KAMAL DATTA: Welcome, Sahadev, to this podcast. I'm glad to have you here. SAHADEV BYANJANKAR: Okay, thank you very much, Kamal. I appreciate being here from the land of the Himalayas. I'm from Nepal, so this is my first podcast, and I'm quite excited and a little nervous about it. But you know, in every journey, whoever I meet during my running journey, I make so many good friends. I'd like to thank them. I'm very thankful to be part of the running community. It's been great, and I've made lots of good friends from around the world because of running. KAMAL DATTA: That's wonderful. It's great to have you here for this conversation. I wasn't sure when we would connect, but thanks to Strava, we got in touch. SAHADEV BYANJANKAR: Yes, absolutely. Strava has been a great platform, and it's been an exciting journey during this Berlin Marathon training. The group has been very motivating, and I want to thank you for creating the group. KAMAL DATTA: You're welcome. It's been a pleasure getting to know each other and seeing how you're training for Berlin through the Strava group. We'll talk more about Berlin and your training, but let's start by sharing some background about yourself. SAHADEV BYANJANKAR: Sure, I'm from Nepal, and I'd like to say hello from the land of the Himalayas. I'm 45 years old, but in Nepal, we follow a different calendar, so I'm actually 45. Whenever I input my date of birth, I get a message saying I'm 46 years old, but that's because of our calendar differences. I'm a father of two beautiful daughters, and I live with my wife, mom, and dad. I run a small business here, importing and supplying goods from different parts of the world. KAMAL DATTA: That sounds interesting. Besides your professional life, I heard you're also involved in social organizations and even co-founded a running club in Nepal. Can you tell us more about that? SAHADEV BYANJANKAR: Yes, I've been involved in social organizations, including managing a football club for five years. I also volunteer in various community organizations. I'm a co-founder of Nepal Dynamic Running Club, which we officially registered in 2015. We have a big group of runners, around 70 active members, and we have a thriving running community in Kathmandu, which is the capital of Nepal. KAMAL DATTA: That's impressive. It's great to see the running community growing in Nepal. Have you always been into sports and running, or did you start later in life? SAHADEV BYANJANKAR: I've been running actively for the past 18 years. Before that, I wasn't participating in marathons, but I did shorter races like 5Ks, 10Ks, and sometimes half marathons. Running made me curious, and I wanted to challenge myself more. So, in 2017, I ran my first official marathon in New York. KAMAL DATTA: That's a significant milestone. Did you have the goal of running all six World Marathon Majors from the beginning, or did it develop over time? SAHADEV BYANJANKAR: I wasn't sure about it when I registered for my first marathon in New York. There's a lot of paperwork and challenges for international runners to get into the U.S. I was fortunate to get the lottery entry, but I had to apply for a visa, and I wasn't sure if it would be approved. It was only after New York that I learned about the World Marathon Majors, and it became a goal for me. KAMAL DATTA: That's interesting. So far, you've completed two of the Majors, New York and Chicago. Berlin will be your third. How has your journey been chasing the World Majors? SAHADEV BYANJANKAR: It's been an exciting journey, and I'm grateful for the opportunities. Last year, I was training for a 100K trail run, the Kathmandu Valley Rim Trail Race, but unfortunately, the event got canceled. I also did two marathons back-to-back during that training. Running has become an integral part of my life, and I'm grateful for the support of my family and community. KAMAL DATTA: It's clear that running plays a significant role in your life and your community. What are you looking forward to the most in the Berlin Marathon? SAHADEV BYANJANKAR: I'm looking forward to experiencing the energy and vibe of Berlin. It's not just about the race; it's about feeling the positive atmosphere and being part of the global running community. I just want to soak in the experience and enjoy the journey. KAMAL DATTA: That sounds wonderful. Running is more than just a race; it's about the journey and the connections you make along the way. I wish you the best of luck in the Berlin Marathon and hope you have a fantastic experience. SAHADEV BYANJANKAR: Thank you so much, Kamal. I appreciate your support and encouragement. Let's keep running and inspiring each other. KAMAL DATTA: Absolutely. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to seeing your Berlin Marathon journey on Strava. SAHADEV BYANJANKAR: Thank you, Kamal. Have a great day. KAMAL DATTA: You too, Sahadev. Take care. Note: This summarized transcript is generated by Gen AI from the raw transcript