COLOMBO: Marathon star Hassan Esufally has edged closer to becoming the first Sri Lankan to complete a marathon in each continent of the world, when he became the first Sri Lankan to complete one of the world’s most arduous marathons, the Inca Trail in Peru earlier this month.
A full marathon is usually 42.2 km (26 miles and 385 yards being the historical measure) but each continent presents its own unique challenges and extreme conditions. The 27-year old Esufally has already completed marathons in the continents of Europe (Stockholm Marathon in June 2017), Asia (Colombo Marathon in October 2017), Australia (Melbourne Marathon in 2014 and 2016) and this year he has completed the Boston Marathon in United States (April 2018) and the Big Five Marathon in South Africa (June 2018).
The Inca Trail is the sixth marathon in his long journey to bring honour to Sri Lanka by gaining entry into The 7 Continents Marathon Club™ , an exclusive club of elite marathon runners who have completed some of the most grueling marathons in the world. At present there are less than 300 members worldwide. The Club is exclusive and reserved for athletes who are carefully vetted to prove they have run a marathon within the Antarctic Circle on the Antarctica continent, as well as on the other six continents.
Hassan’s most momentous moment will dawn when he conquers the seventh marathon challenge– the 14th Antarctic Ice Marathon in Antarctica in December. This race taking place at an altitude of 700 metres above sea level, presents a formidable Antarctic challenge with underfoot conditions comprising snow and ice throughout, an average windchill temperature of –20C, with the possibility of strong winds.
In an interview with Global Sri Lankan, the endurance expert talks about his dream to create history and keep Sri Lanka’s flag flying high on the marathon map of the world.
What is your next target?
I will be taking part in the 14th Antarctic Ice Marathon in Antarctica, which takes place at 80 Degrees South, just a few hundred miles from the South Pole at the foot of the Ellsworth Mountains. This is truly a race for adventure marathoners as it presents formidable weather and running conditions: the underfoot conditions are snow and ice throughout, with an average wind chill temperature of -20˚C at an altitude of 700 meters. Runners also face the possibility of having to endure katabatic winds, strong winds that come down through the polar plateau and can gather speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour.
What do you find to be the most rewarding thing about running, especially running a marathon?
I love the freedom that comes with running. It’s a fantastic way to keep fit and one can do it anywhere. Also the feel good endorphins that are released after a run are amazing – it’s such a natural high and puts me in a creative state which I then capitalize to better other areas of my life. With marathon’s in particular I love the feeling of satisfaction and achievement once you complete them. It’s immensely rewarding training for a goal and then accomplishing it much more than training for aesthetics alone.
What are your immediate goals and long-term goals as a marathon runner?
My goal is to become the first Sri Lankan to complete a full Marathon in each of the seven continents by running in the world’s hardest and most exclusive Marathons’. If successful I will become a member of the 7 Continents Marathon Club.
What motivated you to run and that too long distance, and what keeps you going?
The motivation is really intrinsic and I think with things like these it has to be. otherwise it will be very difficult to remain motivated in the long term.
How do you prepare –both mentally and physically – before a race?
For the physical side I have a training plan which I follow diligently and I am very disciplined with this. I also aim to eat clean and follow a balanced diet. The mental side I think is the most important because with tough things like this you’ve got to want it bad enough because there are so many difficult moments. So I use a combination of meditation and prayer to keep me motivated and on top of my game. This process helps me remain grounded and grateful for everything that I have and at the same time keeps my hungry to achieve more.
What is your most unforgettable achievement so far and was there a race that was heart-breaking for you?
I had so many fantastic moments in my life but if I had to pick one achievement it would be the completing the Full IRONMAN in 2016. The full IRONMAN is a 3.86km swim, 180km bike and a 42.2 km full marathon run and is widely considered to be the hardest sporting event in the world! Really what was amazing happened after was the mental transformation – I now believe I can achieve anything I set my mind to.
In terms of heart break I guess it would be the IRONMAN70.3 (or half IRONMAN) I did in Geelong. In this race the organizers had initially written on their website that the bike time cut off would be 3hr and 45 minutes so that’s what I trained for, however after the race was over and I had returned home, I was surprised to find out that it was 3.30 which meant I would not be an official finisher. I emailed them with the proof that it said 3.45 and they apologized and said that it was an error and that if they change the results for me they would have to do so for everyone else.
However, this was easy for me to overcome and make peace with because I did finish the race and I later accomplished the full IRONMAN (as aforementioned) which was my main goal to begin with, getting into triathlons.
