Until a decade ago, journalist Preeti Sompura had never imagined herself as a distance runner. Her only brush with physical activity had been occasional short runs. But in 2014, she took her first step into the world of long-distance running—and over the past 10 years, she progressed from 7 km to conquering one of the toughest races on Earth: the Comrades Marathon.
This year, Preeti completed the Comrades Marathon—an 89.80 km ultra-marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban—in an impressive time of 10:49:36, earning a bronze medal in her race category.
Known as the world’s oldest and most grueling ultra-marathon, the Comrades is held annually in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province and is often described as the “ultimate human race.” Now in its 98th edition, the race is infamous for its brutal hills and alternating routes — the “up” and “down” runs — which test every ounce of a runner’s strength, strategy, and stamina.
Reflecting on her journey, Preeti said, “It’s not just a race, but a pilgrimage of passion and purpose.”
Her preparation was nothing short of disciplined and determined. She began her focused training a year ago, adopting a strict high-protein diet in the last six months—eliminating rice, wheat, maize, and milk entirely. Every alternate Sunday was reserved for long runs. She trained across some of Maharashtra’s toughest terrains, including Aarey Colony, Malabar Hill, Maldunge, Parsik Hill, Lonavala, and Satara.
Running under the scorching 35°C Indian summer heat, she covered a staggering 1,128 km over four months in preparation.
First held in 1921, the Comrades Marathon has grown into an iconic race that not only challenges physical limits but also inspires thousands worldwide. With infamous elevation points known as the “Big Five” hills, it’s a race that demands heart as much as it demands muscle.
This year 425 indian runners participated in the comrades race. It’s a dream of every runner to participate in comrades race
For Preeti Sompura, this finish line wasn’t just the end of a race — it was the culmination of a decade-long journey of transformation, perseverance, and unshakable grit.
