Sunday, 22 June 2025
Thursday, 19 June 2025
Mr. Kaushik Panchal - Full Marathon Trainer, Motivator and Runner
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When I was a teenager, there was this long phase during which I used to exercise at home. I experimented with running on the streets, but the early morning waking up to avoid the heat that is inevitable as soon as the sun is up and the being chased by street dogs quickly dampened my motivation. However, I did have the exercise bug. I used to work out with the girls who lived next door and watch video cassettes and channels that showed aerobics and cardio workouts. Since I was like this so early in life, it's not a wonder that I still work out or that I've done so many different physical activities throughout the years, like half marathons and learning different kinds of dances, gone on vacations where walking was the focus etc. Every once in a while, when I think of my retirement, like many of us expats, I have these sweet ideas of going back to Mumbai older and doing things that matter. One of this has persistently been motivating people around me to be out and about, walking, running and getting healthier. I recently spoke to someone who is doing just that, so in some ways he's living the dream life in my stead. Let me tell you more about him.
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| In 2002 at 32 |
Mr. Kaushik Panchal is a resident of Borivali, the area where I grew up. He was living the normal life of going to his workshop and factory, running his business and getting back home at the end of the day. He had a successful financial situation for an Engineer living in Mumbai. But when he started having back issues and other ailments on nearing his thirties, he realised that money was not the only wealth one possesses. He knew that he was spending too much money on medicines and only his doctor was benefitting from his lifestyle which lacked any notion of health consciousness in it.
In the year 2003, he visited one of his family members in Toronto, Canada. He spent 40 days there trying to find ideas to grow his business. However, Canada taught him something he hadn't known till then. Ordinary people there were taking care of their bodies at any age. Everywhere in the city, people his age were out running in parks and streets during their lunch breaks and when offices closed. He says that this was an eye-opener for him. He realised that he owed it to his children to stay in good health and vowed to lead a healthy life from then onwards.
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| Visit to Canada in 2003, he was 80kgs and 65kgs in 2010 |
Once he came back to India, he entered the gym in Goregaon Sports club for the first time. Despite having a life membership at the club, he had never used the club facilities for anything except socializing at the end of a working day with clients over a drink or a meal. Now, he stepped on the treadmill and started his new life. He started losing weight and feeling better.
Within the year, he had heard about the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon that was to be held in Jan 2004 and enrolled himself for it. He did the Dream run which is 7 kms that year but decided he could definitely better himself from then on. He started training and running the 21kms every year onwards bringing down his medical bills and improving his health. He stopped indulging in his favourite snack till then, the Mumbai Vada Pav, ( a spiced and fried potato burger of sorts which is served in a bread with green chillies and spicy garlic chutney). He started focusing on his diet.
Until the age of 42, he only did the 21km run. In 2010, he participated in a Nike Club session that focused on Full marathons. There he met Mr. Daniel Vaz- Head Coach of the Nike Club (article on Daniel linked at bottom if interested), who was giving this free training session. He learnt the science behind marathon training.
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| First Full marathon, 42kms completed in Mumbai |
He signed up to train with Daniel for 6 years. Kaushik proudly calls himself Daniel's favourite student because he knows that he followed everything that Daniel taught him to the T. This training gave him a deep understanding of all the aspects of the workouts and diet needed to have an optimal run when he attempted the 42kms. This didn't take too long. After 7 years of running the half marathons, at the age of 42 (nice coincidence isn't it!?), Kaushik ran his first full marathon in 4h 47min. He was elated and proud of his achievement.
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| Receiving Marathon Trainer certificate from Mr. Daniel Vaz |
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Class of 2015 ACSM Marathon Trainers
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After running two or three full marathons, he realised that his real joy was not getting a better speed at a full marathon, but getting other people moving and across the finish line. All the years of participation had shown him that his city was full of people who were out there trying to be the best versions of themselves on race day. He enjoyed interacting with these people who were not in the first lot of fast runners but maybe doing their first attempt at an official race. He found happiness getting people to continue when it was hard and helping them to take the next step. Hence, he started pacing the 21kms runs at 2h30 pace to be able to help motivate others to cross the finish line.
