Today's guest Gaurav Kumar is an officer of the Indian Army, a type 1 diabetic runner and a triathlete. #Runforthosewhocannot is his mantra when he started taking running seriously and eventually got into triathlon.

In this episode we talk about his biggest motivation for staying active, the challenges of being a type1 diabetic athlete and how he manages training and racing with his condition. For someone who faced a lot of setbacks in life, his positive outlook on life is quite inspiring. I hope you'll enjoy this.

0:00:00 Intro

0:01:16 Talking about diabetes

0:09:43 How he took up sports

0:12:50 Breathtaking story of his daughter

0:23:00 First half marathon

0:28:30 First marathon

0:37:10 Triathlon journey starts

0:54:40 How he manages nutrition

1:02:10 Closing remarks

About the Podcast

The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.

Who is a working athlete? Someone working fulltime/part-time, entrepreneur or anyone who has to work to make ends meet and doesn't let being busy to stop him/her from pursuing an active lifestyle is a working athlete. I consider stay at home moms/dads who pursue a sport, as working athletes because homemaking is a full-time job.

If you like this, share with friends who could be interested.

For the visually inclined, a video version of the podcast can be found here: YouTube

Other Places you'll find the podcast on:

Anchor | RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google podcasts | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Breaker

Robin Darius Conz is an MTB rider and a wildlife cinematographer. In this episode we talk about his cycling, MTB, enduro and downhill cycling in India and his life as an wildlife cinematographer.

It was a fascinating conversation exploring the parallels between sport and wildlife photography and a lot more. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

0:00:00 Intro

0:02:25 His relationship with sport growing up

0:03:35 What is work for him

0:05:05 His initial days of cycling

0:12:15 Milestones in his journey as a cameraman

0:15:55 Telling a story with footage spanning months and years

0:25:45 Some interesting experiences filming wildlife

0:29:50 What qualifications does one need to be a wildlife cameraman

0:37:25 Parallels between sport and cinematography

0:40:55 Managing fitness with his schedule

0:44:20 Loose riders, Enduro, Downhill etc in India

1:02:10 Closing remarks

About the Podcast

The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.

Who is a working athlete? Someone working fulltime/part-time, entrepreneur or anyone who has to work to make ends meet and doesn't let being busy to stop him/her from pursuing an active lifestyle is a working athlete. I consider stay at home moms/dads who pursue a sport, as working athletes because homemaking is a full-time job.

If you like this, share with friends who could be interested.

For the visually inclined, a video version of the podcast can be found here: YouTube

Other Places you'll find the podcast on:

Anchor | RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google podcasts | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Breaker

Rajesh Nair a.k.a BabaVelo has been a longtime friend, teammate and mentor. With his phenomenal consistency over the years he has inspired many in cycling and continues to do so. From the time I first time met him back in 2011 till now, he has been a source of much learning for me personally. I met him in Dubai again recently at Spinney92 Dubai Cycling Challenge and had a wonderful time.

He has done exceptionally well in the race and has qualified for the UCI Granfondo finals. I was fortunate enough to sit down for a chat with him after the race and talk to him about the race, his cycling journey and his views on various topics related to cycling.

0:00:00 Intro

0:03:30 Spinneys92 Dubai

0:07:20 How and when he started cycling

0:10:30 2011 Tour of Nilgiris

0:17:20 Cycling in India

0:20:50 Why he races; His typical racing season

0:26:50 Racing outside India etc

0:32:20 Places he enjoys riding and racing in

0:35:50 Dealing with injuries/setbacks

0:37:50 Nutrition habits, Why diets don't work, losing weight, back issues

0:47:15 His strength training routine

0:52:40 Tips for working athletes

0:54:00 Closing remarks

About the Podcast

The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.

Who is a working athlete? Someone working fulltime/part-time, entrepreneur or anyone who has to work to make ends meet and doesn't let being busy to stop him/her from pursuing an active lifestyle is a working athlete. I consider stay at home moms/dads who pursue a sport, as working athletes because homemaking is a full-time job.

If you like this, share with friends who could be interested.

For the visually inclined, a video version of the podcast can be found here: YouTube

Other Places you'll find the podcast on:

Anchor | RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google podcasts | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Breaker

Russell Bell is an inspiration to many of us. An English Formula 3 racer who retired and has been living in Goa for more than 20 years, he first got into cycling to stay fit for his car racing. Well into his 70s, he shows no signs of slowing down and has recently won his category at Spinney92 Dubai Cycling Challenge at 39.4kmph for a 93km race.

I was there in Dubai taking part in the same race and was fortunate enough to sit down with him for a chat. His mantra, "this is not a practice round, make it count".

0:00:00 Intro

0:02:30 An Unfinished business

0:08:10 There was only one objective - Winning!

0:10:30 Relationship with sport growing up

0:11:40 Formula 3 racing days

0:16:10 Steelframes and downtube shifters

0:20:40 TFN 2015 experience

0:23:40 Growth of sport in Goa

0:27:10 Favorite places to ride in

0:29:40 Tips for working athletes, riding by feel, riding safety

0:32:00 Closing remarks

About the Podcast

The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.

Who is a working athlete? Someone working fulltime/part-time, entrepreneur or anyone who has to work to make ends meet and doesn't let being busy to stop him/her from pursuing an active lifestyle is a working athlete. I consider stay at home moms/dads who pursue a sport, as working athletes because homemaking is a full-time job.