You have been running for so many years. What lessons have you learnt that you can relate to your own personality, family and country?
With regard to my personal life – I have learnt the qualities required for success. Things like persistence, determination, perseverance and mental toughness. I have also learnt to be a leader by example. If I want others to be inspired by the health and fitness lifestyle I have to live it too.
In terms of my family, it’s been my healthy lifestyle that has had an impact on my family. My wife and my sisters eat healthy, workout and are pretty fit (although I must admit it’s a little difficult to get my mom and dad to do so!).
In terms of what I want to do for my country I would like to combine my business background with my passion for health and fitness and set up a high performance fitness center.
How do you divide/dedicate your time off the field?
I work in my family’s tea business. I am also doing a fitness trainer course and a nutrition course as I want to be in business of fitness and health in the future. I also read a lot, but I do it in a millennial kind of way- by watching illustrated audio books on YouTube. However, I am reading quality content on things like success, wealth, fitness and self-development. In my downtime with my family and friends I love watching movies, playing cards and board games (although I admit I am very competitive).
What or who is your greatest source of inspiration?
In terms of what is my greatest inspiration I want to be remembered for creating a dent in the world. I want to be remembered as someone who impacted the world in a positive way and left his mark. The way I think about it is, you have one life and the one thing you are guaranteed in life is death, and you never know when that is going to happen. So I try to live my life to the fullest each day and follow my passions. I want to keep doing amazing and extraordinary things! I believe I have found my purpose in life – to make the world a healthier place and improve other people’s lives. I have also been so fortunate to have travelled to such amazing places, learned so much in this process and gained a broader perspective on life.
In terms of who – I’ve had amazing role models/mentors in my life from a variety of fields; from health and fitness, to business, to my personal life. I am so fortunate to have a great group of people behind me as well and so many of people who have helped and supported me both in Sri Lanka and Australia. But if I had to pick one it would be my Grandfather. For the simple reason that he believed in me before I became successful, he told me I could achieve great things and make the world a better place. He kept encouraging, motivating and loving me even when I went through difficult times. He was a great man, and a true gentleman and is my role model in life.In this fast-paced life, leading a healthy lifestyle is fast becoming everyone’s dream.
What is your advice to those who want to stay healthy and fit?
The main advice I would give is that make health a priority and look at it as a lifestyle choice rather than on a temporary basis. When you are healthy and fit you can do so much more with your life!
MY MEMORABLE MARATHON MOMENTS
AUSTRALIA
Melbourne Marathon – 2014 and 2016
With absolutely no experience in long distance running, my first marathon was very exciting as finishing this race meant I would officially be a marathon finisher! I had only trained for three months prior and not done a half marathon before – was involved in track and field events in High School and had done a 10km race.
EUROPE
Stockholm Marathon – June 2017
Was a beautiful race throughout the picturesque town of Stockholm. It was a quintessentially European experience and quite a memorable one.
ASIA
Colombo Marathon – October 2017
Was one of my harder races due to the extreme heat and humidity and challenging course having to maneuver through traffic. It was very tough. However I am happy to have finished my home country race for Asia and would do it again if I had to. Kudos to those who complete a marathon on this course.
NORTH AMERICA
Boston Marathon – April 2018
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by several cities in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, United States. Begun in 1897, and inspired by the success of the first marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world’s best-known road racing events.
This was by far the most brutal conditions I’ve ever run in, that were out of my control. It was so cold that I had to get an aluminum foil blanket and chew on it to stop my teeth from chattering. It was unbelievably windy that every step felt like I was pushing against a wall. I was completely drenched before the race even started- my shoes and socks wet, my clothes soaked. I thought to myself do I take layers off to be lighter or do I keep them on to keep a little warmer? I saw my wife at 17 miles as thoughts of giving up were creeping in, but that gave me the courage to keep going. At 35 km when it had picked up to a hailstorm I stopped at a medical tent to ask if I was getting hypothermia- I stayed in and heated up for 20 minutes (felt like five minutes) before going back. At 40 km I stopped at an another medical tent because I was cramping up, my body was dissipating energy trying to stay warm.
