Everest Climber Joins Elite Pacers for Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026
An Everest mountaineer joins a squad of 25 elite pacers for the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026 to guide runners to their goal times.
The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026 is set to feature an extraordinary lineup of leaders dedicated to helping runners smash their personal records. A squad of 25 elite pace setters, ranging from corporate executives to an Everest mountaineer, will lead the charge to ensure participants reach their specific race-day goals.
The Role of a Pace Setter
In long-distance running, a pace setter is an experienced athlete who maintains a consistent speed to guide a group, known as a "Bus," toward a predetermined finish time. For example, a runner joining the Sub-2:30 Bus can expect to cross the finish line between 2:25 and 2:29.
For this edition of the marathon, the pacing strategy is highly organized:
- Half Marathon: 17 pacers, including CXOs and senior professionals, will lead various buses with target times ranging from 1:50 to 2:40.
- 10K Event: An all-women squad of eight pacers will guide runners with buses ranging from 55 to 88 minutes.
From Corporate Boardrooms to Everest Summits
The diversity of the 25-member squad is remarkable. The team includes high-ranking government officials, such as a Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, a Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, and Rajat Agarwal, Joint Director (Finance) at the Railway Board. Eleven of the pacers are traveling from outside the Delhi NCR region, including representatives from Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mumbai, Darjeeling, Jammu, and Jharkhand.
One of the most notable additions to the squad is Dr. Chinmayee J Thrishulamurthy. A practicing ophthalmologist from Bengaluru and a trained search, treat, and rescue mountaineer, Dr. Thrishulamurthy successfully scaled Mount Everest earlier in 2026. While she has been running since 2017, this marks her first time serving as a pacer and her first race in Delhi.
Insights from the Summit and the Track
Reflecting on the grit required for high-altitude climbing, Dr. Thrishulamurthy noted the immense endurance needed for mountaineering: "There’s a lot of endurance, mostly because the whole expedition lasts about 50 to 55 days, and the summit will be only in the last week of this very long expedition." For those tackling the race for the first time, she offered a simple piece of advice: "Don’t worry about pace; just enjoy the race at whatever speed you can."
Veteran Runners Leading the Way
The squad is bolstered by seasoned marathon veterans who bring years of experience to the Delhi streets:
- Thandeswaran Periyasamy: The founder of Hosur Runners Club, who has run for over 2,850 consecutive days since 2018, covering more than 22,000 km. He holds records in the International, Asia, and India Books of Records.
- Rashmi Mohanty: The CFO at SBI Credit Card and an ultra-marathoner, who has completed 15 editions of this race since 2010. She emphasized the importance of community involvement, stating, "You also need to give back to the community that has supported you all along."
- Deepak Sharma: A veteran participant entering his 16th edition of the VDHM.
- Ganesh Ananthanaraynan: A seasoned runner with 13 editions under his belt and a personal best of 1:48.
- Sanjay Chhabra: A consistent presence in the race, currently on his 12th consecutive edition.
As the race approaches, Rashmi Mohanty offered a final tip for athletes looking to perform at their peak: "I would rather that you are under-trained but strong when you’re at the start line."