This ultra-marathon runner becomes the first Indian to win an international multi-day race

Ultra-marathon runners often have years of training and hard work before they begin competing in strenuous events. Arun Bharadwaj recently became the first Indian to win an international multi-day race when he finished the non-stop 560 km Mumbai- Nashik- Pune-Mumbai track.

He began this race on January 31st from Mumbai where it was flagged off from the Gateway of India. Throughout the next six and a half days, Arun averaged a total of 80km every twenty-four hours at a moderate pace. He even managed to take on the 14km Kasara Ghat which is at an extremely high gradient and is considered a relatively tougher part of the course.

This entire route was harsh given that the heat and incline were extremely volatile and Bharadwaj chose the route specifically for the challenge of running in such conditions. He accomplished it in a total of 166 hours.

His aim through this run was to spread the ideals of fitness and exercise by giving people an incentive and motivation to get into some form of routine physical activity.

This ultra runner @arunultrarunner started from the Gateway of India in Mumbai at 7.10 am on 31st January.

Ran to Nashik.

Ran to Pune.

Ran back to Mumbai.

Finished on 6th February 11.55 pm at the same point in Mumbai.

What a splendid performance!! Take a bow Arun Bharadwaj 🙌🙌 https://t.co/tXf9e5i6r2 pic.twitter.com/23KSIaqMdu

— Kiran Kumar S (@KiranKS) February 7, 2021

Bharadwaj feels that the human body must subject itself to the benefits that exercise brings both in the short and long term. Along the way, he was often joined by small groups of fellow runners who would accompany him for short distances as part of the marathon. He was quoted in the TOI saying “I run because I want to inspire more and more people to take up running and also the athlete in me wants to challenge myself to work hard and be fit and healthy.

”Apart from the Mumbai- Nashik run, Arun Bharadwaj’s favorite route was an initiative he took to cover the distance from Kargil to Kanyakumari; a total of 4100 km. It took him approximately two months to complete. Given that Arun Bharadwaj is one of few ultra-marathon runners in India as of now, he will be setting his sights on competitions across the world in the years to come and build on his career that already includes records set in notable events such as the 6 Day Race in South Africa.

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