Most people assume their best athletic days are long gone by the time they hit middle age. Kishori Kudecha decided to bet against that assumption. She started running at 60, not with a professional coach, but with the Sketchers group, essentially treating it as a health maintenance habit. It worked. So well, in fact, that she is now WalkAbout’s first sponsored athlete, a community-driven platform specifically designed for runners aged 55 and above in urban India.
The progression is startling. Her first race was a 5 km event where she took a podium spot. From there, she didn't just jog; she scaled up. She moved from 8 km to 10 km, then to half marathons, and eventually tackled a 35 km ultra. In 2024, she crossed the finish line of her first full 42 km marathon at the Tata Mumbai Marathon. By December 2025, she was pushing even further, completing a 50 km ultramarathon with Pinkathon Invincible Women. For a woman who started as a complete novice a decade ago, that is an extraordinary trajectory.
Her consistency has earned her recognition across Indian race circuits, from Ahmedabad to Goa and Pune. She has secured over 45 podium finishes, consistently placing in the top three for the 45+ to 65+ age categories. The accolades followed: the Best 1st Runner Up Award from Mumbai Road Runners in 2025, a 2nd Runner Up Award in March 2026, and the Best Runner Award from Swami Vivekanand Youth on March 8, 2026. These aren't just participation trophies; they are competitive wins against runners decades younger than her.
Kishori is candid about why she started. It wasn't about becoming an Olympian. It was about proving that age is just a number and that there are no hard barriers to chasing new goals. She credits running with a genuine shift in her daily confidence, saying she feels stronger, happier, and more energetic than she did before she laced up those shoes. Her philosophy is simple: fitness is a way of life, not a temporary phase to be abandoned once the newness wears off.
If you are sitting on the fence about starting a new fitness routine because you think you are 'too old,' look at Kishori. You don't need to sign a sponsorship deal. You just need to find a community—like a local running group or a program like WalkAbout—that keeps you accountable. Start with a 2 km jog. Keep it consistent. The podium might be a stretch, but the confidence and health benefits are guaranteed if you show up.