BQ at my 3rd Boston Run. 5th Year BQ
3 mins slower than my PR in 2023, but I’ll take it.
It was a very quick weekend trip made so special by friends I saw and hugged! The joy I felt when I saw @kumarnirasha Niri and Ramesh at mile 8.5 carried me on for several miles after. Sush came to my hotel to say hi because well, I literally had no time to go see anyone. And I caught up with Gayathri at the airport on my way back. Texts and DMs from friends and family flooded my phone and I was so grateful for each one ❤️
The race was hot and painful for most of it, but I was grateful to see my finish time. We all need reminders that we can do hard things and kick a$$. Going all the way to Boston for a weekend to run a race always feels like a little ridiculous but coming back home, I am overwhelmed…in the best way possible.
Pic on course by Niri 💜
You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.” - Bob Marley
On Dec 29th, I thought it might be fun to run a 24 hour solo race on Dec 31…just to see how far I could go. On Jan 1, 2025 I completed my first 100 miler in 22 hours 28 mins. I also got PRs in the 50k, 100k and 50 mile distances. Thank you to @coastaltrailruns organizers and volunteers for this amazing start to 2025
My stats:
100 mile: 22:28
100k: 12:04 : PR
50 miles: 9:29 : PR
50k: 5:24 : PR
1st AG
2nd DP (women’s)
4th overall
This was at the end of a long painful year where I was incapacitated by Chikungunya and debilitating joint pain for more than 5 months (July - November). I had been slowly ramping up since November but I still have no idea how I did the 100 mile distance. It seems the human body and mind can do incredible stuff if we just put in the work and believe.
My takeaway: The human body remembers if you let it. So train the body and mind with great consistency and I am certain you can bounce back from the hardest challenges. Trauma has no place in a free spirit and a happy body that knows what it is to face and overcome challenges.
That last but one pic is from the ER on July 19th, 2024. Coming back from that to today has been a journey I will never forget. Finally, a support system and community matters. None of this would be possible without the unending support from family, friends and my trail community 💜
Goodbye 2023! 2023 was a year when my work and home life seemed much bigger than my running goals, yet seems pretty stellar looking back:
🏃🏻♀️most miles 2157
🏃🏻♀️ PR fastest 5k 💥 (21:32)
🏃🏻♀️ PR fastest marathon at #bostonmarathon 3:34
🏃🏻♀️ my longest race 100k at #miwok100k
Qualified for Boston 2025
Supported by my friends and family
Ran in Vietnam, India, Boston, Palm Springs, Arizona, Joshua tree
Paced and supported friends at RDL, and WSER
Shared 100s of miles with friends.
Let’s get this journey started 2024!!
#trailrunning
The world is far from perfect, filled with sorrow and pain. Amidst all of it, we have to make time for people that matter and things that center us.
For me, this Diwali and Pree’s birthday weekend was just what I needed. Friends, family, long run, dogs, road trip to soak up Big Sur, hugs and laughs.
Wishing you all love and light. And come see me?
Took a day off from work to take care of myself. Of course that meant running 🏃🏽 and 50k on my trails to get my brain to stop spinning. Always works wonders! And then, a Saturday chaperoning my kiddo to a XC meet. So proud of how strong she looked throughout. 2nd place overall and a school team medal 🏅 . Exploring some local trails in Carmel and then a beach picnic. My heart is full and my mind is sort of quieter. #trailrunning #familytime #lifegoals
Time for quarterly planning and some goal setting….
So what should I do next quarter? Next year? What should I do that I have never done before? What races should I aim for? Should I learn a new language? Play the 🎸? Write a book?
I’ll take all and any ideas!
So fun to be back home for a quick visit and run @projectglimmer #projectglimmer5k with family!
Bengaluru is truly the garden city. Magical gardens amidst the city bustle, a 5k and some, yummy idlis and filter coffee …all before 8 am on a Sunday morning.
Still not too late for you to donate and support my kid @savi.Kolari ’s fundraiser! Http://bit.ly/3K4s9mf
Never say never. Ever.
Don’t listen to the naysayers. Don’t even listen to that little inner voice of yours that is full or doubt.
Just put in the work, and have tons of fun and the results will just show up. Sooner or later.
9 minute PR! Incredible time seeing friends I have not seen in ages. So much joy…and some pain at mile 25 🤪
Thanks #bostonmarathon2023 . I’ll be back. For now, time to focus on #miwok100k 😱
Look Ma! I was interviewed on a podcast about my running life 😃
It is strange and weird and awesome, but mostly awesome. I don’t love talking about my life, but I do love my life. My running journey, the people in my life, the community. ❤️
Thanks to Sandhya and Pramoda for making me feel so comfortable…and honestly pulling together a wonderfully produced show.
Thank you to those that listened and supported the podcast! I hope you will all take a listen Link in bio.
#trailrunning #ultrarunning #bostonmarathon #bostonmarathon2022 #bostonmarathon2023 #miwok #miwok2023 #runningpodcast #whyirun
Can a person be extremely content and happy, yet deeply sad at the same time? That is totally me the last few days. I love my life and work and yet but the state of the world worries me deeply. There is so much beauty in this world amidst all the crazy, and that always gets me and hits me deep.
So not surprising that I broke down in happy tears when I ran into @arboone11 on the trails the other day. Amelia is the perfect combination of strength, vulnerability and self-respect. Her posts and run-ins have lead to really great conversations about running and our relationship with food with my own girls. So much love and respect for her 💕
And then, I broke into an ugly cry when I saw a mom singing (with her kids on instruments) beautifully outside Michaels, trying to raise money for her family. These are hard times for so many, but hearing this family bring joy to the world amidst their pain broke me down. And I let it. ❤️
So here it is … my ode to nature and life before I get into the frenzy of life and work this Friday.
Happy weekend y’all! And don’t forget to be #thankful
#trailrunning #whyirun #runnersofinstagram
