Amateurfitathletic

26/04/2026

Historical. That’s Sabastian Sawe who just broke the world marathon record, surpassing all expectations, finishing the race in just 1:59:30.

Yomif Kejelcha also did the unthinkable, with the finish time of 1:59:41, but still came second.

24/04/2026

How can I not run when it’s so glorious outside? Especially with those slick new sketchers.

Let the running season begin ☀️🪻🏃

17/04/2026

Let’s reimagine an Indian thali.

Into one that’s true to its flavours and variety but changes its composition.

You can probably see it in action here. No grains for a change, and high protein for a win.

It also manages to add some rawness in the form of those lovely greens, something that’s not typical of a thali.

No stacks of chapatis or a heap of rice, yet so satiating and full of nourishment. Take my word for it and that of my companion who said she’s tasted nothing like those soul soothing Sindhi moong, and that juicy grilled chicken (the best I have ever made).

I have evolved over the years to create meals just like that in my kitchen. They come from my desire to eat well and a bit of heart I put into cooking, drawing inspiration from the food I’ve grown up eating.

Do you like the idea of a grain free thali? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

31/03/2026

This trip to India hit different as I have now completed about four years in the UK.

All those landscapes, the trees and the birds – koel ka geet, Mor ka sangeet, chirping sunbirds, and sitting in the shade of Neem, Bargat and Moringa tree – that were merely a background noise or objects of utility while I was growing up have suddenly become things that soothe my soul and make me feel at home.

Leaving your home indeed gets you closer to it.

Images:
1. House sparrow that we all grew up watching in our varandas
2. Spider during a nature walk in Morena
3. A row of Ashok trees
4. Kakanmath temple, Morena. Cheeky click
5. Mesmerising glow at the upper lake in Bhopal
6. The bride and the groom. Congratulations !
7. A fascinating tour of the Modern coach factory in Raebareli
8. A highway pitstop
9. Indian green bee eater bird
10. Distant click of a white-throated kingfisher
11. Local kids in Vrindawan
12. Jhoomar. At the wedding
13. Mathura railway station
14. Bookstall at the Station platform
15. Bougainvilleas Shrub that reminds me of my home I grew up in up
15. Monkeys snacking

24/11/2025

Desi run club does it again.

This time in Norwich, UK, we finished the half marathon drenched from rain and covered in dirt.

Congratulations to Adarsh on finishing his first long distance run. He overcame his mental barrier which was his biggest win.

07/11/2024

This is how my university looked today. It’s the perfect set-up to forget about the stress of end-term assignments.

06/08/2024

India’s biggest hope and expectation on the shoulders of this giant.

NEERAJ CHOPRA - THE BEAST HAS ARRIVED IN PARIS 🥶

18/04/2024

Almost after a decade of running my first half marathon, I recently rediscovered my affection for running. Outdoor running is quite unique in that it’s outdoors, self-propelled, grounded, translational — you are one with the environment around you. It’s these elements that keep pulling me away from my confined gym setting to tracks, parks, hills, and meadows. It’s magnetic. So much so that I recently signed up for a half marathon in Hastings.

Read the full article on my blog Amateur Fit Athletic:

https://open.substack.com/pub/vipinpt/p/am-i-missing-something-by-not-running?r=2qeu6n&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

(Link also in my story)

09/04/2024

Jack of all, master of diversity. Or call me a hybrid athlete.

Long ago, I used to view exercise with a narrow lens of cardio and strength training; now the lens is wide and I also keep changing the lens (perspective I mean).

None of us is an elite athlete, rather amateur yet keen fitness enthusiasts. This is a good thing, because being elite is extremely hard and it doesn’t guarantee long term fitness — but injuries are almost always guaranteed. Amateur is a sweet place to be in.

You can — you should — still chase athleticism, enjoy variety of exercises, play multiple sports, compete, and push boundaries once a while (by running a half marathon for example). Work on strength, endurance, mobility, stability, resilience and whatever fitness parameter that you think is important for you.

However, even as an amateur, what you can’t be is complacent.

06/04/2024

Which one are you?

Also what’s your experience either as a “weekend warrior” or as an “all-week-hustler”

This was a part of an “Exercise I.Q.” quiz in the , and I got this one wrong.