This episode is brought to you by Barnowl Adventures.
Barnowl creates supported cycling tours across India, south east Asia and beyond — blending beautiful routes,
authentic cultural experiences, and memorable stays.
I had the chance to ride with them on the Mae Hong Son Challenge in Northern Thailand back in 2024, and it was simply unforgettable — the roads, the stays, and the support they provide make it really special. And honestly, some of the best Thai food I’ve ever had was on that tour — these guys make sure local cuisine is central to the whole experience.
Check out their upcoming tours at www.barnowladventures.com.
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to Ashish Sood. Ashish is a mountain biker and the organizer of MTB Himalaya and MTB Shimla races. In this episode he shares the behind the scenes aspects of organising such races in the unforgiving terrain of the Himalayas. He also shares his insights on the MTB riding landscape and how it evolved over the years in his view. It was a fascinating conversation. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:03:38 - Ashish's Relationship with Sports Growing Up
00:04:29 - How Ashish Got Into MTB Cycling
00:06:04 - The Origin Story of MTB Himalaya
00:07:33 - The Early Years & Growth of the Race
00:10:56 - The Race Evolves: Arrival of Pro Riders & Hero Cycles
00:13:01 - Experience Racing the Transalp in Europe
00:14:23 - Key Differences: Racing in Europe vs. India
00:20:06 - What Goes Into Organizing MTB Himalaya?
00:23:57 - The Logistical Nightmare of Remote Camping
00:28:17 - Safety & Rescue in the Unforgiving Himalayas
00:31:06 - A Pro Rider's Terrifying 200-Foot Fall
00:33:30 - Why Manual Rider Tracking is Best
00:38:01 - Funny Story of a "Lost" Rider
00:40:41 - The Toughest & Best Editions of the Race
00:47:12 - How Race Routes Are Selected in the Himalayas
00:53:05 - "Mission Smile": Giving Back to the Local Community
00:55:06 - MTB Himalaya vs. MTB Shimla: What's the Difference?
00:58:33 - Developing the Next Generation of Indian Athletes
01:06:03 - The Current State & Future of MTB in India
01:10:47 - The Myth: Is Mountain Biking More Dangerous Than Road Cycling?
01:14:33 - Positive Signs for the Future of the Sport
01:21:08 - Final Thoughts
About the podcast:
The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing and hitting the bell icon so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.
Who is a working athlete? Someone working fulltime/part-time, entrepreneur or anyone who has to work to make ends meet and doesn't let being busy to stop him/her from pursuing an active lifestyle is a working athlete. I consider stay at home moms/dads who pursue a sport, as working athletes because homemaking is a full-time job.
If you like this, please hit the like button and share with friends who could be interested.
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to John Lal Gwite. John is one of the strongest Ultra cyclists we have in India. In this episode he shares his experience of completing the Race Around Poland and the experience of London Edinburgh London(LEL 2025). Even more impressive than his ultra cycling abilities are his positive attitude, his humbleness and his hunger to keep pushing his limits to know the limits and expand them.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:03:59 - The Race Around Poland: 3600 km with 32,000 meters of climbing
00:05:12 - Training for an epic race: The Kashmir to Kanyakumari ride
00:07:48 - Key learnings on what to carry for ultra-endurance events
00:11:32 - John's strategy and goals for the Race Around Poland
00:12:27 - The self-supported nature of the race
00:15:53 - A major setback: A broken pulley 1200 km into the race
00:18:17 - The determination to finish: "I have to finish this no matter what"
00:20:42 - Pushing through exhaustion and hallucinations
00:23:21 - When the organizers force you to take a 12-hour rest
00:27:12 - The final push: Battling heavy rain 150 km from the finish
00:31:04 - An ingenious solution for the unexpected cold
00:33:14 - Final result and lessons learned from the race
00:38:03 - Back-to-back challenges: The London-Edinburgh-London (LEL) race
00:39:52 - Facing extreme weather at LEL
00:42:29 - Reflecting on the shortened LEL and personal satisfaction
00:45:48 - The mental game: "The more tougher it is, the better it is"
00:46:56 - Conclusion
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to my good friend and photographer par excellence, Chenthil Mohan. Che shares how a journey he took inwards helped him over the last one year. We talk of multitude of topics in a free flowing conversation including about if AI is going to impact creative work and if so, how. It felt like a therapy session between two friends. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:02:48 - Celebrating 5 Years of the Podcast
00:03:19 - The Origin Story: Starting a Podcast During the Pandemic
00:04:35 - The Journey So Far & The Future of the Podcast
00:06:45 - What is a "Working Athlete"?
