Shiva Purnachandra
Coach
"Running is not just a journey of miles but a path to self-discovery—where every step reveals your strength, resilience, and the amazing person you are becoming."
Shiva Purnachandra (Shiva) is an RRCA certified long distance running coach who began his RHWB running journey in Season 5, inspired by the transformation of his close friend Ajit and his son, Aarnav. Shiva lives in Oak Hill, VA, a suburb of Washington, D.C., with his wife Sukhi Sahni and their two daughters, Suhani and Sanaa.
From a young age, Shiva has always been active. He played multiple sports in school, including short distance running, basketball, and kabaddi. He represented his school at the state level in track and field and basketball, earning several awards along the way. Before joining RHWB, he had experience running 5K and 10K races, but it was through RHWB that he truly began his structured endurance running journey.
Since then, Shiva has completed multiple races, including three marathons and several half marathons. In December 2025, he completed his first ultra marathon (50K) in Dallas, setting personal records in both the marathon and ultra marathon distances.
Coach Shiva deeply connects with RHWB’s belief in building better human beings, not just better runners. For him, running is not only about fitness, it is a path to self awareness, discipline, and personal growth.
Outside of running, Shiva enjoys cooking and experimenting with spices and new recipes, often sharing this time with friends and the three special women in his life. He also enjoys reading non-fiction books and is always curious to learn and grow.
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