New Delhi, Sep 23 (NationPress) Sachin Ashok Sharma (IRTS 2008), the secretary to the general manager of Western Railways, has garnered acclaim for successfully completing numerous marathons and triathlons throughout his journey. As he gears up for upcoming events, he aspires to reach greater heights and bring pride to the nation.

Recently, Sharma conquered one of the world's most challenging endurance events: the Ironman Triathlon held in Port Macquarie, Australia. His impressive triathlon portfolio includes the Bergman Olympic triathlon (1.5 km swim, 40 km bike, 10 km run), Bergman 113 triathlon (1.9 km swim, 90 km bike, 21 km run), Goa Ironman 70.3 triathlon (1.9 km swim, 90 km bike, 21 km run), and the Australian Ironman.

Sharma's marathon achievements are equally remarkable. In 2024, he completed three marathons: the Comrades Marathon in South Africa in June, the Silk Route Ultra in Ladakh in September, and a record-setting Jaisalmer Ultra Marathon in December, making him the only civil servant to finish the demanding 122 km Silk Route Ultra Marathon at high altitudes.

Over the past few years, Sharma has participated in a myriad of 10K runs, along with various triathlons, half-marathons, full marathons, and ultra-marathons.

His journey has been nothing short of inspiring. In an exclusive interview with IANS, Sharma shared how embracing running helped him manage Meniere's disease, a chronic inner ear disorder, the invaluable support from his coach and colleagues, and how he maintains a balance between his professional duties and fitness.

When asked about his motivation for taking fitness and running seriously, Sharma recounted, "This journey began long before I entered public service. After finishing my 12th grade and during my first year in engineering, I experienced issues with my inner ear, specifically Meniere's disease, which caused a ringing sound, pressure changes, and vertigo. A homoeopath recommended cardio exercises like brisk walking or running, which led me to choose jogging. I started running and reaped numerous benefits. I realized this was my effective remedy for my issues, and over time, I discovered its advantages extended beyond the physical realm."

“It significantly enhanced my mental health, aiding in stress relief and improved focus. Even while preparing for the civil service exam post-graduation, I kept jogging. Living in Delhi, I would run six kilometers each evening, which greatly helped me unwind. During my runs, I would reflect on what I had studied that day.”

“Without running, I might have become an athlete in both school and college. I was in a hostel where I was exposed to various sports, including boxing, hockey, cricket, football, gymnastics, and athletics. I maintained an active lifestyle during my school years,” he noted.

Discussing the challenges he faces while preparing for marathons and triathlons, Sharma mentioned, "I have always had a passion for sports. I enjoyed jogging but had never participated in endurance activities. Endurance sports are fundamentally different. Running 6-10 kilometers is one thing, but tackling 21 kilometers or more, cycling over 100 kilometers, or swimming beyond two kilometers is an entirely different experience. Initially, I was astonished to see individuals completing marathons of 21 and 42 kilometers and cycling 100 kilometers.”

“I was genuinely taken aback when I first encountered such athletes after arriving in Mumbai in 2020. That was my second time in the city as a student. Previously, I was based in Bilaspur and Nagpur, central India, primarily in Chhattisgarh. During that time, I was a regular at the gym. I was fit, but my running experience was limited.”

“Upon my arrival in Mumbai for my assignment in 2020, I met several endurance athletes. My true journey commenced in January 2022 when I participated in an endurance event and embraced this new pursuit. I joined a running group after being encouraged by my senior colleague, Naresh Lalwani, a retired general manager from the central railway who is also a runner.”

“The head coach of the club, Girish Bindra, became my running mentor. They challenged me to run about 10 kilometers when I joined, which I successfully completed. That was the first time I ever achieved a 10-kilometer run in my life. The following Sunday, just seven days later, they encouraged me to run 21 kilometers, and I accomplished that too. Then I was challenged to do 30 kilometers, and I succeeded again. That’s how I began; I had no idea about my potential, but the encouragement from the group and my coach motivated me to push forward.”

“I started with endurance running and then ventured into other sports. Initially, I didn’t know how to swim; I could only float in a pool. However, I learned to swim in March 2022 and soon completed several long open-water swim events. I also took on long-distance cycling. Once I became proficient in all three sports, I successfully completed the Ironman.”

Shrama further shared his experiences of conquering some of the most arduous marathons globally and the hurdles he faced during training and achieving these feats.

“A marathon solely involves running, while a triathlon encompasses three distinct sports. Last year, I tackled three significant events: the Comrades Marathon, the Silk Route Ultra (Ladakh), and the Jaisalmer Ultra Marathon. The Comrades Marathon, which I completed in June 2024, spans 86 kilometers of uphill running. The Silk Route Ultra in September is among the most challenging ultra marathons globally, a high-altitude marathon of 122 kilometers in Ladakh.”

“I also completed a 161-kilometer ultramarathon in December, which was a border run from Jaisalmer to the Longewala post, recalling the events of the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The distance from Longewala post to Jaisalmer is 161 kilometers, which I completed in December. There was little time between these three events, but I consistently practiced running. After December, I resumed my triathlon training.”

“The interval was shorter between the ultramarathons in June, September, and December, but from December to May, I had to focus on three sports. I was already practicing running regularly, so I didn’t need extensive additional training as I was in rhythm.”

“Cycling required significant effort, as the Ironman triathlon includes 180 kilometers of cycling. This is not only a long distance but also involves considerable elevation. The Ironman course features numerous hills, with an average elevation gain of 1800 meters, posing a substantial challenge. Considering the event took place in a coastal area, ascending 1800 meters uphill was a true test of endurance. Consequently, I had to train rigorously over several months, concentrating on cycling and swimming.”

“The challenge was to maintain a healthy balance between building core strength, the muscular endurance necessary for these three sports, and practicing proficiency in running, swimming, and cycling. Thus, strength training accompanied these sports. Moreover, being a civil servant in a demanding role adds complexity to my schedule.”

“I managed my time effectively between 4:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., allowing four hours for my training. Everything had to be accomplished within that timeframe. The challenge with an Ironman triathlon is that you cannot engage in just one activity on a given day; you must complete two or three.”

“Returning home from work, enjoying a nutritious meal, and then getting adequate sleep became imperative. I couldn’t indulge in socializing or parties, nor could I afford to stay up late or wake up late. Time was a critical constraint, presenting a significant challenge,” he expressed.

“Recovery also posed challenges. I’m not a young man; I’m over 40. I must prioritize my recovery. Unlike a 25-year-old who can do multiple exercise sets every 12 hours, I require sufficient sleep and proper nutrition.”

“For someone in my situation, maintaining a healthy diet and adequate sleep is vital. I also need to incorporate ice baths, steam sessions, and possibly weekly massages into my recovery routine, as these activities are crucial for my overall well-being,” Sharma added.

Some of Sharma's remarkable achievements encompass the Ladakh marathon (42 km), Mumbai marathon (42 km), Vasai Virar marathon (42 km), Tata ultra marathon (50 km), Kaas valley ultra marathon (65 km), Khardungla challenge (72 km) in Ladakh, Comrades marathon (86 km) in South Africa, Pune ultra marathon (100 km), Silk route ultra marathon (122 km) in Ladakh, and the Border run (Jaisalmer - Longewala - 161 km).

He has also completed the Malvan Sea (3 km), Juhu Sea (3 km), and Sunk Rock to Gateway Sea Swimathons (5 km), in addition to the Jio Cyclothon (100 km).