00:07:30 - Thinking About a New Podcast on Tech
00:10:13 - The Importance of Sustainability & Avoiding Burnout
00:11:57 - The Challenge of Keeping a Project Sustainable
00:13:44 - Current Training: A Mix of Gym, Cycling, and Running
00:14:42 - Recent Race Experiences & PBs
00:16:30 - Juggling Training Volume for Multiple Disciplines
00:18:11 - The Reality of Balancing Life, Work, Family, and Fitness
00:18:48 - Hitting Pause: A Journey into Mental Health
00:21:07 - How Meditation & Breathwork Changed Everything
00:22:41 - Discovering the Wim Hof Method & Cold Exposure
00:24:26 - Trusting the Process Over Chasing Results
00:26:33 - Learning How to Handle Loss from Professional Athletes
00:27:53 - Finding the Rush in Professional & Real-Life Challenges
00:29:54 - Shifting from Performance Goals to Foundational Health
00:32:08 - Using Habit Stacking for Consistency
00:35:00 - Adopting the "Something is Better Than Nothing" Mindset
00:36:18 - A Deep Dive into Journaling & "The Artist's Way"
00:39:48 - Learning Longevity from Athletes in Their 60s
00:42:05 - The Vipassana Meditation Experience
00:44:05 - The Shift from a Goal-Driven to a Process-Driven Life
00:47:53 - Reframing Setbacks as Opportunities for Growth
00:50:35 - How Journaling Helps Navigate the Swings of Life
00:53:36 - Onward, Inward, Forward: Finding Solutions Within
00:54:20 - Overcoming the Bane of Overthinking
00:57:08 - Exploring Different Breathing Techniques
01:01:30 - How Journaling Finally Became a Consistent Habit
01:03:17 - The Benefits of Ice Baths and Cold Showers
01:06:19 - Breaking Free from the Tyranny of Round Numbers
01:09:00 - Learning to Differentiate Between Laziness and a Need for Rest
01:14:31 - Redefining Goals: What Are You a "Working Athlete" For?
01:16:11 - A Look at Current Photography Work with Athletes
01:18:59 - The Explosive Growth of Hyrox
01:22:45 - Why People Are Drawn to Masochistic Events
01:24:40 - The Power of Staying in the Present Moment
01:25:55 - How AI is Used as a Tool in a Creative Profession
01:26:51 - Will AI Replace Human Creators?
01:33:39 - Focusing on Personal Responsibility
01:36:31 - Reflecting on a 14-Year Journey of Growth
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to Mark Anderson. Mark is a double MIT grad who started on fitness journey in his 30s and never stopped. He is now in his 60s and if fitter than most of us. I first met Mark in 2011 during my first Tour of Nilgiris. He was here for a few days on a personal trip and joined us for a Nandi ride. I sat down with him post that and he was kind enough to share his experience and some words of wisdom from his long endurance journey.
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:40 Venky meeting Mark for the first time in TFN 2011
00:07:10 When and how Mark got into sports
00:13:40 Not wanting to be a scrawny cyclist, strength training
00:15:02 Venky importance of building muscle
00:19:25 Racing and training in the Bay area
00:26:00 Recovery as we age
00:27:50 Training as an older athlete
00:30:00 Balancing work and training, HTFU philosophy
00:33:10 Not letting fitness goals adding to the stress
00:36:08 His time in India, club culture, the lack of it
00:41:25 Venky on cycling clubs in India and the need for graded group rides
00:44:25 Racing season in India, improving skills of riders
00:49:00 Mentoring riders at Veloscope
00:50:30 Tour of Nilgiris experience in 2011
01:01:30 Weight loss and running
01:03:45 Words of Wisdom: Give yourself a break, hit the gym
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to Siddhartha Gadekar. Siddhartha is a cyclist who found a passion for ski-mountaineering. He went from learning to ski to winning gold and silver at Khelo India Winter games in a matter of months. In this episode he shares his experience of cycling, bike packing, failing at Silk Road Mountain Race and how that lead him to ski-mountaineering! It is super inspiring to hear his story of going from a newbie at the sport to winning against some of the best in the country.