If you like this, share with friends who could be interested.

For the visually inclined, a video version of the podcast can be found here: YouTube

Other Places you'll find the podcast on:

Anchor | RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google podcasts | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Breaker

A bit about myself:

I'm Venkat/Venkateswara Rao in my work avatar, working as a Chief Data Analyst in the IT industry in Bangalore. I'm Venky/Bikeyvenky for my friends in the cycling community.

Pankkaj Dhiman is a triathlete and a triathlon coach from Delhi who won his age category and finished 3rd overall in Goa Ironman70.3 last year.

A body builder who picked up running after a shoulder injury, he signed up for his first Ironman even before he knew swimming or bought a bike.

In this episode he shares his endurance journey of going from a 1:45min 10k to a 2:59 marathon and a 4:21 for 70.3 event. His journey is an example of what one can achieve with a relentless drive to improving oneself and an undying commitment to discipline.

0:00:00 Intro

0:02:30 Early start with Cricket

0:05:50 Weight lifting and body building, exercise routine and diet, falling in love with boredom

0:13:40 Shoulder injury, starting running and triathlon

0:22:00 Triathlon, first 70.3 and first Full Ironman race

0:25:30 Running progression from 1:42hr 10k to a 2:59hr Full Marathon

0:31:00 Relying on strength base, strength training

0:37:10 Swimming, cycling and Ironman progression;

0:47:00 Ironman Goa 70.3 race prep and age group win

0:55:10 Path ahead, focus on performance improvement

0:59:20 Focus on recovery and importance of spending time with the family

1:01:10 His typical training volume and his race day nutrition

1:03:10 Focus on building the community and focus on and commit to the process

1:06:15 Tips for working athletes, balance is overrated, discipline over motivation and inspiration

1:09:25 Closing remarks

Some Links Below:

Working Athlete Community on FB.

Link to Anchor Voice messages

About the Podcast

The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.

If you like this, share with friends who could be interested.

For the visually inclined, a video version of the podcast can be found here: YouTube

Other Places you'll find the podcast on:

Anchor | RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google podcasts | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Breaker

Prashant Sudarshan Arkal lost function in his left leg because of polio when he was just 9 months old. He never did any sports as a kid but in college he took up body building and stayed active through Kayaking when he started working abroad as an IT engineer.   In 2017, he got introduced to para sports by a Singaporean Para athlete by chance and fell in love with the freedom the sport gave him.   He is now a hand cyclist representing India in para cycling events. He is a bronze medalist in 2022 Asian Championships in Handcycling in Individual Time Trial. In this episode Prashant shares his inspiring journey which seems to say where there is a will, there is a way!

Rohit Pathak is a cyclist, a runner and a cancer survivor. In April of 2022, Rohit got diagnosed with Hodkin's Lymphoma which is a rare form of cancer that effects the lymph nodes and the immune system. He had to undergo surgery, chemo and radiation therapies to beat it. He not only went through the entire treatment with positivity but also was determined to get back to his previous fitness levels as soon as possible. He did it in style by finishing Tata Mumbai Marathon in 4 hours and 3 mins.

In this episode we talk about not only his fight with cancer and successfully finishing a marathon within a year but also talk about his inspiring weight loss journey of going from 115kgs to 75kgs.

0:00:00 Intro

0:04:10 115kgs, obesity, cycling with Delhi Cyclists, G2G Ride(India Gate to Gateway of India), Adidas runners, First marathon, First World major - Berlin Marathon

0:14:10 Weight loss journey from 115kgs to 75kgs

0:18:10 Intermittent fasting

0:26:10 Cancer diagnosis and treatment

0:53:10 Staying in the game, the support system

0:57:50 Training for TATA Mumbai Marathon(TMM) post treatment

1:15:30 Second Innings

1:19:05 Closing remarks

Some Links Below:

Working Athlete Community on FB.

Link to Anchor Voice messages

About the Podcast

The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.

If you like this, share with friends who could be interested.

For the visually inclined, a video version of the podcast can be found here: YouTube

Other Places you'll find the podcast on:

Anchor | RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google podcasts | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Breaker

Multiple Cycling National champion, Naveen John returns to the podcast and talks about his 2022 season at Belgium, defending his gold medal at the National games, starting out as a rookie and getting to the medal ride off at the track nationals, his win at the road nationals ITT etc.

0:00:00 Intro

0:02:15 His Belgium trip #IndianCycling Project

0:12:10 National Games - Winning from not wanting to race!

0:23:30 Track Nationals 2022 - Preparation and execution

0:53:00 Talking of Aston Lamby, getting into shape for pursuit

1:00:15 I'm here to learn, why is he still riding

1:09:25 Who is an athlete

1:10:30 Road Nationals, defending the title

1:21:04 His work as a coach guiding the next generation

1:29:05 What next? Worst Retirement Ever Indian edition?

1:32:50 Closing remarks

Some Links Below:

Working Athlete Community on FB.

Link to Anchor Voice messages

About the Podcast

The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.

If you like this, share with friends who could be interested.

For the visually inclined, a video version of the podcast can be found here: YouTube

Other Places you'll find the podcast on:

Anchor | RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google podcasts | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Breaker