Age is just a number, and women can strength-train and exercise rigorously to conquer physical milestones that society vehemently tells them are unachievable – this is the story of Kishori Kudecha, a 69-year-old marathon runner whose inspiring fitness journey began at the age of 60.
She shared that her very first run was a 5km-run, during which she also earned her first podium finish. But her list of accomplishments does not end here. She has also represented herself across marathons in cities including Ahmedabad, Goa, Surat, Pune, Ratnagiri, Satara, Mount Abu, and Valsad. In her mission to prove that age is no barrier to endurance and determination, she has achieved many accolades. At that stage of life, I felt it was important to do something for myself and my own well-being. Gradually, running became a part of my life. It gave me confidence, strength and a new purpose. Yes, sometimes people are surprised when they hear my age and the distances I run. I have heard comments like, “At this age, you are still running? But I take such comments positively. I believe my achievements are my answer. I don’t want to focus on discrimination; I want to focus on breaking stereotypes. Whether you are a woman or a senior citizen, you should never allow society to decide what you can or cannot do. My message is simple: please don’t forget yourself. As women, we spend so much of our lives taking care of our families, but our own health is equally important. Taking time for yourself is not selfish. When a woman is healthy and happy, the whole family benefits. It is never too late to start. Fitness is now a way of life for me. Every morning, I spend nearly three hours training. I continue to run regularly and also include strength and mobility exercises in my routine. As a second activity with running, I’m doing Yoga and Pranayam every day from Monday to Saturday for one hour. I listen to my body, give myself enough recovery and focus on consistency rather than competing with my younger self. For me, fitness is not just about medals or races—it is about staying active, independent, strong and positive. I would tell them: strength has no gender. Strength training is for everyone, including women and girls. It helps us become stronger physically and mentally and gives us confidence in our everyday lives. Women should not be afraid of lifting weights or becoming “too strong. Being strong is an advantage. Start small, learn the right technique and gradually build your strength. Your body deserves to be strong, not just slim.
Kishori, who is also a member of the WalkAbout—a community-driven platform for adults aged 55+ that aims to change how ageing is perceived in urban India—shared her inspiring journey in an interview with HT Lifestyle . Since then, she has steadily progressed across multiple race categories, completing 8 km, 10 km, 16 km, 21 km, 35 km ultra marathons, and eventually her first full 42 km marathon at the Tata Mumbai Marathon in 2024. In December 2025, she achieved another major milestone by completing a 50 km ultramarathon with Pinkathon Invincible Women. Over the years, ever since she began running, Kishori secured more than 45 podium finishes, consistently ranking among the top three in the 45+ to 65+ age categories. She received the Best 1st Runner-Up Award in the Super Veteran category from Mumbai Road Runners in 2025, followed by the 2nd Runner-Up Award in March 2026. She was also honoured with the Best Runner Award by Swami Vivekanand Youth on March 8, 2026. In conversation with HT Lifestyle, Kishori shared what motivated her to kickstart her fitness journey at 60, the discrimination she faces as a woman athlete, what fitness looks like now, and more. I started my running journey at the age of 60. I started with just 2 km a day, without imagining how far this journey would take me. Even 30 minutes of walking, exercise, or any activity you enjoy can make a difference.
My biggest motivation today is to prove that age is not a limitation; you can always start something new.
