1. When did you start running regularly. How many marathons/half marathons have you completed so far ?

Started running in 2003.  I have completed 12 official full marathons, first full being in Singapore 2005.  I still remember the start line at my first half in 2005 in Bangalore, dead scared of the distance as my longest run ever was 10 K.

2. How often do you run in a week. ?

4 times a week with 2 days of strength training and one day of rest.

3. Why do you run. ? Why did you take up running over other sports that you might have tried ?

Initially started running to lose weight, but now I run for pure pleasure. The satisfaction I get after doing just 5K or 30 minutes of running, I am not sure can be replicated in any other sport.

4. What are your personal bests ?

4:37:22 in Paris 2009

5. What gets you going out on the roads and do these runs regularly ?

Guilt factor.  If I don’t run, feel lousy the whole day, and start munching on junk food.

6. What was your toughest marathon and why ? 

My toughest marathon was Singapore 2008.  I picked up an heel injury in the half way point, and had to limp the rest of the race.  I took almost 6:45 to finish the race.  My only DNF had been Comrades 2010 in South Africa which is a 89K race and still regret not finishing it after all the training I have done coming to the event.  I started the run front of the pack with the elites (please don’t ask me why I did such a foolish thing), and the pace was faster than my usual with 15,000 runners behind me and with lots of ups and downs.  Picked up some kind of back injury at 20 Km mark and struggled till 62 Km when I called it quits.  If the 12 hour cut off was not there, I would have tried to completed it.  I still want to go back and finish it.

7. Chennai is warm and humid for most part of the year. How do you handle it. ?

I try to finish my weekly runs before 7:30.  But, we should stop complaining about heat and humidity of Chennai, and try to enjoy it.  In May, bunch of us ran an half marathon around noon time in Marina with no shade, and the heat was not a problem.  I hydrated properly, and kept the heart rate to manageable level.

 8. Which is the best place to have a good run in Chennai for you ? 

Marina, IIT and Anna University and my all time favorite ECR.

9. What do you wish to convey to folks out there who want to become regular runners.

Take one step at a time.  Build up mileage gradually and listen to your body. With proper strengthening exercises, you will find long distance road running a pleasure.