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Madhusmita Jena started running to get out of the house. She needed space to breathe, time away from the endless cycle of parenting, work, and everything else that demands a piece of you. Seven months after her first son was born, she ran her first marathon. Forty-two marathons later, she's still running. And now she's doing it in six yards of hand-loomed silk.

What started as a personal challenge became something bigger. And now, at 46, balancing a job as a special educational needs teacher with parenting two children, she's attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon run in a sari. The current record sits at three hours and 57 minutes, set by Kranti Salvi from India back in 2018.

So we sat down with Madhusmita to talk about what it takes to run 26.2 miles in traditional clothing, what messages from other women have stuck with her, and how you find time for yourself when you're juggling everything else. Because that's really what this is about, not the record, not even the sari, but the mother who refused to wait until it was convenient to take care of herself.

Running in a sari carries so much identity and meaning, what did that feel like for you in that moment?
Madhusmita Jena: I couldn’t agree more. I’ve always had a soft spot for the saree, but running in one took that appreciation to another level. It became a way to encourage women to embrace running in whatever attire they feel most comfortable in, while also celebrating our traditional clothing within a vibrant, multicultural community. What I didn’t expect was the overwhelming joy and generous support from fellow runners, organisers, and the cheering crowds along the way. I truly hope this inspires more women to overcome their inhibitions and take up running for a healthier life, both physically and mentally.

Running in a sari isn’t something most people would even attempt. What kind of preparation or adjustments did you have to make to make it work?
Madhusmita Jena: That’s absolutely true. It came with its own set of challenges which I only realised after running my first marathon in a saree 3 years ago. I had to figure out practical things like where to carry my energy gels, how to keep the pleats in place throughout the run, and how to manage the relatively restricted leg movement.

Over time, I made a few adjustments to make it easier. I started wearing the saree slightly higher to avoid tripping, used a belt to carry my gels, and did 1 or 2 practice runs to help my legs adapt to running in it. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do many runs in a saree as I was training between January and March in the UK and the temperatures were close to freezing.

You mentioned getting messages from people saying they now want to start running. Was there any one message or moment that really stayed with you?
Madhusmita Jena: I’ve been truly grateful and humbled by the many congratulatory messages I’ve received. But there are few which touched a chord as it felt that the saree run did achieve its core motive; messages from women who talked about taking to running, people from the community who thanked me for showcasing our traditional attire and mothers who wanted to break free from this unnecessary pressure that it would be selfish for them to get some me-time and take to running.

What does this achievement mean to you as a mother and as someone balancing so many roles?
Madhusmita Jena: I ran my first marathon only a few months after my first child. Since then running has always remained a passion over the years. . It hasn’t always been easy to keep up with it, especially while balancing the demands of solo parenting and my job.

To make it work, I’ve learned to be intentional. I wake up at 4am and often head out for 5am runs or strength sessions before my children wake up. I also make it a point to sleep early, so I can get the rest I need to stay energised and keep up with the day ahead.