Pune: Central Railway Officer Completes Comrades Marathon in South Africa
Pune, 13th June 2024: Dr. Rahul Raghunath Patil, Deputy Finance Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer (Construction) of Pune Division, Central Railway, has achieved remarkable success in the Comrades Marathon, one of the world’s most challenging long-distance races. Dr. Patil completed the 87 km marathon, which runs from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in South Africa, in 9 hours and 59 minutes. This historic race, established in 1921, involves a grueling uphill run with an elevation gain of 1,800 meters. Dr. Patil’s achievement earned him the prestigious Robert Mtshali medal, making him the first from the Railway Account Service to finish the race.
The Comrades Marathon, known as the oldest and one of the toughest marathons globally, saw participation from 20,000 runners from various countries, marking it as the largest marathon in the world. Dr. Patil’s accomplishment is a testament to his dedication and endurance as a regular fitness enthusiast. Over the past five years, he has participated in 30 half-marathons, two full marathons, and five ultra-marathons (distances over 50 km). He has covered more than 5,000 km running and approximately 10,000 km cycling.
Dr. Patil has also completed the Ironman 70.3 in Astana, Kazakhstan, in 6 hours and 59 minutes, and secured first place in the Deccan Cliffhanger cycling race, a 644 km relay event from Pune to Goa. He attributes his success to the training he received from his coach, Shiv Yadav of Shivspirit, and the support and encouragement from Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Smt. Indu Dubey, Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM) Shri Brijesh Kumar Singh, and other officers of Pune Division.
Reflecting on his journey, Dr. Patil expressed gratitude for the invaluable support from his family and friends, which has been instrumental in his achievements. His commitment to fitness and excellence in sports serves as an inspiration to his colleagues and the broader community.
