From Badminton Courts to 10xBoston Qualifier!! (Story of Subhojit Roy)

Author’s Note –

It is not every day that you get a chance to sit across from a person who has lived life like a playbook and is completely nonchalant about it, almost unaware of his own superpower.

I had a wonderful time talking to him on a pleasant afternoon, when winter was yet to spread its chill and the October heat had softened its fiery edge.

We ordered our choice of coffee and settled onto the café's lovely terrace balcony, surrounded by indoor plants. As a runner myself, I don't need much time to get into the comfort zone. It's almost as if there is an unspoken energy that makes runners feel they already know each other.

A bonus: we are both Bengalis! So there it was…..a warm welcome, greetings exchanged, and almost immediately, we settled in like people meeting after a long time, discussing our favourite topics in the world.

Running.

The world of running.

Running culture.

And some more about running!

My guest today is Mr. Subhojit Roy,A passionate IT professional, fitness enthusiast, someone who loves dabbling in different sports, a traveller, a keen photographer and, above all, an accomplished runner who has qualified for Boston ten times so far. And his journey is still going strong.

The early years: Building a life

Growing up in an environment where values were deeply rooted in good education, hard work, and building a successful life, Subhojit's initial focus was quite clear.

Hailing from Bokaro Steel City, Jharkhand, he completed his education and went on to live in Kolkata, Pune, and Bengaluru, with a stint in the US along the way.

The goal at this stage of life was simple: to build a successful career.

However, even though he dedicated long hours to work, he always found a way to make time for sport. And at that point in his life, badminton was his go-to sport.

“I had no idea about running. I used to play badminton a lot and participate in events regularly. I had built a good circle of friends who played badminton. Earlier, we used to play five days a week. Then it became four days, then only weekends. Eventually, even on weekends, people wouldn't turn up.

Then I realised I needed to find a sport that I could pursue on my own. I love badminton. It is one of the toughest and greatest sports to play.”

So, his options were swimming, cycling or running. Swimming was ruled out because he couldn't swim, leaving cycling and running as the viable options.

He chose running.

An accidental start

He registered for his first-ever half marathon in 2013, the Pune Half Marathon.

Having built a strong foundation of fitness and stamina over the years playing badminton, he thought running 21.1 kilometres an achievable task.

For the first 14–15 kilometres, he definitely was acing it, on his way to his debut sub-2, and then came the hydration station. A classic first-timer's mistake: instead of sipping water, he gulped down a large quantity at once! 😊

The rest, as we can guess, wasn't particularly pleasant.

He completed the race in 2 hours and 12 minutes, but the experience left him with a question: how could someone who played badminton so regularly struggle so much towards the end of a half marathon?

The accidental full marathon

His first full marathon registration was almost as unplanned as his first half.

At another Mumbai Marathon, while running the half marathon, he was struggling to find his space and pace amidst the sea of runners when he noticed that the opposite side of the road was relatively less crowded.

Curious, he asked who those runners were.

The answer? They were the full marathoners.

His immediate thought was, That sounds fun. And there is less crowd too!

And so, he registered.

There was hardly any structured preparation. He hadn't done proper long runs, knew very little about hydration or nutrition, and was largely relying on his badminton fitness.

He ran strongly until around 28 kilometers, and then hit the wall.

One of the runners passing him commented, “Bachchu, khel abhi shuru hua hai.” (Dear, the game has just started.)

That remark stayed with him.

He eventually finished in 4 hours and 34 minutes, but the experience was excruciating. Recovery was another challenge because he didn't know much about that either.

His immediate reaction was that he would never run another marathon.

Thankfully, that decision didn't last.

He eventually decided that if he was going to run 42 kilometers again, he didn't want to be in such a miserable state. He would rather be well prepared.

Learning the science of running

The second Mumbai Marathon was a much better experience. He finished in 4:00:34, missing his sub-four-hour target by just 34 seconds.

Around this time, he attended a running workshop conducted by Ash Nath in Bengaluru.

That workshop introduced him to things he hadn't really considered before: gels, hydration, fueling, and the importance of understanding how to run a marathon.

He put into practice all the knowledge he gained, and at the Delhi Marathon, he clocked 3:30. Soon after, he travelled to Berlin for his first international marathon in 2017.

There he came, he saw, he conquered 😊

Target – 3:25, Achieved – 3:22..Result – His first-ever Boston qualification. From 2017 to 2025, he has qualified for Boston 10 times.

What had started as an attempt to find an independent sporting activity had now taken him to one of the most coveted achievements in distance running.

Boston becomes the benchmark

Qualifying for Boston was never part of his original imagination.

But once he achieved his first Boston qualification, it became a benchmark.

Not only has he qualified for Boston 10 times, but in every subsequent marathon, his times have been comfortably below the qualifying cut-off (margin of 24 minutes). He is certainly not just scraping through the qualifying time!

His approach to running, however, remains remarkably individualistic.

He has never been part of a running club. He trains independently, has worked with coaches and doesn't particularly concern himself with what other runners are doing or what timings they are achieving.

For him, running is not about keeping up with someone else. It is about his own journey.

