Overweight once, ultra runners now: Khokhar, Karjee and Chatterjee shine in 100km run

They entered the running world with a mere target of losing weight, but eventually ended up becoming ultramarathoner. 

Coming from a varied professional backgrounds and with hardly any exposure to sports before taking up running, Suresh Kumar Khokhar, Gaurav Karjee and Subhendu Chatterjee, who were once overweight, are now passionate runners and inspiring many to eye for a healthy lifestyle. 

On the intervening night of February 11-12, Rajasthan's Khokhar, Chandigarh's Karjee and Maharashtra's Chatterjee, grabbed the top three positions, respectively, at the 100km run in the Tuffman 24 Hours Stadium Run in Panchkula. 

Running a medical store Khokhar took to running just five years ago. Tuffman 100km was his first ultra run and he completed it in 9 hours and 54 minutes. 

Khokhar's bodyweight was once 133kg at his early teens and he took to walking, gradually to running to reduce weight. Now, the 27-year old weighs 71kg. 

"When I took to running my sole aim was to shed extra kilos and I had no idea about competitive long distance running. Thankfully, I came in touch with Sanjeev sir and now running has become my passion. I want to travel to places to compete in the marathons and ultra runs," says elated Khokhar. 

Karjee, who was having a stress on his right shin, overcame pain to finish second. He completed the 100km in 11 hours and 7 minutes. 

Wealth manager Karjee, who took to running in 2017, is now a veteran of many marathon and ultra runs. 

Apart from losing over 20kgs, running is helping Karjee to control hypothyroid. 

"I can't explain in words what running has given to me. I can only say it has become an important part of my daily life," says Karjee, 42.

IT professional Chatterjee, 47, made a podium finish in his career's first 100km distance run. He complete the run in 12 hours and 24 minutes to finish third. 

Hailing from Pune, he took to running around six years ago. 

"Running not only helped in losing a substantiate weight, but also helped me to reverse diabetes," says 47-year-old ultra runner.