At his age, most of his contemporaries are sporting a beer belly. Stepping into the dreaded 40s is that time in life when fitness takes a backseat for most men. But just one look at Ashok Nath and you will mistake him to be a thirty- year-old.
Meet the ex-COO of a brand consulting firm who gave up his two-decade long corporate career for his love— running. And now, this Bengalurian has qualified for one of the world’s most famous racing events— the Boston Marathon in USA.
Ashok Nath has spent 20 years in the corporate world, working with and consulting for high-profile brands like Ogilvy & Mather and Burger King.
He retired in 2010 to pursue his passion for running. Ashok has qualified for the Boston Marathon for the third year in a row, “It was my hunger to get better at what I do which is why I didn’t stop at national level marathons,” says the runner.
‘God of Running’, as he is popularly known among local runners, Ashok is one among three from India to qualify for the marathon in April.
What started as a fitness regime slowly transformed into a passion for the former head honcho. “The day you discover a passion, it finds a way to fit into your schedule,” says Ashok who started with a half marathon in Bengaluru. “Only when you have other activities in your life will you become a more interesting person,” says the ex-businessman. While he inspires many youngsters, his son is his biggest fan. “He asks me, “Dad! Don’t you ever fall ill?” and I just smile,” chuckles Ashok.
When not running, Ashok is either reading or writing for fitness magazines. “I love reading and I am probably the best retail customer for online bookstores,” says Nath, who is currently busy setting up a new “runners” venture.
But he insists that passion alone is not enough for being successful. “Time management is key to win anything in life. As you grow older, you manage better and become an all-rounder,” says the athlete who runs thrice a week. “Each running day is important for me because my target time needs to improve,” says Ashok who is training hard to be better his previous performance at the Boston Marathon.
