Prateek Verma

1st place, 6:40:35. Splits: 25K – 1:58:35 · 43K – 3:45:44 · 57K – 4:58:21.

Last year I ran this at maybe 80–85% effort, coasting off Goa Ultra fitness. This year was different — it landed mid-way through a 766km July training block, so I went in tired on purpose. Legs started cramping on the flats after the last downhill, bad enough that I nearly seized up near the finish — two other runners held on and kept me moving. I'd targeted sub-6:30; finished in 6:40:35. First place either way, but I know exactly where those minutes went. Spartathlon's next.