30 October 2026
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

How Surinder Choudhary Uses Long-Distance Running to Stay Mentally Strong in a High-Pressure Police Career

2008 batch JKPS officer Surinder Choudhary balances the intense demands of policing with long-distance running, using it to manage stress, maintain discipline, and build mental clarity in a high-pressure career. Watch the second part of his video interview now
Indian Masterminds Stories

The uniform demands strength, but the mind demands endurance.

In the relentless world of policing, where pressure builds quietly and unpredictability is constant, JKPS officer Surinder Choudhary has found his balance not in stillness but in motion. Long-distance running, for him, is more than a fitness habit. It is a way to stay grounded amid the chaos of duty.

FINDING SPACE IN A DEMANDING LIFE

Policing rarely allows room for personal time. Yet, running carved its own place in Choudhary’s routine.

What began as a simple effort to stay fit gradually became essential. As responsibilities grew heavier, running turned into a space where he could step away from the constant demands of the job and reconnect with himself. It was not planned; it evolved with need.

Despite an unpredictable schedule, he adapted. Early mornings, late evenings, or brief gaps between duties became opportunities to train. There was no waiting for ideal conditions, only a commitment to keep going.

Watch his complete video interview here:

MILES THAT CLEAR THE MIND

The mental load of policing does not end with the shift. It lingers.

Running became a way to process that weight. The steady rhythm of movement, the silence of long roads, and the discipline of distance created a rare sense of clarity. It allowed thoughts to settle and stress to ease.

Some days, the run was about distance. On others, it was simply about finding balance after a demanding day.

LESSONS FROM THE ROAD

Long-distance running and policing share more in common than it appears.

Both require preparation, patience, and control. A marathon is not won in the first few kilometres; it demands pacing, awareness, and the ability to push through fatigue. Similarly, police work calls for careful planning and the ability to stay composed under pressure.

The discipline built on the road reflects in the field, steady, focused, and controlled.

CONSISTENCY OVER COMFORT

There are days when motivation is absent. But the routine continues.

Instead of relying on how he feels, Choudhary focuses on showing up. Some runs may be shorter or slower, but the habit remains intact. Over time, this consistency builds a mindset that does not depend on external conditions.

FITNESS AS A CORE NEED

In a profession that tests both body and mind, fitness is not optional.

For Choudhary, it directly impacts how he thinks, reacts, and handles stress. It is not about appearance; it is about being prepared for the demands of the job.

A QUIET TAKEAWAY

His journey offers a simple insight: in a life filled with pressure, finding something that restores balance is essential.

For him, it is the road, the rhythm, and the miles.

Because sometimes, the most important battles are not visible, but they are the ones that define how far you can go.


Indian Masterminds Stories
Join our WhatsApp Channel
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Balram Krishi Mahotsav
MP CM Mohan Yadav Highlights Natural Farming, Kodo-Kutki Production at Katni’s Balram Krishi Mahotsav
PMGSY Bihar rural road connectivity
Bihar IAS Reshuffle: CK Anil Appointed Education ACS, Arvind Kumar Chaudhary Gets Additional Charge 
coal-India-limited
Coal India Q2 FY27 Results: Net Profit Jumps 53% to ₹6,516 Crore; Declares ₹10.25 Interim Dividend
IAS Sanjay Kumar Singh
Who Is IAS Sanjay Kumar Singh? Odisha-Cadre Officer Likely to Become Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary’s Principal Secretary 
SECI New Corporate Office
Pralhad Joshi Opens New SECI Corporate Office, Highlights Role in India’s Clean Energy Transition 
India Energy Stack
India Energy Stack Taskforce Reviews Final Report; REC Limited to Lead Digital Infrastructure Rollout in Power Sector 
Ramesh S
Who Is Ramesh S. Thete? Retired IAS Officer Arrested in Nagpur Over Fraud, Cheque-Bounce Case
Tamilnadu-police-resized
Tamil Nadu Govt Transfers 5 IPS Officers, Sanjay Mathur Appointed DGP of State Crime Records Bureau
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Five years after Kargil, India sent its cricketing heroes to Pakistan where terrorism posed a deadly threat. The man guarding them, former Special Director of Intelligence Bureau, Mr. Yashovardhan Azad, reveals what all went behind the scenes during that crucial tour. 
Trust No One, Said His Instinct in Pakistan
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
How India Plans to Boost Tourism, Create Jobs and Ease Overcrowding : Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on the Road to 2047
Dr Saket Badola IFS
Beyond Tigers and Safaris: How Corbett Literature Festival Wants to Change the Conservation Conversation
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Vishwas Jhargad UPSC CAPF
A Photograph of His Mother Accompanied Vishwas Jhargad to the UPSC Interview, Where His Dream Came Closer
Vishwas Vijay Jhargad lost both parents as a child. With his family's support, he secured AIR 145 in...
IA&AS Lokesh Datal
‘Dreams Don’t Change Lives, Daily Habits Do’: IA&AS Officer Lokesh Datal on UPSC and Discipline
IA&AS officer Lokesh Datal shares his UPSC journey, clearing the exam in his fourth attempt, building...
Mavis tak
From Dropping Out of School to Becoming an IPS Officer : How a Father’s Unwavering Support Helped Mavis Tak Achieve Success
For Mavis Tak, becoming an IPS officer once seemed like a distant dream. Despite financial struggles...
CSR NEWS
MCL
MCL Signs MoU to Provide ₹3.20 Crore for Multipurpose Community Hall in Anugola Under CSR
The project at the Reserve Police Office in Chheliapada aims to strengthen local civic infrastructure...
nalco
NALCO Foundation Signs MoU to Sponsor 21 Odisha Youths for Three-Year Nursing Diploma 
The three-year nursing course will support youths from villages near NALCO’s Anugul and Koraput complexes,...
NALCO Nursing Education Initiative
NALCO Foundation Signs MoU to Sponsor 40 Odisha Youths for Three-Year Nursing Diploma Course
The initiative will support GNM nursing education for youths from villages near NALCO’s Angul and Koraput...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Balram Krishi Mahotsav
MP CM Mohan Yadav Highlights Natural Farming, Kodo-Kutki Production at Katni’s Balram Krishi Mahotsav
PMGSY Bihar rural road connectivity
Bihar IAS Reshuffle: CK Anil Appointed Education ACS, Arvind Kumar Chaudhary Gets Additional Charge 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Five years after Kargil, India sent its cricketing heroes to Pakistan where terrorism posed a deadly threat. The man guarding them, former Special Director of Intelligence Bureau, Mr. Yashovardhan Azad, reveals what all went behind the scenes during that crucial tour. 
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Dr Saket Badola IFS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT