At 4:05 AM on a cold Delhi morning, I stood on the start line at CNDM carrying unfinished business. Last year, on this very course, I had missed a Boston Qualification by 5 seconds.
This was my Run for Redemption.
3 hours, 22 minutes, and 56 seconds later — I crossed the finish line with a 7-minute BQ buffer and one of the most emotional finishes of my running life.
The last couple of years have been injury-prone – most likely a result of high mileage during my Comrades’23 phase. Age had its say too (I turn 55 in a couple of weeks). This season (July ‘25- CNDM Feb ’26) did not begin well. I was dealing with Piriformis / SI Joint pain on a continual basis. Forced me to take multiple 2-3 day rest breaks in the first couple of months, mileage was pretty low (only ~ 150 kms per month on avg).
Signed up for a Half Marathon at Ahmedabad in November as a tune-up for CNDM. By now, injury issues got better, courtesy some focused strength training: (psst, here’s a secret: daily DEAD HANGS work like MAGIC!). Monthly mileage gradually started building up. Missed a sub-100 min goal at the HM (1:40:43). But I was not in race shape, so wasn’t too bothered by the outcome.
Marathon training then began in earnest. I have built my own training methodology and structure over the years, borrowing core principles from the well-known names (Daniels, Pftzinger, etc) and adapting these to suit my training style in the best manner.
Typical training week: 6 days of running/1 day rest:
This cycle, I discovered a new book – Marathon Excellence by John Davis. Included some key workouts from here during the marathon-specific phase (last 5 weeks before race) - mainly alternating tempos (105-110% / 85-90% of MP). Peak mileage in this last phase was 90-105 km per week – this is my sweet spot.
Ran a strong 20-miler in Chennai as a prep-race on 04th Jan, could hold MP+5-7 secs pace for 24-25 Kms. Gained a fair bit of confidence especially from the way the last 6-7 weeks of training went. Taper started two weeks before race – reduced mileage from peak phase by ~ 20% in week 1 and by another 20% during race week.
Made it a point to reach Delhi on Friday night, to get one good night of sleep. By the time I reached the hotel, it was past 9PM so ordered dal/rice via room service and called it a night.
Our running group has a ritual of doing a shake-out run around Lodhi gardens on Saturday, but I skipped this as I wanted to max my sleep and wake up without an alarm. Made it a 20-25 min run with some strides, around the hotel itself. Caught up with some old college friends in the morning, then chilled out in the room for the rest of the day. Parathas for lunch was typical Delhi style- very heavy, so had some light rice dhokla as early dinner. Lots of laughs and banter in the room with the gang helped take some of the nerves off.
A 4:05 AM start meant an unearthly wake-up time. Managed to sleep soundly though, no tossing and turning. A good sign.
Pre-race nutrition: 2 bananas, 3-4 dates, Cosmix pre-workout beet nitrate, Maurten 320 Drink Mix, F&U Reload. One Gel (45 g carbs) 15-12 mins before Start.
Reached the venue 45 mins before start. Usual warm-up – leg swings, some jogging, couple of strides. NDM has NO corrals for the Marathon (Organisers, please CHANGE this!). Managed to jostle our way and be 10-12 rows from the Start line when the gun went off.
Race shoes : Puma Fast R3 Elite
Goal: a BQ with buffer, high chance of acceptance @Boston’27 = 3:24 / 4:51 pace.
Race Plan/Pacing: 10/10/10/10.
0-10K: Start conservative (4-5 secs slower than MP)
11-20K: Get to around MP and lock-in
21-30K: Maintain MP or slightly faster (2-3 secs faster than MP)
31-40K: Turn the gears up (4-5 secs faster than MP)
41K – Finish: Go for Broke
Be laser-focused on the tangents, since there are so many turns.
