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| Comrades Marathon Finish line |
The person I'm writing about today is a testament to human adaptability, courage, self-love & our capacity to outgrow any boundary that society or life may have laid on our path. Mr. Suresh Welankar's story captured my attention quickly. I was told about this man who was out there achieving amazing feats in the running & long-distance world. That his story was very special & that his story needed to be told to as many people as possible. And I must agree.
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| Comrades Marathon Welcome home |
The person I spoke to on the voice call sounded like a 25-year-old youngster full of life and enthusiasm, even though his eldest son is 25 this year. He giggled as he told me he was talking to me from Vizag (Visakhapatnam) to attend the Full Marathon the next day. He was keen & enthusiastic to share his story, and we made a plan to speak over the next few days with more time in hand.
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| featuring in newspapers |
What strikes me now as I sit to write this article is that Mr. Suresh Welankar's enthusiasm comes from a sentiment of conquering the world every time he runs. He can do something that everyone can do and excel and be better than everyone else if he puts in the work. He doesn't need to prove anything to anyone as long as his feet glide on the road. He really showed me that a man retiring in Feb 2026 can still have the rest of his life to do so many things. He's just that—happy & satisfied with the life he has! And just as thirsty to go out there and do more in the sport that he has only been doing since he was 57. He will soon be 60, and he has more to show us for sure. His running gives him energy & a high, and the fact that he has just one arm doesn't take anything away from him while he runs.
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Yes, Suresh lost his arm as a child in an accident at home due to unfortunate circumstances. He, however, doesn't remember the use of his arm, as he was very young and so has never lived with the memory of any physical loss. He had an absolutely normal childhood and knew his responsibilities towards his family early on. The financial conditions of his family when he was in college meant that he was driven to find employment as soon as he could. He obtained a job at the factories at Mazgaon Dock in 1985 and went on to become a permanent employee there. In fact, this is the only time he used his 'special needs' card to secure the place that he desperately needed. He never uses that today in the 'running' world, as he participates only in the 'open' category. Mr. Welankar has very humble beginnings, and this has always kept him grounded. He comes from a large family where he was among five brothers & one sister. As a child he remembers being outside and playing the whole day. Whether it was running, playing group games, cycling, or cricket, he grew up spending a large part of his day outdoors, like many of us.
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| 2nd place Pune World Marathon, Oct 2025 |
He got interested in running post-Covid, and he trained on his own without a coach and ran his first Raymonds 21 km in Jan 2022. When I asked him what he noticed about other runners, he rightfully told me it was more everyone else noticing him all the time. People constantly ask him how he can run so much or congratulate him for his achievements. He notices how people run; for those who run faster than him, he notices their technique, for example, how they land their strides, their style of running, etc.
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| Pune World Marathon Oct 2025 |
To date he has run 30-35 marathons, including 21 km around 25 times, 42 km 12+ times, and 50 km 3 times. He also participated in the world-famous long-distance run 'Comrades' this year in June 2025.
Below are all the major moments in Mr. Welankar's running, which is an extensive and inspiring list. I have included Mr. Welankar's own words here about these major races and the people he would like to thank!
5th January 2022—decided he would run a long-distance race
20th March 2022 - 21 kms
May 2022 - 35 km (TMM Lonavala)
"When I started running in early 2022, I got the support of Mr. Swapnil Rewale, who played a great role as my best friend.
I worked hard and worked hard with him and earned my name as a runner to run marathons. Because of him, I started running fast. I will never forget him.
Thank you very much...."
Konkan Coastal Marathon, Ratnagiri
"Khed, a town in the Ratnagiri district of Konkan, is the city where I was born and raised. My understanding of the Marathi language began in Khed. Thanks to everyone's good wishes and my hard work, I have achieved podium finishes in many places, and I became the first disabled runner from India to complete the Comrades Marathon. But the true foundation for all this was laid in my Konkan region… and that is why this Konkan Coastal Half Marathon is very special to me. I have been running here since the first year, and every year the fame and success of this marathon are resounding everywhere and growing. I am proud to be the ambassador of this marathon."
TMM (Tata Mumbai Marathon)
2023- TMM - Full marathon 41 kms - 3 hrs 59 min 30 sec - a sub four!
2024- TMM - 4 hrs 11 min 11 sec
2025- TMM- 3 hrs 47 min 35 sec
"Also, in the last two years, from 2023 to 2024, I was practicing under the guidance of Chief Coach Geetanjali Lekha Madam at Skechers Go Run Club. Under her guidance, I ran many marathons and won prizes many times. Her teaching method was like a sure chance to be a podium finisher, i.e., 21 km sub-2 and marathon sub-4, which was very beneficial in increasing my running speed. I will also be indebted to the Club. I cannot forget the head coach, Geetanjali Lekha Madam, who was the only woman in India to complete the Comrade Marathon with a sub-9. She played a big role in helping me complete the Comrade Marathon. I bow to her."
Details on the TMM 2025
"TMM is not easy to run; you need a lot of practice and dedication to get to the mark. It's challenging in terms of routes and the weather. Your dedication to working hard and the practice play a major role in this type of marathon.
