Desi Aesthetics - India

From 2:06:07 to 1:45:01 but the real story isn’t the timings.

Last year, I was chasing a sub-1:45:00 half marathon, until a lower-back injury hit me 10 weeks before race day.

I took a 4 weeks break from running due to lingering pain, resulting in dropping fitness levels.

I still showed up to Vedanta Half Marathon in October 2025 but honestly, I wasn’t in my best shape. I finished the race in 2:06:07, which was way off from my target.
And when you’re competitive with yourself, it is hard to deal with.

By November, I recovered and hit reset with a new training block, more discipline & structure, and less ego.

But life didn’t suddenly become easier. I juggled a family wedding and two chronic sinusitis episodes, getting sick again just 4 weeks before race day. Alongside all that I participated in a full scale exhibition for my company, with 11 to 12 hour days on my feet with extensive traveling and almost no recovery time.

Honestly, I had every excuse to fail again but this time, I didn’t rely on motivation.
I relied on systems.

I ran smarter, watched my pacing, worked on my mobility to stay injury free, stayed patient, and focused on consistency instead of perfection.

And at the New Delhi Half Marathon of February 2026, I achieved my personal best timings of 1:45:01, just seconds away from my sub 1:45:00 race target.

It wasn’t perfect and honestly, I am slightly disappointed even though I don’t want to be.
But I managed to run at an average speed of 4:58/km, which I thought would be impossible.
It’s proof that discipline, planning, and systematic training can beat chaos.

This race wasn’t about one finish time.
It was about showing up even when life is messy.

I realised this year that the biggest fight in your health & fitness is always with you against yourself.
Learning to say no to things that don’t matter.
Staying consistent with your training.
Pushing hard during your workout.
Focusing on your recovery.
Taking care of your nutrition.

A lot of these things just require control over your mind. The sooner you realise it the better.

Fell in love with a city in a ”Split” second.

For the past 4 months, I’ve had several difficulties in my fitness journey. I was diagnosed with herniated spinal disc. The real problem was that I’ve had back issues for last few years, but I jumped back to my gym and running routine the moment I felt slightly better. Over the years, my back got worse, and I developed a severe issue in my L4 & L5.

It took me months of physiotherapy and a lot of care to get back to training. Squats and deadlift are still out of question.

Now, I am training with serious caution and making sure I stretch everyday.
Just being able to do some lunges and leg press makes me feel grateful.
And finally, being able to run again has truly given me immense happiness.
Be grateful for your body.
The fit body that you take for granted today might not be there for you tomorrow.

Back Injury Ke Baad Ab Main 2 Hafte Ke Liye Fashion Influencer Bangaya Hoon. Kuch Kapde Try Karwane Ho Toh Bhejdo. ✌🏽😌✌🏽

Enjoying both sides of the world on holidays.
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays🎄

Happy Diwali To All Of You! 🪔 🙏🏼

You Feel The Best In Budapest.

Czeching Prague Off My Bucket List.

In Dutch We Say Proost! 🍻