In a moment of pride for Ahmedabad, three local runners have earned a place among an elite group of global marathoners by completing all six Abbott World Marathon Majors — Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City.
Deep Vadodaria, Madhur Todi, and Varad Bhatt recently completed the Boston Marathon, earning the coveted “Six Star Finisher” title. This remarkable feat, the result of years of dedication, discipline, and hard work, has not only marked a personal milestone for the trio but also brought global recognition to Ahmedabad in the world of marathon running.
Deep Vadodaria, 40, shared that the journey was more than just a physical challenge—it was an emotional one too. “In the coming days luxury will be a fit body,” said Deep, who began his marathon journey with the New York Marathon in 2019, followed by Berlin. The path, however, was far from smooth. In 2021, he faced a tough battle with Covid-19 and hypertension, and the following year, he lost his father—adding to the emotional strain. Still, he stayed committed, completing the London Marathon in 2023, then Chicago, Tokyo, and finally Boston in April 2025.
“Ahmedabad was really supportive for us in terms of running communities, race clubs, and senior runners who guided us,” said Deep, appreciating the city’s encouragement. Deep’s official timings also tell a story of resilience. At the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, he clocked 5:39:55., in Tokyo 2024 it was 5:08:45 while in the New York City Marathon, he clocked 4:38:19, and 6:22:16 in London 2023.
For Madhur Todi, 48, the journey started back in 2013 with a casual challenge from a friend. At the time, he weighed 105 kg and had never imagined himself as a long-distance runner. That same year, he completed his first half-marathon. But the real turning point came during a flight, when a CEO made a remark that stuck with him. “He told me sarcastically that I was only a ‘half-runner.’ That triggered something in me,” said Madhur.
Madhur began his full marathon journey with the Chicago Marathon in 2019, then went on to run Berlin in 2021 and 2022, followed by New York in 2023, Tokyo in 2024, and most recently, London in 2025. Reflecting on the challenges faced during training, he shared, “We used to run early in the morning around 4 am or late at night till 10 pm because of the heat. But street dogs often chased or disturbed us.”
At 50, Varad Bhatt is fondly called the “Running Machine” among his friends. He started his fitness journey weighing 128 kg, but with relentless determination, he turned his life around. His marathon journey began with the Chicago Marathon in 2019, followed by Berlin in 2022, London and New York in 2023, Tokyo in 2024, and Boston in 2025.