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:28 The Evolution of a cyclist
00:08:10 Memorable Racing Experiences
00:10:26 Nutrition and Strategy in racing
00:13:02 Transitioning to Ultra Cycling
00:15:35 The Birth of TerraFit
00:18:00 Exploring Trail Running
00:20:22 The allure of Bikepacking and Mountaineering
00:35:24 Exploring the Silk Road Mountain Race
00:39:59 The challenges o High-altitude cycling
00:45:08 Lessons from Quitting the race
00:51:37 The Transition to Ski Mountaineering
01:04:17 Competing in Ski Mountaineering events
01:07:53 Journey to Kazakhstan: Training and Preparation
01:08:32 Khelo India Winter Games: Overcoming Challenges
01:10:53 Competing against the best: The landscape of Ski-Mountaineering
01:12:58 The Thrill of Competition: Sprint and Vertical races
01:18:35 Unexpected Success: Medals and recognition
01:31:32 Future aspirations: Competing internationally
01:36:56 Words of Wisdom: Finding your passion
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.comIf you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to Jai Arumugam. Jai is an Indian origin ultra cyclist from Dubai who is pursuing Ultra cycling while managing his diabetes. In the past he finished NorthCape 4000. He recently completed TransAm Bike NonStop, a 5600km bike race across America. In this episode he shares his experience of the race and the many learnings he takes from that experience.
00:02:53 Introduction to TransAm Journey
00:04:16 Inspiration and Motivation behind TransAm
00:08:22 Understanding the TransAm Race Structure
00:12:36 Preparation and Training for the race
00:17:28 Nutrition Strategies for Ultra Endurance
00:29:53 Pre-Race Anxiety and Getting to the start line
00:33:54 Understanding Ghost Pains and Mental Challenges
00:34:55 The Journey of an Ultra Endurance Race
00:36:51 Navigating the Terrain: From Mountains to Plains
00:41:21 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Long-Distance Cycling
00:53:58 Highs and Lows: The Mental State of a cyclist
01:04:45 The Kindness of Strangers and Community Support
01:06:49 Acts of Kindness and Human Connection
01:08:59 Manifestation and Positive Thinking
01:10:10 Living in the Moment
01:10:26 Crossing the Finish Line: A Personal Journey
01:17:27 Processing Emotions After the Race
01:21:46 Logistics of Ultra Cycling
01:29:05 Learnings from the TransAm Experience
01:32:50 Looking Ahead: Future Adventures
01:34:30 Closing
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to Indian Cycling National champion, Naveen John. In this episode we talk about a frame work that NJ uses to plan and execute a well rounded season and keep him motivated. While talking of Johari window framework, we touch upon his Nandi KOM, Belgium trip, Nationals and National games outings and his recent track block in the UK and his learnings from there. 30mins into the conversation we talk about how he dealt with a setback last year. While we did not name it, I thought mentioning what we were talking about will give a better context. At Nationals in 2024 he finished about 40 seconds ahead of everyone else but he was disqualified for unprofessional conduct(urinating in a bottle before the start). That was supposed to be his 10th Nationals title that ended up being not. A couple of months following that he went about winning the National games ITT. The way he dealt with it was applying, "Never Complain, Never Explain". What a classy guy. Like always there are so many take aways from any conversation with him and this time was no different. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.
0:00:00 Intro
0:04:10 Johari window for building a wholistic season
0:15:00 Nandi KOM attempt and bettering it, working with a new coach
0:21:50 Belgium block and making gains there over the years
0:31:20 HCL Race, Nationals - dealing with a DQ after a win
0:36:20 Never Complain, Never Explain! Focus forward, Shit sharpens you
0:44:40 Strong contenders at Nationals and Nationals games, respecting them by bringing your A-game
0:52:20 Track block in the UK, going into the unknown, trying to go under 4:33; getting over the fear; learning
1:04:30 Track training - A Black Art?
1:08:40 "Keep the main thing - the main thing!"
1:09:20 Closing
About the Podcast
The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.
Who is a working athlete? Someone working fulltime/part-time, entrepreneur or anyone who has to work to make ends meet and doesn't let being busy to stop him/her from pursuing an active lifestyle is a working athlete. I consider stay at home moms/dads who pursue a sport, as working athletes because homemaking is a full-time job.
If you like this, share with friends who could be interested.
