Arpita Pandya, a very prominent cyclist and runner who has earned herself a title of “The Podium Queen” as she is popular for getting podiums at most of the running and cycling events, especially in Gujarat.

Ask Arpita about her podium tale, and she would take you back to the year 2010. Having a morning to late evening job, she had led a busy life. All that changed when in February she gave up the job just 2 days before giving birth to a lovely daughter. But being a mother is a tougher job, and in the late 2010 she opened her physiotherapy clinic. As it happens with most mothers she too gained a lot of weight, so with that came the physical troubles where she found herself getting tired easily and feel breathless in taking up stairs.

Cycling Foundation

In 2012, Arpita gifted a fixie cycle to her husband Ketan Pandya. As it was left unused, and to claim her fitness back she started riding short distances in the city. Her efforts paid off in losing 30 kg of weight in next 5 – 6 months. In 2013 she gave birth to an adorable son, and her weight saga returned. She used the same formula to lose it again in 2014. By continuing riding in the city she maintained her fitness and unknowingly set a foundation for times to come

Harvesting efforts

For Arpita 2016 was the year of self-realization and knowing her own potential after getting a 6th position at Sugar-Free Cyclothon with a fixie. But 2017 became the marking year where she would now harvest all the efforts she had put in last five years. But in the process she learnt a few lessons the hard way. She lost the third position at Tour de Pavagarh as she was competing the race with a hybrid bike. This is when she got a proper road bike.

Missing the 3rd position just by 9 seconds at Impossible Race, at Polo forest she upped her game, and with a proper road bike there was no looking back. She struck many medals and podiums at various cycling events including Ahmedabad District Cycling Championship, Gujarat State Cycling Championship, Khel-MahaKhumbh , ITT – The King of Road, Tour de Pavagarh to name a few. When most of the athletes give up their sports career in cycling, she started at 31 and never disappointed herself.

How running became the second love?

Arpita reveals, Cycling is her first love, but she never liked running, but again her husband Ketan convinced her to start it as part of cross training. It began with 2 – 4 kms running practice. Later she participated at two local duathlon events, and won at both the events. With a practice of just a few long runs, she decided to participate in a Trail Half Marathon organized by Ahmedabad Distance Runners. With her strong foundation, she hit the nail and won the podium. She surprised herself when she bagged 7th position, and became the only civilian to be in the top 10 females at BSF Half Marathon.

Earning the Title of “Podium Queen”

The tigress had tasted the blood. Where for others it might take 6 months to a year to transition from 10km to Half Marathon, Arpita got herself registered for Full Marathon at Adani Marathon in 2017. Not only she finished the race strong, she came out as a winner and held the trophy. Apart from cycling events now she became the popular face and a consistent winner at running events too. Does not number of victories at various events during all these years speak for herself?

What her routine day looks like?

When most of us are in a deep sleep, it is very normal for Arpita to get up and start training at 3 am. Check her Strava and you will know for yourself. Cycling and running in the dawn has become an alternate day activity followed by stretching and yoga for at least next 45 minutes. But a quick nap after that recharges her to do the house chores, and make kids ready for the day.

Running and cycling at her speed requires a stronger core, so to keep up the top notch form she does strength training for at least 90 minutes mostly before she starts her clinic in the evening.

What has helped her?

Arpita says her physiotherapy knowledge helps her a lot to work on all muscles and to keep injuries at a bay, as she can recognize them early. Her regular ride route in the city which she says, covers almost 15 – 17 bridges, so these bridge repetitions have helped her the most.

Her husband and kids are now used to and support her routine, and have been a strong pillar all along. It is her husband and kids who keep her going when it becomes mostly lonely on the roads at race events like a Full Marathon. To meet them at the finishing line remains the highest motivation for her to keep up the pace during race events. Family’s presence at events boosts her confidence.

She describes a memorable incidence where her husband and kids could not join her at the Bhakra Nangal Wheels and Strides, a national event. The 100 kms bike race was on a tough terrain of Himachal Pradesh. She was leading, and after 60 kms she took a turn meant for 70kms category race, which she realized after riding 2 kms downhill in the wrong direction. When she thought she has almost taken the lead again, she met an accident. Not only that she fell down, but her bike handle also got bent. Still she managed to take a lead, but a few meters in a wrong side cost her the first position which she missed by just 2 seconds.

Brand Ambassador

Arpita has been a brand ambassador for many race events, and she is a brand ambassador for Unived and Fit India Products. To know more about the events she participated in checkout Running Events and Cycling Events

What we learned from Arpita

Arpita never fails to amaze and setting the bar high with her each new win. Her kids have inherited her dedication and passion. Her daughter Pariketa is a state level swimmer, and son Kaustubh is a karate champion at national level. Seeing their mother bring home a medal from every race, they have learned to put the same efforts in their game.

Talking to Arpita and listening to her journey was a nice experience. It is easy to look at someone as a winner. But behind those medals lie an unmatched efforts which very often we fail to see and acknowledge in our daily lives. Her strong family support is a proof that if families start supporting their women, they can be as unstoppable as Arpita.

We hope, walking in Arpita’s soles have inspired you to do better in your game. Let us know in the comment section how do you like her journey. Like her, please help us Share your story and make more wonderful Sole Stories.

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