Lucknow: There are inspiring women like Asha Singh who defy all limitations to prove how resilient one can be. As we celebrate the special month dedicated to women empowerment, it becomes important to share the success story of achievers like Asha Singh. She is a 58-year-old woman who has been consistently achieving great feats at her age. Let’s delve deeper into her journey.

Who is Asha Singh?

People affectionately refer to Asha Singh as an ultra runner. At 58, she has made significant strides in the field of long-distance running. Remarkably, she covered 1252 kilometres in just 24 days. Asha’s husband is a retired colonel. She receives immense encouragement from her husband, son, and daughter-in-law. Reflecting on her journey, she shares that she embarked on her journey in the year 2016. 

Participating in marathons

Asha’s husband Bajrang Singh is her personal coach. Over the last eight years, she has been dedicated to participating in marathons. She has won numerous championships as well. Throughout her journey, her husband has been a pillar of support for her. Asha has competed in various events, including the Half Marathon, Gold Marathon, and Ultra Race. 

How the journey began

Furthermore, she shares that years ago, when she visited her son in Pune, someone encouraged her to participate in a 10-kilometre race. That was the day when her passion for running ignited. Notably, in 2020, Asha participated in the Boston Marathon Virtual Experience, where she secured the first position in the above 60 years category. 

 

Enduring challenges

In 2020, when Asha travelled to America, she unfortunately suffered a broken shoulder. She underwent a surgery and recovered from the injury. She resumed her journey by participating in her first ultra marathon in Lucknow in December of the same year. She was determined to achieve all her marathon goals for the year. 

Setting a record

Megan Cassidy from America covered a distance of 50 kilometres each day for 23 consecutive days in Orlando, Florida, from December 2022 to January 2023. Inspired by Megan, Asha resolved to break the record. She surpassed this target by covering an impressive distance of 1252 kilometres in just 24 days. Remarkably, she has also registered online for the Guinness Book of World Records. The results are yet to be announced for the record.

The discipline of a runner

Throughout her 24-day run, Asha maintained a strict diet. She would wake up at 5 am to exercise, followed by a light breakfast. During her 7 to 8 hours of daily running, she fuelled herself with juice, biscuits, and fruits. After completing the race, she would rest for an hour, have her dinner, and go to sleep. A self-disciplined approach helped her accomplish this great feat.