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Mint
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Mint
How Devarao Choudhari became the fastest Indian at the Comrades Marathon
Shail Desai The 28-year-old runner finished the 89.8km-long South African ultramarathon in 7 hours, 3 minutes, making it the fastest time by an Indian. He tells Lounge how he trained for it Devarao Choudhari is the first Indian to win back-to-back silver medals at the Comrades race in South Africa. Gift this article For three months, Devarao Choudhari led an austere life in preparation of the Comrades Marathon (89.98km) in South Africa on 8 June. He shifted base from the comfort of his home in Pusad near Yavatmal in Maharashtra to the cool climes of Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand in order to train at altitude. It was the longest he had stayed away from family and managed on his own. The effort paid off when he clocked 7 hours, 3 minutes, the fastest time by an Indian at the Comrades. For three months, Devarao Choudhari led an austere life in preparation of the Comrades Marathon (89.98km) in South Africa on 8 June. He shifted base from the comfort of his home in Pusad near Yavatmal in Maharashtra to the cool climes of Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand in order to train at altitude. It was the longest he had stayed away from family and managed on his own. The effort paid off when he clocked 7 hours, 3 minutes, the fastest time by an Indian at the Comrades. Also read: How Indian sprinter Rupal Chaudhary overcame injury to emerge a winner The 2025 edition of the race was the 'Down Run" from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, where the previous best Indian timing was Kartik Joshi's mark of 7 hours, 26 minutes. Last year on the 'Up Run" (Durban to Pietermaritzburg), Choudhari had registered 7 hours, 4 minutes. He is the first Indian to win back-to-back silver medals at the race, which is awarded to male runners who clock between 6 hours and 7 hours, 29 minutes. 'I went back for another attempt because I wanted to push the envelope and change the mindset of Indian runners on what's possible," Choudhari, 28, says. 'Personally too, there's room for improvement because I didn't meet my target. But there's definitely a sense of satisfaction to get another silver medal." In January, he clocked the fourth fastest time in his age category (25-29) at the Tata Mumbai Marathon. The following month, he ran a distance of 137km in 13 hours to support a social cause back home in Yavatmal. Five days later, he took second spot in the newly introduced 75km category at the Tata Ultra Marathon in Lonavala in a time of 6 hours, 20 minutes. 'That run had an elevation gain of 1,320 metres. It was good preparation for Comrades, where the course has an elevation gain of about 1,150m. But though I finished on the podium, it made me realise that my training was inadequate," he says. All through the summer of last year, Choudhari trained in the scorching heat of Yavatmal while preparing for the Comrades. While he could push during the workouts and was satisfied with the numbers he was achieving, recovery was often a challenge. So, this time around, he decided to move to the hills in the run-up to the race. There wasn't much to do but train and rest and train again. It certainly helped me grow as a runner. But raising funds is always a task for international races He started off with easy runs during the first 10 days to acclimatise the body. During the early weeks, he took on a mileage of 180-190km, a mix of both speed and endurance workouts. For a month starting mid-April, he pushed the weekly mileage to 250km. Here on, the focus was primarily on speed before hitting the taper phase. Also read: Learning on the job: Pune-based ultra cyclist on how he won the Dunes Ultra race 'Early on, I would try to maintain a pace of 3 minutes, 40 seconds (3.40) over each kilometre. The weeks before the race, I went as fast as 3.25 and increased the repetitions over time while trying to maintain the same pace," he says. 'Another runner from Mumbai, Hemant Nishad, who usually competes over shorter distances, joined me during the last month. Training alongside him was good for my speed work," he adds. Most morning workouts would finish with an uphill run at an easy pace. Before stepping out for the evening session, he would take on a mixed routine that involved squats, theraband work, core and mobility training. Once a week, he would visit the gym for strength work. 'There wasn't much to do but train and rest and train again. It certainly helped me grow as a runner. But raising funds is always a task for international races and it was no different this time around," he says. Choudhari was supported by Yavatmal-based foundation Go Green Foundation, Dr Anand's Angels, a programme run by Mumbai-based Anand Patil that supports endurance athletes, Pune-based runner Rahul Sabnis, and Himachal-based runner Sunil Sharma. Three days before the race, he landed in South Africa and put in a few slow 10km runs. As he lined up at the start, he eyed a timing of 6 hours, 30 minutes. He reached the half-way mark in 3 hours, 4 minutes and looked good to achieve his target, while maintaining a pace of 4-4.8 with ease. But a strong headwind beyond 60km stunted his progress, wearing him down mentally rather than physically over time, as he saw his target gradually slipping away. 'At one point, I thought I should leave the race because I was devastated with the situation I found myself in after starting so well. But I thought of all the work I had put in and the support I had received and pushed on," he says. At the 80km mark, Choudhari picked up the pace. And by the time he made the finish, he had done enough to set a new benchmark for Indian ultra running at the Comrades. Shail Desai is a Mumbai-based freelance writer. Topics You May Be Interested In