Choosing a different path

If I had to summarise my takeaway from speaking to him, I would say he is a perfect example of living life in keeping with Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Something that, personally, I feel is getting lost today. There is a rush to do and achieve everything early in life, without necessarily building a strong foundation first.

And this brings me to something that I found particularly interesting about him. It wasn't about his running achievements, but the choices he made outside running.

Coming from a middle-class family, building a stable career and establishing himself professionally had always been important.

Having spent years working hard and building expertise in the technology and storage domain, he realised that life had reached a stage where some of his earlier responsibilities were more settled.

He could continue climbing the corporate ladder, potentially pushing towards a CTO-level position, or make room for things he had always wanted to pursue.

He consciously chose the latter.

As he put it, at the end of the day, you have one life. You need to do the things you have always wanted to do.

How running contributed to his life

“Work can consume your life. You can either let it consume you, or consciously make room for something else, something that keeps you focused on a different activity, contributes positively to your lifestyle, and gives you a break. Given the kind of intense work pressure we deal with, I think you need that break.

Running has given me the ability to dedicate a few hours every week to something I genuinely enjoy. It allows me to switch off from work and focus on something that has its own positives.”

And the changes haven't been limited to the time he spends running.

“My whole lifestyle has changed. I used to be a heavy smoker. It's not that I quit smoking because I started running. I gradually realised that as I became more physically active, smoking was getting in the way.

Running gave me the ability to lead a more disciplined life and focus on consistency, something that is important to maintain your health, mobility and mental well-being.”

There is another aspect of running that he finds particularly rewarding: the influence it has had on his family.

“Without saying anything, I was actually influencing my family members. If I tell my child to do something, he will definitely not do it! But if I practice consistency and lead a happy, healthy lifestyle myself, that becomes a positive influence. And I have seen that happen.”

But perhaps one of the biggest contributions running has made to his life is the people it has brought into it.

“Running has connected me with people from so many different walks of life. As a software professional, if I spend 20 hours a day around people who write code, my circle can become quite limited. Through running, I have got to know doctors, army personnel, and people from so many other professions. That's amazing."

And that, perhaps, is another beautiful thing about running. It doesn't just take you places; it brings people into your life whom you may never have otherwise crossed paths with.

A little fun: This or That!

Of course, no conversation with a runner is complete without a little fun! So I gave Subhojit a set of choices across different themes. Here's what he picked.

1. Race day: Perfect weather or perfect legs?

Perfect legs! I can manage any weather. In fact, at Berlin in 2025, the temperature was around 27°C at the start, and it just kept getting hotter.

2. Running: Mountains or Seaside?

Seaside.

3. Marathon: A personal best or an unforgettable experience?

An unforgettable experience.

4. Training: Solo or with running buddies?

Solo.

5. Travel: A planned itinerary or a spontaneous adventure?

Both! There has to be travel, and that's all that matters.

6. Photography: Landscapes or street photography?

Landscapes.

7. Running gear: One trusted pair or a collection of shoes?

One trusted pair. In fact, some of my shoes have clocked more than 2,000 km, and that's one of the reasons I ended up getting injured. It's not that I don't have other shoes; I just happen to like those pairs more!

8. Race morning: Calm and composed or nervous excitement?

Calm and composed.

9. Long run: A beautiful route or great company?

A beautiful route.

10. Post-run: Coffee or a big breakfast?

Coffee.

11. Running holiday: Explore a new city or escape into nature?

Escape into nature.

12. Marathon finish: Emotional tears or a huge smile?

A mix of both!

The Old-School Runner vs. The New-Age Runner

Having experienced the running world across different eras, I thought it would be interesting to get his take on how running has evolved.

1. Old-school training or data-driven training? Which do you prefer?

Old-school training, without a doubt!

“I don't do data-driven training at all. I don't even have a Strava Premium membership. I don't constantly track the progress I am making, nor do I worry too much about what my watch tells me.

The only thing I occasionally look at is my VO₂ max, just to feel good about it!”

For him, the effort matters more than the numbers on the watch.

“Genuinely, I just go out and do my run. I don't keep looking at my watch all the time.”

2. Expensive carbon-plated shoes or traditional trainers? Are we overcomplicating running?

A little bit of both!

“I don't really have favourite brands. Nike used to be my favourite, but now Adidas is good, Nike is good, and Brooks makes some really nice shoes; Saucony has some great options too.

I am quite experimental with shoes. If I feel something is nice, I will give it a try.”

What's next on the running horizon?

I couldn't let him go without asking about his next race destination.

“There are a few continents where I haven't run yet, like Australia, New Zealand, and South America. So, generally, what I tend to do is combine my travel with running.

Another destination I would love to visit and run in again is Japan. I can visit Japan any number of times!”

And that's a wrap on my conversation with Subhojit!

From an unprepared half marathon to a painful first full marathon, from learning the basics of fuelling to running a 3:22 marathon in Berlin, his journey is a testimony to that famous quote that says The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” — Lao Tzu

And now, he is a proud member of the Six Star Finisher Club

Do watch the 30-minute video interview (link here) to know more about his journey and experiences.

I wish him all the very best for his future runs and marathons, and a speedy recovery from his current injury battles. Here's to many more miles ahead!

Runner -Subhojit Roy

Location - Pune

Insta Handle - sroy_on_insta