I began running as a 13 year old student in my boarding school in the mountains of Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, India. Then, I ran middle distances – 800m to 5000m. As an anxious person, running has always helped me channel my energies positively and give greater focus to everything that I do. I ran my first half marathon in 02:18:00 at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2010 and thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. I find the discipline and planning required to train and stay on the top of my physical fitness hugely motivational. In addition, the ability to push my personal boundaries to become a better runner also inspires me to be a better human being. I quit my full-time corporate job in 2016 to pursue my passion of running, fitness and overall wellness through FitRabbits (www.fitrabbits.com)– my small-batch coaching venture. I am a certified Marathon Running & Performance Specialist, and a Coach with adidas Runners.
Up Close, and Personal
To me, sport is stands for…
an integral part of my existence.
A sports personality I look up to…
Currently Molly Siedel is a G.O.A.T.
On a typical training day…
I do: warm-up, mobility exercises and I ensure to stick with my basic injury prevention work to supplement my running needs. I also LOVE road cycling once a week.
I gear up with: adidas shoes and apparel, a Unived Salt Capsule/drinks mix (depending on the workout) and put on sunscreen!
I eat: 4 meals a day – I avoid gluten, eat a LOT of veggies and fruits and nuts.
I listen to: Above and Beyond Group Therapy, Several Running Podcasts on indoor runs but otherwise love the sound of life around me.
I recover with: Unived Elite Recovery Mix, Magnesium, and the PMS Management mix during my phase 4 cycle.
I cross-train with: Free weights, TRX, Swiss Ball and Kettlebells. I also get on my road bike once a week.
My idea of an effective weight training session is…
one that is well-planned, strategic towards my overall goal for a race or retaining my fitness levels. I believe in periodisation and heart-rate based training. I also spend 10-15 minutes daily on my mobility and I focus on 45 mins of strength work at least twice a week. For me, training also includes nutrition dense meals and getting enough naps in.
The moment I discovered my athletic potential was…
in 1999 when I came first in a 400 meter race at my school without much effort.
The toughest aspect of being an athlete…
Keeping your head down, focused on your personal improvement and not overdoing it and getting injured.
The three biggest lessons I have learnt so far in my athletic career is…
1. Listen to your body – it’s key for longevity in enjoying your sport.
2. Trust the process – give yourself at least 6 months for real results to show from a training plan.
3. Embrace the learnings – the bad days in training are as important as the good days.
Before a big race, I tell myself…
to be positive, laser focused on personal improvement and sticking to my realistic plan.
The toughest competition of my life was…
The Boston Marathon in 2019 – it was a 16 year old dream come true and I was very under prepared for it. It psyched me up immensely.
The most memorable moment of my sporting career so far…
Running my fastest marathon distance at Valencia Marathon through crazy winds, managing a 15+ minutes PR and qualifying for the Boston Marathon by a huge margin.
My training sanctuary is…
it aint’ no fun if you’re not having fun. Stay cool and crush it!
My dream starting line is…
I actually enjoy all start lines.
I nourish my soul with…
cooking food, baking – where I try new healthy recipes, enjoy walks with my dogs and reading a lot of sports science & science fiction, when I can.
Unived helps me by…
Unived Elite Drink Mix: Sometimes, I can’t eat a meal in time before a hard run. This is my go-to option along with some nuts and handful dates.. On specially on hot and humid days, I find this incredible during runs spanning 2 hours or more.
Unived Elite & Regular Gels: Elite gels with their 45-50mg of carbohydrates & necessary electrolytes + vitamins keeps me running my best, during training and races. During a marathon, I alternate between the elite and regular gels for optimal performance.
Unived Elite Recovery Mix: I always take this after my runs, every single time. I think this product has truly changed my game, for me.
Unived Electrolyte Capsules: Take one before bed before long runs. Also, easy to carry to makes it an excellent option for summer and monsoon months in India.
Unived Vitamin B12&D3 Capsules: as an Indian woman genetically deficient in both key vitamins, I take this daily supplement.
Unived OVEGHA capsules: Powering through my menstrual cycle and keeping a lot of hormonal issues at bay, these key fatty acids are another daily supplement.
I have chosen to associate with Unived because…
the brand’s values for creating vegan, natural, gluten-free, scientific formulations resonate with me. In addition, being an Indian company, I am proud to be associated with them.
My favourite Unived product is…
hands down the recovery brew! I struggle to eat solid foods after hard long workouts and this product makes me stay on top of my recovery game!
My 2022 goals are…
Try and get under 3:15 mins marathon time, try a sub 42 mins 10K and run a trail race. I also want to continue my weekly road cycling adventures through the thick of marathon training.
My 2022 race schedule is…
Super Sikh Run – 10km for fun
Chicago Marathon 2021
A trail run somewhere – haven’t decided yet
