151.7 km in 24 Hours | Representing India at world level
A Race That Taught Me How to Accept, Not Quit

The Target & the Reality

Going into the 24-Hour World Championship, my target was clear: 200+ km

It wasn’t an individual dream anymore—it was a responsibility, one I carried with pride after dreaming of this moment for 3 long years.

But destiny had a different plan.

I finished with 151.7 km in 24 hours—not the number I worked for, but a distance earned through survival, acceptance, and mental strength.

The Split That Tells the Story

• 100 km in the first 12 hours — run in extreme heat
•  51.7 km in the next 12 hours — battled in extreme cold & wind

The second half wasn’t about running. It was about continuing.

Due to:

• Severe breathing difficulty caused by cough,Fever and headache
• A 1.5-hour unplanned nap (likely an effect of paracetamol)
• And worsening weather conditions

I ended up fast walking for almost 10.5 hours.

Yet, I stayed on the course.

Training: Six Months of Honest Work

My preparation was not casual.
It was intentional, disciplined, and sincere.

Training Period: ~6 months

• Base building → endurance steady-state runs
• Speed workouts every alternate day (3 days/week)
• 3 easy/long runs per week

I trained genuinely from Day 1, because this race wasn’t just an event—it was a dream three years in the making.

I gave everything I had to this build.

The Taper Mistake

Where I failed was not in training—but in self-care.

During taper week:

• Hectic schedule
• Mental stress
• Negligence towards food
• Multiple travels

All of this reduced my immunity.

I started feeling sick even before traveling, tried my best to recover once I reached France—but the weather was not suitable for my condition, and my body never truly bounced back .

Planning Was Perfect—Execution Wasn’t

Everything on paper was well organized, designed so clearly that even a non-runner crew could support me smoothly.

Planned Hydration & Nutrition

Solid food (alternate hours):

• 2 Enerjiva gels
• Gingerbread / Fruit jelly / Boiled potatoes

Liquids:

• Plain water
• Orange juice / Electrolytes
• 500–600 ml per hour

First Hour: The First Blow

From the very first hour, things went wrong.

At the last moment, volunteers did not allow us to pack hydration from the common refreshment area before the race. This completely disrupted my hydration plan from Hour 1.

This was my first demotivation.

I wanted to avoid bananas due to my cough—but I had no other choice at that moment 

Despite this chaos:

• First 12 hours → 100 km
• Included multiple hydration stops
• Clothing changes
• Washroom breaks

It was far from smooth—but I kept going.

The Second Half: Acceptance Over Ego

After 12 hours:

• Breathing became heavy
• I tried motivating myself to run
• But my lungs wouldn’t cooperate

That’s when I realized: 👉 Today is not my day. 👉 But this is not the end.

Instead of giving up, I switched to fast walking.

But even that was brutal:

• Windy, freezing weather
• Body completely chilled
• Multiple washroom & hydration breaks
• Plan already disturbed beyond repair

Still—I stayed.

The Biggest Decision

The hardest moment wasn’t physical.

It was the moment I accepted reality.

With a strong mindset and future goals in mind, I told myself:

This race is teaching me something important.
I will respect it—and come back stronger.

That decision mattered more than any kilometer.

Finish Line: Not Defeat, But a Promise

I finished 151.7 km—not with celebration, but with clarity.

This race didn’t break me. It reminded me that:

• Even the strongest plans can fail
• Health is non-negotiable
• Sometimes courage means continuing without expectation

Gratitude

Deeply grateful to:

• All mentors, friends, and family
• Every well-wisher who supported me through this long journey
• NEB Sports – Sponsor
• Enerjiva – Fueling Partner
• Govind Milk – Support Partner

And to my country— Thank you for trusting me to wear the national colors.

Lessons from Albi

• Dreams don’t end with one race
• Acceptance is also strength
• Health comes before heroics
• Comebacks are built in silence

Albi was not my best race.

But it strengthened my resolve to return stronger, wiser, and healthier.

The journey continues.