In recent years, there’s been a rise in people prioritising their health. Instead of solely focusing on weightlifting, more people are running daily and even taking part in marathons. Among them is Sundeep Singh, Managing Director of Accenture India, who lost nearly 22 kgs through running. A graduate of IIT Delhi and IIM Kozhikode, Singh has an impressive record of completing over 25 marathons and 300 half marathons. In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Singh revealed that his fitness journey started during a job interview in 2014. Inspired by a candidate’s passion for long distance running, Singh decided to participate in marathons himself. Despite struggling to finish even a kilometre during his first post work run, this experience triggered Singh to focus more on his physical fitness.
Singh explained, “I made a conscious effort to do two things differently. First, I adjusted my eating habits. My usual favourite foods, cookies, ice creams, chips and aerated soft drinks, started giving way to poha, idlis, sprouts, muesli, fruits, curd, nuts, eggs and more. Second, I made running an integral part of my daily routine. I made it a point to run every day, even if it meant running late in the night occasionally.”
One year ahead of the 2014 Delhi Airtel half-marathon, Sundeep Singh registered for the event, aiming to push his limits. He began training by running outdoors and focused on going on a long distance run. Despite finishing the 21 km run in two hours and 20 minutes, the Accenture executive felt there was still room for improvement. Motivated to adopt healthier habits, Singh followed a strict training routine and even took help from a dietician, due to which, Singh lost 22 kg in the next two years.
In November 2014, the Managing Director completed his first half marathon within one hour, 43 minutes and 7 seconds. Just a few months later, in January 2015, he tackled an even greater challenge, as he finished his first full marathon in 4 hours, 14 minutes and 27 seconds. In 2019, when rising pollution levels concerned citizens and schools were shut in Delhi, Singh went on a mission to raise awareness about the issue. He started a unique initiative by running daily, whether in urban areas or villages, wearing both shoes and slippers. His mission was to promote clean air and our right to breathe.
Whenever Sundeep Singh travels, he prioritises his health by either taking his own food or opting for nutritious options available on the go. To stay active during work hours, he takes occasional walking breaks and stroll in the office while attending phone calls or engaging in other tasks.
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