Four summers ago, Savita Singhal was unable to walk due to extreme pain. After rehab, she has shown a hunger to log mile after mile in training.

Navneet Singh

Four summers ago, Savita Singhal, a school teacher in South West Delhi, was diagnosed with sciatica. The nerve pain radiating from her lower back down her leg was excruciating. She could barely walk. “It was a nightmare for the entire family,” she recalls of that harrowing time.

Instead of brooding, the resilient mother of an 11-year-old son overcame the challenging circumstances and emerged stronger.

Today, the 40-year-old is up before dawn, logging miles on the streets of Dwarka. From being advised surgery to completing a full marathon, her journey has been one of quiet transformation. 

In September 2021, Savita’s back pain was so severe that she needed support to stand. Surgery was suggested, but she turned to physiotherapy and later naturopathy. “It was a nightmare for me as I could barely walk without support,” she explains. “I couldn’t eat or sleep because of the mental agony,” says the Chemistry teacher.

Surgery vs naturopathy

“When word went around that I wasn’t well, advice poured in from all corners. It gave me some mental strength — a ray of hope that I would be able to walk again,” Savita recalls. “One of our neighbours advised naturopathy. It worked for me.”

Instead of surgery, she chose physiotherapy and later opted for naturopathy. Post-rehab, she discovered a new life — running to good health. These days, she can be spotted lacing up her shoes in the wee hours on the streets of Dwarka in South West Delhi. “I’m thankful to the Almighty that I’m able to run and enjoy a new lifestyle,” she says of her entry into the world of distance running.

To rebuild her fitness, she was asked to walk 10–15 minutes in the park. “The child in me told me that I could walk. My inner strength activated my nervous system,” she says. “Initially my legs were shaky, but with time I gained strength and moved forward with confidence.”

She returned to her normal routine one step at a time. The school teacher says she has no words to express how strong she feels after her long runs.

Summer holidays

This summer vacation, Savita logged more than 500km in four weeks. “We had school holidays in June. So, I just thought of testing myself,” she explains.

Her average distance was 20km a day for four consecutive weeks, with her longest run exceeding 30km. In July, once school reopened, she reduced her mileage to 15km a day. “I had to wake up in the wee hours to run, then return and prepare a lunch box for my son and husband,” the running mom adds.

Savita has also competed in several road races in the domestic circuit, ranging from half-marathons (21km) to the full marathon (42km). Despite the high mileage, she follows a simple diet. “I eat normal meals and seasonal fruits,” she reveals. She does not believe in food supplements, a trend fast catching on in the running community.

Nervous start

After recovering from sciatica, Savita was hesitant to take up physical activity. She wasn’t into sports in her school or college days, and the memory of severe back pain made her nervous.

Her gut, however, told her she could do it. It took a couple of months before she truly believed she had the ability to run. Each day, her confidence grew and she felt stronger.

She started with walks and short jogs in the park. One day in mid-2022, she tested herself on a 4km trail. The adrenaline rush and feel-good factor pushed her to continue running the next day, and the day after. “During moderate tempo runs, I could feel my heart thumping and lungs gasping for breath,” Savita says of those early days.

Her first 21km competition came in November 2022. “I felt good. My body was able to respond well to the challenge,” she recalls.

Marathon world

In 2023, Savita took the plunge into marathon running. The distance of 42.195 km is the standard distance of a marathon, which is the longest foot race at the Olympic Games.

“I completed my first marathon in December 2023. Running a full marathon further added to my confidence,” she says.

Sometimes during her long runs, Savita stops mid-stride and reflects. “Four summers ago I was struggling to walk. These days I’m gliding on the roads thanks to supreme fitness,” she says. “The support and love from my family and students gives me strength to wake up early in the morning for outdoor physical activity.”

ENDS