Race Nutrition: 70g of carbs / hour : Alternate 25g & 45g gels every 6K. Total 6 gels of which 3 gels caffeinated
0-10K: Plan 49:00 (4:54) / Actual 48:45 (4:53)
Compared to last year, this time was 2-3 degrees warmer (15-16 C). Started comfortably, managed to navigate the crowd in the 1st km without incident. Found a rhythm along with Raji & Lattika and we stuck together. Had to watch one’s steps on the cobblestone stretch near the start and during some small patches which were not well-lit, but no alarms.
11-20K: Plan 48:30 (4:51) / Actual 48:18 (4:50)
Started feeling strong, was hitting 4:48-50 Ks regularly, despite telling myself to not go fast. Fed off the energy during Kartavya path – India Gate stretch. Raji sensibly dropped a bit back to keep to her goal, I hung around with/slightly behind Lattika for most of this segment. We tag-teamed to spot upcoming turns and managed the tangents well. So far, so good.
21-30K: Plan 48:00 ( 4:48) / Actual 48:22 (4:50)
Crossed Half-way in 1:42:24. I knew that just maintaining effort for the 2nd half will take me to 3:24:xx. But of course, at around 28-30K the marathon did what it always does – started asking some questions. My effort went up. Used my 5R mantra (Recognise-Refuse-Relax-Reframe-Resume) and just focused on getting through 10-15 mins chunks. Started feeling strong again.
“The marathon never asks if you’re ready. It just asks if you’re willing.”
31-40K: Plan 47:30 (4:45 ) / Actual 47:28 (4:45)
Last year, this was where I really started struggling. Was determined to avoid a similar fate this time. Luckily, the K’path – I-Gate stretch again came to rescue – big energy boost. I was also passing runners by now, which gave added motivation. Felt strong, saw that I was clocking a couple of high 4:3X Kms.
There was one small moment of reckoning – at the 38th km, I felt a twinge of pain shooting through my left calf – bizarrely, this was almost at the exact point last year where a similar thing happened, to the same calf. Then, I had stopped and tried to massage my leg which cost me bigtime – a 5:36 Km split and the difference between a BQ and missing it by 5 seconds. So this time, I decided that whatever happens, am not going to stop. Just kept going and thankfully, the decision proved to be the right one.
41K – Finish
Now I had the confidence that a BQ was definitely in the bag, it was just a question of how much I could extend the buffer. Started pushing hard on the 42nd Km, for another 4:3X. At the final left turn where the Finish line arches loomed a couple of hundred metres ahead, I looked at my watch and saw 3:22:15. Gave it everything I had – a sub-4 min pace final sprint! Fist-pumped at the finish line, completely overwhelmed with emotion. Will remember that feeling for a long, long time.
Finally, a Boston Qualification!! Long-cherished Dream achieved. With a 7+mins buffer.
Cannot get better days than this.
A special day was made even more special when I got together with the others. Was fantastic to see that Raji, Harish, Aravind, Lattika all had stellar outcomes too, BQ-ing by comfortable margins. To think that we may all end up running Boston together in 2027 made this whole race a truly incredible experience. On top of that, Mani got back to his winning ways, Anuj made a strong comeback after a long injury-enforced layoff. Was amazing to soak in the camaraderie and the celebrations that followed. Memories of a lifetime.
There is no substitute for training. Showing up consistently, every day, every week, every month, every year. The outcomes will follow.
Finding your tribe. The power of having a like-minded cohort significantly amplifies your own ability and efforts.
Running has been the most transformative experience of my life, by far. Recognising and acknowledging the privilege one has, in getting to be part of this beautiful sport.
Practicing Gratitude. To my training partners, mentees, extended running group, family, non-running friends – you all know who you are – THANK YOU. This would not have been possible without you.
Satish took to running in his 40s and believes that it has been the most transformative experience of his life. Over the last 15 years, he has run many marathons/HMs/10Ks and ultras like Comrades. Satish is a passionate advocate of running as a lifetime activity. He mentors other runners as his way of giving back to this beautiful sport that has filled his life with joy and meaning.