23/02/2026
From 2:06:07 to 1:45:01 but the real story isn’t the timings.
Last year, I was chasing a sub-1:45:00 half marathon, until a lower-back injury hit me 10 weeks before race day.
I took a 4 weeks break from running due to lingering pain, resulting in dropping fitness levels.
I still showed up to Vedanta Half Marathon in October 2025 but honestly, I wasn’t in my best shape. I finished the race in 2:06:07, which was way off from my target.
And when you’re competitive with yourself, it is hard to deal with.
By November, I recovered and hit reset with a new training block, more discipline & structure, and less ego.
But life didn’t suddenly become easier. I juggled a family wedding and two chronic sinusitis episodes, getting sick again just 4 weeks before race day. Alongside all that I participated in a full scale exhibition for my company, with 11 to 12 hour days on my feet with extensive traveling and almost no recovery time.
Honestly, I had every excuse to fail again but this time, I didn’t rely on motivation.
I relied on systems.
I ran smarter, watched my pacing, worked on my mobility to stay injury free, stayed patient, and focused on consistency instead of perfection.
And at the New Delhi Half Marathon of February 2026, I achieved my personal best timings of 1:45:01, just seconds away from my sub 1:45:00 race target.
It wasn’t perfect and honestly, I am slightly disappointed even though I don’t want to be.
But I managed to run at an average speed of 4:58/km, which I thought would be impossible.
It’s proof that discipline, planning, and systematic training can beat chaos.
This race wasn’t about one finish time.
It was about showing up even when life is messy.
