Munish Bhagi
Was man ‘Born to Run’? Christopher McDougall raised this seminal issue in his iconic book, published in 2009, whose title carried this phrase that has since become a part of the running lore, an engrossing narrative that everyone can relate to, and a must read for runners. Col Munish Bhagi, a pacer for the 2:25 bus in the upcoming TSK25K, 2023 edition, firmly believes that man is indeed born to run and swears by this dictum.
Col Munish Bhagi is a complex person, difficult to pigeonhole as this or that, for he is a multifaceted being with eclectic preferences in life. An Engineer and MBA, a serving officer of the Indian Army, having been posted across the country and seen action in diverse theatres, is essentially an outdoors man, with wide ranging interests and pursuits in the domain of physical activity, from running to cycling, hockey to golf, strength training to Pilates, trekking to long distance solo motor biking, to name a few, and yet, his bucket list is full of unattended candidates. This man behind the uniform, equally at home in locales as diverse as snow-clad high altitude terrain to hot stormy deserts, is presently posted in the North East India.
While he was initiated into running in 2015 when he commenced training with the ‘West Delhi Runners’ (‘WDR’) of New Delhi, a group of running enthusiasts with intimidatingly diverse skill sets. The structured training inculcated discipline and moderation, and a realization that distance running was as much a mental game as it is a physical challenge, he has been achieving a PB in every successive major event and his PB in HM is 1:43:34. Having had his fill of HMs, he graduated to marathons, the 42.2K holy grail of running, and eventually to ultra runs.
Having achieved a modicum of success in his tryst with running, and moved on from being a greenhorn to a veteran runner. Munish feels it is high time that he repaid the debt of gratitude, in part, by motivating and guiding others in attaining their running goals. Hence, one in a while, shunning the urge for yet another PB, he dons the hat of a pacer, and in doing so, his love affair with ‘The City of Joy’ prevails, and he is back, yet again for the fourth time, to pace the 2:25 bus, having done so in TSK 25K of 2018, 2019 and 2022.
As a pacer, this soldier metamorphoses into a civilian, seamlessly relating to the aspirations of civilians and non-combatants not used to the rigors of a life in uniform be rest assured, for in his avatar as a pacer, they would find in him a reliable friend who shall lead them to the finish line, with panache and aplomb. In TSK 25K of 2023, for him, 'ekla chalo re' has yielded to 'eksanghe chalo re'.
Come on board his bus, fasten your seatbelts, get set for the ride of the year, and together, make it the BOTY, the bus of the year. I bring a diverse background as an Engineer, MBA, and an Indian Army officer. My postings across the country and involvement in various outdoor activities contribute to my rich and varied life. Since joining the West Delhi Runners in 2015, I've progressed from half marathons to marathons and ultra runs. Achieving a personal best of 1:43:34 in the half marathon reflects my dedication to the sport and its mental challenges. As a seasoned runner, I feel a sense of gratitude. I aim to guide and motivate others in their running journeys. Leading the 2:25 bus in the TSK 25K for the fourth time shows my commitment to helping fellow runners achieve their goals. Transitioning from a soldier to a pacer comes naturally to me. I can relate to civilians and non-combatants seamlessly. In my pacing role, I become a reliable friend, offering support and guidance for participants to reach the finish line with style and confidence.