With a 12-year running journey marked by 12 full marathon runs and multiple podium finishes, Hitendra Choudhary embodies perseverance and dedication. Founder of the successful "Hit Fit Tribe", he turned a small group of people into a thriving community of 75 active members. His disciplined approach, rooted in his school days at Rashtriya Military School, drives his passion for personal growth and balanced goals.

Hitendra Choudhary is a qualified Civil Engineer and a Real Estate Professional. He is also an avid Marathon Runner and Fitness Coach. Hitendra started marathon coaching five years back and running 12 years ago when he was 42 years old and has been consistently running ever since.

To share his expertise and love for running, Hitendra started a running community in 2018 and started providing free coaching. He initially began by coaching a small core group of about 35 runners for free, as he had gained a deep understanding of running through coaching manuals and workshops. The positive response from this initial free group motivated Hitendra to pursue coaching professionally.

In March 2023, Hitendra Choudhary launched his first paid coaching program and started his own venture named “Hit Fit Tribe”. He now has a group of 75 active runners enrolled in his coaching program, which has been running for around five years. The first four years were free, and the past one year has been a paid program, which he started when he realized the value of his extensive knowledge and experience in running.

Hitendra's passion for running is rooted in his school days spent at the Rashtriya Military School in Belgaum. From class 6 to 12, Hitendra was in this boarding school that focused on the physical training of its students along with academics. As part of this regimen, the students were required to run 5 to 8 kms of cross-country road running every day, except Sundays.

Hitendra Choudhary says that this daily routine instilled a lifelong habit of running in him. Even though his initial goal was to join the armed forces, he could not make it to the merit list. However, the intense physical training he received in school had a lasting impact, and running became an integral part of his life.

After completing his studies, Choudhary pursued a career as a civil engineer and real estate professional. During that period, his running took a backseat for about 20-25 years. However, when he turned 42, Hitendra decided to rekindle his childhood passion for running.

Reminiscing about his childhood, Hitendra shares that his father was in the Indian Army, which meant his family traveled frequently across India. He was born in his native place, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, and moved around for his schooling in Kendriya Vidyalaya central schools. Eventually, he attended Rashtriya Military School Belgaum from class 6 to class 12. Being associated with army cantonments and army schools, he had friends from different states across India. He describes those seven years as wonderful, formative years that built his foundation, crediting his teachers, classmates, and the school for shaping what he is today.

Choudhary explains that earlier, the National Defence Academy (NDA) exam, conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), was held for students in class 11. During his 11th grade, he attempted the NDA exam but, unfortunately, could not qualify. He got limited chances to appear in the exam due to having to repeat class six after transferring to a new school, which required admissions to start from that grade. This repetition made him older than the typical age bracket for NDA exam candidates, thereby reducing his number of eligible attempts from three to just one.

Therefore, after deciding to pursue a different path, Hitendra Choudhary followed his parents' advice to undertake a professional course. He chose to study Civil Engineering and attended DV Patil College of Engineering in Pune, where he excelled, graduating with first-class honors. Following his graduation, Hitendra joined a developer company in Pune called Karia Developers, working on-site for two years. However, he soon realized his interest lay more in the sales aspect of the industry. Transitioning to a sales role, he worked at Kolte-Patil Developers as a sales executive and later advanced to sales head and worked there until 2016. In 2017, he decided to start his own venture as a real estate professional, helping clients navigate the process of buying their dream properties across Pune. He continues to work in real estate and remains passionate about the profession.

When asked about his role models, Choudhary cites several influential figures. He admires Dr. Abdul Kalam for his contributions to India, Sachin Tendulkar and Roger Federer for their achievements in sports, and Eliud Kipchoge, a renowned Kenyan long-distance runner and marathoner. Hitendra is particularly inspired by Kipchoge's humility and grounded nature, despite being at the pinnacle of his career. Although he has not met Kipchoge, he respects his approachable and down-to-earth demeanor.

A quote that resonates deeply with Hitendra is one from Eliud Kipchoge: "No human is limited." This quote embodies the belief that there are no limits to human potential, and it encourages Hitendra to explore and push the boundaries in his professional career. He lives by this ethos, striving to achieve limitless possibilities.

