From struggle to glory : Our journey to crafting history at Badwater 135 miles

Exactly a month ago, on the 4th of July, I stood at the start line, filled with excitement, as I  cheered on Adil Beg at the Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California. He was the sole Indian representative and one of only 105  global qualifiers for the gruelling Badwater135miles ultramarathon in Death Valley California. With anticipation in the air, he set out to make history at what is considered the toughest foot race in this world. Today, I’d like to reflect upon the remarkable journey that brought us to this moment. 

Amidst the daily chaos and work demands, we often forget to nourish our soul. This truly epic journey served a reminder to do just that. The lingering imposter syndrome has held me back from sharing these thoughts until now. But here I am, mustering all the courage to hit that post button. Thanks to Vrinda Narang , Priya Krishnamoorthy Nidhi Singh and Sydney Fernandes   

The journey began with a phone call from my running coach, seeking help to register for the world's toughest foot race, the 'Badwater135.'  Soon,I was drafted to join Coach Adil’s support crew as one of the pacers and support staff - led by the legendary ultra marathoner Raj Vadgama , the founder of Xtreme Sports India.  Seems pretty simple so far, right ? Little did I know, this would not only unfold into  my longest run so far but also my next important project- 'Project Badwater135miles - a project purely for the soul. Fueled by conviction and driven by my passion for the outdoors and sports, project Badwater135miles was born - a mission close to the heart, aimed at supporting coach Adil in fulfilling his big dream. 

For those unfamiliar with Badwater135miles, it is no ordinary marathon; it is known as the world's toughest – pushing participants to their physical and mental limits. Running 135 miles (217 kms) in blistering temperatures above 50 degrees within 48-hours is nothing short of extraordinary. Among 105 global qualifiers, coach Adil,  proudly represented India as the youngest Indian to complete this formidable run.

So to begin with, Ultramarathons come with unique challenges; one of the most significant hurdles is the steep cost. This marked the start of Project Badwater135miles – planning, pitching, fundraising, coordinating logistics, and executing the mission. 

In the beginning, with the excitement amongst the running community and the well wishers, fundraising seemed like an easy task. We were quite optimistic that crowdfunding alone could help us reach our goal. Acting on a running buddy’s suggestion, we set up a Ketto account. With the help of a few well wishers we spread the word, hoping for a positive response. But the initial outcome fell short of expectations.

A few corporate sponsorships that had looked promising also fell through.  As the event date approached, the situation seemed daunting. Some friends and colleagues even questioned the feasibility of our Badwater mission. Both coach Adil & I knew,  to turn our vision into reality, a significant breakthrough was needed. 

Corporate sponsorships became essential to achieving our goals, and collaborations were crucial. The pitch I had crafted, 'Bareily to Badwater,' became the cornerstone of our sponsorship outreach. Endless efforts were made: calls, mails, attending numerous meetings.

Finally one day, a glimmer of hope emerged.It was through one of coach Adil’s clients, we got our first sponsorship.It was from ‘the Tata Group’. Coach Adil and I were elated. While it didn’t cover all the costs, it was a promising start.