From cardio hater to ultra-runner

T P Venu | Hyderabad 

For someone who once proclaimed, “Push me off a cliff, but don’t ask me to do 10 minutes of cardio,” completing the Khardung La Challenge—a 72 km event known as the highest ultra-marathon in the world—is nothing short of unbelievable.

Yet, that is precisely what Sai Aslesh Bollepalli, a 25-year-old engineering graduate in the construction business, achieved. What’s more, earlier this month, after finishing the grueling Khardung La Challenge on a Friday, he went on to complete the 42 km Ladakh Marathon that Sunday. Held at altitudes ranging from 11,500 to 17,618 feet, it tests human endurance to its absolute limits.

It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that Aslesh decided to make a lifestyle change and started going to the gym, though he confesses, “Nobody would have guessed I went to the gym back then! Then, something clicked in 2023, and I decided to push myself.” With guidance from his coach, Aditya, who encouraged him to start with just a 3 km run, he quickly caught the running bug and began enrolling in marathons.

“There was a time when my legs just gave way, but I decided to walk for a bit and finish the race anyway. Running has taught me grit,” he quips. Moving from one goal to the next, he began challenging himself with ultra-running—races that go far beyond the conventional 42 km distance.

When asked if anyone can enter these grueling events, Aslesh explains: “To qualify for the Ladakh Marathon, you must finish a full marathon in under six hours; for the Khardung La Challenge, the cutoff is five hours.” Participation in the Khardung La Challenge is capped at just 300 runners, with nearly 50% failing to complete the race.

Ultra running is a niche sport meant for those with exceptional endurance. While Aslesh has finished full marathons in cities like Mumbai and Hyderabad, he considers the Hyderabad Marathon the toughest in India due to its undulating terrain and flyover inclines, unlike flat courses such as Bengaluru's.

Lately, high-altitude ultra-marathons have become his primary passion. He speaks enthusiastically about: the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), a single-stage 170 km mountain trail race that follows the Tour du Mont Blanc route through France, Italy, and Switzerland, finishing in Chamonix, France.

Distance running has sparked a deep urge to test his limits. As he puts it, “I started biting off more than I can chew!” Next stop UTMB?