For the visually inclined, a video version of the podcast can be found here: YouTube
Other Places you'll find the podcast on:
Anchor | RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Breaker
A bit about myself:
I'm Venkat/Venkateswara Rao in my work avatar, working as a Chief Data Analyst in the IT industry in Bangalore. I'm Venky/Bikeyvenky for my friends in the cycling community.
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to Anirudh Ravichandran. Anirudh is a triathlete and a triathlon coach at Arise Performance. He is a post graduate in performance coaching with a background of strength and conditioning. In this episode we talk about various training methods and metrics that he learnt during his performance coaching studies and how he was able to bring them into practice during his training and races. It as an interesting and insightful conversation. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
0:00:00 Intro
0:03:45 Major milestones in the last 18 months or so for Anirudh and Arise
0:07:40 What to consider for a team relay triathlon event
0:09:40 Recovering from a running injury, importance of strength work
0:12:15 Coaching priorities over personal performance
0:14:20 Race day nutrition, heat preparation, avoiding cramping,
0:18:30 Calculating sodium losses, Hydration sensor
0:22:30 Training with core-temperature sensor
0:24:10 Behrain Ironman 70.3 experience; hanging in there in tough conditions to end up having a personal best
0:33:20 Masters in Performance coaching, Using V-La Max(Maximal Lactate Accumulation rate) for training
0:44:00 Polarized training vs threshold/Sweet Spot training; race specificity
0:50:10 Velocity based training for strength for cyclists
0:56:00 Arise and Lakshyan facility for training; importance of more coaches and facilities
1:03:20 Talking of future of triathlon
1:04:40 Durban 70.3 experience
1:09:20 Closing
About the Podcast
The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.
Who is a working athlete? Someone working fulltime/part-time, entrepreneur or anyone who has to work to make ends meet and doesn't let being busy to stop him/her from pursuing an active lifestyle is a working athlete. I consider stay at home moms/dads who pursue a sport, as working athletes because homemaking is a full-time job.
If you like this, share with friends who could be interested.
For the visually inclined, a video version of the podcast can be found here: YouTube
Other Places you'll find the podcast on:
Anchor | RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Breaker
A bit about myself:
I'm Venkat/Venkateswara Rao in my work avatar, working as a Chief Data Analyst in the IT industry in Bangalore. I'm Venky/Bikeyvenky for my friends in the cycling community.
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to Dr Vignan Rachabattuni. Dr Vignan is a doctor practicing family medicine, a sports medicine expert who trains and certifies physical trainers as well as a multisport athlete. He was a runner and a triathlete who more recently transitioned to hybrid sports like Hyrox. In this episode he shares his journey as an athlete with various sports and his insights as a doctor who sees patients day in and day out. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.
0:00:00 Intro
0:04:00 Swimming and running while growing up in Singapore
0:08:00 Coming back to India to pursue MBBS, learning to swear in Hindi
0:15:10 86kgs by the end of MBBS; Losing 20kgs during internship
0:21:30 Making a bucket list, ultra marathon, triathlon and losing weight
0:26:30 Doing a 100k in 2013, very few coaches for guidance
0:34:00 BAR races, Hyderabad Triathlon,
0:39:30 Training for triathlon back when he started, Hyderabad Triathlon experience(2014)
0:47:40 Listening to the inner voice; representing Telangana at Nationals Triathlon(2015)
0:52:20 Getting into coaching by chance; pursuing Olympic distance triathlon
0:58:00 Being a doctor during the pandemic COVID19 in 2020, losing motivation as an athlete
1:02:20 Coming back to Triathlon after a 5 years in 2024 with BMF Tri
1:04:40 Hybrid Racing, Devil's Circuit, Yodha Race, Hyrox
1:28:20 Advantages and disadvantages of Hyrox when compared to triathlon
1:30:40 Training for Hyrox, logistics, costs involved
1:39:10 His medical background and practice, Personal Trainer Academy(SFSA.IN)
1:45:45 Importance of lifestyle modification, sleep, stress
1:49:00 Tips for working athletes, have more fun
1:50:30 Who is a working athlete and who this podcast is for
1:53:00 Closing
About the Podcast
The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.
Who is a working athlete? Someone working fulltime/part-time, entrepreneur or anyone who has to work to make ends meet and doesn't let being busy to stop him/her from pursuing an active lifestyle is a working athlete. I consider stay at home moms/dads who pursue a sport, as working athletes because homemaking is a full-time job.
If you like this, share with friends who could be interested.
