From Sprints to Summits: My Ultra Running Journey at 47

 “Running has always been a part of me — but not quite like this.”

Back in school and college, I was a sprinter. I thrived on explosive energy, short bursts of speed, and the thrill of the 200 or 400 meters. Later, I moved into weight training, spending years focused on building strength in the gym.

However I always felt something is missing. Not sure what it was but wanted to explore new areas and new challenges.

Endurance? Long-distance? Ultra marathons? Not even a thought.

That all changed in 2018, when a friend of mine insisted me to run a 5kms. It was a unique run in snow and I ran my first 5 km. It wasn’t a race or a record-setting run — just a start. A spark. That simple act redefined my relationship with running and, in many ways, with myself.

“From gym reps to road steps — 2018 marked the beginning of something new.”

From that first 5K, I gradually built up to 10Ks, then 10 miles,  half marathons, and then full marathons. Each run taught me more than just technique. I learned about nutrition, breathing, mindset, and most importantly — patience.

My First Ultra Attempt

When I attempted my first 50 kms ultra marathon in 2021 it was comparatively on a flater track and I was just able to complete it before the cut off. 

This kind of made me over confident and very casual in my over all approach of training.

First Ultra

The Setback: My Second Ultra Attempt

When I attempted my second  ultra marathon, I didn’t finish.

I was enthusiastic, but over confident and underprepared. This ultra had more elevation and I didn’t fully understand the demands of  trail running — the pacing, fueling, elevation, gear — it all overwhelmed me. That failure was a turning point. It humbled me, but it also fueled my growth

Time for redemption : My Third Ultra Attempt

The failure stuck in my mind and I wanted to prove myself with a bigger challenge.

That's when I decided for the 50 kms Sahayadri Hills Ultra run at Lavasa.

This time I was more focused, more disciplined and most important more humble.

It was a though challenge to run through relentless rain, strong winds, and challenging mountain roads gaining elevation of over 1120 meters It wasn’t just a physical test — it was a mental battle. One step at a time, I kept going. Because ultra running teaches you the most important rule: just keep moving forward.

I was able to complete this run more stronger and we'll before the cut off time.

Happy at finish line

Reflection

From sprinting on tracks to climbing mountain trails for hours — the contrast is sharp, but the purpose is the same: to challenge myself.

Running long distances taught me lessons I never expected — about resilience, about silence, about suffering, and strangely, about peace. I found joy in discomfort, strength in solitude, and purpose in every painful step.

And the journey is far from over.

To Anyone Thinking About Starting

You don’t need to be an endurance athlete from day one. You don’t need the perfect body, gear, or pace. You just need to start — like I did in 2018, with 5 km and a curious heart.

And when you fall — because you might — know this: failure is not the end. It’s your starting line.

If I could shift from gym routines to ultras, and go from sprints to mountains — at 47 — you can too.

 "It’s not the legs that take you across the finish line — it’s the belief that you belong there."