How to live long adventurous life Mala Honnati on Passion talks

Passion Talks

List of achievements and details are given below--- A former banker turned trekker, mountaineer, marathoner, adventurer, skier, karate and yoga aficionado, the currency of Mala’s life is adventure and fitness. She took up adventure sports in her thirties, and now, after three decades, she is still as driven as ever. Her Roots….. She secured distinctions in academics (BSc, LLB), and rendered meritorious service in banking industry for three decades. How it all started: born again…… She found her passion for trekking and mountaineering in the Himalayas and did her Basic and Advance Mountaineering Courses from Himalayan Mountaineering Institute Darjeeling in 1985-86. The natural progression was to participate in Veteran Athletic Championships in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and US. A record holder in 1500m, 3,000m and 5000m at National Level for three consecutive years, Mala won bronze in 10,000m in Asian Veteran Athletic Championship held in Singapore in 1992. Marathon: The long strides…… As on date, she is one of the senior most women mountaineers and marathon runners in the country. Mala has run 26 full marathons and two ultra marathons across the world. Few among them including, Miyazaki Marathon (1993) Macau Marathon (2001) New York Marathon (2009) San Francisco Marathon (2011) Sacramento Marathon (2011) Everest Base Camp Marathon (2011) Antarctica Marathon (2011) Annapurna-50k (2013) Great Wall of China Marathon (2018) Ladakh Marathon (2018) Kilimanjaro Marathon (2019) She has hit a hat-trick of gold medals at Mumbai marathon in the 50+ & 60+ age group. She was the first Indian woman to accomplish Antarctica Marathon and Everest Base Camp Marathon in 2011. Among others, she has trained Rigzin Angmo, who won the Delhi Rath Marathon, clocking her career best time of 2:45:08 hours. Mountaineering: Scaling heights and reaching for sky…. Her passion for mountaineering has taken her to Himalayan heights of 22,000 ft on many occasions. She has trekked and climbed extensively in the Himalayas for over three decades. She was a member of the Pre-Everest Expeditions to Mt Kamet in 1991 and to Mt Mamostang Kangri in 1992 and climbed to an altitude of 22000 ft. Mala has summited, Mt.Stok Kangri (1992 and 2012) Mt.Ladakhi, Mt.Sitidhar, Mt.Kilimanjaro ( 2019) Other major expeditions that Mala has participated are, Mt.Nun (1987 and 2017) Mt.Shrikailash (1988) Mt.Kamet (1989 & 1991) Mt.Mamostang Kangri (1992) Mt.Thalaysagar (1996) Mt.Nandadevi East (2006) Mt.GramangBar ( 2009 ) Siachen Glacier ( 2011 ) She has also served as a guest instructor at mountaineering institutes and has the distinction of being detailed as Liaison Officer with foreign expeditions to Indian Himalaya on four occasion. Scaling Mt. Everest is no mean feat for an athlete of any age and she embarked on this challenge at 62+ as a retired banker! Mala was all set to hoist the national flag on summit of the majestic mountain. But tragedy struck on 25th April, when an earthquake shook the land beneath her feet. The expedition was called off and she returned home safe but with broken heart and shattered dreams. With her tough fitness regime and even tougher mental endurance she was confident of making her mark in this ultimate adventure at the age of 60+ years.