Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026: Meet the Expert Pacers Guiding Runners
Pace Setters for the Upcoming Marathon
The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026 is set to feature 25 pace setters, including CXOs, government officials, entrepreneurs, and enthusiastic runners from various parts of India, who will assist participants in achieving their race-day objectives.
A pace setter is a seasoned runner who maintains a consistent speed to lead a group, referred to as a 'Bus', towards a specific finish time. For example, those on the Sub-2:30 Bus can anticipate finishing between 2:25 and 2:29, according to an official announcement.
This year, 17 pacers for the Half Marathon, comprising CXOs and senior professionals from top organizations, will manage buses ranging from 1:50 to 2:40. The 10K event will showcase an all-female team of eight pacers, with finish times between 55 and 88 minutes.
Diverse Backgrounds of Pacers
Among the 25 pacers, eleven hail from outside the Delhi NCR region, representing cities like Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mumbai, Darjeeling, Jammu, and Jharkhand. The group also includes high-ranking government officials, such as a Joint Commissioner of Income Tax and a Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Experience is a key factor: Deepak Sharma is set to participate in his 16th VDHM, while Ganesh Ananthanaraynan has completed 13 editions with a personal best of 1:48. Sanjay Chhabra will also be running his 12th consecutive Delhi Half Marathon.
Record-Setting Pacers
Thandeswaran Periyasamy, the Delivery Head and founder of the Hosur Runners Club, boasts an impressive record of running for over 2,850 consecutive days since September 2018, covering more than 22,000 km. He holds records in the International, Asia, and India Book of Records for consecutive-day running and paced the 2:30 Bus at VDHM 2025.
Rashmi Mohanty, the Chief Financial Officer at SBI Credit Card and an ultra-marathoner, completed her first half marathon at VDHM in November 2010 and was honored in 2025 for finishing 15 editions. She emphasizes the importance of consistency in her training, stating, "Participating in this race helps me stay committed."
Advice for First-Time Runners
In the 10K event, Dr. Chinmayee J Thrishulamurthy, a practicing ophthalmologist and faculty member from Bengaluru, will pace for the first time. She recently scaled Mount Everest in 2026 and has been running since 2017. "I run less, but I love running and I'm really excited to be a pacer," she shares. Regarding her Everest experience, she notes, "Endurance is crucial, as the expedition lasts about 50 to 55 days, with the summit reached only in the final week."
For newcomers, Chinmayee advises, "Don't stress about your pace; just enjoy the race at your own speed." Rashmi Mohanty adds, "It's better to be under-trained but strong at the start line."