From training miles to the magnificent mile. My Chicago Marathon story

If you had told me a year ago that I would be running a World Major marathon, I probably would have been amused. My heart has always been in trail running, in nature, surrounded by mountains and quiet. But when the chance came to visit family in Chicago, I thought, why not club it with a race? And I found myself signing up for the Chicago Marathon, my first world major.

The road to Chicago

I trained for about 18 weeks, and it was far from easy. The hot and humid weather where I live made those long runs brutal. Some days, it felt like every mile was a battle and it created self-doubt. I never quite hit my ideal training distances, which made me question if I was truly ready. But as training wrapped up, thanks to my coach Sannat Sachdev, I shifted my focus and adopted an alternate strategy, one that felt more sustainable for me. That small change gave me a renewed sense of confidence just before I boarded my flight to Chicago.

Apart from the physical training, I also focused on strengthening my mental endurance through constant visualization exercises. These practices were especially important during long runs in challenging, hot weather conditions. Visualization proved to be a powerful tool that helped me stay focused, motivated, and confident in achieving my goals. I learned that physical and mental training go hand in hand. True performance and progress come only when both the body and mind are equally prepared. I learnt this aspect on the job while coaching elite athletes on the mental aspect of performance, with Mind School. It was time to practice what I preached.

One final tool in the training exercise was nutrition. It played a vital role in my marathon journey by giving me the energy, endurance, and recovery I needed to train effectively and reach the finish line. Staying hydrated and replenishing electrolytes helped me avoid fatigue and cramps during long runs, while proper recovery meals allowed my muscles to heal faster. All thanks to my nutrition coach Rashmi Cherian and Pravalika Kolluru from Wellness Vows who helped me through the journey.

Race day in the windy city

Race day arrived with perfect running weather, crisp and cool. The logistics was another kind of test. A thirty-minute walk from my hotel to the start line, followed by long queues for the washrooms, and then the anticipation of the start itself.

But once the race started, it was all focus on what was at hand and being in the moment. The crowd support was incredible. People lined the streets for all 26.2 miles, cheering for every runner, every moment. I was genuinely surprised by how much energy and warmth the city had to offer.

One mile at a time

I stuck to my run-walk strategy throughout, even when the excitement at the start made me want to sprint ahead. It’s hard to hold back when the adrenaline is high and everyone’s flying, but I reminded myself that this wasn’t a sprint, it was a marathon, and pacing was everything.

As the miles rolled by, I focused on taking it one mile at a time, rather than thinking of the entire distance. That simple mindset made it all feel manageable, almost meditative in a way. When I finally crossed the finish line, I was elated. I had executed the strategy exactly as I’d planned and finished with the time I had envisioned. It felt meaningful after my less than perfect last training run.

Reflections on the finish line

Marathons have a way of reminding you how much you are capable of when you stay consistent. I may have started this journey simply as a way to combine a race with a family trip, but I ended it with something much more. A deep appreciation for the power of community, perseverance, and mindset.

Who knows? Maybe I will find myself at another start line of a world major someday. For now, I am just savouring the joy of finishing and thinking, what next.

Some of my key learnings from the race

1. Training doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. Not every run goes as planned. Consistency matters more than perfection.

2. Mindset is your biggest muscle. Self-doubt is natural, but belief is built by showing up, one day at a time.

3. Strategy beats speed. Holding back early and pacing smartly made all the difference.

4. Break big goals into smaller wins. Taking one mile at a time kept me grounded. A simple yet effective way to tackle anything overwhelming.

5. The journey is always about more than the finish line. Community, support and gratitude made every step meaningful.