K Haridasan Nair: The Man Who Runs

Today, we celebrate K Haridasan Nair, a spirited 55-year-old ex-Army man with 39 years of running experience. Known affectionately as the “4:25 Pacer” at the TMM for the past decade, he has been a guiding force for countless runners aspiring to achieve their personal bests.

For those unfamiliar with the term, a Pacer is a runner appointed to maintain a specific pace, helping others reach their target time comfortably. K Haridasan Nair has taken on this role with military precision and the humor of a seasoned marathoner. As the coach for the Runtastics Dilse group in Thane & Palm Beach, he has achieved significant milestones, including three Comrades finishes and conquering the Khardungla Challenge.

His running résumé reads like an odyssey: over 5,100 km of running, 50+ Ultra Marathons, and countless Full and Half Marathons. Beyond the pavement, he has covered 275 km from Jammu to Kashmir, commemorated Kargil Vijay Diwas with epic runs, and continues to pace, direct, and champion running events. His mantra? “Believe in yourself, Dilse🙏”—because if he can do it, you can too!