Onto the Mountains with Kieren D'Souza The Student Athlete Podcast

In today's episode, our guest KIEREN D'SOUZA, India's Ultra Marathon Runner and an endurance athlete, talks about how he started running, what pushed him to continue running after promising himself that he'd never run again. He talks about the influence of his father on him and how his father shaped him into a better person. He talks about what it is to grow up in a military family background. He talks us through what went in his mind when he first failed in 2014 in the La Ultra High (one of world's most cruel races) and how he prepared to comeback and win it the next time. He gives his whole experience of being around the globe, participating in different races, representing our country. He talks us through how he went about SPARTATHLON. He states his views on the running space in India and talks us about his vision and mission for the running space in India. He taches how to get to know oneself better and how to cultivate discipline and build a strong mind by taking ownership. Finally he gives his definition of SUCCESS & his INGREDIENTS TO SUCCESS.

EPISODE NOTES:

(3:36) - On the environment in Manali and How the forest life style is different from the city life style

(6:00) - On how he convinced his parents to send him to Manali

(7:07 )- On the influence of his father on his development, the qualities he admired & imbibed from him and how was it growing up with a father who was the Group Captain in Indian Air Force

(10:34) - On how to build Discipline

(12:35) - On Extreme Ownership and taking control of our life

(13:19 )- On his first race experience and the afterwards

(15:05) - On why took up running after promising to never run again

(16:58) - On his first Ultra Marathon experience.

(25:09) - On La Ultra High, Ladakh (one of world's cruelest races) - Failing to reach the cut off in 2014 and then coming back to WIN IT in 2016, the whole experience and process

(30:16) - On participating in the UTMB CCC in the Alps and the whole experience.

(34:02) - On how to get more affectionate towards Running.

(37:42 )- Spartathlon - 246 km race - being the only Indian to participate and complete the race - ranking 85th/370 - transforming the running space in India - the whole process of getting there.

(44:18) - On representing India and being the reason that India has started to participate in World Trail Championships.

(46:15) - On the running space in India and how does it feel to be a Pioneer for the running space in India

(47:26 )- On what is FKT (Fastest Known Time), Triple Trouble Circuit, Deo Tibba (Nivia 42k) - setting records on all the three projects - Why he wanted to do it and the whole process.

(52:00 )- On whether running is mental or physical.

(52:32 )- On what kind of Self Talk does he have during races

(56:40 )- On his role models.

(57:55 )- On his approach to life and Stoicism.

(59:45 )- On his Vision & Mission.

(1:01:14) -On how to get to know oneself better.

(1:03:21 )- On his biggest learning from the past 27 years of his life.

(1:03:51) - On the advice he’d like to give to upcoming athletes who’d like to take up ultra marathon as a career.

(1:05:28 )- On what is Success according to him and what are his ingredients to success?