out there running or doing something physically challenging. There’s a deep connection with nature and with myself that is difficult to explain. It gives me a real sense of freedom. In those moments, I feel like everything in my body and mind is working together, at full capacity. It’s a wonderful feeling, and one that keeps me going back for more.
Have you experienced any challenges or obstacles?
I’ve always had weak lungs, and there’s a history of heart disease in my family. I wasn’t particularly strong either. But today, I’m probably the fittest I’ve ever been. My BMI is under control, I’ve built muscles I never had before, and I’m genuinely proud of how far I’ve come.
Getting here hasn’t been easy. I’ve had my share of injuries from overtraining—Achilles problems, calf pulls, hamstring injuries, IT band tightness, knee pain, and even a trapped nerve in my neck. I’ve also dealt with high blood pressure. There were plenty of setbacks, but I kept at it. Over time, I learned to work around the injuries, recover, and keep moving forward.
What’s interesting is that work and family have never really come in the way of my running or exercise. Somehow, everything just falls into place. I think my family can see how much it means to me. When I talk about running, there’s a clarity and confidence in me, and they’ve always supported that. It’s quite different from my professional life, where I haven’t always felt that same sense of direction.
Has your participation helped you overcome any major life issues?
Exercise has been the one thing that’s kept me mentally strong over the years. It’s given me an outlet for all the stress and frustration that life throws at you. I honestly think it’s kept me from exploding at times. Maybe it’s the endorphins, I don’t know. But whenever things got difficult, whether it was marriage, family relationships, problems with bosses at work, or just life in general, running and exercise were always there for me. It was my escape, a place where I could clear my head and feel like myself again.
As for my physical health, I genuinely believe all these years of running and working out have kept me alive and well. Given my family history and my own health challenges, I sometimes wonder where I’d be without exercise. I honestly feel I might have ended up in and out of hospital, or perhaps not even be around today. I can’t know that for certain, but that’s how much of a difference exercise has made to my life.
What is your “why?”
I’m now a leadership coach, focusing on performance and communication skills. One of the questions I often ask people is, “Why?” What I’ve come to realise is that your “why” isn’t always something you know from the beginning. It develops over time. You keep adding experiences and meaning to it until it becomes a much bigger part of your life.
For me, running started as a way to deal with frustration and the challenges life threw at me. But over the years, it’s become so much more than that.
Today, I actively encourage and help others improve their physical and mental well-being through running and exercise. Whether it’s helping someone work towards their first half marathon, a full marathon, an Ironman, or simply a goal they never thought possible, I find great satisfaction in being part of their journey.
And the interesting thing is, their progress inspires me in return. Seeing someone push themselves and achieve something gives me a renewed sense of purpose. It’s become a wonderful cycle. I inspire others, they inspire me, and that keeps me going.
What is your favorite gear or training equipment?
When it comes to running shoes, I absolutely loved the Adidas Boost. They were great, but unfortunately, they’ve become too expensive. My hydration backpack has also been a fantastic investment. It’s so convenient, especially on longer runs.
For cycling, I’d love to have a Cervélo bike with a Wahoo KICKR trainer and Zwift. It’s on my wish list, but I don’t own one yet! 😂
For squash, I’ve been using the Head Ti 120 racket for about 10 years, and I still love it. It has an amazing feel.
For weight training, my dream setup would be a fully equipped Rogue squat rack with bumper plates. As for running clothes, I’m a big fan of Nike. They really know how to make good running gear.
Living in India, we don’t always have easy access to the same range of brands available elsewhere. That’s why Decathlon has been such a game changer. Almost all my trekking gear comes from there—boots, gloves, jackets, tents, backpacks, goggles, you name it. Their products are affordable, practical, and good quality.
I genuinely think Decathlon has made a huge difference in India. They’ve made outdoor sports and adventure activities far more accessible to ordinary people, without having to spend a fortune on equipment.
Do you have a favorite race or event?
In India, I’ve run the Ladakh Marathon, which was a fantastic experience and a lot of fun. I also really enjoyed the Kaveri Trail Marathon. Both were memorable in their own way.
Looking ahead, I’d love to run the London Marathon. I’ve heard the atmosphere and spirit of the event are incredible. Berlin is another marathon that’s high on my wish list.
I’m also very impressed with Ironman events. They’re extremely well organised and the whole experience is something special, although I do feel they’re very expensive!
What’s next?
My next big goal is to complete a full Ironman 140.6. I’ve been putting it off, partly because, to be honest, it scares me! I don’t think I’ve quite found my “why” for taking on such a big challenge, and I haven’t yet figured out the right training plan. But it’s definitely something I want to achieve.
In the meantime, I’m focused on improving my marathon and half marathon times. My targets are to run a full marathon in under 4 hours and 45 minutes and a half marathon in under 1 hour and 50 minutes. I know there’s work to be done, but I enjoy having something to aim for.
Any fun facts about yourself?
I love cooking, and one of my favourite things to make is jam. I’ve been making strawberry jam every year for the past five years, but honestly, give me almost any fruit and I’ll find a way to turn it into jam! My mum has even given it her stamp of approval, so I must be doing something right.
About three years ago, I decided to teach myself knitting through YouTube. The results were hilarious, with crooked lines everywhere, but I enjoyed learning something new. I’m actually quite handy with a needle and thread.
Having travelled and lived in different countries as a child, I also picked up a bit of Indonesian and Russian along the way. I still speak some of both languages.
Do you have any advice for someone interested in getting started?
Just put on your running shoes and get started! Don’t overthink it. Take it slow, take it easy, and enjoy the process. The hardest part is often just getting out the door.
And if you need a little help or motivation, give me a call! I genuinely believe anyone can achieve their running or fitness goals with the right encouragement and guidance. I’d love to help you get there.
Any other comments or stories you’d like to share?
I’m glad I finally sat down and wrote all of this!
One thing I should mention is that running on Indian roads is an adventure in itself. It’s practically an obstacle course! Potholes, stray dogs, cow dung, dog poop, dark roads, hardly any pavements, and traffic that seems determined to kill you. You really have to keep your eyes open!
Then there are the people. Locals who can’t understand why anyone would voluntarily run in the midday heat. Villagers who stop me just to ask, “Why are you running?”
In the early days, I used to carry a bright yellow water bottle, and people were absolutely fascinated by it. They would actually stop me to ask what it was!
These days, with my long white-grey beard, I seem to attract even more attention. I think people assume I’m some super-fit octogenarian!
Of course, things have changed quite a bit over the years. Running is much more familiar to people in India now, and there’s a far greater understanding of fitness and endurance sports. But the funny encounters and unexpected obstacles are still part of what makes running here so memorable.