Another source of inspiration for him is a highly popular Hindi poem written by Sohan Lal Dwivedi that emphasizes perseverance and resilience:

"लहरों से डर कर नौका पार नहीं होती, कोशिश करने वालों की हार नहीं होती। नन्हीं चींटी जब दाना लेकर चलती है, चढ़ती दीवारों पर, सौ बार फिसलती है। मन का विश्वास रगों में साहस भरता है, चढ़कर गिरना, गिरकर चढ़ना न अखरता है। आख़िर उसकी मेहनत बेकार नहीं होती, कोशिश करने वालों की हार नहीं होती… असफलता एक चुनौती है, स्वीकार करो क्या कमी रह गई, देखो और सुधार करो जब तक न सफल हो, नींद चैन को त्यागो तुम संघर्ष का मैदान छोड़कर मत भागो तुम कुछ किये बिना ही जय जय कार नहीं होती कोशिश करने वालों की हार नहीं होती कोशिश करने वालों की हार नहीं होती…"

This poem reflects the relentless spirit of trying and never giving up, a principle that Hitendra embodies in his life and career.

Sharing the hardships he has had to face, Hitendra Choudhary says that starting in the real estate industry was challenging. He feels that the real estate industry has been a roller coaster, particularly over the past two decades. He recalls the period after the great economic downturn in 2009 in the USA, which had a ripple effect globally and caused a recession. Following that downturn, the real estate market went through a turbulent phase, experiencing a major recession. Hitendra describes the struggling period in the real estate industry between 2011-2014 as particularly tough. Meeting the targets set by his company was a real challenge, but by sticking to the basics, doing daily tasks diligently, and adding a little innovation here and there, he and his team managed to overcome the recession. He believes in the mantra of not giving up, sticking to the process, and remaining steadfast. He emphasizes that life is cyclical, with its ups and downs, and perseverance is key.

He mentions that similar challenges occurred in his running journey as well. He faced numerous injuries and breaks along the way. There were many mornings when he felt lazy and reluctant to get up. However, he consistently forced himself to wake up each morning, get out of the house, and follow his training plan. He firmly believes in "trusting the plan" and instills this idea in his team every day. He stands outside every day at 5:45, waiting for his team on time, as he loves what he does. Being disciplined and focused has helped him achieve his goals.

Apart from being disciplined and focused, which he considers as achievements, Choudhary has participated in many running events across India, particularly in Pune. He has completed 12 full marathons, adhering to his rule of doing one full marathon each year. Additionally, he has run numerous half marathons and countless 10 km events. Over the last six active years of his running career, he has achieved around 13 podium finishes, standing 1st, 2nd or 3rd in his age category. Despite these achievements, he never considers them as his ultimate goal. His primary focus is always on self-improvement.

Hitendra's message to his team remains consistent: do not rush to do everything in a year. He advises dividing goals throughout life, as life is long and each goal has its process and takes its own time. He observes that some people want to do several full marathons in a year, but he believes that rushing things can lead to more injuries. He encourages his team to trust the process, which not only helps in achieving goals efficiently but also teaches how to remain injury-free and enjoy the rest of the day. He emphasizes that people should balance their running passion with their professional lives, as running is not a profession for most.

Through his experiences in both real estate and running, Hitendra has learned the value of perseverance, discipline, and trusting the process. He continues to inspire and lead by example, demonstrating that with dedication and the right mindset, one can overcome any challenge and achieve their goals.

He points out that runners like him are not running to qualify for the Asian Games or the  Olympics, so they must not be in the rat race with everybody else because he thinks that the only thing they need is to beat their own selves and strive to be the best version of themselves every day. He emphasizes that the goal should be to surpass one's own previous achievements and work towards becoming a better person tomorrow than you are today.

Advising people who want to take sports as a profession, Hitendra Choudhary says that there is a lot of scope in sports these days. Especially in the last 10 years in India, the government is also promoting sports as a viable career option. He recalls that in earlier days, people were hesitant to pursue sports because it did not offer a stable professional career. However, he believes that the situation has improved significantly now. He has observed many parents encouraging their children to engage in sports other than running. There are now many opportunities in India, and he encourages children who show a talent for sports to pursue it seriously while continuing their studies.

His message to people who want to follow their passion is clear and heartfelt. He says that the first step is to be genuinely passionate about whatever you choose to do. He shares that when he does not run, he feels very sad and dull, comparing missing a run to missing a meal. He recommends that everyone dedicate at least an hour or half an hour every day to their health. While he acknowledges that everyone will get old someday and that no one is immortal , he advises people to keep ailments at bay as long as possible by engaging in regular physical activity. He believes that investing time in physical activity can help keep old age and its associated health problems at bay, ultimately saving money on medical bills.

In conclusion, Hitendra’s journey from a passionate runner to a dedicated coach and successful real estate professional is a testament to his perseverance, discipline, and commitment to self-improvement. Through his experiences, he has learned the importance of setting personal goals, staying focused, and maintaining a balance between professional and personal life. He continues to inspire his students and community by leading through example and sharing his wisdom on the importance of physical activity, passion, and perseverance. Hitendra’s story is a powerful reminder that with dedication and the right mindset, anyone can overcome challenges and achieve their goals.