Pacers

Gautam took on running in 2012 more as a weight loss measure and started with brisk walk & light jog. Slowly those walk & jog transformed into running & soon after, it became a passion for him.

Since 2012, Gautam has run 13 Half Marathons (incl. 3 editions of ADHM) with a PB of 01:55:15 hrs achieved in IDBI Federal Life Insurance New Delhi Marathon 2018 edition and a numerous 15K & 10K with a PB of 53:47 mins for 10K in addition to a couple of trail runs. According to Gautam, running has not only helped him bring the much needed discipline in life resulting in better planning & concentration in whatever he does but has also helped him manage his 9 years old High Blood Pressure problem which is perfectly under control now. “It’s a strong enough reason for me to continue Running & with more rigor”, Gautam added.

Gautam will now be attempting his maiden Full Marathon in IDBI Federal Life Insurance New Delhi Marathon, 2019 edition & is busy these days preparing for it. Gautam believes in sharing the Joy and advantages of running with budding runners & hence has consented to pace the 10K 60 mins bus in one of the most prestigious events, ADHM 2018 edition.

This’ll be his second pacing assignment wherein first one was again for ADHMX last year. Gautam works as a Corporate Finance Controller with one of the biggest Media Houses in India – The Times of India Group & besides running, he loves to watch movies (both Hindi & English) & spend quality time with his family & friends giving them gyan on running whenever he gets a chance

Namrata is a corporate lawyer by profession and mother of two avid footballers aged 9 and 12. For her, running is both an addiction and well as meditation in motion. Namrata took to running about five years ago with the sole objective of losing weight, but has since discovered its many marvels over time and also ‘found’ herself in the process. She chooses to preface any decision (big or small) in her life with a run. She is addicted to the feel good hormones such as serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin etc. that kick in during and after a good run. The consequent cognitive clarity that she acquires as a result helps her face life head - on with equanimity and compassion.

Namrata has run several quarter and half marathons. Her half marathon PB is 2:03 and she ran her maiden marathon this year (2018) at the IDBI Federal which she embarked upon solely to challenge comfort zone and finished in 5:15 “like a breeze, without bonking and injury free”. Aside from running (races, behind her children, the house and her demanding job as VP - Legal and member of the leadership team) Namrata is hooked to contemplative practices like yoga and meditation which she practices every day and is a huge proponent of these through her many articles on the subject. She chose to pace the ADHM this year since ADHM reached out to her and she felt it was both an honour and a great opportunity to encourage more and more people to embark upon and finish the 10K, a daunting and respectable distance.

Meenal Dwivedi Tripathi a Textile Engineer, Educationist, Classical Dancer, Traveller, Yoga follower, Fitness Propagator and an Entrepreneur. She started long distance running in 2015 to fight her weight and health issues and since then there is no looking back.

She is actively contributing in building and strengthening Runner's community in Lucknow through Arun's Pathshala (fitness group).

She has participated in more than 20 timed Runs including 12 Half Marathon and 3 Full Marathon that are SCMM2017 TMM2018 Ladakh Marathon 2018.

She firmly believes that one should enjoy the runs to the fullest push oneself where required and rest will follow automatically. The very essence of long distance running is the fun and joy coupled with improved physical potential that brings the transformation.

Her Personal Best timing for 42k is 5:03,

for 21k is 2:09 and for 10k is 1:00:07

She also has a few podiums in her kitty.

*Second in her age Category Patna Half Marathon2017

*Second in her age Category Agra Half Marathon2018

*Second in female Open category Bathinda Half Marathon2018

*Second position Kangra X Country -16k

*Second Ludhiana HM 10k.

On asking why she is keen to do pacing right now. She replied that this season she not training for my 21k P.B. these days but for her 42k and 50k targets at relatively slower speed. So, pacing will be the best suitable thing for her to do at ADHM2018 coz she does not want to miss being a part of the greatest Half Marathon event of India. She further adds that she can be stubbornly strict about the pace on which she has to carry the group. Being a Classical Dancer too, she has a great control over her rhythm/ pace. Besides this she is a great motivator too. During her previous 10 K pacing assignment where she was a 1:10 min bus, she finished 1:09:40.

Running is a way to feel happiness says Aditya Gupta, who has been running for about 2 years from now. Running has brought in a drastic change in lifestyle feels Mr. Aditya. Working in a consultancy firm, hectic hours and work pressures have never been an obstacle to take out time for running even during his daily life. It’s a monotonous thing that he is never bored of.

Aditya was never a runner, but what brought a change in him was when he registered for a 10 km Goa Marathon. He was a student of BITS-Goa at that time. He lost almost 10 kg’s practicing for the run and completed the run in 00:55:43. Taking a step ahead, he attempted his next big marathon: Airtel Delhi Half Marathon - 2017. He practiced for the 21km run after 10pm when he used to come from his busy office lifestyle. His determination led to finish his marathon in 2:11:30. He now plans to run for a 42 km marathon soon and wish to run for “Ladakh Marathon”.

Aditya has been working in a consulting firm for the last 1 year. Though this is just a start of his career but he wishes to fulfill all his endeavor with his energetic approach.

He feels a great sense of satisfaction and motivation when running. He practices regularly with 5km runs on weekends and 2-3 runs in weekdays. What he feels the essential reason to be fit is keeping a health and clean diet. He also studies about the best running styles and diet for running long marathons. After achieving and completing these marathons, it has boosted up his confidence and now he is looking for further opportunities where he can create a mark and set an example for those who see this passion as challenge and always say “Humsena ho payega”.

This is the first attempt at being a pace leader. He wishes to keep everyone motivated and cross the finish line in exactly 80 mins.