On June 11, 2023, two men from Assam, Anupam Deka and Dr. Santanu Dutta, successfully completed the Comrades Marathon, also known as The Ultimate Human Race, in South Africa. They ran from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, covering a distance of almost 90 kilometers. They are the only two people from Assam to achieve this remarkable feat.
The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately 89 kilometers (55 miles) that takes place annually in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world’s largest and oldest ultramarathon race. The direction of the race alternates each year between the “up” run, starting from Durban, and the “down” run, starting from Pietermaritzburg. This year marked the 96th edition of the Comrades Marathon. Around 20,000 participants from across the globe take part in this event, which is considered one of the oldest, largest, and toughest ultramarathons in the world. The race is run on the roads of the KwaZulu-Natal province, characterized by “The Big Five” set of hills. The highest point of the race, at 2,850 feet (870 meters) above sea level, is located near the Umlaas Road interchange. Participants are given 12 hours to complete the course.
Dr. Santanu Dutta completed the race in an impressive time of 10 hours and 4 minutes. This was his second Comrades Marathon, and he became the first person from Assam to complete the race in 2022. Dr. Dutta is a renowned radiologist based in Guwahati.
On the other hand, Anupam Deka completed his first Comrades Marathon this year, finishing in 10 hours and 58 minutes. He is the second person from Assam to accomplish this feat. Deka’s journey is particularly inspiring, as he fought issues of obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes through running and cycling. His transformation over the course of 10 months has been remarkable. He recently left his senior executive position in a global IT company to pursue his passion for running and endurance sports. He now represents the brand “Mind over Miles” in the Northeastern states.
The achievements of Dr. Santanu Dutta and Anupam Deka in completing the Comrades Marathon demonstrate their dedication, perseverance, and the ability to overcome personal challenges. They serve as inspirations to others, showing that with hard work and determination, one can achieve extraordinary goals.
