Were you always interested in sports or athletics while growing up?
"No, I wasn't into sports during my school days. Until 10 years ago, if I had to go anywhere even within a 1 km distance, I preferred riding a Scooty. However, I had a fondness for trekking and would go on treks twice a year, boasting about it for the whole year!
I would make it seem like a huge accomplishment to climb while carrying a heavy backpack, often needing to take 20-30 breaks. Now, I can complete the same trek in just 3 hours.
So, how did running become a part of your life?
It all started during one of my routine health check-ups when I discovered that my cholesterol levels were alarmingly high. Realizing that I would be stuck on medication forever if I didn't take action, I began walking. However, after a few weeks, walking became monotonous. That's when I started running from pole to pole, with the ultimate goal of reaching the Hanuman temple in Bavdhan, Pune, which was roughly over a kilometer, without stopping.
One rainy day while I was running, a cyclist saw me braving the rain and must have thought of me as a dedicated runner. He introduced me to a group, but strangely enough, I rarely saw him on the roads after that encounter. I started doing strength training near Panchvati with the group, alongside a Dutch gentleman named Guus Vogelzang. He would begin his run in the NCL colony, and we would run with him for a maximum of 40 minutes to 1 hour.
Within a year, the start point shifted to Pune University as Guus returned to his homeland. I used to go from Bavdhan to the university, joining them for runs towards Bavdhan. Eventually, I stopped going to the university and began running directly from Bavdhan. I then joined a group called "Running Potential," which consisted of professional coaches. It was with them that I first learned about aerobic base training and the benefits of running within your target heart rate. I started following their training plans and went from being a pole-to-pole runner to a half marathoner. However, it took a couple more years to finally reach my Sub-2 half marathon goal.
When I started running from Bavdhan, I met Rajesh Jain, a regular runner on that route. Soon, we became a team, and he would ensure I followed my training plan. At some point, Sudhindra Haribhat from the Punerunning group suggested starting a satellite group in Bavdhan, which later culminated into Bavdhan Brigade. Since then, we have been going strong for the past 7 years.
Achieving first Sub-2:
With the guidance of the Running Potential coaches and group, I came very close to breaking the Sub-2 barrier. However, I was at 2:04 hours for almost 4 years. It felt like carrying a burden, and I was determined to break that barrier. After we started running independently, Rajesh Jain cryptically said, "See you tomorrow morning." I understood that something was going to happen the next day.
That day, Rajesh Jain, a few other initial running group members, and I ran our first Sub-2. As per the rules, we covered our watches with arm bands and were only allowed to check our time in the last kilometer. Constantly checking the watch during a run can mess with our minds, affecting our pace and disrupting the rhythm.
Breaking the Sub-2 barrier happened this time without any pressure.
About BeatAge Ultra:
I noticed others running distances equivalent to their age on their birthdays, like 40 km or 45 km. So, for my 50th birthday, I decided to do an ultra. However, I kept procrastinating until a few days before my 51st birthday when, with a lot of encouragement, I finally completed my first ultra in 2016. Since then, it has become a ritual for me to do an ultra on my birthday.
Interestingly, I completed an ultra before running my first full marathon in TMM 2017. In September 2017, during my birth month, we did our second ultra. Many members joined us for this ultra. Interestingly at least 3 of them completed ultra-distance even before doing their first marathon. In 2018, we officially named it "BeatAge Ultra." It became our own event, organized and executed solely by our group. Given our large group of runners, some volunteer to support while others run ultra distances.
Craziest experience:
The "Apla Comrades" event we did in 2019 stands out as one of the toughest and craziest things we have ever done. The route consisted of 15 km loops repeated four times, with the last 2 km of each loop featuring a steep uphill climb. Running in the peak summer heat of Pune, at 42 degrees Celsius, tested our endurance to the maximum. We even resorted to drinking water from the pipes of nearby farms. The practice runs were equally grueling, as we ran at noon under the scorching sun on the ARAI trail in Pune.
About the running community:
After forming our independent running group, we organized our first LSOM (Last Sunday of the month) event in 2017. It’s a great pleasure to be a part of building and growing this community and helping people set goals and pursue them with dedication. Influencing individuals who are not accountable to you is an art, and we have been striving to do so with considerable success.
Rajesh Jain used to pace me during my runs, and now I pace those who aim to achieve specific targets. We create running and strength training plans to provide structure and help runners achieve their goals. Initially, we used to approach people and invite them to join our group. For those who were regularly seen running alone, we made them aware of our running group's existence. Some would be skeptical, wondering why we were so insistent on their joining, but once they became a part of our group, they realized we shared a common culture. There is no hierarchy, no commercial motive. It's simply a group of like-minded individuals who enjoy running and want to improve.
Our running group is the most consistent and dedicated one. It feels like a big family, complete with an ecosystem. We have subgroups for Yoga, ordering farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, encouraging intermittent fasting, and supporting the "no sugar" challenge. The group is tightly knit, and we have created incredible memories through various curated events.
Some memorable events include the first local relay event we organized during the lockdown, spanning 55 hours with different runners or groups running one-hour slots. We also did a 30 km Wari walk with the Warkaris and a Bavdhan to Baga (Pune to Goa) relay event, where 56 runners covered a distance of 472 km non-stop in 56 hours.
Furthermore, every year during Navratri, we organize NavRun, which involves consecutive running for 9 days, with distances ranging from 9 km to 21 km. Runners choose their respective distances based on their fitness levels and preferences.
Running in different cities and countries.
One day, during a stopover in Paris, I had a team meeting to attend, followed by a flight back at 10 am the next day. I woke up at 4 am and went for a run on the Champs-Élysées before heading off to the airport. So given an opportunity where I see the possibility of running even for an hour in a new place, I would never miss that.
I prefer to run and explore new cities wherever I go, figuring out routes and transportation on my own. I had similar experiences in Germany and Budapest, where I researched the areas, I was staying in, even though the language barrier posed challenges.
Running in Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh, provided me with one of the best experiences, and I look forward to exploring many more scenic routes like Tamhini, Varandha, Sahyadri, Mahabaleshwar, and others in the future.
Runner - Sandeep Kulkarni, Pune
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