PANAJI
Dona Paula-based Sundaram Narayanan has been residing in the State for the last six years and is the only RAAM qualifier from Goa to date. He is currently keying up to the challenge of not only completing the toughest cycling race in the world but bettering the best finisher timing by an Indian as well.
Hailing from Salem, Tamil Nadu, 38-year-old Narayanan is a cycling freak and loves to commute to work using the very mode of transport. By profession, he may be a medical physicist and radiology safety officer at Manipal Hospital, but by passion, he is an ultra endurance cyclist.
Narayanan’s ultimate challenge ahead of him, Race Across America (RAAM), is arguably among the longest running races in the world. Encompassing a total distance of 4828 kms (3000 miles) across 12 States the cut off time for the Solo Race Finisher is 12 days (288 hours).
Leaving Goa on May 26 as part of a 12-member contingent, he will start his race on June 12 from Oceanside Pier, California to the expectation he will be the fastest Indian and first representative from Goa to go past the finish line at the City dock of Annapolis, Maryland. As gruelling as the task ahead of him, it would require tremendous amount of grit, will-power, mental stamina and physical endurance while negotiating various climatic conditions and terrain gradation. An interesting fact associated with RAAM compares a finisher of this event to having reached the elevation of 1,75,000 ft (53,340 mtrs) that is equal to climbing Mt Everest seven times in 12 days which is no mean accomplishment.
Narayanan might be having a respectful job today, but he has come up the hard way. His resolve and zeal to overcome hardships has been his greatest strength which has paved the way to his success till today. After having completed his plus 2 studies, he took up the responsibility of contributing towards his higher education fees by doing the rounds of a newspaper delivery boy on his cycle in the early hours before attending college.
“I have looked at positivity towards the way of life all my years through. Whatever challenges that I may face, I look at the next option that I have to fulfil the objective. The same has been in the case with my cycle rides. I have always ensured that I finish my rides. I have always been determined to finish and never failed to get across the finish line in any of my long distance rides despite technical shortcomings or health issues,” stated Narayanan with pride.
Riding a cycle seriously only began in September 2013. A colleague of Narayanan used to cycle to work a fairly long distance from Ponda to Manipal Hospital. This inspired the young man to do the same and he bought a similar Mountain KHS Allied 150 bike. Initially, leisurely cycling around Panaji, he soon became a part of Cycling Goa and it was not long before he joined them on BRM rides.
Recalling his initiation to Brevet riding, he revealed it was a few days after his first practice ride stretching 20 kms between Miramar and Banastarim in September 2013. “After this ride, I took up my first BRM 200 km ride from Panaji Church to Mumbai Highway and back. Being my first Brevet ride it was not so easy. I had dehydration, mechanical issues with my bike and had aches in my knees, shoulders and neck, but I was determined to complete the ride,” he stated.
He gradually moved on to sterner rides that were 300, 400, 600 kms. Finishing the various Brevet rides from 200-600 kms in a season from September 2013 to January 2014 he became a Super Randonneur for the very first time. It was not long after that he qualified for RAAM for the very first time.
In February 2014, Narayanan rode the Pune-Goa stretch for a distance of 640 kms in 31 hours and 7 minutes, his first long distance supported ride. The following month he cycled a 1000 kms from Chennai to Vijaywada and back in 63 hours odd to be the fastest finisher. He thereon successfully attempted 1200 kms taking a route from Bengaluru via Ooty, Salem and finishing at Bengaluru in around 90 hours. From thereon, he went from strength to strength in distance and improving upon his timings.
The twice RAAM qualified ultra endurance cyclist with four years of long distance cycling experience behind him, now looks ahead at the formidable task ahead. At RAAM 2017, he was a crew member to Lt Srinivas Gokulnath (Nasik) who holds the record as the fastest Indian RAAM finisher with a timing of 11 days, 18 hours and 45 minutes and who stood seventh at the edition with compatriot, Dr Amit Samarth of Nagpur finishing eighth. Incidentally, these are the only two Indian RAAM finishers to date, while Narayanan endeavours to join the elite club this June.
Learning from the experience and with a main objective of breaking Gokulnath’s Indian RAAM Finisher record, Narayanan has a set plan in place. “I intend to take a sleep break between 1-3 pm when the sun is the most harsh. Otherwise, I will keep riding consistently, adhere to proper nutrition and keep myself well-hydrated to accomplish my aim,” Narayanan maintained.
Currently training under USA-based coach, Alberto Blanco, Narayanan receives online guidance on training schedule, RAAM-related logistics, accessories required, diet plan, gymming and recovery schedule. From time to time he has telephonic discussions with his coach as well. On the hurdles facing him, the most major are financially related.
To compete in RAAM, an endurance cyclist coming from India would require 40 lakhs and he says he has been able to raise only half as much mainly through corporate help from his cycling community. “In fact, my support team are self-financing themselves,” he added. “Also bike accessories and nutrition needs are available outside India in places like UK and USA and I request my friends coming down to get what is needed for me,” the RAAM qualifier stated.
