One-armed runner's determination in the face of adversity

ONE man who will be running the 2025 Comrades Marathon is sure to inspire anyone to get up and run - and keep pushing until the end.

Even 54 years after a life-threatening infection resulted in the amputation of his left arm, Suresh Shankar Welankar, who lives in Thane, a city just outside Mumbai, India, will not quit taking on challenges. He is fuelled by sheer willpower.

On Sunday, 58-year-old  Welankar will line up with 24 000 other runners at the start of the "Down Run" outside the Pietermaritzburg City Hall, all with a single mission: to finish 89km later at Durban’s People’s Park within 12 hours.

At the age of four, Welankar  fell from a tree and the wound became gangrenous, necessitating amputation. But he did not allow his disability to put him down and he completed his schooling. His impoverished background saw him delivering milk and newspapers and washing cars to help support his family. Welankar's love for physical fitness, hard work, discipline and a positive attitude gave him the strength and determination to overcome many obstacles. 

At the age of 22, with sheer grit and determination, he completed the 550km Mumbai to Goa Bike Ride - with a single arm.

In 2021, when Welankar settled in Thane to give his children a better school education, he took up serious running after seeing hundreds of people running. He began with brisk walking and graduated to 20 to 30km weekend efforts and, eventually, built up to races. He has completed 21 half marathons, nine full marathons and three ultramarathons, with a marathon personal best time of 3 hours and 47 minutes.Training begins at 4am on weekdays before he goes to work at the Mazagon Dock Shipyards in Mumbai where he has been employed for the past 35 years.

His wife and three children are supportive of him and also participate in sporting activities.

Is it more difficult to run with one arm than with two? Yes, when running with only one arm, the body's natural balance and momentum are disrupted, leading to changes in running mechanics that can increase the risk of injury and decrease efficiency.

Welankar had to work hard to master the art of compensating for the lack of a left arm swing, while retaining balance and stability. His greatest motivation to enter the Comrades Marathon - considered the world's most gruelling ultramarathon for its long distance, challenging terrain, and strict time limits - has been his coach, six-time Comrades finisher Deepak Budhrani, also of Mumbai.

“Suresh is a model trainee who listens and pushes himself beyond limit. The loss of an arm is never used as an excuse,” said Budhrani.

“The arm swing helps maintain balance and stability during running by counteracting the movement of the legs. Losing the use of one arm can make it more difficult to maintain balance. But feisty Suresh has overcome this challenge by practising as much as possible.

“He has set his heart and soul on finishing his first comrades. Suresh has diligently pushed through obstacles - his disability, physical fatigue, and mental doubts - with unwavering perseverance.

“I have seen Suresh embrace discomfort in pursuit of a goal. Determination is the driving force that keeps him moving forward, powered by discipline and the belief that success is possible through effort. Given his never-say-die attitude, I am convinced he is ready for Comrades,” said Deepak.

For Welankar, finishing the Comrades Marathon will be a dream come true. Since taking up running, he had nurtured the desire to enter and complete the Ultimate Human Race.

“I may not have one arm, but I have two legs, the support of my family, the guidance of my coach Deepak, and faith in God, to see me reach the finish line before cut-off time. So long as you tell yourself that you can, then you surely will. Belief creates courage,” he said.

Amit Sheth, the official Comrades International Brand Ambassador for India, the first Indian national to have run the Comrades Marathon in 2009, and author of the best-seller Dare to Run, said: “Suresh’s participation is a proud moment for India. He is not only representing our nation, but also millions of people living with disabilities who dare to dream. He is a trailblazer and an inspiration.”

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