These Indian Women Runners Are Crushing Marathons, Raising Kids, and Proving Their Unbreakable Spirit

Stories of strength, discipline, and passion quietly unfold on the streets, hills, and tracks of every corner of India. While social media is flooded with fitness reels, these women runners live the grind, juggling jobs, babies, and injuries while chasing marathons and medals. This isn’t just about running but heart, hustle, and healing.

Here’s a detailed and inspiring look at six Indian women runners whose feet have taken them far beyond the finish lines.

Abhilasha Haver: The Pacer With a Passion

Abhilasha’s running journey began in 2016, and since then, she has completed over 35 half marathons and even completed two full marathons. Her records also hold countless 10k races and impressive 200 km brevet cycling events. She’s known for her consistency and often finishes on the podium. Abhilasha is regularly selected as a pacer and event ambassador as a sign of talent and community trust.

Best Moments: In 2024, Abhilasha served as a pacer in four events, a proud moment that placed her as a leader with performance. She’s running races and helping others cross the finish line, too.

Personal Bests:

• Half marathon: 02:18:00
• 10 km: 01:01:00

Dhara Shanghvi: From Weight Loss to Winning Hearts

Dhara started running to lose her pregnancy weight. Eight years later, she’s bagging podium finishes and multiple pacing assignments at top events. What began as self-care has now become a lifestyle and content.

Personal Bests:

• Half marathon: 02:20
• 10 km: 01:00
• 5 km: 00:25:00

Best Moments: Standing on the podium while cheering for others, Dhara lives for glory and gratitude.

Dipti Jain: Fighting Illness, Finishing Ultras

Dipti’s story is powerful. At 38, facing hypothyroidism, Pylori infection, cervical spondylosis, and constant back pain, she chose not to give up. Instead, she started lifting weights, practising yoga, running, and even became a certified diet consultant from Sophia College.

Career Highlight:

• Yoga coach and diet consultant
• Finished the TATA Ultra Marathon despite an injury

Best Moment: Completing her first TATA Ultra Marathon with an injury. It wasn’t just a race, it was a reminder of her strength.

Harmilan Bains: The Queen of Middle-Distance Running

Harmilan Bains, affectionately known as The Queen, hails from Mahilpur, Punjab, and has rapidly ascended the ranks of Indian athletics with her remarkable performances in middle-distance events.

Career Highlights:

• National Record Holder: Set a national record in the 1500m with 4:05.39 at the 2021 National Open Athletics Championships in Warangal, breaking a 19-year-old record.
• Asian Games 2023: Secured silver medals in both the 800m and 1500m events in Hangzhou, emulating her mother Madhuri Singh’s achievement from the 2002 Asian Games.
• Asian Indoor Championships 2024: Clinched the gold medal in the 1500m event.
• Khelo India University Games 2020: Achieved a double gold in the 800m and 1500m events.

Personal Bests:

• 800m: 2:02.57 (2021)
• 1500m: 4:05.39 (2021)
• 3000m: 9:01.30 (2023)

Best Moments:

• Asian Games 2023: Winning double silver medals, particularly in the 800m, mirrored her mother’s success two decades prior, highlighting a legacy of excellence.
• Breaking National Records: Her 1500m national record in 2021 was a significant milestone, showcasing her dominance in the event.

Namrata Agarwal: From Banking to Ultra Runs

Namrata began her career at ICICI Bank in the transaction banking group. But beyond her finance desk, she’s a powerhouse on the track. Despite battling jaundice and gaining 12 kg during recovery, she bounced back to finish the Hyderabad Half Marathon in 02:27:13. Now a certified ACSM marathon coach, she thrives on helping others meet their fitness goals through her training and content.

Personal Bests:

• 5 km: 00:27:29
• 10 km: 00:56:41
• 21 km: 02:14:01
• 42 km: 05:22:23

Best Moment: Bouncing back from illness and weight gain to run marathons. Finishing a 50 km Ultra (TATA Ultra-Lonavala) was a standout achievement. For Namrata, running is both medicine and meditation.

Ayesha Billimoria: The Fastest Girl in India with a Purpose

Ayesha’s story is all about speed, spirit, and social impact. She’s a national-level sprinter turned coach known nationwide as Fitgirl India. She is a powerful voice in athletics and a movement educator, showing young girls what strength looks like.

Career Highlights:

• 3-time National Champion – 200m (2001–2003)
• Represented Maharashtra for 17 consecutive years
• Trained in Sydney under Olympic gold medallist Gavin Fernandes
• Founder of Project Fitgirl – a rural fitness education initiative

Personal Best: 200m – National Gold Medalist

Best Moments: From dominating tracks to empowering schoolgirls in rural India through Project Fitgirl, Ayesha’s legacy is built on speed, leadership, and heart. Her content reflects her deep knowledge, emotional honesty, and fierce commitment to education through movement, making her one of the most impactful running influencers in the country.

These Indian women runners prove one simple truth: life doesn’t stop, and neither do they. They aren’t influencers chasing likes but everyday warriors chasing sunrise runs, personal bests, and stronger versions of themselves.

Got your own athletic journey? Is your story or someone else’s waiting to be told? Share it with The Reelstars. You never know who you might inspire.