Pandya tops Indian women at Boston Marathon debut

Vadodara: Just a few years ago, Aditi Pandya took up running seriously, beginning with a half-marathon in Mumbai. On Monday, she made a striking debut on one of the world's most prestigious stages, finishing as the top Indian woman at the Boston Marathon.The 43-year-old runner, who has roots in Vadodara, clocked 3:22:35. "I trained rigorously for this race, but I didn't expect to finish first among Indian women. I'm very happy. Just participating in the Boston Marathon is a huge experience — this is like icing on the cake," Pandya told TOI over the phone from the US.Close on her heels was another Gujarati runner, Ratna Mehta from Surat, who finished in 3:22:44.This year's Boston Marathon saw 82 Indian participants, including 13 women.For Pandya, this was her first appearance at a world marathon major, and the experience left a strong impression. A co-founder of a Bengaluru-based fitness company, she followed a disciplined 13-week training plan, covering nearly 1,400km in preparation. "I focused on simple, home-cooked food with the right balance of protein and carbohydrates," she said.Pandya qualified for the Boston Marathon last year after completing the Delhi Marathon in 3:39. Since then, Her journey began in 2016 while working in Mumbai, and within a year she had completed her first half-marathon.She credits her sporting background — as a national-level hockey player and a representative for India in roller-skating at the Asian Games — for helping her transition into long-distance running. "Running gave me focus, agility and a sense of purpose," she said.Over the past nine years, Pandya has completed 24 marathons, including four full marathons, and has consistently finished on the podium in her age category in recent years. She has also run the Vadodara International Marathon three times, finishing on the podium each time.Daughter of retired MS University professor Amita Pandya, Aditi completed her education in Vadodara before moving to Mumbai.