Cracking Codes and Tracking Miles: Meet the Techie blazing trails as a Marathon Champion

We’re often told that life is not a sprint but a marathon, not a race but a journey to be cherished. Vijayaraghavan J – Senior Director, Delivery at Prodapt, believes so too. ?

A seasoned runner who enjoys trail runs, and a popular figure with the running community at Prodapt and Chennai, Vijay highlights the importance of pursuing fitness and taking up a sport, especially for tech professionals. ?

He also shares his recipe for effectively channeling the energy and discipline from running into his professional endeavors.

When and why did you first take up running?

I took up running in 2011, for health reasons, my doctor suggested that I should lose 10-12 kilograms and advised me to take up running as a way to get there.?

How important is it for technology professionals to actively pursue a sport??

Technology professionals are constrained in many ways. Long hours of work, the strain on the eyes, the strain on your back sitting during long hours, extended calls, and the need to always be online. Sports, particularly running, is an excellent stress buster. You get a good amount of time where you can think for yourself, strategize, and take action.?

"During runs, many times we tag along with people who are running better, who have done the trail earlier, to gain the confidence of finishing along with them. Even at work, for every project that we take up, we find the right mix of technical, analytical, and smart working people in our team and ensure there is good harmony and rhythm. In addition to all these, we look for people who have been there & done it."

What kind of support have you received from Prodapt as a marathoner?

I have always taken inspiration from my running group who identified the ultra-marathoner in me and encouraged me. I was surprised to see an active set of runners in Prodapt. In fact, it helped me settle down in Prodapt much faster. ??

Right from our current CEO, several VPs, SVPs, peers, and friends in Prodapt have been a great source of encouragement. Many of them are active and keep celebrating others’ progress. I would say Prodapt is a company with so much activity happening beyond regular work. Prodapt is in a different league when it comes to caring for employees and encouraging them.

Multiple runs organized by Prodapt have been a great way to network and have fun.???

Running is an icebreaker, and it provides a great way to build relationships with associates, teams, and even clients. I had the pleasure of joining clients during a few runs and building a strong bond. ??

People who are passionate about high-intensity sports are often calm and composed in their demeanor. Is that true with you too? ?

Yes, it’s true. I do stay calm & composed during work & of course during runs. My team in Prodapt and my previous organizations can attest to this. ??

I always feel & believe that my presence in the team should bring composure to the team. During long-distance runs, runners break down the distances into short milestones, keep adjusting their pace, and keep moving towards the target.

During project execution, we approach these milestones with passion, but keep ourselves calm and composed and focus on the larger goal. This trait has helped add to one of my strengths - bringing difficult programs back to shape. Curbing natural instincts, sticking to basics, not being perturbed by short pains & limiting celebrations to enjoy during success. I always remember Sachin Tendulkar's knock (241) at SCG, curbing his favorite shots and staying put for the team.?

We should also lead by building trust. And, staying grounded during success is the key, according to me. You let the team celebrate during success and stand & defend them during failures or difficult situations. These are a few qualities I've learned from MS Dhoni. ?

Tell us about your most memorable runs.

There are plenty of memorable runs. Some are ultra marathons in the Jawadhu Hills, in Thiruvannamalai & in Yercaud (in Tamil Nadu, India). It’s a trail marathon where runners need to climb up & down 3 small hills. The trail route is complex, going through the forest with literally no roads. Trails are typically marked with route markers that runners can follow to get to the target points. ??

During a trail in 2016, I had chosen to run 50 kms. The first 42 kms went off well. But my shoe started giving me pain in my ankle and I could not run beyond that. I struggled for 2-3 kms and started running in socks under the scorching 12 noon sun. My running friend came to my rescue. He spared his bathroom slippers, and I finished the last 4 kms in slippers! In fact, that was the fastest lap in my run.??

In 2017, while running 75 kms, I lost the other runners’ pack and ended up turning left at a place where I should have taken the right. I kept going for 1.5 kms and then realized that there was no one ahead or behind me. I had gone through a couple of villages and had to ask the villagers and found out no one had an idea of the run happening there. I then had to retrace to the same point and take a right. This way I ended up running 78 kms for a 75 km run!?

