My Experience Running the Pittsburgh Half Marathon
Guest post by Vinod Ramachandran, QA Engineer, Team Lead
Editor’s note: Vinod Ramachandran recently took on the Pittsburgh Half Marathon and shared this personal recap—what motivated him, how he trained, and what he learned along the way.
Running has always been part of my life, but for many years it was something I did casually—an occasional jog, a few miles here and there, never with a real plan or purpose. That changed about six years ago when I suffered a severe knee injury. Suddenly, running even a single mile felt impossible. That experience pushed me to approach running with a more structured plan.
I added consistent strength training focused on my core and legs, knowing that stability and muscle balance would help protect my knee. I started taking the stairs at work instead of the elevator. I cut out snacking after 7 p.m. Most importantly, I built a community of family and friends to train with.
I’ve never been a morning person, but I realized early mornings were the only time the house was quiet—before the day took over and while the kids were still asleep. Getting out of bed is the toughest part, but watching the sun rise while running makes it worth it.
My wife, Abhidha, played a huge role. She constantly pushed me to think about the next race, the next goal, the next challenge. My son, Arjun (7 years old), has also become a strong runner, and keeping ahead of him—for as long as I can—has become its own motivation. They both ran the 5K as well, which made race weekend feel like a true family event.
Compunetix has some amazing runners (whose record speeds I hope to match someday). Jerry Pompa regularly checks in with me about strength training and stretching—and he’s always pushing me on when I’ll be ready for a full marathon. A few days before the race, we talked about how running is a mindset game and how it can improve performance in other areas. Coffee-break check-ins with Angela Eagle—and the small tips she shares—have been incredibly helpful.
Race day brought its own unforgettable moment. Around mile 11, the course hits the Birmingham Bridge—a long uphill stretch. I was out of breath and slowed to a walk. An older woman from the crowd jumped in beside me, cheering me on and running with me up the bridge. That simple act of kindness captured what makes Pittsburgh special: the crowd shows up for you, even when they don’t know your name.
Crossing the finish line in 1:57—under my goal of two hours—felt incredible. It wasn’t just a race; it was proof of commitment, consistency, and community. My biggest takeaway is simple: commit to the next goal. Register for the next race. Keep moving forward.
About the author
Vinod Ramachandran is a QA Engineer/Team Lead at Compunetix and has been associated with the company for about 16 years.
The views expressed in this post are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of Compunetix.
