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This story is from November 25, 2018

From flab to fab: Mumbai cop loses 30kg to win Ironman title, country's 1st constable to nail it

Shankar Uthale, who has served the force for 14 years, is currently posted at Virar police station. The Vasai resident, who weighed 92kg around six months ago, is now down to 60kg. Uthale competed in his first Ironman Triathlon held at Langkawi, Malaysia, on November 17.
From flab to fab: Mumbai cop loses 30kg to win Ironman title, country's 1st constable to nail it
Constable Shankar Uthale
Key Highlights
  • Head constable Shankar Uthale has become the first constable in the country to successfully complete the gruelling Ironman race—among the world’s toughest single-day events.
  • Uthale competed in his first Ironman Triathlon held at Langkawi, Malaysia, on November 17.
  • He completed the race—a 3.8km swim, a 180.2km cycling and a 42.2 km run—in 16 hours and 15 minutes.
MUMBAI: Look around you and it's not hard to find unhealthy police personnel. Six months ago, head constable Shankar Uthale would have passed off as one such policeman. Today, the 39-year-old has become the first constable in the country to successfully complete the gruelling Ironman race-among the world's toughest single-day events.
Uthale, who has served the force for 14 years, is currently posted at Virar police station.
The Vasai resident, who weighed 92kg around six months ago, is now down to 60kg. Uthale competed in his first Ironman Triathlon held at Langkawi, Malaysia, on November 17. He completed the race-a 3.8km swim, a 180.2km cycling and a 42.2 km run-in 16 hours and 15 minutes. Participants are required to complete the race without a break within 17 hours to win the title of Ironman. The race typically starts at 7am and the mandatory marathon cut-off is midnight.

Among the police force, Krishna Prakash, currently IG, VIP securities, in Mumbai, became the first IPS officer to win the title in August last year. This August, Ravindra Kumar Singhal, Nashik city commissioner, became the second IPS officer to grab the title. Among the constabulary, Uthale is the first to have achieved this feat.
Interestingly, in July 2015, model-actor Milind Soman had completed the race held at Zurich, Switzerland, at the age of 50 in 15 hours, 19 minutes.
Two years ago, when Uthale's weight touched 92kg, it began to take a toll on his health and work. "I knew I had to run, else I would soon become a burden on myself and my work," said Uthale, who would wake up at 5am and run. His running inspired him to participate in marathons across Maharashtra.

"During my marathons I heard about Ironman. I took up cycling in the rain. I would cycle from 5am to 10am and still be fresh at work 30 minutes later," he said. Then he began to focus on swimming. "While I had learnt swimming, it was time to get the technique right," said Uthale, who enrolled for the Ironman competition four months ago.
As Uthale continued to lose weight, his focus shifted to diet. "The police job takes me on the field at odd hours but I make it a point to carry food with me even when I am on the go," said Uthale. His wife Ashwini, a homemaker, ensures all the salads and boiled items make it to Uthale's tiffin before he leaves home.
He recalled that his sedentary lifestyle had done him a lot of damage. "After graduating from fat to fab, my advice to everyone, especially policemen, is to spare an hour for exercise everyday," said Uthale. "A good body has enhanced my mental state. I can give my best to my job and life feels good too," said Uthale, who intends to participate in future Ironman races too.
author
About the Author
Sandhya Nair

Sandhya Nair, Assistant Editor at The Times of India, Mumbai. Writes on School Education, covers developments in Mira-Bhayander, Palghar district.

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