If Dr. Srinivas Gokulnath does it, can Dr. Amit Samarth be far behind? On Sunday, the 36-year old doctor (he has Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, USA) from Nagpur became the second Indian to conquer Race Across America. The race is considered the toughest test of human endurance.
Close on the heels of Srinivas achieving this distinction –in fact within an hour of Srinivas achieving this feat—he conquered the Race Across America. He had still two hours left when he finished the race.
The only triathlete in Central India, Amit has acquired a legendary status in Nagpur. His passion and prowess for cycling evokes awe and inspires people. Although he has successfully participated in all major cycling events—Brevets and the Deccan Cliffhanger event, in particular—he had set his eyes firmly on RAAM. A year ago, Seena Hogan, a 6-time RAAM winner, asked him to be part of her crew. The 12-day-long rich experience across the 12 states in America helped him understand that RAAM tests a racer’s strength, stamina and spirit, and will power is as impossible as leg power for propelling one to the finish line.
Accompanied by his mother, wife, a 7-year-old son and a few friends—they all followed him for a full twelve days in a van— Amit had planned the race meticulously and then went on to execute it with his trademark panache. An ultra-endurance race calls for a tremendous capacity to absorb pain, cope with sleep-deprived state and balance fluids and nutrition. The struggle to keep the handlebar, saddle, and pedals in harmonic motion for a full 12 days—almost non-stop— can break the best of the athletes. Amit showed nerves of steel all through the race, taking the ups and down in his stride, downplaying his distress and making sure that he does not return to India with a “Did Not Finish” tag.
Congratulations, Amit. Congratulations to your support team too. They played a key role in ensuring that all your concerns—voiced and unvoiced— are taken care of. You shared with them your joy and sorrow, your agony and ecstasy, your frustrations and exasperations. And they handled your entire gamut of emotions so well! They created an environment that promised that you always felt at home, both on and off the saddle! Pun deliberately intended!
Now that you have added a very beautiful feather to your cap, it will take a while for the feeling to sink in. After all, it was your long cherished dream to ride from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast. You have accomplished the mission impossible. Now it is time to get off the saddle for a few days and rest your cycle and body.
We eagerly look forward to seeing you soon, in Nagpur.