For the visually inclined, a video version of the podcast can be found here: YouTube
Other Places you'll find the podcast on:
Anchor | RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Breaker
A bit about myself:
I'm Venkat/Venkateswara Rao in my work avatar, working as a Chief Data Analyst in the IT industry in Bangalore. I'm Venky/Bikeyvenky for my friends in the cycling community.
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to Gautam Pothineni. Gautam is a runner who left behind a lucrative corporate career as a CA to become a fulltime running coach. His story of losing more than 45kilos going from 120kgs to 70kgs and completing iconic races like Comrades is quite inspiring. It was a pleasure chatting with him about his journey. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.
0:00:00 Intro
0:04:00 His early life in sports, basketball and becoming a 120kg youngster
0:11:00 Start of his weight loss journey from 120kgs
0:17:10 Nutrition he followed to lose weight from 100kgs to 80kgs
0:22:30 His journey towards his first Marathon in 2017
0:29:30 Going low carb and MAF and how it worked until it didn't, injuries and slipping up
0:39:00 His Comrades marathon experience
0:43:00 Injury period, coaching journey, Bangalore days and getting back on track
0:47:20 Diagnosing the injury and getting over it through strength training
0:50:00 Dealing with the imposter syndrome; disassociating with your older self and best fitness
0:56:00 Malnad Ultra experience, getting a coach for himself, having a great support system
0:59:00 Getting back on the Marathon racing, fueling better for racing with carbs
1:04:20 Training with carbs, gut training
1:06:10 Going full-time with coaching; the word of mouth
1:12:50 Tips for fellow working athlete, motivation is overrated, consistency over intensity
1:14:00 Closing
About the Podcast
The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.
Who is a working athlete? Someone working fulltime/part-time, entrepreneur or anyone who has to work to make ends meet and doesn't let being busy to stop him/her from pursuing an active lifestyle is a working athlete. I consider stay at home moms/dads who pursue a sport, as working athletes because homemaking is a full-time job.
If you like this, share with friends who could be interested.
For the visually inclined, a video version of the podcast can be found here: YouTube
Other Places you'll find the podcast on:
Anchor | RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Breaker
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to Sailendra Nath. Sailendra was a national level cyclist who represented AP/Telangana for many years. After stopping to compete at the Nats he started working in a bike shop. In this episode we talk about his journey as an athlete and about the transition into a career in the bike industry. It was great to listen to his story of taking a journey off the beaten path. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.
0:00:00 Intro
0:04:00 His school days and early days of cycling
0:09:00 Getting his first bike with the support of The Bike Affair
0:12:10 Training in the early days
0:18:00 Career paths - Parent's concern and guidance of his coach
0:22:00 Learnings along the athletic journey, nutrition, recovery, strength and conditioning
0:26:50 His journey at the Nationals cycling
0:39:10 His final season and how it ended with a series of unfortunate events
0:50:45 Transitioning into a career in a bike shop, the job satisfaction
0:54:00 The joy of bike commuting
0:56:10 Tips for working athletes
0:59:00 Closing
About the podcast:
The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing and hitting the bell icon so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to Thoudam Opendro Singh. Opendro is an ultra endurance cyclist and ultra runner. He recently won the Bangalore Backyard Ultra by being the last man standing after running 187km. He shares his ultra cycling experiences including the self supported TRANSAM race riding across America covering 6800km in 28 days. He shares his experience of winning multiple ultra trail running races including the recent Backyard Ultra in Bangalore. Opendro is a simple no nonsense athlete who likes to experiment a lot in terms of nutrition, hydration and likes to keep everything simple. It was inspiring to listen to his ultra journey.
0:00:00 Intro
0:04:00 Talking of when we first met each other back in 2011
0:07:45 Playing and farming as kids
0:10:50 Taking a bet with a colleague for running; story behind running and cycling
0:22:30 Cycling, Brevets, BBCh racing, Cleated Warriors team
0:39:00 His journey to TRANSAM, Bliss in the Hills, Ironmans
0:58:30 How he fell sick before TRANSAM, finishing in 28 days despite severe illness
1:24:10 Moving towards more running to save time for family obligations, chasing ultras
1:40:45 Malnad Ultra experiences, 12 hour race
1:50:10 Backyard Ultra rules and experiences at Coimbatore and Bangalore Backyard Ultras
2:18:00 Closing
About the podcast:
The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing and hitting the bell icon so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to Gokul Krishna. Gokul shares his journey of recovering from a debilitating health condition through naturopathy and diet intervention. From not being able to do anything due to his illness to signing up for his first triathlon 70.3 and successfully finishing it at Ironman Goa 70.3 within an year is quite a feat of determination and courage. It was inspiring to listen to his health transformation and triathlon journey.
