"No race begins at the start line" – Meet Vaishali Kasture (Part 1/2)

Vaishali Kasture is a regular on the Indian running circuit who has won many races including the full marathon, veteran women’s category, at this year’s Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, she is also winner of previous season’s half marathons. She recently qualified for the prestigious Boston Marathon.

What is more impressive is that 44 year old simultaneously acts as Managing Director at a major multinational investment Firm and is a mother to a brimming five year old son.

Oh! And also she has two lively golden retrievers. She is an avid animal enthusiast, and her retirement dream is to live on a farm full of friendly animals.

Vaishali with her dogs (Golden Retrievers)

A truly inspiring story of meticulous effort and commitment, something we are sure has contributed to her constant improvement. She is what every amateur corporate weekend runner aims to be.

Dumbelled.com was delighted to dwell deep into understanding how Vaishali manages to get through a packed schedule that would overwhelm even superwoman and still come out on top;

1. How did your journey as a runner begin, were you always an avid runner and fitness buff or was it something you developed later on in life?

In school I was involved in running and athletics owing to their mandatory nature, and I used to run a few kilometres on the treadmill during the beginning of my professional career as part of my physical fitness routine. Though it is while I was living outside India, I was reintroduced to running in the outdoors. I found running outside out in the open liberating, as opposed to a treadmill. I could actually physically and tangibly feel myself going somewhere – I was hooked.

I returned to Bangalore, India and after a short break from running I joined a running club called “Runners High” that was geared towards amateur runners. After this I trained with my running mentor Ashok Nath who helped me stay on track and take my running to a whole new level.

2. You have run various distances in various formats, which of these is your favourite distance or format of running and why?

The half marathon – I have done countless. I feel I am not my strongest at the 5k or 10k , 21k is just at that ideal sweet spot where you feel like you have run a race yet isn’t as fatiguing as a full marathon or any of the other longer formats of racing.

3. Your list of personal achievements is extraordinary (both professionally and) as a runner, which is the proudest moment from all your running endeavours?

One of my sweetest moments recently was qualifying for the Boston Marathon. Qualifying for the Boston marathon takes commitment, I liken it to the Olympics of marathon running. I ran my very first trained full marathon which was the Holy Family Memorial (HFM) Maritime Marathon held in Wisconsin, USA in June 2013 in which I ran a 3 hr 41 min over a 42 km distance. The race is set along the scenic trails of Lake Michigan and I was well prepared for the event, it was one of the best races I have had yet. However the marathon was also a bit of an eye-opener. Running in this international event put into perspective the stiff competition that is present in foreign running communities. There is a higher concentration, especially amongst women, in the number of serious runners in foreign countries as compared to India. Running an international race is a very humbling event – you come across so many veteran women who are clocking amazing timings.

Vaishali with her mentor Ashok Nath

4. Considering you have won the half marathon at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon a couple of times before how does it feel to be the winner of open Veteran Women’s category at SCMM 2014?

Yes its true I have run the half marathon at SCMM several times, but I always tell people that running a full marathon is not just twice as hard physically and mentally, its multiple times harder…

Considering how the layout of the race route changed over the landscape of the city meant I didn’t time my running burst as well as I would have liked. I ran a 3 hr 46 min, which initially honestly left me a bit deflated as it was 5 minutes slower than my timing at HFM.

But of course I am happy to win, and I love to be amidst that Bombay spirit.

Vaishali and her trainer at the gym

5. You have qualified for the prestigious Boston Marathon, the Holy Grail for most marathon enthusiasts. What is your training schedule like to prepare yourself for such an important event? In order to make the most of your limited time and improve your running, have you taken any professional coaching to ensure you are committed to train through your busy day?

Like I said earlier getting to the Boston Marathon takes commitment. I owe it to my running mentor, Ashok Nath, for keeping me focused and helping me qualify for the Boston Marathon.“The run less run faster” program was introduced to me by Ashok, I adopted it successfully and the programme helped me greatly in making the transition from half marathons to full marathons. Now I even figure as a success story in the latest version of the Book “Run Less Run Faster”. We are currently focused on a personal best at the Boston Marathon.

To see what Vaishali Kasture has to say to amateur runners, read Part 2 of this article