A decade ago, journalist Preeti Sompura had never imagined herself as a long-distance runner. Her journey into endurance running began modestly in 2014, with 7 km runs. Over the years, she gradually built up her stamina, culminating this year in her successful completion of the Comrades Marathon—a grueling 90 km ultra-marathon—clocking in at 10 hours, 49 minutes, and 36 seconds, earning a bronze medal.
Held in South Africa, the Comrades Marathon is widely regarded as the world’s oldest and toughest ultramarathon, known for its brutal terrain and alternating uphill/downhill routes. The 2025 edition was the 98th running of the race, covering the “Down Run” from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. With over 20,000 participants, and 18,194 finishers, this year set a record for Down Run completions.
Preeti described the race as “not just a race, but a pilgrimage of passion and purpose.” Her training for this monumental challenge began a year in advance. For six months, she adhered to a strict high-protein diet, eliminating rice, wheat, maize, and milk. Every alternate Sunday was dedicated to long-distance runs, and her training ground spanned Aarey Colony, Malabar Hill, Parsik Hill, Lonavala, Satara, Edinburgh, and London.
Braving the Indian summer heat, where temperatures soared to 35°C, Preeti managed to clock 1,128 km in the final four months of her training.
Preeti initially aimed to run the Comrades Marathon in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic halted the event. In 2024, her plans were again disrupted when the race clashed with the Lok Sabha elections. She ran the Kass Ultra (65 km) as a practice substitute, before finally achieving her dream in 2025.
“The energy of South Africa still resonates,” Preeti shared. “The cheers of ‘Come on India!’ and ‘Namaste, India!’ are still ringing in my ears. Running alongside 425 Indian runners was a proud moment.” She credited her coach, Deepak Londhe of Striders Miles, for his unwavering guidance, and expressed deep gratitude to her family and supporters.
This year’s race was especially meaningful. Among the finishers were seven Maharashtra Police officers, a Navy commando injured in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, a differently-abled runner with a missing left hand, and 65-year-old Vidya Tai from Jalgaon—each story adding layers of inspiration to the event.
Now back in Mumbai, Preeti says, “I return not just with a medal, but with a heart full of memories, new friendships, and stories that will stay with me forever. This wasn’t just a marathon—it was a movement.”
Preeti’s running accomplishments include:
• 25 half-marathons
• 15 full marathons, including the Berlin and London Majors
• Two 65 km races
• Four 50 km ultramarathons
• Two Guinness World Records
Her story is not just one of endurance, but of determination, resilience, and breaking boundaries—an inspiration to runners everywhere.