0:00:00 Intro
0:03:00 How did the triathlon enter his life
0:05:20 Healing from piles issue using naturopathy
0:13:30 How the change in food habits changed his condition
0:25:00 Venky's experience with constipation and piles
0:27:40 Importance of enough fiber through salads and enough water
0:33:20 Getting back to workouts and learning swimming
0:41:20 Almost drowning in a lake on his first open water swim, getting better with swim camp
0:49:45 Getting dehydrated and cramping in water a week before Ironman Goa 70.3
0:55:10 Ironman Goa 70.3 2024 experience
1:00:10 Strength training with Mudgar/Indian Mace
1:10:00 Closing
About the podcast:
The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing and hitting the bell icon so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.
Who is a working athlete? Someone working fulltime/part-time, entrepreneur or anyone who has to work to make ends meet and doesn't let being busy to stop him/her from pursuing an active lifestyle is a working athlete. I consider stay at home moms/dads who pursue a sport, as working athletes because homemaking is a full-time job.
If you like this, please hit the like button and share with friends who could be interested.
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to Anjali Ranwade. Anjali is a promising talent in women's cycling. She is a medalist at school nationals and Indian cycling nationals. Her aspiration is to do well at Asian level in cycling and is working towards that. She won the women's category at the Goan Classic stage race where I met her and sat down for a small chat. She rode like a champ that she is and did way better than many of us men. This conversation is in Hindi as she is not comfortable in English. I hope you enjoy this interaction with a promising talent in women's cycling.
0:00:00 Intro
0:03:30 Start of cycling 6 years ago
0:04:50 Medaling in School nationals and at Indian cycling nationals
0:06:10 Her weekly training schedule, indoor vs outdoor cycling
0:07:20 Her most memorable cycling event and silver at Nationals
0:08:30 Studies vs cycling and the support of parents
0:10:10 Asian Championships aspirations, On bike nutrition, recent race performances
0:14:40 Goan Classic race experience
0:17:30 Closing
About the podcast:
The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing and hitting the bell icon so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.
Who is a working athlete? Someone working fulltime/part-time, entrepreneur or anyone who has to work to make ends meet and doesn't let being busy to stop him/her from pursuing an active lifestyle is a working athlete. I consider stay at home moms/dads who pursue a sport, as working athletes because homemaking is a full-time job.
If you like this, please hit the like button and share with friends who could be interested.
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to Dr. Aditya Ponkshe. Dr. Aditya is a master's rider and one of the founders of Sahyadri classic race, a one day climbing race in the Sahyadri mountain range near Mahabaleshwar. In this episode he shares his cycling journey and the genesis of Sahyadri classic among other things. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.
0:00:00 Intro
0:04:15 Always an outdoors kid, trekking
0:05:15 Memories of Bombay-Pune Cycling Race in the 80s
0:13:10 How cycling entered his life for knee health
0:19:15 Pune terrain and climbing options
0:21:15 How Tour of Nilgiris 2017 happened, how it changed his perspective of service
0:27:35 Kalahatty stories
0:31:15 The genesis of Sahyadri Classic
0:34:50 Sahyadri Classic race format
0:38:15 Race safety
0:41:45 Registration fee, increasing local participation, organization
0:46:55 Managing riding and work, nutrition and recovery
0:49:00 Nutrition on and off the bike
0:51:55 Importance of sleep
0:54:20 Closing
About the Podcast
The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.
Who is a working athlete? Someone working fulltime/part-time, entrepreneur or anyone who has to work to make ends meet and doesn't let being busy to stop him/her from pursuing an active lifestyle is a working athlete. I consider stay at home moms/dads who pursue a sport, as working athletes because homemaking is a full-time job.
If you like this, share with friends who could be interested.
For the visually inclined, a video version of the podcast can be found here: YouTube
Other Places you'll find the podcast on:
Anchor | RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google podcasts | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Breaker
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to Mahesh Iyer. Mahesh is a masters rider from Pune Wolfpack who has been at it for a long time with cycling and racing. His consistent work ethic of more than a decade has now made him one of the strongest masters riders in the country. We sat down to chat when we met for the Goan Classic which he won. In this conversation he shares his process, his training, his mental tools as well. It was fascinating to listen to his journey from struggling to stay with groups to winning races. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.
