Happy New Year! Today is the first day of the year 2021. When normal people like us would have prepared a resolution or goal list for the year, there is a man on the very same planet who would have made a list of challenges to do. His love for difficult challenges takes him to the roads very few have walked before. He doesn’t just stop after creating a challenge, he visualises it and develops a solid plan to conquer it.

Amit Bhattacharjee aka Amit Dada as lovingly called by many, works at Gujarat Gas Ltd, Ahmedabad, and originally hails from Shillong, Meghalaya. This man in his fifties whose personal record in half marathon and full marathon is 01:33 hours and 03:22 hours respectively, is a way more fitter than any 25 – 30 year old man. From qualifying for Boston Marathon twice and running number of Half, Full and Ultra Marathons, his love for making long distance runs really long takes him to cross cities and even states sometimes.

Being Accountable and giving it all

Amit Dada in his school days was a lead batsman of a cricket team and had represented his school. As a little boy he would spend time in perfecting the game, and practice bating by hanging a ball inside a sock. From the childhood he learnt to be accountable for himself and gave it all to improve and up his game, as hard work beats talent.

By being accountable you get serious about your commitments and it automatically improves your performance in sports or even at work.

Like many workaholics Amit Dada too enjoyed working for longer hours at office, and in the past he once worked for 365 days without taking a single leave. But life walking into one dimension screams sooner or later.

A blessing in disguise

When you see a high blood sugar level in your blood report, and join the club of other 77 Millions diabetic patients what would you do? Take tablets and carry on stuffing the same food with controlled sugar, right?

But in 2012 Amit Dada not only took the charge of his body to get fitter, he just after six months ran his first half marathon, and then his love for running started turning a small pond into a sea.

The MAF affair

Amit Dada loves doing everything in a structured manner, so when a friend recommended a book “The Maffetone Method by Dr. Philip Maffetone“, he got a companion in the form of MAF (Maximum Aerobic Function) method and started training in developing his aerobic capability by running in the aerobic zone.

Initially he had to slow down to stay in the aerobic zone, but the improvements in his endurance for long distance runs was amazing. Not only his performance improved over the time, he started enjoying long runs without getting exhausted.

The Experimentalist

We happened to interview Amit Dada at Gandhi Ashram. But there is one thing common between Gandhiji and him. That is self-experimentation! Like Gandhiji, Amit Dada would first start experimenting on himself. Once he has fully tested the method, and gets the satisfied test results he shares it with others and also teaches them how to do it.

Single approach can not fit all and even if it does it would help reach up to a certain level. In order to up your game and go beyond that level you need to do something more.

Whether it is a MAF method, or a Run less Run faster approach, or an Advance Marathoning, Nasal breathing or even skipping during the lock down. Amit Dada has tested them all.

Amit Dada creates a combination in his training plan, and he is now the man who runs faster in his aerobic zone for a long period of time, has 100 to 160 km weekly mileage, and does 5km, 10km tune ups every month to test his improvements. To avoid shoe caused injuries he trains with variety of shoes such as Nike Free, Decathlon’s Aqua shoes, Vibram five fingers and even runs barefoot.

A Man with a Plan

How many of us takes up a difficult challenge and then wait for the deadline to get into an action mode? But Amit Dada takes up the charge the moment he writes down the challenge, and backs it up by a strong, consistent and structured training plan depending on the race.

Putting an equal amount of work in mental preparations and training plan is as much essential as you put on the running ground.

He first creates a belief, and starts visualising it in his surrounding. Declares it out loud among friends and family, and also creates an emotional connect by linking it to some personal or social cause.

Emotional connect drives to get up and show up even in the situations when you don’t feel like. Plus training physically will build up confidence in the belief.

To prepare for ultras and cross city long runs, Amit Dada has adopted back to back running plan. Apart from running 6 days a week he does strengthening 2-3 times a week with daily 30-40 push-ups in a set of 15. He believes every runner should at least run for 4 days a week, and keep strengthening their core, leg and upper body even if one does not enjoy it.

A Training Guru

Achieving goals is great, and winning medals at races is an extra ordinary achievement. But how many of us can look beyond ourselves and help others become better? Amit Dada makes sure his learnings reach as many runners as possible. He even conducts sessions about topics such as MAF method and nasal breathing. At times he has handed out general training plans to help people keep on the track and achieve their best during city events.

If sharing your learnings and mistakes to avoid can help someone become a better runner, then why not? He likes to see others doing better than him, and wishes to see Ahmedabad runners perform better at national events.

If you are going ahead, take the herd along. We all need someone to say it aloud that you can do this and achieve that. Sometimes it is just a little push we need to realise our true potential. Give that to someone in need.

Seeing other people do better gives a different kind of satisfaction. That is why Amit Dada and his friends have founded a platform called Whoelseisrunning. It is an interactive platform on where one can share and discuss their concerns about running and training. If you are a runner, check it out!

The Challenge Bucket

Amit Dada has made sure to have his bucket full of challenges. He made quite a podium finishes in his age category at various marathon events in Half, Full and Ultra marathons. From running 21 Km for 21 days to running multiple times the distance of 50 km , 55 km, 76 km to 100+ km at number of ultra events, he also ran the distance of 161 km in 39 hours at the self supported and one of the toughest “Run the Rann, Kutch” ultra run events.

In 2016 his 222 km inter-state run from Ahmedabad to Mt Abu in 39 hours had become quite an event among Ahmedabad runners. In 2018, he again ran 220 km of distance in 39 hours at Saputara Summit 4.0. In 2019 he ran 100 km at Mawkyrwat Ultra in Meghalaya in 14 hours and 32 minutes.

His love for difficulty has made him target double the distance. In this very month he is going to run 400 km of distance from Ahmedabad to Porbandar, and is well prepared with his solid training plan. Year 2021 is about learning swimming and giving a serious thought to Triathlon. So to all the triathletes, Dada will be joining you to raise the bar.

Living in the moment

One really wonders about how this man keeps going on roads for such a long time, and what are his techniques to enjoy and better survive the heat of the roads. To relieve the pressure, he breaks up the distance into small short distance stops and not think of it as a whole distance.

Follow what Buddha has suggested. Live in the present moment. Think of Now and that’s it. While running you should keep an eye on each forward step and observe it, as it is not going to come back.

Besides when you run through tough terrains and that too for such a long time, you encounter moments which are just brilliant or amazing. He remembers witnessing a early morning breathtaking view of the Sun just coming out by dusting off the white desert sand. For him those are priceless moments.

It is Never too Late

Amit Dada says to the point you are alive, live an active life style, do something, join some social cause, learn something new. He is also passionate about music, movie making and especially books as it helps visualising things. There are so many things to be passionate about if you look carefully. All you have to do is find what triggers you. Try to contribute in the society as what goes around comes around.

Amit Dada’s advice for Runners

You can have one long term running goal which is outside of your comfort zone. Mentally and physically work hard on this goal. Your goal can be getting better at timing or increase the distance, but challenge yourself and test your mental capabilities.

That was a very long walk, but we hope, walking in Amit Bhattacharjee’s soles have inspired you to do better in your game. Let us know in the comment section how do you like his journey. Like him, please help us Share your story and make more wonderful Sole Stories.

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