The 43-year-old ultramarathoner, a Defence Civilian with the Indian Navy, is attempting to run the distance of around 250km in 48 hours, without a single break at that
When Breeze Sharma took off from Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai on a chilly Saturday morning to run non-stop to the Saibaba temple in Shirdi, he said he wasn't just running for himself, but for the people of Maharashtra as well as the country.
The 43-year-old ultramarathoner, a Defence Civilian with the Indian Navy, is attempting to run the distance of around 250km in 48 hours, without a single break at that. He is doing this to promote Sai International Marathon to be held in Shirdi on February 11 next year, with the goal being to promote sports culture and tourism in the holy place.
Not only is the Mumbai-based Sharma confident of achieving the target within the stipulated time frame, but also of spreading his message across to the people along the stretch: start running yourselves.
Sharma said he has been encouraged by Sachin Tendulkar's message recently. "I heard Sachin's speech on Friday and have been inspired by his message of transforming India from a sport-loving nation to a sport-playing one. So, I want to do my bit in the field of running.
"I hope my run goes a long way in the promotion of running around Mumbai, Shirdi and the all places I will cover in the route," Sharma said before the start of his run.
"I want to motivate people to start running at least at some point, even if it is for some kilometres everyday. If someone can run around 250km at a stretch, why can't people run a few kilometres everyday?" he added.
Primarily a mountaineer – he scaled the Mount Everest last year – Sharma turned to running in 2012. He first ran in the Vasai-Virar Marathon in October 2012, but found his true calling in long-distance running a year later when he ran his maiden ultramarathon in New Delhi, finishing on the podium.
Since then, he has run in 29 official ultramarathon races including in three international 100+ mile races.
His breakthrough moment came in 2016, when he became the second Indian, and the fastest one, to finish the Badwater 135, considered to be one of the toughest ultramarathons in the world, in California.
His work in the Indian Navy doesn't allow him to train daily, but Sharma ensures that he runs at least 100km every week. It's because running isn't just passion for him, but more a way of zoning himself out from the outside world.
"In a city like Mumbai, we don't get time to sit back and think about, 'who I am'. So to me, ultra running was like finding myself. When I train, it's like active meditation for me. I go into another world when I run, and it filters my thoughts from this materialist world," he said.
And he wants people to experience the same feeling.
"People have become like machines in this modern era. I feel I should get my passion channelised and make it reach the common man as well," he said.
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