161 Kilometres of Grit : Dr Chintan Sheth , Cardiac Anaesthetist & Co Director - Heart transplant Programme at Marengo CIMS Hospital Conquer the Thar Desert " Hell Race " 

161 Kilometres of Grit : Dr Chintan Sheth , Cardiac Anaesthetist & Co Director - Heart transplant Programme at Marengo CIMS Hospital Conquer the Thar Desert " Hell Race " 

Endurance, discipline, and an unbreakable mindset defined an extraordinary achievement by Marengo CIMS anaesthetist Dr. Chintan Sheth, Cardiac Anaesthetist and Co-Director – Heart Transplant Programme and Dr. Tejaswini Sheth, who successfully completed “The Border” ultramarathon—one of India’s most demanding endurance races. Spanning 161 kilometres (100 miles) from Jaisalmer to Laungewala across the unforgiving terrain of the Thar Desert, the race pushes runners to extreme physical and mental limits. Completing the course well within the 28-hour cutoff, the Sheths became the first doctor couple from Gujarat to accomplish this remarkable feat.

The race commenced at Indira Indoor Stadium, Jaisalmer, under the scorching noon sun and continued through the desert night, where temperatures dropped drastically. Dr. Tejaswini Sheth completed the race in an impressive 25 hours and 56 minutes, followed closely by Dr. Chintan Sheth, Cardiac Anaesthetist and Co-Director – Heart Transplant Programme, Marengo CIMS Hospital, who finished in 26 hours and 45 minutes. Their success lay in disciplined pacing—alternating between running and walking—meticulous heart rate control, and maintaining mental composure despite exhaustion, muscle fatigue, and extreme weather conditions.

Held annually, “The Border” ultramarathon is a tribute to the valour of Indian soldiers who fought in the historic 1971 Battle of Laungewala. Every kilometre along the route serves as a salute to courage, sacrifice, and resilience.

This remarkable achievement is rooted in eight years of consistent training and endurance running. The couple has completed over 25 half-marathons, multiple 100-kilometre ultra-runs, and the demanding 101-kilometre Night Ultra. Under the guidance of mentor Amit Bhattacharjee, their training regimen included long-distance runs four days a week, complemented by strength training on remaining days. Support from the Ahmedabad Distance Runners (ADR) and Shantigram Runners Group (SRG) played a vital role in their journey.

As a banner at the finish line aptly declared, “When survival was the question, they answered it with victory.” Their journey stands as a powerful reminder that with preparation, perseverance, and purpose, even the harshest limits can be overcome.