0:00:00 Intro
0:06:30 Body building days through college
0:08:55 Getting a bike to lose weight and getting into running
0:11:45 Lifecycle, Enduro races, Hill climbing challenge, meeting like minded people, Michael Lenig
0:13:50 Forming a team, training under Michael, BBCh races, Genesis of Pune Wolfpack
0:17:45 Memories from BBCh races back in the day, Criterium and Nandi Race
0:26:35 Tour of Nilgiris 2015 memories, Kalahatty stories
0:36:20 What kept him going, having a team
0:40:36 Importance of staying with the process and having goals
0:44:45 His breakthrough year, 2019, working with NJ, starting to believe in himself, mood follows action
0:51:50 His training cycle, training volume, strength sessions
0:54:40 Indoor vs outdoors training
0:57:00 Nutrition on and off the bike, learnings
1:03:20 Shout out to Sudarshan, Pune Wolfpack,
1:06:30 Getting vocal in races, being respectful
1:08:30 Learnings/tips for working athletes, don't stop, invest in yourself, get a coach
1:13:10 Closing
About the Podcast
The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.
Who is a working athlete? Someone working fulltime/part-time, entrepreneur or anyone who has to work to make ends meet and doesn't let being busy to stop him/her from pursuing an active lifestyle is a working athlete. I consider stay at home moms/dads who pursue a sport, as working athletes because homemaking is a full-time job.
If you like this, share with friends who could be interested.
For the visually inclined, a video version of the podcast can be found here: YouTube
Other Places you'll find the podcast on:
Anchor | RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google podcasts | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Breaker
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to Prashant Tidke. Prashant is a charted accountant by profession and a masters cyclist by passion. In 2019, he had to undergo an angiogram to deal with a potentially deadly 100% blockage in his heart. He not only recovered from his heart condition but also got back to full athletic activity and worked himself to becoming the fittest he has been all his life. In this episode, he shares the rehab protocol he used to recover from such a critical condition and advises on how to identify potential warning signs and respond in time. His story serves as another example of how fitness and health are two different things and what we need to do in order to take care of our health as we age. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.
0:00:00 Intro
0:04:25 Moving to Pune and running cross country races
0:06:10 Focus on Charted Accountancy taking precedence over sports
0:08:36 Getting back to physical activity to quit smoking
0:12:06 Getting into brevet riding in 2011 and going to PBP the same year
0:15:15 Tour of Nilgiris 2012 taught me what bicycling is
0:16:36 Winning races in 2013-2015, masters getting stronger
0:19:26 How his heart blockage was uncovered, the signs
0:29:36 Health and fitness are two different things
0:30:10 Genetics and lifestyle issues
0:32:00 Rehab and medications; coming back from depression
0:39:00 How zone 2 training during the pandemic helped his road to recovery
0:40:20 Weight training in the gym
0:43:00 Advice for working athletes, regular health checks, no smoking
0:55:10 Closing
About the Podcast
The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.
Who is a working athlete? Someone working fulltime/part-time, entrepreneur or anyone who has to work to make ends meet and doesn't let being busy to stop him/her from pursuing an active lifestyle is a working athlete. I consider stay at home moms/dads who pursue a sport, as working athletes because homemaking is a full-time job.
If you like this, share with friends who could be interested.
For the visually inclined, a video version of the podcast can be found here: YouTube
Other Places you'll find the podcast on:
Anchor | RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google podcasts | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Breaker
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to Kiran Kumar Raju or KKR as we lovingly call him. KKR was the tour director of Tour of Nilgiris 2024. Both KKR and I have long relationship with Tour of Nilgiris. He started his journey in cycling as a volunteer at TFN 2010 and since then he has played many roles at the tour. From being a route marker to taking part in the tour as a rider after becoming a National champion in MTB, to now taking on the role as a tour director, he has seen the tour from various perspectives. In this episodes, he shares his perspective of how the tour and he himself have evolved over the years in various aspects. It was super fun talking about my favorite bike tour, Tour of Nilgiris with one of my favorite people, KKR. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.
