He is a banker who believes quite literally in running the extra mile. Meet Prasun Choudhary, a relationship manager with ICICI Bank and an avid ultra-marathon runner.

Ultra-marathon is a race which is usually longer than a marathon. Choudhary finished 16{+t}{+h} out of 80 participants at the Craze ultra-marathon in Singapore where he competed in the 101-km category.

This event has four categories 43 km, 78 km, 101 km and 161 km and is aptly named ‘Craze Ultra’ – Are you nuts enough?

Passion for running is a must for competing in this gruelling event, he says. Asked what prompted him to compete in such an arduous race, Choudhary said “For the first time after completing the Standard Chartered marathon last year, I did not feel dead tired. It then struck me that I could try for something more challenging.”

The best thing about ultra-marathons is that timing is no criterion. It’s all about one’s ability to finish.

It took Choudhary 19 hours 30 minutes and 23 seconds to touch the finish line.

Usually, there is no prize money in such events and it is the zeal that keeps runners going. It is highly individualistic and rarely one sees people forming teams to run.

“This is because every runner has his or her own way of training.” says Choudhary.

He used to run 15-20 km every Tuesday and Thursday and hit the gym to work on his leg muscles on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays while training. This was followed by full rest on Saturdays.

On Sundays, he used to get up at 4 a.m. and start running at 4-30 a.m. and would run non-stop for five hours even if he got tired. This regimen was religiously followed for five months prior to the event.

In addition, he participated in two full marathons and as many half marathons as he could before he took part in the Singapore event in late September.

The only investment required is a pair of good running shoes , a hydration bag which can store up to 2.5 litres of water, power gels that give instant energy, a small first-aid kit and a mobile phone.

Choudhary feels it is more a mind game while running such long distances. “While running a half marathon one might take two hours to finish the race. But the same person takes a longer time for 21 km while running a full marathon, given the fact that he needs to conserve energy,” he says.

> raghavendrarao.k@thehindu.co.in

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW