Introduction
Meet Anil Korvi, a modest human being with extraordinary achievements. For him, running is not just a hobby or a passion; it is more than that. Running has given him the platform where he could make his name and achieve great heights.
In Thane district, a young lad from Ambernath was an enthusiastic Kho-kho player under the guidance of Yadneshwar Bagrao Sir, because of whom, Anil started his sports journey. Little did he know that his journey from Kho-Kho player to a great runner will be full of surprises and sweet moments.
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"At the age of 18, in 2007, I started running. My first success came with the Mumbai University Half Marathon, where I finished with a silver medal in 1:20 hours. My training was very basic; I did everything on my own and participated in small races in Western Mumbai, earning whatever prize money I could get. My first cash prize was Rs. 300. That was the moment I felt that I could do something.
In 2011, I secured a gold medal by completing a half marathon in 1:13 hours.
Turning point of my life and the journey so far -
The turning point in my life came during a 10km race held in a town called Vada, in Maharashtra. I told my father that I wanted to participate, and he gave me 20 rupees, saying it was all he could afford. The bus ticket alone cost Rs.70. I asked a friend to cover my expenses, promising to pay him back. He agreed, and I ended up winning the third prize in that race. I received Rs. 3333/- in the cash prize and a trophy. The trophy I received is the most significant trophy in my home.
The next day, I came home, slept for a while, and then went to college to show my trophy to the principal. My father wasn't aware of this. He called me at 10 a.m. and said, 'Hey, you didn't talk about your achievement! Your name is in the newspaper.’!! I felt incredibly happy and proud that day. Since then, I have consistently secured first or second positions in the races I participate in, including the Western Railways and university cross-country races.
So far, I have run 400+ races and have secured a podium in at least 300+ of the races. Running has given me a lot and I am eternally grateful for that. My coaches, Brijal Bind and Shakti Mudaliyar have been my constant source of inspiration and motivation.
Apart from this, I have received sponsorships from JSW sports, Vasind to participate in the outstation races, and have been a brand ambassador for HRX and Brooks.
Since June 2013, I have joined Indian Western Railways, and I have been consistently winning medals and glories for the railways.
How do you manage disappointments -
There have been some disappointments. In 2013, during a cross-country run, I had not brought shoes with me as I was running barefoot then. I had surveyed the route a day earlier and realized it was very challenging. I borrowed shoes from a friend, but the laces kept opening up every 300 meters. While others were steadily moving ahead, I had to take multiple stops, unsure of what I was doing. Eventually, my elder brother advised me to remove the shoes. I was in 30th position at the time but managed to finish in 13th place. Unfortunately, only 12 people were selected for the All-India Cross Country, which was a major disappointment for me.
I have also taken part in challenging runs organized in Ratnagiri. The routes there are extremely demanding, full of ups and downs. Moreover, the runs start at 9:30 a.m., making it even more challenging to run in the hot and humid weather along the coastal roads. Despite the weather and route challenges, I participated in two consecutive years and secured first and second positions, respectively, earning a significant amount of cash prize money.
I am a fan of Dhoni, and I believe in being steady and calm. So, despite the weather and route challenges, I decided from the beginning to stay calm and maintain a steady pace.
Tell us some of your memorable runs.
Some of my most memorable runs include the Bombay Goa Chase, where eight of us did a relay run from Mumbai to Goa in 40 hours. I received a call just one day before as someone else had backed out. Deepak Oberoi from Bombay Running called me and told me what I had to do. I agreed and ended up running the maximum distance of 90 Km out of the 567 Km in that relay run. The relay run was completed in 40 hours 17 mins.
We also participated in the Speed Project, where we achieved third place in the world rankings, completing 502 kilometers in 31.15 hours.
What are your current goals and aspirations?
I currently train over 500 students under a running club named Runholics. Most of them are Army and Police force aspirants, and in the past three years, 78 students from my coaching have been selected. I have students ranging from 7-year-olds to 55-year-olds, and for those who are based outside of Mumbai, I conduct online training sessions.
I am preparing for the upcoming Satara Hill Half Marathon and the Railways Athletics event. My aim is to complete a marathon in 2:25 hours. A couple of years ago, during the Delhi Full Marathon, my target was the same, but I finished it in 2:39 hours. My best timings so far are 32:22 minutes in the 10km race, 1:10:50 hours in the half marathon, and 2:39:24 hours in the full marathon."
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