At 56, NDRF Officer Completes 218th Marathon, Sets Sights on Tougher Challenges

At an age when many people begin slowing down, 56-year-old Mohsen Shahedi, a senior officer of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), is pushing his physical limits further, having completed his 218th marathon and setting his sights on even more demanding endurance challenges.

Shahedi, Deputy Inspector General of the NDRF, completed the 21-km Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon in 1 hour, 55 minutes and 7 seconds on Sunday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. The achievement adds another milestone to a running journey that began more than three decades ago with his entry into the police service.

His latest accomplishment comes barely a month after he took on the gruelling 72-km Khardung La Challenge Ultra Marathon in Ladakh. The high-altitude race took runners to 17,618 feet, exposing them to sub-zero temperatures in the morning and intense heat by midday.

Shahedi's endurance journey began in 1994, when he joined the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). During his training at Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh, he underwent a 40-km Battle Physical Efficiency Test, laying the foundation for the demanding physical challenges that would follow.

His first recognised marathon came in 2000, while he was serving with the Indian Special Police Unit on a United Nations mission in Kosovo. There, he participated in the Danish battalion's 100-km Dancon Death March through the Serbian mountains. Shahedi and a colleague finished first among 197 participants from 56 countries, completing the challenge in 13 hours and 15 minutes.

His passion for running gained fresh momentum after he joined the National Security Guard (NSG) on deputation in 2012. Since then, he has competed in events across India, Africa and Europe, with his tally also including around 10 international marathons completed virtually.

Balancing an intensive official schedule with regular training has not been easy. As head of the NDRF's operations unit, Shahedi carries significant responsibilities, often having to find time for training around his demanding work commitments. Yet running has grown into a passion that has also inspired hundreds of people to prioritise fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

His professional career has involved counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in sensitive regions, including Manipur, Assam and Jammu and Kashmir. He has carried the same team spirit into endurance sports, leading the NDRF team at the Goa Ironman in 2022, 2024 and 2025. The team secured all three podium positions in 2024, he said.

With preparations underway for the next Goa Ironman event in November, Shahedi has no intention of slowing down. For the NDRF officer, completing 218 marathons is not a finish line but another milestone in a journey driven by discipline, determination and an enduring commitment to fitness.