‘To feel closer to myself’: These Indian ultramarathoners on why they run and why you should too

Kaushal Chauhan (pictured above) was only 17 when he watched the 2012 Olympics in London. The sheer athleticism on display in the United Kingdom inspired him. Four years later, he is the youngest runner at the Great India Marathon, an ultra-marathon that kicked off from Delhi on July 17 and will finish in Mumbai on August 4, covering a distance of 1,480 km.

For a person who got into running just four years ago, the young man from Agra has already taken impressive strides. He has finished five marathons in four years and won the Road to Rio challenge, which means he’ll be flying to Rio de Janeiro in a few days to fulfil his dream of watching the Olympics live.

“I sometimes forget that I’m running,” said a grinning Chauhan. “Woh mehnat mehnat nahi lagta. (That effort doesn’t feel like effort).”

The easiest form of physical activity

Chauhan had been inspired by the Olympics, but he was very clear on why he went into running. “It’s such a cheap sport. For all these Olympic events, you need a proper kit, you need proper training. For running, you just need to put on a decent pair of shoes and set off. It’s all up to you and no limits. You can run as much as you want. You build your own connection with yourself," said Chauhan.

It’s a sentiment which a much-older Arun Bharadwaj completely endorses. Bharadwaj is 46 and started running 17 years ago, as a way to motivate his daughter. On the way, he became one of India’s first few multi-day runners. But the lure of records does not motivate him, it is the love of nature.

“I’ve been running for so many years but I hate gyms,” said Bharadwaj. “They’re small enclosed places. I love being out there, in the fresh air and that’s why running appeals to me so much. It becomes a spiritual experience after a while and it makes you feel closer to yourself.”

So if you’ve been contemplating putting on some shoes and going out into the great outdoors, listen to these words of encouragement from the 46-year-old.

Just do it

“You can start anytime. Anyone can run. Look at me, I only started when I was 30 and here I am. It’s probably the easiest form of physical activity, after all”, said the veteran. “If you want to run, just go out and do it.”

Chauhan provides more encouragement. “You don’t need to win a race to run, after all. You can just run for the sheer enjoyment of it. The main thing is the fear which we hold on to. And so, I say only one thing, just do it once. Start once. Run a little bit and walk after that. But as soon as you start, you’ll have done it. It requires absolutely nothing.”

But where do you run, actually, especially here on Indian roads where even walking can be a life-threatening experience? To that, Pia Hannsson, an experienced marathoner from Denmark has a solution. In India to participate in the Great Indian run, she agreed that the roads in the country may not be the most beneficial place to run.

“But, there are a lot of beautiful parks here,” said Hannsson, who is running from Delhi to Mumbai. She also has a couple of tips, drawing from her long experience. “You don’t need to be the best runner in a race, always remember. And doing it with a friend makes the experience even more fun...just run and talk...”

For a country which is slowly waking up to the fitness craze, running offers an alternative way to become fitter. Apart from obviously getting into shape, there are fewer better opportunities to go out and actually see the world go by. So in case you’re interested, why not pick up a couple of shoes and go for a run? Who knows, it might be the start of something special.