How well we sleep, transcends in our performance. Sleep is one of the most important, and often neglected aspects of the path to peak performance. Great athletes know about the importance of sleep to achieve performance. Eliud Kipchoge, undoubtedly the greatest marathoners of all the time, sleeps for ten hours everyday. His training schedule includes eight hours of sleep at night, and a two hour nap during the day.

Running entails both aerobic (endurance-based) and resistance (strength-based) activity which represents two extremes of the exercise continuum. For our body to continue to work efficiently on this continuum, we need to constantly work on our muscles to maintain optimal elasticity. To maintain the elasticity, “recovery” is the key to get back to the original form for the next training session.

Nutrition plays an important role which includes macronutrients like carbs, proteins, and fats and micronutrients like vitamins, minerals and fluids. Endurance runners rely on a whole lot of things to keep their bodies balanced during long-distance running.

2021 AFLI New Delhi Marathon lived upto its reputation being the fastest. Being an olympic qualifier and AIMS approved, 2021 event hailed as the best organized race by all participants; kudos to NEB sports. The event saw 72% of participants finishing under 4 hours. Surely, a new high for amateur running in India.

What I did differently this time around: