No two runners have the same story when it comes to what motivates them to lace up and get out the door every day. We each have our own reasons for setting new goals or signing up for races. This past spring, COROS Coaches held their second Training Camp, bringing together over 400 athletes from around the world training for spring marathons. For 16 weeks, the team had the privilege of supporting and interacting with each runner on their journey. Instead of recapping with graphs and data, we want to share the inspiring story of one of our camp participants.

Meet Kalpesh Depala, a runner from the UK. He joined the Training Camp to stay accountable while preparing for the 2024 London Marathon. Kalpesh's running journey began nearly 11 years ago when he wanted to lose weight and improve his health. Over time, running became more than just exercise—it turned into a passion that has transformed his life in countless ways.

The Humble Beginning

In the beginning, Kalpesh knew very little about running. He simply put on a pair of tennis shoes and hopped on a treadmill, hoping to lose some weight. Despite the challenges, he discovered he enjoyed pushing himself. The real motivation came when he had the chance to run through the London Stadium just after the Olympics in 2013. However, it wasn't until 2019 that Kalpesh started taking running seriously. Joining the Rep Runners running club made all the difference. He learned about proper training, the importance of community, and the fun of having shared goals. Over the past 11 years, running has transformed into a passion and a lifestyle for him.

Kalpesh and his Rep Runners teammates out for a training run. Photo by Simon R Photography

My favorite part about running is the challenge that each run presents. It's the feeling of being without a worry. I am not concerned about achieving a set pace, I get to explore new areas and have time to clear my head. Every run and race makes me a better person.

Kalpesh has participated in races of all distances, from one mile to full marathons. Each race has been unique, offering its challenges. Training for these races has taught him to push his limits and realize his potential.

Training and Overcoming Challenges

Kalpesh completed his first marathon at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, but with minimal training, he didn't finish feeling great. When he found out he got a spot in the 2024 London Marathon, he knew he had to do things differently. Determined to be better prepared, Kalpesh decided to follow a structured training plan. He invested in a COROS PACE 3 and applied to join the COROS Coaches Spring Training Camp, ready to put in the work for a successful race.

Investing in a good running watch made a huge difference in my training. After some research, I chose the COROS Pace 3 for its affordability and functionality. The customizable features, such as tracking heart rate, distance, and pace, have been important in improving my training efficiency and race performance. It has become an essential part of my running gear.

In 2020, Kalpesh experienced a setback with his training but working with his support team was able to adapt his routine so that he could return to his love of running. When he started his personalized marathon training plan he was at a lower base fitness but he did not let this stop him. The first few weeks of the training camp were the toughest as his body adapted to running and an increased training load.

Initially, Kalpesh tried to follow the structured training plan but soon realized that running 4 to 5 times a week was too much for his health condition. He adjusted the schedule based on how his body felt, always ensuring he completed the key runs like long runs, marathon pace runs, and fartlek sessions. On some days, he had to walk part of the runs, knowing that he might need to do the same on race day if things got tough.

As the weeks went on, the runs felt easier and I grew in confidence and my target time felt achievable and doable. What I learned and did for the first time were warm ups and cool downs. Something never done previously and saw the benefits of. The start of the runs felt good as the legs and hips were warmed up as opposed to just starting running. It was also my first running watch and the prompts of pace and when to speed up or slow down was exactly what I needed. Overall The training camp went well and just as I had hoped for.

The 2024 London Marathon

If you've ever run a race, you know that anything can happen on race day, no matter how well you've trained. Throughout the training camp, COROS Coaches post daily tips and advice to help all runners prepare both physically and mentally for race day.

Kalpesh started the marathon at a slow but steady pace, feeling good as he saw his family for the first time on the course. As he hit the first 10km he found himself getting into a rhythm which helped to ease his race day nerves. He reminded himself of the tips from the COROS Coaches to soak up the race day atmosphere and enjoy every step.

As he approached the halfway point at the Tower Bridge, the crowd’s energy surged and it was exactly what he needed. His running club, REP Runners, cheered him on with confetti cannons, using this as a mental boost to keep on pace and feel strong.

Kalpesh saw his Rep Runners at the Tower Bridge which gave him a boost at the halfway point!

At mile 17, Kalpesh's body began rejecting fuel and gels, a known issue due to his medical condition. He managed to sip some water and take a gel, walking briefly before resuming his run. Despite the drop in pace due to a lack of nutrition, his spirits were still high. The crowd's encouragement and another boost from his run club kept him going.

For the race, I had set my watch face to only show pace, heart rate, and distance. I purposely made sure I didn't set the elapsed time to show otherwise I would have raced very differently and may not have achieved the PB that I did. I was aiming for 5:30 secretly as I knew I could achieve this however I had accounted for my body causing problems, but always wanted sub 6 as that was the overall goal and what I had trained for.

Whenever he started to slow down in the later parts of the race, he used the crowd’s support to keep his legs moving. By the final mile, Kalpesh was struggling significantly from not being able to fuel or hydrate properly. Seeing his dad during this final part of the marathon was a special moment. He gave Kalpesh another burst of energy and the encouragement that he needed to not give up until he reached the finish line.

Kalpesh with his Dad along the London Marathon course.

In the final stretch, Kalpesh gave it his all. The New Balance hospitality suite cheered him on, and he found a reserve of energy in the last 100 meters, crossing the finish line strong. While Kalpesh faced a few obstacles during the marathon, they didn't stop him. He crossed the finish line with a significant personal best.

What a race it was. My best to date and got my second star with a personal best of 34 Mins and 6 seconds. Couldn't have been happier when I realized the finish time.

The Importance of Community

The support from the running community has been invaluable for Kalpesh. His running club, REP Runners, was always there for him, even when health issues kept him from joining group runs. Their encouragement and camaraderie through their WhatsApp group kept him motivated.

Kalpesh’s family also played a huge role. His parents and brother were with him through all the setbacks, struggles, and everything else on his journey to the starting line. They were an essential part of his support system before, during, and after the marathon.

The COROS training camp was another big help in keeping Kalpesh motivated for his London Marathon training. Seeing other runners on the Strava group going through similar challenges made him realize he wasn’t alone. Kalpesh shared, "The support from the COROS coaches was incredible." Their belief in him helped him believe in himself, and their tips and encouragement kept him pushing forward.

The best part of the whole training camp was the encouragement and support from all the coaches. Just a simple kudos on my strava activities or a comment on social posts kind of kept me going and then it was more of a thing that I can actually do this because the coaches believed in me.

Whether it was kudos from COROS coaches on his training runs, cheering from his clubmates during races, or the endless support from his parents and brother, this sense of community has been a huge part of his running journey.

Advice for New Runners

Running has been an incredible journey for Kalpesh. Every race, whether it's a local parkrun 5K or a world marathon major, has helped him grow as a person to be stronger and feel more confident.

For those new to running, Kalpesh has two pieces of advice: "Having a structured training plan tailored to your goals can make a world of difference." During the spring training camp, Kalpesh followed the Personalized Marathon Training Plan which was built based on his recent training, race goal, and race date. All of the workouts used his metrics, so he was always training based on his fitness level at the time.

His second piece of advice is to "embrace the community. Join a running club, participate in a training camp, share your journey, and draw motivation from others."

Kalpesh finished the 2024 London Marathon with a 34-minute PB.

Running has changed Kalpesh’s life in ways he never expected. It all started as a way to lose some weight, but it quickly turned into a passion that brought him a lot of joy, a sense of accomplishment, and a supportive community. Every run, race, and interaction with fellow runners has made his journey even more special.

As Kalpesh gets ready for his next goal, he's excited about the challenges and finishlines to come. Running isn’t just about staying fit; it’s about discovering more about oneself, building resilience, and being part of a great community. COROS Coaches looks forward to continuing to support all of the miles that Kalpesh has ahead.

If you are training for a fall marathon and would like to be a part of our next training camp, stay tuned for more information coming this week!