Unyielding spirit- Story of 'Spartan' athlete Amit Kadian

Amit Kadian, is a Haryanvi athelete making his mark in an unconventional and less-heard of sport in India and Haryana. Manuja Hooda from The Haryana Story interviewed Amit Kadian who shared his journey in fair detail.

Some hobbies and dreams of our school days merely remain in our imagination and fail to become a reality. It is when the fire is ignited again, a little late but totally worth the wait. And in that journey, you find a bigger purpose to keep continuing it. One such story is of Amit Kadian which we are sharing with our readers today. 

THS: Sir, Let's start with the most commonly asked yet crucial question. What inspired you to begin running marathons? Engage your readers with the trajectory your life has followed in the past one decade.

Amit: I had a thing for sports since childhood. Coming from a rural background and carrying that zeal for running, I made my comeback in athletics in 2013 when I started running for 5 to 10 KMs and it wasn’t much later in the same year that I owed my participation in the first local obstacle race “Devil Circuit” to Harshveer Saluja. Devil Circuit is an obstacle race of 5 KMs with 15 obstacles. I blacked out just 100 metres before finishing line but ended up among the top 3. One thing was sure, that I was doing it again with more training and focus. After that, I pushed my limits and trained myself for another 1.5 years to an extent to participate for Olympic size “Ironman” in Goa meanwhile also participating in devil circuits. An Ironman Triathlon is part of a series of long-distance races which includes running, Swimming and cycling. I ended up in top 5 in all three Ironman races held in Hyderabad, Delhi and Goa. I discovered about an obstacle race in Hong Kong through a fellow athlete, and to my surprise, I finished among the top 8, qualifying for the World Championship in Canada. This marked the start of my Spartan journey, and from that moment, there was no turning back. I became the first Indian athlete to compete in the OCR World Championship in Canada. Recently, I have won Silver for India in Thailand Spartan Race Championship.

THS: Tell us a bit more about the Spartan Race.

Amit: Spartan race or what the name is OCR, obstacle course race is a physical competition combining running with various challenges. Participants navigate a course featuring obstacles like climbing walls, mud pits, balance beams, and rope swings. Training typically includes a mix of endurance, strength, and agility exercises. Sprint usually includes 5Km track with 20 Obstacles, Super has 10 Km track with 25 obstacles, Beast has 21 Km with 30 obstacles and ultra has 50 km track with 60 obstacles. I have participated in Sprint, Super and Beast Category. I feel, doing Ultra needs a little more training.

THS: Did you face any resistance from family when you started your athletics journey?

Amit: Yes, I wouldn’t say it was smooth but wasn’t that difficult either. Parents do want their children to pursue what pleases them but they have their own concerns. I would come back home all drenched in the mud. My hands, feet, shoes, clothes were dirty. My mother was concerned about the fact that whatever I was doing to train, was it even worth it? She would always say, “India mein kya future hai iska?” and honestly, there was not any at that point in time. But it is after a lot of efforts, that Spartan Race will be held in India for the first time coming November.

THS: How did you balance your personal life and training? 

Amit: Balancing a 9-to-5 job with marathon training was challenging. It required significant sacrifice and discipline. My routine involved early morning workouts, full days at the office, and evening sessions of yoga and meditation. I had to forgo parties, family events, weddings, and social gatherings to focus on my training. And after all these sacrifices, the effort proved to be incredibly rewarding.

THS: What keeps you motivated, during tough times or after a loss? 

Amit: India has amazing talent and young athletes which remains mostly unrecognised. I had a bigger goal taking shape inside me that Spartan Race must come in India. Whenever I faced moments of doubt, I would remind myself of this larger objective driving my efforts. 

THS: Can you share a pivotal moment of your journey so far?

Amit: Being awarded by the Chief of Army Staff is the moment of pinnacle for me and my family. It is a deeply proud moment, especially considering that my father was once honoured with such an award, and now I have achieved it as well. 

THS: Do you have any advice for new athletes who are interested in pursuing this?

Amit: Life without purpose is mundane. Anyone who is putting his/her heart, soul and body into this sport must have a strong purpose to do it. That will only make him continue doing it and reach the pinnacle. Yet another tip is to make repetitiveness and hard work a way of life. Without them, Spartan won’t let you in. 

THS: What is the future of Spartan in India?

Amit: Till now, it wasn’t an area with much of a scope. But I would take this moment to make every reader aware of the first Spartan Race that is to be held in India coming November in Delhi and Noida. This is a fantastic opportunity for athletes to showcase their skills and participate in a groundbreaking event. Additionally, there’s potential for Spartan Racing to be included in the 2028 Olympics, which would bring even greater recognition to the sport.

THS: As a sportsperson, what words of wisdom you wish to give to the student community and other people?

Amit: For all the young people out there, my key advice is to incorporate physical exercise into your daily routine. Aim for at least an hour of activity each day, regardless of your age. Whether you run, jog, play sports, or engage in any form of outdoor activity, find what suits you and stay active. Physical fitness is essential not only for building confidence but also for enhancing mental well-being and supporting overall personal growth. Embrace a healthier lifestyle and leave behind habits that don't serve your well-being. Moving your body regularly will positively impact every aspect of your life, setting you up for success in numerous ways.