How distance running transformed an Indian executive, from 22kg weight loss to 100 half-marathons in 100 days challenge to highlight air pollution
- New Delhi resident Sundeep Singh thought he would take up distance running, but could not go even 1km. Then he trained for a half-marathon, and has now run 300
- With pent-up energy after a Covid-19 lockdown, he set out on a whim for a 100km overnight run around his local area, proving his physical and mental strength
For many of us, a Friday night out entails a meal at a restaurant, watching a movie or relaxing with friends and family. Sundeep Singh spends many of his evenings hitting the pavement.
As the native of New Delhi, India, wrapped up his work one Friday evening in August 2020, he set off on an impromptu run. Half an hour in, he made up his mind to do a 100km (62-mile) ultramarathon through the night.
Over the past decade, the diehard runner has completed 25 marathons and 300 half- marathons, setting a personal best time of 3 hours and 9 minutes in the marathon and 1 hour and 25 minutes in the half last year.
He accomplished a unique feat in 2019, running 100 half-marathons in 100 days without a break to highlight India’s poor air quality. He chronicled this, and his running journey, on his blog, running-sundeep.blogspot.com.
“I had not run outdoors for three months,” says the 40-year-old, who started at 8pm with a loop around his house.
