AVIKASH Lal overcame fatigue and limited preparation to claim the individual 10km title at the Suva Marathon last Saturday, as he continues to build towards his goal of representing Fiji at the next Pacific Games.
Lal said the victory was challenging after a busy travel schedule, which included returning from Los Angeles before travelling from Sigatoka to Suva for the event.
“It was a tiring race for me. Last night I came to Sigatoka, drove all the way to Suva and I only had two hours rest,” Lal said.
“Two days before this I flew to LA and came back with no rest. I came to enjoy the race and I won the race. I feel good.”
The win marked Lal’s second consecutive victory in the same event, after also finishing first last year.
He said while there was limited competition this year, the cooler weather conditions made the race enjoyable.
“I feel amazing because I won the same race last year. Today I had no competition, but the weather was pretty cool, so I’m enjoying it,” he said.
Lal said his next major target is to earn selection to represent Fiji at next year’s Pacific Games, with the Suva Marathon forming part of his preparation.
“My next big dream is to represent Fiji in the Pacific Games next year. Hopefully I can come back again. I’m just building up for next year,” he said.
He encouraged others working towards fitness goals to remain committed, saying discipline and self-belief were key to achieving success.
“You have to sacrifice. It’s all in your mind and you have to be your own inspiration. Keep training, keep eating well and enjoy. Life is short,” Lal said.
The 2027 Pacific Games will be held in Tahiti.
