Khammam constable Pilli Raju finishes 60K Bison Ultra marathon, eyes 100K challenge next

Khammam AR constable Pilli Raju completed the 60-km Bison Ultra 2025 marathon in Yercaud, overcoming one of India’s most demanding trail routes. Having finished within the cut-off time, he now prepares for the 100K challenge in 2026.

Khammam: Khammam Police Commissionerate’s Armed Reserve (AR) constable Pilli Raju has successfully completed yet another marathon, this time, one of India’s toughest endurance runs, the 60-kilometre Bison Ultra 2025 marathon, held in Yercaud near Salem in Tamil Nadu.

Raju clocked 10 hours, 8 minutes and 1 second to finish the race, which is well within the cut-off time of 10 hours and 30 minutes. Held at an altitude of 1,769 metres above sea level, the Bison Ultra is considered the highest-altitude trail marathon in the country.

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Organised by KaysFIT Academy and recognised by the International Trail Running Association (ITRA), the event features 60k, 45k, 30k, and 15k categories through the rugged terrain of private coffee estates.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Raju described the race as one of his most memorable and challenging experiences.

“The route was full of twists, thick bushes, steep climbs and sharp downhills. It wasn’t just a run; it was a mental battle. Your legs move, but it’s your mind that gets you to the finish line,” he said.

Adding a personal touch to this achievement, Raju shared that this was the first time his family accompanied him to a race.

“My wife Subha Rani and daughter Sara Mahajan saw for the first time what my 4.30 am training sessions are about. When they saw the route, they asked me, ‘Are you really going to run here?’ After the race, when my daughter said, ‘Daddy, we are proud of you,’ it meant more to me than any medal,” he said, visibly emotional.

Reflecting on the experience, he added, “Nature is powerful at the Bison Ultra. It tests you, humbles you, and makes you feel truly alive. I’m proud to have finished the 60K well within time and I am already preparing for the 100K next year.”

Raju also noted that he had earlier been named the ‘Best Motivator Runner’ at the Spiti Marathon, an initiative by the Indian Army held at an altitude of over 11,000 feet in Himachal Pradesh.

Having completed around 300 marathons since 2016, Raju expressed his gratitude to IGP (Sports) M Ramesh, Khammam Commissioner of Police Sunil Dutt, ACP Tirupathi Reddy, DCP Kumaraswamy, ACP Susheel Singh, CI D Srilaxmi and RI Kamaraj among others for their constant encouragement and support.