From Setbacks to Start Lines : My Journey Into Running, Hybrid Fitness & Purpose

What started as a simple thing, slowly became a lifestyle and a part of who I am.

Growing up, sports were always part of my life. I played for the joy of it, and fitness came naturally. But in 2014, during a tug of war event, I suffered an ACL tear in my left knee. I chose rehab over surgery, but the fear of injury slowly pulled me away from being active.

After my MBA, life became all about work, stress, travel, and unhealthy habits. Fitness took a backseat, and by 2020, during the first COVID wave, I weighed 111.8 kg. That became my turning point. I started small, home workouts, healthier meals, 5,000 steps a day, then 10,000. Slowly, consistency turned into confidence.

One random day, I decided to jog. Very slowly. Then I started running every alternate day. That one decision changed everything. I signed up for the TCS Virtual 10K 2021 and finished it in 1 hour 21 minutes. More importantly, I had already reduced my weight to around 91 kg. Between 2020 and mid-2021, life felt different. Strength workouts, walks, running, healthy food habits, it finally felt like I was getting myself back.

But setbacks returned. In 2021, I injured my ACL again, this time with a meniscus tear, and surgery became unavoidable. In August 2021, I underwent ACL reconstruction surgery in Bengaluru. Recovery started the very next day, physiotherapy, small movements, learning to walk again, and rebuilding confidence. Mentally, it was tough. For months, life felt repetitive, and the weight slowly came back. After nearly eight months, I returned to activities like tennis, but unhealthy habits slowly crept in again.

In April 2024, I signed up for the TCS World 10K Bengaluru. I struggled badly during the race but somehow managed to finish in 1 hour 17 minutes. A couple of months later, in June 2024, I was back to 109 kg. That was another wake-up call.

On 2nd July 2024, I decided to restart my life again, this time with more maturity, patience, and purpose. I began with walks and strength sessions in my community gym. Slowly, my body started responding again. 

In October 2024, I attempted a simple 5K run. I finished it in 37 minutes. That feeling was special. No pressure. No expectations. Just movement. From there, I slowly increased my mileage, comfortably and consistently.

In January 2025, I signed up for the Karnataka State Police Run 10K scheduled for March. For the first time, I started following structured training, easy runs, interval sessions, and long runs.

Race day arrived. I completed my 10K in 54:30. A sub-55 10K. Something I never imagined was possible.

A few months later, in June 2025, I debuted in my first Half Marathon at the “Life is Calling” event in Mysuru. The rolling hills humbled me badly. After 14 km, I started struggling physically because my body wasn’t fully prepared for that terrain. I finished in 2 hours 26 minutes.

It wasn’t perfect, but it taught me one of the biggest lessons of my journey: Running alone is not enough. Strength training matters.

Shortly after the race, I dealt with pain in my glutes and hamstrings. My physiotherapist recommended MFR and dry needling sessions, forcing me to stay inactive for nearly two weeks. But this time, my mindset was different. Instead of panicking, I focused on recovery, nutrition and strength work. During this phase, I connected with many runners and slowly understood what structured running truly means, how to train smart, stay injury-free, and enjoy the process.

And one thing stood out clearly. The running community is beautiful. Runners support each other in ways that are hard to explain. Every runner understands the effort, discipline, and silent battles behind every finish line.

In December 2025, during the last week of the year, I participated in the Walkaroo Half Marathon in Coimbatore and completed it in 2 hours 11 minutes. That race became a huge confidence booster because it showed how much my endurance, consistency, and mindset had improved compared to my first Half Marathon earlier that year.

After the HM in December 2025, I stepped into hybrid fitness and signed up for HYROX Bengaluru. I shared my journey on social media to inspire people to move, run, and live healthier. I also stopped chasing events and focused on proper training and building my fitness foundation. Most importantly, I let go of pressure, no more running only for PBs or pace goals, but for the pure love of movement.

The year started with Tuffman Bengaluru 10K in Feburary 2026. I went into the race with a completely open mind and ended up achieving a new PB of 53:59 on one of the toughest elevation-heavy routes that had humbled me multiple times before. That race taught me something powerful. When you stop forcing outcomes and start enjoying the process, performance follows naturally. After that, everything changed.

Same month another 10K PB at Karnataka State Police Run, finishing in 52:37. What made me even happier was realizing how much my relationship with running had evolved.

During one of my regular long run weekends before HYROX Bengaluru in April, my coach had assigned me a 21.1 KM run, the exact distance of a Half Marathon. The goal was simple: run at an easy, comfortable pace without putting any pressure on myself. Surprisingly, I finished it in 2:07:39, something I had never expected. That moment made me realize how far I had come. What once felt difficult, exhausting, and mentally overwhelming had now become enjoyable and natural. Half Marathons no longer felt scary; it had become more of, “Okay, let’s do it.”

Alongside running, I was also preparing seriously for HYROX Bengaluru at LIFTR. I consistently attended simulations, engine builders, strength sessions, and workouts. Through that process, I started understanding my weaknesses, strengths, and the areas I needed to improve.

On race day, I stayed calm, trusted my preparation, and completed HYROX Bengaluru in 1:52:21. That finish meant more than just a race result, it reflected everything I had rebuilt physically and mentally over the years. From weighing 111.8 kg during COVID to reaching 91 kg, the journey was never only about weight loss. It was about rebuilding discipline, confidence, consistency, and belief in myself again. HYROX became proof that patience and consistency can truly transform a person.

Today, the journey continues. I regularly participate in 10Ks, Half Marathons, HYROX-style events, and HYFIT Games to constantly test myself, learn, improve, and evolve. I’ve also signed up for Yodha Race Bengaluru in the Men’s Open Doubles category. At the same time, I’ve started setting bigger goals for myself. One of my major goals for 2027 is to debut in my first Full Marathon. It’s a challenge that genuinely excites me because I know it will demand greater discipline, patience, endurance, and mental strength.

Recently, I made another life-changing decision. Three years from now, I want to complete an Ironman event, starting with Ironman 70.3. I know swimming is currently my weakest area, and that’s exactly why I want to take it up as my next challenge. Instead of being afraid of it, I’ve decided to learn it properly, build confidence step by step, and prepare patiently for the journey ahead.

The most rewarding part of this entire journey has been the messages and calls I receive from people saying they started walking, running or taking care of their health after seeing my journey and posts online. That feeling is bigger than medals. Knowing that your story can inspire someone to take their first step towards a healthier life, that is the real win.

Today, fitness is no longer just about weight loss, race timings, or medals for me. It is discipline. It is therapy. It is self-respect. It is community. It is growth.

Most importantly, it taught me this. You don’t need to be perfect to start. You just need to start. And once you truly fall in love with the process…There is no going back.