89.98 km | 10:42 Hrs | Bronze Medal, 2025, South Africa
Some races test fitness.
Some test mental strength.
Comrades 2025 tested my identity as an athlete.
At the beginning of 2025, my primary target was clear:
Selection for the 24-Hour Stadium Run World Championship.
My training until March 2025 was entirely aligned toward that goal. Although I had already registered for Comrades Marathon, it was more of a backup plan, with substitution in mind during the April window.
The turning point came abruptly.
Just one week before the qualifying 24-hour stadium race in Bangalore, I was forced to withdraw due to multiple unavoidable circumstances. With my best distance being 180.8 km (July 2024), my chances of finishing top 6 looked like barely 10%.
For the first time, the dream of representing India on the world stage felt like it was slipping away.
After discussions and guidance from my mentor Kishor Dhankude Sir, and restructuring by my coach Sandeep Kumar, I shifted focus to Comrades from April 2025.
But the path forward was far from smooth.
Exactly one month into training, I had a fall during a run, leading to bruises and knee injuries. Training came to a complete halt for almost two weeks—physically painful and mentally draining.
And then… life surprised me.
On the same day of that setback, I received the official list of selected athletes for the 24-Hour World Championship.
My name was on it.
That single moment changed everything.
From mid-May, my training focus had to shift again—this time aligning with IAU and AFI policies, under the Indian team coaches, for the World Championship in France (Oct 2025).
In reality, I trained specifically for Comrades for barely one month.
Pre-Race Reality: Woman, Runner, Fighter
Every female athlete fights two races—the external one and the internal biological one.
I’ve never used pills to manipulate my cycle. Even with irregularities due to stress, workload, and heavy training, I strongly believe:
Periods give strength—but they demand preparedness.
Unfortunately, my cycle started during travel, which involved long waits, walking, and sitting. It was exhausting—both physically and emotionally.
I managed proper rest one day before the race. During the run, I faced:
These factors played a role in controlling my pace rather than chasing extremes.
Race Goal
I didn’t set an aggressive target.
But with my 2024 Up Run timing of 10:52 hrs (87 km), one goal felt right: Sub-11 finish
I ran my own race, mostly alone, without distraction.
Since downhills have always been tough for me, I decided to: Cover the first half strongly and smartly
50 km completed in 5:50 hrs
That split gave me a massive confidence boost and reassured me that my pacing strategy was working.
Fuel, Gear & Support
Hydration & Nutrition
Shoes
Compression Support
Motivation Music? No. My biggest supporter was on continuous call, motivating and cheering throughout the race
That emotional support mattered more than any playlist.
Special thanks to everyone who stepped forward to support my only midnight 50 km long run before Comrades—your belief gave me mental strength.
Grateful to my running partners:
And above all— My strict but sweet family, especially my mom, who silently tolerates my passion and its daily sacrifices.
Crossing the finish line after 89.98 km in 10:42 hrs, earning a Bronze Medal, felt deeply emotional.
This Comrades wasn’t about peak fitness.
It was about adaptability, resilience, and balance between two global dreams.
Lessons from Big C 2025
Comrades 2025 wasn’t just a race.
It was proof that even in uncertainty—belief finds a way.
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