Meet Samrudhi Kulkarni, an HR professional in the manufacturing industry from Pune. She is a seeker of challenges. Wherever there are challenges, you will find her. Young lady with a very clear thought process of events she would like to spend her time and energy on and not running after every other event.
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"Like many women, I experienced significant weight gain after becoming a mother. It reached a point where I decided I needed to take action. In March 2017, I joined Pune Running, South. I remember struggling to run even 200 meters initially. Twice a week was dedicated to strength training, while the rest of the days were for running. Gradually, I became comfortable running 2 kilometers, and soon I started registering for events. Running became a form of meditation for me. Moreover, there were very few female participants in these events, so winning podiums became a norm, which greatly motivated me. Running gave me an opportunity to break free from my routine, mundane life.
During that time, I used to run barefoot. I quickly moved to Full Marathon. Participated in PRBM 2017, TMM Mumbai 2018, and Hyderabad Marathon 2018, all of which were barefoot races. Looking back, I now realize that running a full marathon so soon was not a great idea, but we had such an enthusiastic group that six or seven of us decided to take on the challenge, and we succeeded. I even finished on the podium at the PRBM Pune."
Comrades,2019
"I joined the Motiv8 group as they were the only ones providing training for Comrades at that time. My first Comrades race was in 2019, an uphill run. For three months, we clocked in over 300 km per month, practicing uphill runs at Lavasa. I was very well prepared for the race, following 99% of the training plans and running all the runs as per the plan. Finished my first Comrades in Sub 11 hours."
Injury and setbacks –
"Towards the end of 2020, I suffered a major quadriceps injury. I was doing online workouts at the time, and I might have done them incorrectly, leading to a minor fracture. I had registered for Comrades in 2020 as well, but due to COVID, it got postponed, and I ended up dealing with this injury."
"Rising like a Phoenix after the injury - After recovering from the injury, I joined Fitness First. Under the guidance of Vijay Gaikwad, I started focusing on legs, glutes, and upper body workouts, which I had neglected before. It was a life-changing decision. I was introduced to the world of triathlon and made lifelong friends. I had to overcome my weakness in swimming, so I learned how to swim. I knew I just had to manage within the cut off time during the swim, as I could make up time in the cycling and running segments. Cycling has always been a strength of mine since childhood, and after completing multiple BRMs of 200-300 km, my confidence skyrocketed.
In 2022, I completed my first Half Ironman in Kolhapur with a time of 6 hours and 57 minutes. This has significantly improved and now my timings are 6 hours and 39 minutes.
During the open water swimming section, I experienced a moment of panic. I feared drowning and shouted for help. They came to my rescue, but I heard someone from the crowd saying, "If you turn back now, you won't be able to return again." I somehow gathered the courage to complete my swim in 1 hour and 9 minutes, just under the cutoff time of 1 hour and 10 minutes."
Making of an Iron(wo)man
"After Kolhapur, I made the decision to participate in a Full Ironman in Kazakhstan in August 2022. I prepared extensively for this race, dedicating every Saturday and Sunday to swimming practice. It required a six-month commitment where I had to put aside my friends and family. Since swimming was my weakest discipline, I practiced every evening to build my confidence. A Full Ironman demands a 3.8 km swim in under 2 hours and 20 minutes! I continued practicing until I felt ready.
The journey to Kazakhstan was filled with challenges. I fell ill and had a high temperature. I hadn't brought any antibiotics with me, and due to the language barrier, procuring them became a problem. Somehow, we managed to find someone to translate for us, and I took antibiotics a day before the race. Additionally, at the Delhi Airport, they initially refused to allow us to bring our bikes. The flight was full of participants, but through negotiation and persistence as a group, we managed to have our bikes loaded. This experience made me realize that an Ironman event is not only physically demanding but also requires careful logistical arrangements.
After Kazakhstan, I participated in Comrades, and I found it to be relatively easier. You don't need to carry anything except yourself. :D I personally prefer doing Ironman events over Comrades."
Comrades 2023 "Just a few weeks before the Comrades, I experienced terrible shin pain. For three weeks leading up to the event, I couldn't run. However, Pankaj Ravalu, the fastest Ironman of India from Kolhapur and my current coach, suggested that I maintain my VO2 max level. So, I continued cycling and swimming. This approach helped me understand the intricacies and science of maintaining VO2 max and managing injuries without pushing myself when my body wasn't ready.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Comrades race. It didn't feel like I was running an ultra-distance race. I had a great time chatting with other runners. It was an incredibly fun experience."
What's next?
"So far am extremely happy and proud of my journey. Have done 10 FM, innumerable HM, and 7+ Ultra runs. Next, my dream is to qualify and run in the Boston Marathon when I turn 42. Additionally, I aspire to participate in the Hawaii Ironman World Championship."
Runner - Samruddhi Kulkarni, Pune
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