0:00:00 Intro
0:05:00 Various roles that KKR played at TFN
0:06:15 Kiran's first time on Tour of Nilgiris in 2010 as a volunteer, a marker
0:11:00 Marking team, most invisible and visible team on the tour
0:14:30 Missing 2013 and riding TFN 2014 as a fulltime rider,
0:17:00 Nandi race 2011
0:19:00 His first tour as a rider TFN 2014
0:23:50 Support stations evolution at TFN
0:29:00 Race segments at TFN
0:33:50 Is Tour of Nilgiris only for the pros
0:37:00 2016 TFN coming as a rider
0:40:30 Coming back in 2023 and 2024 as Tour director for Tour of Nilgiris
0:43:20 Sweep vehicle is there to support you
0:46:00 Hospitality support at TFN
0:48:20 People behind TFN over the years
0:52:00 Origin of TFN in 2008
0:55:10 Closing
About the Podcast
The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.
Who is a working athlete? Someone working fulltime/part-time, entrepreneur or anyone who has to work to make ends meet and doesn't let being busy to stop him/her from pursuing an active lifestyle is a working athlete. I consider stay at home moms/dads who pursue a sport, as working athletes because homemaking is a full-time job.
If you like this, share with friends who could be interested.
For the visually inclined, a video version of the podcast can be found here: YouTube
Other Places you'll find the podcast on:
Anchor | RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google podcasts | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Breaker
This episode is brought to you by www.thebikeaffair.com
If you are in search of a one-stop destination that caters to all your cycling needs, our today's sponsor, The Bike Affair, is the perfect place to check out! With over 14 years of experience, The Bike Affair has established itself as a trusted source offering honest advice and exceptional service. They are offering a special treat for the listeners of this podcast. You can enjoy a 10% discount on your first order by using the code 'BIKEYVENKY' on their website. Visit their bike store in Hyderabad or shop online by using the link www.thebikeaffair.com
In this episode I talk to my team mate at Spectrum Racing Su Yin. Su Yin was an offshore geophysicist turned pastry chef who took up to cycling and triathlon by chance. She ended up winning in her age category in her very first triathlon at Goa Ironman 70.3 in 2019! In this episode she shares how that win followed by the pandemic almost put her out of love for the sport and how she slowly fell back into love with cycling while raising funds for GivingBack and riding Tour of Nilgiris. We also talk extensively about her experience at Tour of Thekkady where she finished second by fraction of a second after 145km of racing. Her journey is inspirational not just to women but all of us and makes us think what we need to prioritise for both our mental and physical well being. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.
0:00:00 Intro
0:04:25 Her work, off-shore geophysicist to pastry chef
0:10:55 Running and hiking through college
0:14:55 Getting into cycling and triathlon, signing up for Goa 70.3 in 2019
0:18:10 Preparation for Ironman Goa 70.3 in 2019, learnings from her Olympic tri
0:22:10 Ironman Goa 70.3 experience in 2019, winning in her AG in her very first Ironman event
0:27:10 Training through COVID-19 pandemic, the pressure of training for world championships
0:29:40 Infected with COVID 2 weeks before her A-race, Ironman Goa 70.3 2022, external/perceived pressures
0:35:10 Falling out of love for the sport and doing other things
0:39:10 Falling in love with riding again through Tour of Nilgiris 2024 through GivingBack
0:43:40 Memories from TFN 2024
0:46:10 The reluctant athlete
0:56:40 Tour of Thekkady 2025 experience
1:19:10 Talking about Shayadhri Classic
1:22:40 Recalibrating what she enjoys doing, climbing; triathlon taking a back seat
1:26:10 Tips for fellow working athletes, how badly do you want it
1:27:20 Closing
About the Podcast
The working athlete podcast is a podcast with and for working athletes from all walks of life and various sports. The goal is to provide inspiration, training tips, mental hacks, time management and life-style advice through conversations with some of the best in sport, from athletes to coaches. If you think you can benefit from this, please consider subscribing so that you don't miss the weekly episodes in future.
Who is a working athlete? Someone working fulltime/part-time, entrepreneur or anyone who has to work to make ends meet and doesn't let being busy to stop him/her from pursuing an active lifestyle is a working athlete. I consider stay at home moms/dads who pursue a sport, as working athletes because homemaking is a full-time job.
If you like this, share with friends who could be interested.
For the visually inclined, a video version of the podcast can be found here: YouTube
Other Places you'll find the podcast on:
Anchor | RSS | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google podcasts | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | Breaker