Syncing Happiness to Fitness

It was not just a change in the brand of his running shoes that made the journey painless and injury-free but also a focussed mindset that enabled Raghvendra Nath, Managing Director, Ladderup Wealth Management Pvt. Ltd., to set his next course of fitness. Clocking a personal best in a full marathon at three hours and 26 minutes in early 2020 has now triggered his next goal to qualify for the prestigious Boston Marathon. This financial services professional is also an ardent golfer. He shares his passion for running, the need for a top down corporate fitness culture, his future fitness goals and the steps adopted to continue and overcome the Covid-19 outdoor restrictions

“I have realised that fitness has a much higher correlation with happiness than wealth and success. It has been a life altering experience for me. Most people continue chasing their dreams for success and wealth and while doing it they neglect their fitness and health. The effects of such pursuits may not be visible when one is young but become noticeable with age in the form of stress and poor health,” said Raghvendra Nath, Managing Director Ladderup Wealth Management Private Limited.

BALANCING THE ‘PUTT’ AND THE ‘TRACK’

A passionate golfer for the last 18 years, Raghvendra picked up long-distance running some 10 years ago and has since continued his pace to ramp up his personal fitness goals.

Not a one race calling, but fitness has always been a priority for Raghvendra since his early days. However, being aware of the maladies of old age, he chose to focus on golf and long distance running for continuity in his fitness model. “I started long distance running around 10 years back and quickly graduated to running full marathons. Marathon training has helped me improve my overall fitness and I have become a more efficient runner with each passing year. Golf, on the other hand has been a big stress buster and a highly engaging game,” he said.

With his work commitments, the ease of running as a sport has been the strongest reason for getting attracted to the tracks. “One does not need expensive equipment or other dependence to run. All it takes is a pair of running shoes and you can run anywhere you like. In my profession, I have to travel a lot and it is much easier to maintain the training discipline even during your travel,” he said.

IN PURSUIT OF THE ‘FINISHING’ LINE

Raghvendra believes in goal lines and always has had a set of targets to pursue. “Goals could be a time target for the next marathon, reducing weight or reducing body fat percentage. Targets help me stay focused and disciplined,” he said.

In his earlier days, he did not have any set goals when he picked up running as a sport but with each milestone, he clamoured for more. “As I got better and my endurance levels went up, my desire to surpass previous ‘personal bests (PBs)’ grew. With more experience under the belt, the knowledge on related subjects like nutrition, strengthening, hydration, sleep etc. has improved, which has resulted in better outcomes and a fitter self,” he said. Looking in the mirror and weighing himself daily is a self-motivator that reminds him not to falter from his fitness goals.

It was in February 2020, when he clocked his personal best of 3:26 hours in a full marathon and his immediate mission is to qualify for the prestigious Boston Marathon. “The goal is now within reaching distance as I need to shave only a couple of minutes from my current personal best”, he said.

Goals often provide the momentum to make room for newer goals and the same has caught on with Raghvendra, who hopes to add swimming to his bag of fitness. He also advocates the need for constant coaching and training that has helped him pave his fitness levels.

"The Indian corporate culture encourages people to work late hours and take work home which robs away precious time that could have been utilised for fitness"

PINS AND NEEDLES

A greater part of any sport also relies on ‘injury management’ as one progresses with each milestone and Raghvendra’s journey has not been any different.

“Injuries are a part of the fitness journey and one has to take them in stride. I have realised that with age, one needs to become more reasonable with goals and be mindful of the state of fitness. Most injuries happen when we get enthusiastic and start stretching our limits. Listening to the body and pausing and letting the body recover is the best way to deal with injuries in my experience,” he said.

Four years back, he had issues with Achille’s tendons, resulting in a limp which he overcame through self-awareness, a smart tactic of changing his running shoes and a strong mindset.

“After every long run, I would end up limping for the rest of the day. The soreness would subside but keep resurfacing. I sought professional help including a sports doctor and physiotherapist but to no avail. A lot of remedies later, I figured out that the brand of shoes was not suitable for my feet. Changing the shoes helped overall and a painless injury free mindset helped me in achieving a personal best last year,” he said.

THE DIET-TRAINING COMBO

A disciplined way of life interspersed with a good diet and fitness regime sounds simple but needs great motivation, which Raghvendra has incorporated in his daily schedule. “I normally sleep by 10 p.m. as I prefer 6 to 7 hours of sleep. In the morning, I devote 60-90 minutes to my fitness. My coach sets a routine for me that I try to follow as much as possible,” he said.

Akin to any training, sensible eating habits play a critical role in defining the athletic journey. “Bad dietary habits cannot produce good results. In fact, extreme forms of diets like intermittent fasting may not be conducive to higher performance levels either”, said Raghvendra.

For endurance sports like running, Raghvendra’s breakfast is generally packed with high protein. His lunch provides a good balance between protein and carbs, while dinner is usually a salad or dal and rice. “I try and have protein snacks in between during the day,” he said. With a combination of proteins, carbohydrates, and other nutrients, he follows a balanced diet regime while indulging occasionally. Standardised dietary habits and maintains them.

‘COVID’ CRUNCH

He affirms that as long as one is outdoors, the risk of catching an infection is minimal. “The lockdown period was a bit of a hassle. But then, I took up skipping and climbing stairs as an alternate activity to running,” he said. Also, despite being stuck in a hotel room for a seven-day travel-related quarantine, post an international flight, he continued to train for two hours daily.

However, work-life balance has worked wonderfully for him during the lockdown. “I started my office at sharp 9 am and closed at sharp 6 pm. Being at home, there was enough time for family bonding too. But now we are back to the office, so, travelling time and odd hours come in the way once again.”

CORPORATE ‘FIT’ FACTOR

While running as a sport and other fitness activities has caught on, Raghvendra feels it is still a long way to go, especially, if taken as part of any corporate culture. “The Indian corporate culture encourages people to work late hours and take work home which robs away precious time that could have been utilised for fitness. Creating a fitness culture is a top down thing and the business leaders should lead by example,” he said.

Lately, fitness has become a bonding discussion with his colleagues and a lot of whom have taken it seriously. “I think everybody aspires to get fit, but they need triggers. Being in the company of people who take fitness seriously is a great way to make a beginning,” sums up Raghvendra.