In the same run, I had an opportunity to run with a seasoned runner (who was running 100 kms), he paced me from the 44th km for 31 kms. I learned so much from him and his vast experience in running difficult tracks and gained tips on trail runs.

"You need people who have been there and done that to guide you to new peaks."

We spoke a lot during this run for nearly 4+ hrs, it was amazing. He told me where to run faster, where to slow down, hydration techniques, and most importantly how to build endurance. I still share a great friendship with him. Running is an excellent way of networking with people.??

The Yercaud Ultra in 2022 was another fantastic event. Held during the first week of November, the terrain was amazing. At 4:30 am, it started with a 13 km downhill run, which was delayed as wildlife was spotted by forest officials. It was very thrilling for the first 90 mins up until the sun showed up. Using headlamps, running downhill at 11-12 kms per hour, and looking out for animals such as bulls, elephants, foxes, and even tigers! It was a great run as I finished 50 kms in 7hrs. The elevation of 1394 meters was covered by a direct 11.5 kms uphill run, which even veteran runners found challenging.

How have you built endurance and discipline over the years?

Running involves an equal amount of both physical and mental?preparation. Adequate training is important before any challenging run or trail. I am blessed with a wonderful set of friends from my running group (Tambaram Thunderbolts) who have helped me a lot. Endurance is built with schedules and routines that one can follow to prepare for the physical haul. The time on the road is more important and compliance is critical for this. To create a rhythm, I keep myself active. Multiple times in the last 3-4 years, I have chosen to run daily. Between November 2021 to August 2022, I ran 5 kms for 256 days and this helped me run my fastest full marathon in the Chennai Marathon last year.??

Additionally, I’ve had the chance to motivate 10-15 runners in my apartment complex. We have formed a running group and have been practicing for the last 5+ years and we have in turn inspired more than 10 runners to complete half marathons. This has given us an opportunity to organize events within the community.??

Running involves a lot of science - gait, stride, right shoes, the right surface, diet, stretching, breathing technique, etc. Do you think this helps you analyze other things in life and work better?

Running is an art as well as a science. The choice of shoes, diet, stretching, breathing, etc. are key factors. During runs, many times we tag along with people who are running better, who have done the trail earlier, to gain the confidence of finishing along with them. Even at work, for every project that we take up, we find the right mix of technical, analytical, and smart working people in our team and ensure there is good harmony and rhythm. In addition to all these, we look for people who have been there & done it.

You’ve also recently completed your A2 level in Spanish. How does learning an international language benefit technology professionals?

Learning a new language stimulates a lot of brain activity and keeps you away from a lot of nervous troubles. While this is an important reason, it’s equally important to learn about other cultures and appreciate them. Learning a language along with its culture is a way of doing this. It also helps in building excellent client relationships.?In this global economy, learning an international language reduces physical distance and creates great bonding.

Going ahead, what are your goals as a marathoner & as a techie??

As a marathoner, to keep doing unique tracks and learning a lot, meeting & networking with runners and making friends. I would also like to keep sharing experiences and tips & tricks to fellow runners that can keep them safe, injury-free running is the ultimate goal.?

As a techie, in every program that I’m involved in, I want to ensure that I am relevant and can contribute technically. While program management comes by virtue of experience, technology is like language, which keeps your brain active and always one step ahead of others.?

How has the pursuit of wellness changed over the years? What are your thoughts on this??

The focus on wellness has increased in the last few years. I see a lot of people in their 20s and 30s taking up running, exercising (at the gym), and a few other activities. However, very few of them continue pursuing the same. Like fast food, many of them want immediate results and go aggressive and try to perform extreme feats.

"Wellness should be blended into one’s way of life, added in a steady dosage, and enjoyed."

It’s not a short-term initiative. It’s like a multi-year, multi-discipline program that needs enough attention to different dimensions and attaining each milestone should be celebrated.?

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