Her story
From Gym Workouts to Marathons and Mountain Peaks
Shilpa Mathkar is excited to be part of RHWB Coaches' team, bringing her RRCA certification to the role. A dedicated member of RHWB since Season 5, she has been coaching for five seasons, beginning in Season 8.
Shilpa Mathkar is excited to be part of RHWB Coaches’ team, bringing her RRCA certification to the role. A dedicated member of RHWB since Season 5, she has been coaching for five seasons, beginning in Season 8. Shilpa lives in Edison with her husband and teenage daughter, both of whom are also RHWB runners, alongside their beloved Siberian Husky, Rosie. Originally from Mumbai, she works as a Senior Scientist at a pharmaceutical company in New Jersey.
Shilpa has been passionate about recreational sports throughout her adolescence and young adulthood. After experiencing a meniscal tear and an ACL injury while ice skating in 2009, she pivoted to gym workouts for her fitness. It was during the pandemic that a close friend introduced her to the RHWB running program. Initially, she viewed running as primarily a youth-oriented sport focused on speed, which made her somewhat hesitant to start. However, she decided to give it a try, and it has since transformed her life. Thanks to the structured training at RHWB and the exceptional guidance of Head Coach Bala, Shilpa is discovering the science and art of enjoying long-term running while remaining injury-free.
Since 2021, Shilpa has completed several half marathons and three full marathons: Atlantic City in 2022, Marine Corps in 2023, and the TCS NYC Marathon in 2024. In July 2024, she successfully summited Mount Washington in New Hampshire, one of North America's highest peaks. In Aug 2024, she participated in a mountaineering expedition with fellow RHWB runners, climbing Ruku Pichincha and Carihuairazo mountains, reaching elevations of up to 15,550 feet.
In her spare time, Shilpa enjoys traveling, hiking, gardening, music, and movies. She makes it a point to incorporate running into her vacations, cherishing experiences in locations such as Banos, Ecuador (during the mountaineering trip), Tromso, Norway (where she participated in the Midnight Sun Half Marathon under the midnight sun), and Stockholm, Sweden.
Coaching and participating in RHWB has deepened Shilpa's gratitude and empathy, fostering a greater appreciation for the potential that lies within everyone. She actively promotes a healthy lifestyle, particularly among women, and finds joy in motivating others to pursue physical and mental wellness. Shilpa is dedicated to helping individuals achieve their running goals and firmly believes in the importance of ongoing personal growth, regardless of age. She looks forward to sharing her passion for running and introducing more people to its many benefits.
- 2009Suffered a meniscal tear and ACL injury while ice skating; turned to gym workouts
- 2021Began running with RHWB and started completing half marathons
- 2022Ran the Atlantic City marathon
- 2023Ran the Marine Corps Marathon
- July 2024Summited Mount Washington in New Hampshire
- Aug 2024Climbed Ruku Pichincha and Carihuairazo in Ecuador with RHWB runners
- 2024Ran the TCS NYC Marathon