World’s fastest Indian: how Hong Kong’s Mayank Vaid took to extreme triathlons

Mayank Vaid would likely still be carrying a few extra kilos from fine wining and dining in his role as intellectual property director for Louis Vuitton Pacific – had it not been for an offhand invite from triathlete David Gething to join him in a race in North Korea. Vaid now holds claim to the world’s fastest Indian Ultraman title.

In mid-May, Vaid crossed the finishing line of the 514km four-stage, three-day Australian Ultraman race on Noosa Heads Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Placing 12th in a field of 50, and clocking in at 26:04:01, the Indian native from Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh set a new record for his country. Vaid and Gething, now training buddies, will attempt one of the world’s most gruelling triathlons in June next year.

“It’s been quite a journey, but a fulfilling one,” says Vaid, describing how his improbable transformation from a casual runner and tennis player to one of the fittest people on the planet began when he bumped into his neighbour Gething and congratulated him. Newspaper headlines had lauded him as a local hero after he ran seven marathons on seven continents in seven days to win the World Marathon Challenge in January 2015.

New world champion: Hong Kong runner conquers seven marathons on seven continents in seven days

When Vaid mentioned his own desire to get in shape, Gething said he was going to run a marathon in Pyongyang and asked if Vaid want to join him. He did. In April 2015, the champion ran the marathon while the neophyte did the half. Impressed with Vaid’s running ability, Gething inspired him to push harder and add cycling and swimming to the mix.

As Vaid progressed and entered triathlons, Gething suggested the two set their sights on the Enduroman Arch to Arc Triathlon. It begins with a 140km run (more than three full marathons back to back) from London’s Marble Arch to Dover, then a cross-Channel swim (shortest distance 33.8km) to the French coast, ending with a 289.7km bike ride from Calais to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Only 24 athletes have ever completed the challenge. Vaid, determined to join their ranks, has had to undergo manic training – and compete in qualifying events such as the Ironman Taiwan, which he finished in October, 2016, and Australian Ultraman – to prove his worth.

Still, neither Gething, nor the online Canadian coach they share, Nigel Gray, thought Vaid was ready when his application for Ultraman was accepted – less than 18 months after he had started training as a triathlete.

“Ultraman is truly a challenge, both emotionally and physically,” Gething says. “Mayank had done triathlon, he’d done Ironman, but I think you only understand what goes into an Ultraman after you’ve completed one ... Nigel and I both tried to convince Mayank not to do it. It would take absolute dedication, focus and commitment.”