One of the things that got me through was the mantra I kept repeating to myself ‘I am an IRONMAN’ – that I had succeeded at the hardest sporting event in the world. That I could do anything I set my mind to. But there was no training or preparation or previous experience for what happened yesterday! I just kept repeating this mantra and kept pushing that’s all I could do. Looking back, I think these are the moments that define who you are, when it’s tough, when you want to quit but you don’t. If you want success badly enough you push on. This was the mentality I had in the both the IRONMAN 140.6 and the Boston Marathon and ultimately this is what got me and the Sri Lankan flag over the finish line. The crowd support was amazing! The Boston community played a huge part in making the runners keep going.
AFRICA
Big 5 Marathon, South Africa – June 2018
Runners from all over the world meet in one of the most spectacular Big Five game reserves in Africa for the Big Five Marathon. It is known for its challenging course, which takes runners through incredible scenery and showcases the natural beauty and wildlife of South Africa. The run takes competitors’ through valleys and plateaus, over hills and through rivers.
This marathon was definitely one of the most memorable ones I’ve ever run! The beautiful scenery and incredible wildlife combined with the warmth and hospitality of the South African people made it all the more exciting and special. It was also a great honour to be out there representing my country. Running past that finish line with the Sri Lankan flag hoisted high above my shoulders was a profound and exhilarating moment, and it gave me a fresh burst of motivation to keep pushing my boundaries in the upcoming marathons.
Running amidst a fantastic variety of wildlife, just roaming about nonchalantly was definitely one of my favourite highlights. Running through the Entabeni Savannah, I could see rhino, giraffe, zebra and wildebeest, at which point I thought to myself ‘thank goodness – no lions!’ Huge credit goes to the rangers who were tracking the lions all throughout the race, ensuring that they kept a distance of at least 5km from the marathoners. Seeing the animals up-close like that was an amazing experience, and it gave me an adrenaline rush which made me run much faster.
I stopped occasionally to take a few pictures of the scenery and wildlife, as this marathon to me, personally, was more about the experience than the finishing time. At many points of the race and at the aid stations, we were also cheered on by traditional African drummers and singers, which made the experience so unique and authentic. There was something special about running to the beat of African drums, in stretches of pure, untainted wild bushland.
SOUTH AMERICA
Inca Trail Marathon, Peru – August 2018
The Inca Trail Marathon is much more than a race. It’s a marathon which delves into history and heritage of a beautiful paradise. The Inca Trail Marathon to Machu Picchu follows the original pilgrimage trail that leads into the religious capital of the Inca Empire, the legendary “Lost city of the Incas” -Machu Picchu! The run is deemed the world’s hardest marathon because of extreme temperatures, humidity, strenuous over mountain terrain at altitudes ranging from 8,000’ to 13,779’, and the difficulty of the trail itself.
What an epic marathon! The day before the marathon we hiked 13 km to Llactapata where we camped and spent the night with a 2 am wake up call for a 4 am start time. We had snowy, rainy, sunny and windy conditions at different points on top of dealing with the brutality and ruggedness of the terrain! At the start of the race it was cold and dark, then as the sun rose it became hot and wet we made our way to the hardest uphill section- Dead Woman’s Pass. The altitude was a real killer; the thin air made it difficult to breathe but having acclimated for a few days and my training with my high altitude mask paid off in this regard.
This entire first half of the race I ran with a fellow runner, Melissa and we took amazing pictures of captivating views and really enjoyed this part of the course.
By the half marathon point I had twisted my ankle five times on each leg; my legs and body were so sore but despite that I decided I would break away from Melissa in order to make the time cut off for the Winay Wayna gate. At the third pass of Runkurakay there was a point going uphill where an English family actually let me borrow their walking sticks to get up to 12,000 ft.
Around an hour before the gate cut off, my watch died and I had to run on instinct after this. I got to the final aid station at Puyupatamarca and left all my layers there in order to be as light as possible for what was to be the most grueling section yet!
I ran like a maniac and prayed to god, thought of my grandfather, my high priest and it was like something struck me like a bullet and I had this newfound energy! Despite all the hardship, running on instinct with no calculation of my pace, and twisting my ankles again due to running downhill on treacherous trail I knew I would make the gate cut off and I did. Got to the gate with two minutes to spare!
After the Winay Wayna gate it was onto the famous Sun Gate where you get your first glimpse of the breathtaking Machu Picchu and see the end in sight. To see the ancient lost city of Machu Picchu for the first time from up there was truly rewarding given the hard work I had put in to get here. I really soaked it all in, took pictures and radioed my wife Rashida to say I was on the way to the finish line! I had tears in my eyes when I found out that she had been waiting for me at Machu Picchu for over 4 hours! I couldn’t wait to run down the last mile and a half to get to see her.
