Running News Daily

In a race filled with younger runners dressed in tracksuits and equipped with modern racing shoes, 47-year-old Ramabai Ranveer arrived at the starting line in a sari and a pair of simple slippers. What followed was a remarkable display of determination, courage and a mother’s unwavering commitment to her children.

Ranveer, from Ambajogai in Maharashtra’s Beed district, lined up for the three-kilometre Amrit Daud with one clear motivation: to compete for the ₹3,000 first prize and use the money to support her daughters’ education.

The race, organised by a local organisation as part of celebrations marking a milestone for an educational complex in Ambajogai, brought together runners of different ages. The short course stretched from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk to Bhagyanagar Chowk, creating an unexpected stage for Ranveer’s extraordinary performance.

Not long after the start, her slippers began slipping from her feet. Rather than stopping, she made a quick decision. She removed them, carried them in her hand and continued running barefoot.

Over the cold road and loose stones, Ranveer kept moving, lifting her sari clear of her legs and steadily overtaking runners around her. With every step, she moved closer to the front until she found herself leading the race.

By the time she reached the finish line, the woman who had started the race in ordinary slippers had become its winner—barefoot, determined and cheered on by spectators who had witnessed an unforgettable effort.

But for Ranveer, the race was about far more than winning.

Her husband died in an accident in Mumbai, leaving her to raise their two daughters. She supported the family through farm work before taking a job as a cook at the academy where her elder daughter studies. Her daily life revolves around the kitchen, household responsibilities and helping her daughters prepare for their examinations.

Her elder daughter, Pooja, who encouraged her mother to enter the race, finished second. Even Pooja did not expect her mother to beat the younger field and claim victory.

Pooja is preparing for police recruitment, while her sister Arti is studying for banking examinations. The academy’s director has also waived Pooja’s fees after witnessing her dedication to her studies.

As Ranveer ran, she said, she could picture her daughters’ future ahead of her. Every painful step became part of a larger purpose: giving her children opportunities she had worked tirelessly to create for them.

And the reward at the finish line became even more meaningful.

Instead of the advertised ₹3,000 first prize, Ranveer received ₹5,000. She immediately knew where the money belonged.

“I’m so happy they gave me ₹5,000 instead of ₹3,000. I bought notebooks and pens for my daughter Pooja. The remaining money is for Arti,” she told The Times of India.

The notebooks and pens have already been bought, turning the prize money into something far more valuable than a race victory.

Ramabai Ranveer may have crossed the finish line first, but her greatest victory was never really about the race. It was about two daughters, two dreams and a mother willing to run barefoot over stones to help them reach their future.

Sometimes, the most powerful running shoes are determination, sacrifice and a mother’s love.