By the time Sukant Singh Suki says the body stops being the problem, most runners would already be broken. Running for nearly 100 hours without sleep, through extreme heat, hallucinations and bleeding wounds, Suki has completed three of the world’s most brutal 200-mile-plus ultra-marathons between 2023 and 2025. Distances of 325 km, 350 km and 321 km place him in a rare global bracket of endurance athletes. Technically, he has crossed the 200-mile mark four times. A 2020 attempt ended in disqualification at 204 kilometres , a moment he describes as heartbreaking. “But it forced me to train harder and come back stronger,” he says. “Endurance sports are not physical, they’re mental,” Suki says. “Running for 100 hours in 35 degrees without proper sleep or food is something very few people can imagine.”
When the Mind Takes Control At distances beyond 200 miles, ultra-running stops being a race and becomes survival. Pain fades into the background; strategy and mental stability take over. “There are bushfires, snakes and extreme weather,” Suki says. “The race is secondary. You are learning how to survive.” While many runners can complete 50 km, 100 km or even 100 miles with training, Suki says a 200-miler demands a completely different mindset. “Execution is everything. When the mind is stable, distance doesn’t matter.”
94 Hours Without Sleep Suki’s most dangerous moment came during Delirious West, where he ran nearly 94 hours without sleep. “I was bleeding from my nose and my testicles. All my toenails came out,” he says. “The blisters were unbearable.” What kept him going was a promise, to actor and fitness advocate John Abraham, who was tracking the race live. “I had promised him I would try my best to finish,” Suki says. “I couldn’t break that trust.” John Abraham’s support, Suki emphasises, goes far beyond social media. John Abraham has publicly backed Suki, endorsed his work, and remained personally engaged throughout his journey. “He genuinely cares, about animals, humans and the country,” Suki says.
Running for India, Running for Meaning Ultra-running remains niche in India, but Suki believes his efforts carry national weight. “Raising the Indian flag in a foreign land is a proud moment,” he says. “We run for 1.4 billion Indians, especially those who have lost hope.” When the Indian Army and Navy invited him to speak, he was told only five to eight people in the country could attempt such feats. Still, the journey remains personal. “I also run for myself, to become mentally and physically stronger, to be a better version of myself.”
Why India Isn’t Built for Ultrarunners Suki is blunt about India’s limitations for endurance athletes. “There is no proper infrastructure, no running tracks, cycling tracks, or clean air,” he says, citing WHO warnings on pollution-related deaths. His experiences abroad highlighted stark contrasts. In Japan and the Netherlands, he says, people walk, cycle and run as part of daily life. “In India, success is measured by expensive cars,” he says. “But experiences change you forever — material things don’t.”
Running as Therapy Suki has spoken openly about panic attacks, depression and ADHD, still taboo topics in India. Running, he says, became therapeutic rather than escapist. “I found my own medicine,” he says. “The right people can save your life.” That belief shaped his decision to write Chasing Genius, a book that uses endurance running to address mental health and sex education. The manuscript is complete, and Suki is currently seeking a publisher to bring it to a wider audience. “India lacks both mental health education and sex education,” he says. “Books and films can change that conversation.”
The Cost of Extreme Sport Ultra-running is expensive and sponsorship remains uncertain. “I’m a fashion model first, then an endurance athlete,” Suki says. “I save money from modelling assignments to fund these races.” While he had sponsors last year, finances remain a constant challenge — one that can determine whether a race happens at all.
The Next Frontier: 500 Kilometres Suki is now training for his toughest challenge yet, the Arizona Monster 300 Miles, a 500-kilometre race through mountains and desert in temperatures touching 40 degrees. “I’ve never done 500 kilometres before,” he admits. “Without training, one could die.” If he feels unprepared, he is willing to postpone the race to 2027 — a rare admission of restraint in a sport defined by pushing limits.
Redefining Winning Winning, Suki says, is no longer about podiums. “Having the courage to even try is half the battle,” he says. “Everyone who starts is already a winner.” How does he want to be remembered? “It’s a long journey — from toughest man in India to toughest man in the world,” he says. “Some people belong on the ramp and on the trail.” For Sukant Singh Suki, endurance is no longer about how far the body can go — but how deeply the mind is willing to endure.