NEW DELHI: Sachin Ashok Sharma (IRTS 2008), secretary to the general manager/Western Railways, has earned plaudits for completing multiple marathons and triathlons over the years. And amid his preparations for events in the future, he looks forward to achieving more heights and making the nation proud.
Sharma recently completed one of the world's most gruelling endurance events: the Ironman Triathlon at Port Macquarie in Australia. His list of triathlons includes the Bergman Olympic triathlon (1.5 km swim, 40 km bike, 10 km run), Bergman 113 triathlon (1.9 km swim, 90 km bike, 21 km run), Goa Ironman 70.3 triathlon (1.9 km swim, 90 km bike, 21 km run) and the Australia Ironman.
The list of marathons completed by Sharma is also long. He completed three marathons in 2024- the Comrades Marathon (South Africa) in June 2024, the Silk Route Ultra (Ladakh) in September 2024, and a record-breaking Jaisalmer Ultra Marathon in December 2024, and is the only civil servant to have done the 122 km-long Silk Route Ultra Marathon in the high altitude region of Ladakh.
Sharma has taken part in numerous 10K runs over the past few years, including triathlons, half-marathons, full marathons, and ultra-marathons.
His journey has been inspirational, to say the least. Speaking exclusively to IANS, Sharma shed light on how taking up running helped him overcome Meniere's disease, a chronic inner ear disorder, his coach and colleagues’ role in his fitness journey, and how he strikes a balance between work and fitness.
Asked what got him to take fitness and running seriously, and when he started his journey, Sharma said, "It all began well before I joined the service. It was after the 12th standard, during my first year of engineering. I had some issues with my inner ear, specifically Meniere's disease, which causes a stinging sound, pressure differences, and vertigo.
"A homoeopath advised me to do cardio exercises such as brisk walking or running. I chose jogging. I started running and gained many benefits. I realised this was my go-to solution for these issues. Over time, I found it helped me in many ways beyond just the physical."
“It boosted my mental health by helping me de-stress and concentrate more. Even while preparing for the civil service exam after graduation, I continued jogging. I was in Delhi. Every evening, I ran six kilometres, which greatly helped me relax. During my runs, I would consolidate what I had read and studied that day.
"Without it, I might have become a sportsman in both school and college. I was staying in a hostel. There, I was introduced to a wide range of sports, including boxing, hockey, cricket, football, as well as gymnastics, athletics, and many others. Overall, I was pretty fit and active during my school days, " he added.
Speaking on the challenges he faces while preparing for the marathons and triathlons, Sharma added, "I've always been into sports. I enjoyed some form of jogging but never took part in endurance activities. Endurance sports are quite different. Running 6-10 kilometres is one thing, but running 21 or more, cycling over 100 kilometres, or swimming beyond two kilometres is another. It's a whole different game. Initially, I was surprised to see people completing 21- and 42-kilometre marathons and cycling 100 kilometres.