By Paulina Albarracin
Putting one foot over the other for 26.2 miles — let alone training for the endeavor — is an achievement that draws admiration from others. As a marathoner, you might hear gasps of disbelief when you share your race experiences. This reaction is understandable: An estimated 0.1% of the global population has completed a marathon annually, as the International Institute for Race Medicine (IIRM) reported. But ultramarathons are a different beast of their own, with mileages that dwarf the marathon distance. If marathoning is daunting, ultramarathoning is not for the faint of heart.
Aside from crunching numbers for the Arab American Family Support Center as a non-profit accountant, Singh is known for his ultra running adventures. One involved the prestigious Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB), a 106-mile ultramarathon that takes you through France, Italy, and Switzerland — a goliath of a distance. As a human, Singh wears his heart of gold on his sleeves. He received the Marisol Mendez Volunteer of the Year and Most Selfless Teammate awards at the 2019 Queens Distance Runners (QDR) Gala. Now, he is leveraging his running expertise at Camp Vikbase, a coaching program that offers customized training plans and fosters camaraderie with fellow running disciples. Judging by his resume, Singh was not dubbed “The Vikbased God” for show.
What made you want to tackle ultramarathoning after running a marathon?
I started running to see if I could, and then I was gradually increasing my distances. The goal was to run four miles and within a month and a half, I was able to run around nine miles. I was curious about increasing my distances. That’s why I did my first half marathon. Then, I had some friends who were running their first marathon in 2014 and invited me to join them. After finishing it [the marathon], I got injured. As soon as I recovered, I thought, “Well, what was next?” At the time, I was running by myself, and the idea of running faster didn’t even occur to me. So, the ultramarathons became the next logical step.
I still remember reading your reflection post on running the UTMB in July 2019. What is your most memorable moment from that ultramarathon?
It was really cool to do that. It’s almost like every other ultra [ultramarathon] I’ve done. There were over two thousand people. The community around it was amazing. That’s the most memorable thing about it. All these people come out, and it feels like you’re a star. [Laughs] Although [ultra running] is a sport where you’re alone most of the time. Even if you can run a few miles with someone, you’re not always going to run at the same pace for thirteen hours. People break off and may spend more time at the [aid] stations. It also felt more like a mainstream sport. You have plenty of spectators cheering you on since you’re running through twelve towns, I think.
What does an ultramarathon training cycle typically entail? Do you swear by any pre-ultramarathon rituals?
I think my philosophy has changed over the years. It’s like marathon training but with a heavier focus on long runs. One of the key staples is double long runs. You could run 20 miles on Saturday and 15 or 16 miles on Sunday. I think that may have changed a bit in recent years. Now, I would also say that maintaining speed is very important. It leads to better results and higher chances of finishing an ultramarathon. For the last two months [of a fourth-month training cycle], you have to run more on trails. You can start throwing in more double long runs after focusing on speed for the first two months. You want to build your quads on mountainous terrain and get used to pounding downhill.
I’d imagine it involves plenty of carb loading.
Yes, absolutely. You have to experiment with what works with your stomach. You also need to know what food will work for you ahead of time. Maintaining carbs helps prevent muscle breakdown and improves your mood. Otherwise, you have negative thoughts, your blood sugar runs low, and your legs spin.
I noticed that you’ve mentioned negative thoughts. Does that happen when you’re running ultramarathons?
I’ve had negative thoughts creep in. Especially when you feel yourself slowing down. The miles feel longer. You must learn how to stay focused and motivated. When I ran a twelve-hour race in Upstate New York, I broke it into more manageable terms. Instead of thinking, “I have four hours of running left,” you can think, “In an hour, I’ll listen to music or eat a sandwich.” Just break it up into more manageable chunks. It’s a way of overcoming negative thoughts and maintaining a positive mindset. That’s something ultramarathons have taught me. You can hit several walls, and the race is long enough to recover from them. There’s a saying in ultramarathons: “It doesn’t always get worse.” So, it’s not like you progressively feel worse as time goes on. You feel bad now, but you need to stick to it.
Your running journey has led you to start your coaching program, Camp Vikbase. What inspired you to become involved with the running community from a coaching perspective?
Three years ago, I studied running theory more. I’ve become more obsessed with running. I’ve tried to read every book I can about running. I’ve also listened to running-related podcasts. Even now, when I’m stretching in the morning, I play YouTube videos of people doing track workouts. I got a coaching certification through RRCA [Road Runners Club of America]. I didn’t do anything for a year, but then I saw how a lot of coaching was too generic. And it wasn’t really individualized. It felt like there was a standard template. It’s like you’re throwing eggs at a wall and seeing which one doesn’t crack. That’s when I became interested in coaching.
How do you tailor your training workouts to your clients?
For someone new, I schedule a one-on-one session to get a sense of their running history. I figure out their goal race to see how much time they have to train. Then, I identify what they could improve on. Or if they haven’t been running for, let’s say, the past two months, I tell them that they need to start running consistently. I use heart rate data to see how people are reacting [to cardio]. I check in with people to assess whether they’re overly fatigued or injury-prone. From there, we could figure out potential cross-training alternatives. I think coaching has to be more than a training plan. But who knows? Maybe in two years, AI could replace it. [Laughs] It’s pretty much why I offer face-to-face [coaching] sessions. At Camp Vikbase, I empower them to reach their goals and ensure they are confident in their training.
In an Instagram post dated July 2022, you mentioned a quote from a podcast that stuck with you: “You can’t be mentally tough unless you love yourself.” Looking back at your running journey, how has that quote resonated with you?
Running has been a good means of gaining a deeper understanding of physical and mental limits. But you learn to embrace your limitations and acquire greater self-acceptance. You become more compassionate about yourself. You have to find joy in the process of training and racing, even though it’s challenging. And it’s good to shift the focus from PRs [personal records] and race results to personal growth. Ultimately, you realize that running is not something you will do forever. So, it’s good to find meaning and fulfillment in other things.
But there is a lot of joy in movement and community. What drew me to ultra running was how easy it is to talk to people. You even see this in Queens, where the running scene has exploded. Nowadays, you can join a group run and chat with all these people. It’s pretty cool.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.