ENERZAL Mumbai Ultra Marathon, 2025 – The 12 Hour Run.

The ENERZAL Mumbai Ultra Marathon, a unique 100% charity event to raise fund for the Pediatric Cancer patients under treatment at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai is being scheduled on 15^th. August, 2025.

CAPTAIN SUNIL HANDA- Indian Naval Officer & Marathoner:

A Captain serving in the Indian Navy, Sunil Handa needs to remain in the pink of his fitness, needless to mention, largely due to his professional traits. Hence athleticism stood as a dexterity which manifested to transform Sunil as an avid Sportsperson.

The journey towards an extended distance, commenced with Standard Charted Mumbai Marathon in 2006, which was Sunil’s first Full Marathon, which again improved further at the same event in 2008.

The Captain’s quest for transcending limitations, and counterfeiting boundary paradox were largely supplemented by camaraderie exhibited by his wife Ritu Chandel Handa. An avid runner parri-passu, Ritu has participated in most of the events with Sunil – when not all. The officer along with his wife has participated in more than 200 Half, Full and Ultra Marathons and endurance expeditions ranging from running 10 kilometres to more than 300 kilometres at a stretch, maximum distance on foot being 333 kilometres at La Ultra in Ladakh and 420 kilometres as part of the adventure expedition consisting of cycling, trekking and rafting over a period of five days.

He is the first person from the Indian Navy to have qualified for and run at prestigious Boston Marathon in USA by running a Full Marathon (42.2 km) clocking 03 hours and 15 minutes in April, 2024 at the age of 53 years, after delving into a win-win preparation since 2018. He has again qualified & accomplished Boston Marathon in Apryl, 2025.

Sunil have set forth his Ultra journey with the coveted 12 hours Mumbai Ultra in 2014, which he cherishes, “The joy, happiness, camaraderie and sense of fulfilment I experienced during those 12 hours and even after that was unmatchable and will be cherished forever. Since then, a large number of officers, men and families from the Indian Navy have been participating in the 12-hour Mumbai Ultra. For many of them this was the stepping stone towards major achievements in running, especially marathon and ultra-marathon running”.

He has run some of the most demanding, dangerous and toughest ultra-marathons in India; 72 kms, 111 kms, 222 kms, 333 kms, strengthened with ultra’s at Ladakh which involve running at a height of more than 15000 ft with less than 50% Oxygen availability for most of the distance and involves crossing of three mountain passes above 17500 feet’s during the 333 km run.

He has also run the entire Goa in five (05) days to promote Pinkathon; Hell Race 60 & 100 km at Manali; ‘Paradise Trails’ of 105 km at Goa transiting through trails and jungles between Karwar and Goa; ‘Run the Rann’ 161 km through deserts and salt pans of Kutch (Gujarat and Rajasthan); Two stadium runs of 12 hours each in Mumbai; Two stadium runs of 24 hours at Delhi and Chandigarh; Malnad Ultra 110 km (Thrice); Bamboo Trail Ultra 75 km at Bengaluru; ‘Tuffman’ Mashobra and Shivalik Ultra both 80 km with a height gain of approximately 5000 metres.

As it has been mentioned in the beginning, it was athleticism which stood as a dexterity manifesting to transform Sunil as an avid Sportsperson; Sunil is a prolific mountaineer and trekker. Completing the Basic Mountaineering Course in 2012 from ABVIMAS, Manali, he has climbed many peaks in Himachal, Ladakh and Uttarakhand, notably Shigri Parbat, Jogin-2, Kang Yatse 1 & 2 etc.

Widely acclaimed as the founder and member of the organising team of the maiden edition of WNC Indian Navy Half Marathon, Mumbai in 2016 and was also the Race Director of second edition of WNC Indian Navy Half Marathon in 2017; along with being the Race Director of 01st and 02nd editions of Dehradun Navy Half Marathon in 2023 and 2024.

The saga of camaraderie amongst the couple unfolded over the years, marked by shared triumphs, mutual support, and enduring bonds forged in the face of adversity. Commodore Ritu Chandel Handa (in the defence services wives are always revered to be a rank higher than their husbands) herself has completed the absolutely challenging and demanding 160 km run from Mumbai to Pune and 150 km run from Vrindavan to Delhi. “Their inspiration, motivation, guidance and support have resulted in thousands of naval personnel and families adapting healthy life style, take up running and have participated in many runs and ultra runs all over India and abroad”.

The officer has also been awarded as the Best Ultra Runner, Best Half and Full Marathon Runner, Power Couple of Running and many more awards in long distance running. Captain Handa reaffirmed, “we both believe that journey to health and fitness starts from your kitchen and dining table. Further, with a positive mindset, healthy lifestyle, hard work, right kind of training, guidance and support from family and friends, each one of us can achieve whatever we aspire to achieve. Age cannot be reversed but as long as we think it is a number, it remains a number”.

He has appealed to the society, “We both invite all the experienced and novice runners to come and join 12-hour Mumbai Ultra as Solo runners or for the Relay with a team of 4 runners. Here you not only run for yourself but also for many others who trying hard to fight cancer. Noting can be better than running for a such a noble cause on Independence Day”.

Following the Ultra-Marathon on 15^th. August, 2025, Mumbai Ultra Blood Donation Drive is scheduled across SIX (06) places in Mumbai; Greater Mumbai, and Navi Mumbai locations from 08.00 AM to 08.00 PM on 17^th. August, 2025. The places are:

Dadar: Shivaji Park; Swatantryaveer Savarkar Rashtriya Smarak, Near (Old) Mayor’s Bunglow, 252, Veer Savarkar Marg,  Dadar (W), Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400028.

Bandra (West): St. Andrew’s College, St. Dominic Road, Bandra (W) Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400050.

Borivali (East): Raheja Old Club House; Raheja Estate, Kulupwadi, Borivali East, Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400066

Goregaon (West): Shaheed Smriti Krirangan; Mahesh Nagar, Goregaon West, Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400104

Thane (West): EEH Runners; Fittfocus; 201, Tulsee Chambers; Opposite Teen Petrol Pump; LBS Marg; Naupada; Thane West; Maharashtra – 400602.

Kharghar: ACTREC, Tata Memorial Centre; Sector 22, Utsav Chowk – CISF Rd, Owe Camp, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 410210.

Writer Suvro Sanyal

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