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| 2015, first batch of Runner's Academy |
That's when he decided to start Runner's Academy in 2015. He got certified with the American College of Sports Medicine , A.C.S.M and his pleasure was doubled when he realised that Daniel Vaz would be his trainer once again. Kaushik decided that he would focus on people in his local area to be able to make real change in the long run. Mumbai being extremely crowded, it made sense to not dissipate and have to travel long distances to meet his clients. He started his first centre at Borivali National Park (B.N.P). The runners in Borivali were quick to take advantage of a trained marathoner and he saw his business grow multifold. He now has 5 different centres and he works with six different trainers who are experts in their fields. Each of the trainers have a certification from the A.C.S.M and have completed a full marathon themselves. They take care of the different centres whether in Chikoowadi, the Borivali National Park (B.N.P), Kandivli East Thakur Village (two sessions) , Kandivli East Lokhandwala. The sessions run from 6:15 - 7:15 in the morning. In the Thakur village centre (Kandivli East), Kaushik realised that he had a huge demand from housewives who wanted a slot a bit later after finishing all their morning chores and sending their kids off to school. So, he even has a 7:30 - 8:30 session there. He tries to be physically at one centre per week, i.e Monday to Friday and thus cannot think of expanding at the moment.
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| Team RA coaches, 2016 |
He estimates 86+ runners have completed the full marathon from his academies and has touched at least a thousand lives since he started the centres. He trained Varun Sawant, an autistic 18 year old, who recently at 24 years of age has run the Boston Marathon representing India at such a prestigious event. Training Varun opened a new dimension to Kaushik's vision where he actually saw the difference it made to Varun and his family. Since then several of Varun's friends have asked to be trained similarly. Running is definitely medicine for so many kinds of people, says Kaushik. He organises a run called Edurun to raise money for the education of underprivileged children, where he gets people from the different strata - privileged and those who are not to run together. The money raised is donated to the NGO that handles the education for those children.
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| 3 Yrs of Edurun |
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| Organised Edurun for underpriviledged children |
Kaushik also travels alongside his runners on 'Running vacations' across India where they go in groups and travel India to sight see and run. He has done 2-3 outstation trips each year for 20 years. That's a lot of motivation and running, if you ask me. Today Kaushik is only a sleeping partner in his workshop and factory business because he has switched his main focus from 'Manufacturing' to 'Wellness'. Bursting with new ideas, he really makes me hopeful for the people he touches through his group.
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| Participated in Leh Ladakh marathon for 3 times with team RA |
The trainers who work with Kaushik are
Strength and Conditioning -Yogesh and Ruby Kanchghar.
Marathon training - Ajit Dedhia, Bindu Panchal, Vishal Chaturvedi and Ketan Apte.
Together they represent a new era in India, where health is a priority for everyone. The workouts are designed by Kaushik and the coaches execute the same across the different centres.
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| Team RA - Kaushik and the coaches |
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| Their tag line -Get your health on track |
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| Team RA |
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| Torch Bearer at Satara Hill Marathon in 2017, with highest number of outstation participants at 120 |
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| Proud member of the Mumbai Marathon Legend Club, awarded to finishers of 10 Full Mumbai Marathons. Each runner in this Club has his/her chosen number dedicated to them for every MM. |
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| With Fauja Singh, the 108 yr oldest Marathon finisher at the Mumbai Marathon finish line |
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| Completion of 10yrs of RA from 2015-2025 |
Kaushik or the team can be contacted on
#getyourhealthontrack
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Monday, 16 June 2025
Cork- Ireland
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| The views of river Lee |
When the travel bug bites, but you know you cannot take off, that’s when it helps to have friends who are travelling. This week I decided to piggyback on the travels of my friend Johan Devits who took a two-day weekend trip to Cork, in Ireland with a buddy. The content and images in this article are from him and the article is based on his input and storytelling.
Cork is the second largest city in Ireland and lies on the bank of the river Lee. In the 6th century, Saint Finbar, who is the patron saint of Cork today was the Bishop of Cork and abbot of a monastery in what is now the present city.
In the 10th century the Vikings arrived there and they settled in the city to do trade. This was due to the fact that Cork is one of the world’s largest natural harbours, owing to which it was back then an important centre of trade in the global Scandinavian trade network.
From the 12th century, Cork was ruled by the Anglo-Normans (France) and influences of this can still be found today in the city. Huguenots were French Protestants who found refuge in Cork during this period as they were persecuted in France due to their religious beliefs. The historical presence of Huguenots' landmarks and community events and French-named streets like Huguenot Quarter and French Church Street pay homage to those times.
In the following centuries, the city was attacked, besieged and destroyed several times.
Fortunately, it was always rebuilt. Due to their long history of resistance and strife for independence, the city got its nickname, The Rebel city.