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Time of India
Experts call for crocodile tourism to be developed
Vadodara: A group of crocodile conservationists has proposed developing six sites in the state for crocodile tourism to help conserve the estimated 3,000 muggers in the state. The group wrote to the Gujarat principal chief conservator of forests, proposing crocodile tourism or crocodile watching sites at six places that have a healthy population of the reptiles. "Like the Project Lion, crocodile conservation in the state has been very successful. We now have a good number of them in various water bodies. It is time they are included in the wildlife tourism sector," said Prof B C Choudhari, a retired scientist of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). "The winter is the prime season and provides the perfect opportunity to watch crocodiles basking near various water bodies. Birdwatching too can be encouraged at these spots," Choudhari, who was involved in the 1975 crocodile project, added. Among others, the spots proposed for crocodile tourism are Charotar, the Vishwamitri in Vadodara, Pragsar Lake in Kutch, Lal Dhori in Junagadh, Kamleshwar Lake in the Gir forest and Gulab Sagar in Barda. "Each of these sites has dozens of crocodiles and good spots from where people can watch them. This will also raise awareness about the importance of crocodiles in our ecosystem. Local communities too should be involved in it," said Raju Vyas, the India regional vice-chair and member of the species survival commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). "Gujarat is the only state where crocodiles are worshipped, as the vehicles of Ma Khodiyar and Ma Narmada, reflecting our cultural heritage," Vyas, a crocodile expert, added.
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Cycling for All: Doctors bust myths on World Bicycle Day
Nagpur: As the world prepares to pedal in celebration of World Bicycle Day on June 3, orthopaedic experts in Nagpur are advocating for cycling as a powerful tool to improve joint health, mental well-being and overall fitness. Doctors say that contrary to popular belief, one doesn't need a high-end bicycle to reap the benefits — what matters is consistency and correct technique. Speaking to TOI, Dr Mohammed Faisal, orthopaedic surgeon at IGGMCH, said, "Cycling is one of the best low-impact aerobic exercises. It strengthens leg muscles, improves knee joint mobility and enhances cardiovascular health without stressing weight-bearing joints like the knees, hips and spine. It's especially good for people with early osteoarthritis or those recovering from injuries." He emphasised that both indoor (stationary) and road cycling have their advantages. "Indoor cycling is a safer option for the elderly and those with balance issues, as it reduces fall risk. Road cycling, on the other hand, offers the added advantage of sunlight exposure, mental rejuvenation and improved coordination, but it requires proper safety gear and road discipline," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Todos os idosos deveriam ter um desse no banheiro! Veja só! Evite quedas e escorregões Saiba Mais Undo In an era where high-end, multi-gear bikes can cost as much as a motorbike, doctors emphasised that basic cycles deliver the same health benefits. "A simple, sturdy cycle with correct posture and seat height is all one needs. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that only expensive bikes can improve fitness. What matters is how regularly and safely you cycle," Dr Faisal said. Dr Sumedh Choudhari, head of Orthopaedics at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), also endorsed cycling as a sustainable and lifelong habit. "Cycling boosts metabolism, supports joint lubrication and helps maintain a healthy body weight — all critical factors for orthopaedic health. For patients recovering from joint replacement surgery, supervised indoor cycling can be part of physiotherapy protocols," he said. Dr Choudhari added that attention should instead be given to correct saddle height, posture and protective gear, especially helmets, rather than costly accessories. With sedentary lifestyles and rising orthopaedic complaints among youth and office-goers, both experts urged people to make cycling a part of their daily routine — be it for commuting, fitness or leisure. "Even 30 minutes of moderate cycling a day can significantly reduce the risk of chronic diseases, including obesity, hypertension and back pain," said Dr Choudhari. # What doctors say - You don't need a premium cycle to lead a premium life - Indoor cycling is excellent for senior citizens and post-operative patients - Outdoor cycling remains the best option for overall benefits - Riding outdoors provides exposure to sunlight and improves mental well-being - Always wear a helmet and follow traffic rules - There is a lack of safe cycling infrastructure in Nagpur and across Indian cities
