Fitness first

Mumbaikars, who took up running for their physical and mental well-being, have been inspiring many along the way

Fitness first

Abhishek Mishra

Abhishek Mishra

Fitness is not just a journey, but a way of life for Abhishek Mishra who travels to Mumbai often and is madly in love with the city. His book Run to Realise has inspired many. Joining his followers for a run is what gets him out of bed every day he says. Mishra’s long-term goal is to run 100 kms a day even at the age of 80. He is presently looking to finish a race in Karnataka in October where he will swim a 15-km stretch, cycle for another 400 kms in the hills and finally run for 100 kms, all in 45 hours.
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Follow @abhirunning, Instagram

Girish Bindra

At the age of 35, Girish Bindra had to stop heavy workouts due to health concerns and took to running instead. It has become a part of the daily routine for this certified marathon trainer and coach at Asics India and Garmini India. He has participated in 21 full marathons, 17 ultra-marathons, and various others, all of which turned running into a passion while also helping with recovery. Bindra has finished two Comrades Marathons in South Africa, and aims to finish 10 more in the coming decade. His workout routines consist of elements that improve flexibility, and cardiovascular and muscular strength, packed into an hour of high-intensity training with warm up and cool down periods.
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Follow @girish_bindra, Instagram

Shibani Gharat

Shibani Gharat has represented Mumbai and Maharashtra in Taekwondo, and is a certified marathon trainer who has completed 23 full and ultra-marathons. Running became a convenient and easy fitness regime to follow for this journalist. She also swims, practises yoga and weight training, and focuses on a nutritious diet along with her mental health. She responds to all kinds of fitness-related questions on her Instagram page.
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Follow @shibanigharat, Instagram

Akshata Pai

Akshata Pai became a pacer with the Nike run club which inspired her to participate in races. Pai is also a certified marathon trainer and yoga instructor whose hack to avoid laziness is to sync workout timings with someone with similar goals. She aims to build a support community to motivate and train people to help them give fitness the importance it deserves.
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Follow @akshii09, Instagram

Priyanka Bhatt

A hectic lifestyle and resultant health issues put Priyanka Bhatt on her running journey. As a way of motivating herself, this 17 ultra-marathon athlete combined her love for travel with her fitness goals. Her Instagram page has a variety of workout videos and reels. Some are part of her daily routine while others are a combination of different workouts that Bhatt tries in order to challenge her body.
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Follow @pribhatt29, Instagram

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