For the last 2-3 months, Sitaram Nandoskar Sir (IRONMAN @140.6 Malaysia 2024) has guided me in how much practice I should do, when I should do my practice, and at which pace I should run so I can improve my run, which gave me confidence to give my best, and it also provided me the opportunity to do my best in my run.
And also thanks to Mr. Pavan Sarde, who works with Gravity Fitness as a fitness trainer. He provided me with a full body massage for the last 2 years, which kept my body muscles relaxed and helped me to perform well. For the past 2 years Dipak Devare Sir has provided me with huge support. He is always there for me—be it from taking me to all the venues of the marathon or pushing me ahead to give my best every single time I run. He has been the greatest support to me and given the best advice all the time. It all happened because of the proper guidance and the practice provided by Coach Gitanjali and the assistant coaches. And also thanks to all the Skechers Go Run Club members who always motivated me in every condition. I would also like to thank my fellow runners for their support, which they have provided me and encouraged me to give my best all the time."
June 2025 - Comrades Marathon South Africa 90 km - 9 hrs 41 mins
"A plan was made for this run. I trained for three months under the guidance of Shrimant Deepak Budhrani Guruji, the architect of this plan. Guruji was so smart that he was equal to Guruvar Aniya Dronacharya. On the first day of my practice with him, I ran with him for an hour. After the practice was over, he said in one word, Suresh, you will complete the 90 km marathon before time.
His words were so sweet that my joy was like flying to the sky. And as he told me, I managed to complete the training at the same time on the same day and present it to him. I completed the marathon, which is referred to as the toughest marathon in South Africa, under the guidance of Comrades Marathon Shrimant Deepak Budhrani Guruji. Because of him, an unforgettable thing happened in my life. I call him Shrimant Deepak Budhrani Guruji because he had become an angel for me. (Planning period—February to June 2025). "
12th Oct 2025 - Pune World Marathon - 3 hrs 56 mins 52 sec - 2nd place in his age category
"This event was specially organized for Comrades Marathon 2025 participants. It was an honor to participate and run alongside the various Comrades runners."
As you see above, the world likes to help those who help themselves. Mr. Welankar's move to start running was so inspiring that he has hordes of people cheering for him, cheering him on, and ready to invest time in him. He carries in him the flame; he keeps it alive, and the rest happens on its own. Even this article happened when I approached another gentleman Mr. Sanjay Parab, Vice Principal of St. Xavier’s College, Commerce section to interview him on his own running journey. That’s when he told me that Mr. Welankar’s story should come first! Instead of looking at his own story and his own chance to be put in the spotlight, Mr. Sanjay Parab selflessly put Suresh Welankar ahead of him. A shoutout to such spirit of selflessness that I’m very happy to have experienced first hand. Mr. Parab, you have Mr. Welankar thanking you for this.
All I can say is that Mumbai has generous & gracious people, and the running community is full of them. Each one is supporting someone else and seeing victory in the victory of the group. Salute!
What Mr. Welankar really likes is when he does something that others like doing less; for example, he participated in a stadium run held by Mumbai University in which one has to run for 12 hours continuously on a 400 m pitch inside a stadium. Many people find that boring, but he doesn't think of a run that way. I'm guessing he gets absorbed in his movements and his body is on autopilot. He probably is zoned out and enjoying the silence that comes from the constant foot-to-floor and the continuous movements that a runner's body has. The training is strong and hard, and so the race is no big deal. He ran more than 74 km in that race.
When I asked Mr. Welankar if he was into sports earlier, he mentioned he once cycled with a friend Nandakishore Gawde from Mumbai to Goa and back from Goa to Mumbai in 1989. The distance they covered was more than 1100kms! He impressed the village folks he met along the way so much that they were fed and put up for free in most homes. People wanted to know how he could cycle for so long with only the right arm. I think Mr. Welankar is a perfectionist and does everything well and completely. Whether it's his clothes and how he shows up for races or for work or how he writes down these long and touching notes for everyone, he pours himself into it. Even after our interview, he sent me a long & respectful note thanking me for the opportunity to feature on this blog. We all have so much to learn yet about decency, behavior, empathy, dedication, and respect while we go through life. This is a man living his potential to the maximum and still humble and rooted.
Watch this reel on Mr. Welankar
https://www.instagram.com/
Mr. Welankar has three children & a very supportive wife. He will tell you that while we can achieve what we want, if we're backed by strong family support, then we can fly to our goals. His children say that their father can achieve anything he puts his mind to. They know, because before he started running, he was their main coach and taskmaster for cricket training for several years. They know what discipline means to their father. They're his strength and his motivation on the road and in his job.
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| With celebrities who wanted a photo with him |
Quotes on life from this amazing gentleman
'Hard work is needed, then fate happens.'
'If your legs aren't strong, then even a Rs.40,000 pair of shoes won't be able to help.'
'Health is at least 70% your diet.'
Mr. Suresh Welankar will retire in Feb 2026. The New Year will bring him closure for a huge part of his life, but also surely so many new goals and dreams. I'm sure this power-packed performer will not stop surprising us for years to come, and I for one, am reserving a front seat to watch.
You can join Welankar on his Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/welankar_suresh/
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