Today, Cork is a lively city with rich history, culture and of course, food. It's widely recognised as the country's food capital. It boasts of a rich range of local products, made by using artisanal methods. Cork County has a lot to offer to a visitor due to its proximity to the coast and the numerous grassy hills. One can visit Cork's Butter Museum or the English Market to see how food and its history in the country takes a front row seat for all Corkonians.
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| English Market |
The English market is a large covered market in Cork and is widely regarded as one of the best in Europe. It represents the core of Cork's thriving culinary scene.
Fun fact, when Queen Elizabeth visited the English Market in Cork in 2011, Pat O 'Connell, a local fishmonger made a funny joke about a monkfish which resulted in a very spontaneous feel-good moment. This moment was captured by Valerie O'Sullivan, making the photograph one of the most memorable pictures of her career. The photograph captured a significant diplomatic moment that occurred in the most unlikely of places and covers a royal visitor and the subtle change in Anglo-Irish relations.
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2022/09/08/cork-remembers-laughing-queen-elizabeth-with-fondness/
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| Shepherd's pie |
Johan enjoyed a culinary experience in Cork at an eatery called Kelly's Place. He says it was like being catapulted 40 years back in time. The place had a very old look as well and the traditional food served here was delicious. Johan thinks of the Irish as one of the friendliest people on earth and was not surprised that the service was fantastic. He also found the meal to be very reasonably priced.
Cork, he says, really has something for everyone, museums, shopping, hiking…
Johan explains in detail what he discovered and why he suddenly loved this city. When he just arrived and checked in, he and his friend decided to go immediately to visit Blarney Castle. With the bus they got there in 20 minutes.
In Cork, all the buses are double Deckers, so they sat right at the front on the top floor which gave them an amazing view. Blarney Castle was originally built in a wooden structure in the 12th century, but after destruction it was rebuilt in stone in the year 1446. There is a stone in the castle wall that is world famous. According to legend, everyone who kisses the stone receives the gift of eloquence- the ability to speak with great fluency and persuasiveness.
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| Blarney Castle |
One must take the time to explore the beautiful gardens. Don't hesitate to enter the pub next to the Blarney Castle hotel if you have to wait a little bit for the bus to go back. The pub has a very pleasant atmosphere and super-friendly service. There are captivating sayings in the pub, and especially the one above the entrance door is noteworthy. It reads - We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing. Once back in town, after having a meal, Johan and his friend ended up in the bar Sin e. A bar with a unique decor where they enjoyed a performance of traditional Irish music. In Ireland all over and in Cork, live music plays a significant and major role in this society. Everywhere in the city, you will also find references to the legendary musician Rory Gallagher. This musical icon spent most of his life in Cork, and stated several times in interviews during tours that he missed his beloved city. Reporters once asked Jimmy Hendrix how it felt to be the best guitar player, to which he replied, “I don't know, ask Rory”. In the evenings, let yourself be seduced by the charm and liveliness of this city.
The next day they had booked a free walking tour in the morning, which is highly recommended. Their guide Owen gave the best of himself, made them discover beautiful places, enriched them with interesting and fun facts.
After this educational tour, they continued strolling through the city, and they started to notice that more and more people were showing up in red sports shirts. They were curious, and had to find out what was going on.
This is how they discovered a hitherto unknown to them sport called Hurling. Hurling is a team sport of Celtic origin, and would describe it as a mix of rugby, football and hockey. It was a unique experience to see the match in one of the pubs. All families with members from literally 5 to 95 years were cheering for their local team (Cork GAA) passionately as they watched the game on screen.
After this pleasant intermission they continued walking through the streets of the outskirts of the city where they came across countless unique places. Later in the evening they ended up in another pub where live music was being played, with a great singer who sang one hit after the another. In this cosy and busy pub was a group of 50-year-olds celebrating a bachelor party. Despite being tourists and foreigners they involved Johan and his friend in their festivities. That is the real reason to go to Cork, says Johan who after this lovely weekend claims that the Irish are one of the most hospitable and friendly people in our region of Europe. This aside, Cork has enough places to explore and is ideal for a long stay. It offers several magnificent castles, picturesque villages, breathtaking nature with cliffs and islands, one of which was the Titanic's last port of call.
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| Hurling |
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| Hurling |
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| amazing street art |
Liked what you read? find other travel destinations below
The Portuguese Connection- Lisbon
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