For much of his childhood, Md. Masum Billah was fond of football and cricket. Sport was an integral part of life. But his family, like many families, put great emphasis on studying. They believed that he would not be a good athlete. He concentrated on his studies, then, so. Those were the years that sports took a back seat.
In 2014, he started working in the corporate world with an internship at IDLC Finance. He then transferred to HR a year later. He used to have an office in the Gulshan area, and his residence was in the Kalabagan area. It was hard to get to work each day. There weren’t a lot of buses. Therefore, he bought a bike to be able to travel around. Initially, it was a means to get him to work on time. However, at times his work became stressful, and his mind and body were tired. It was no longer a fun activity. Gradually, he stopped. He put on weight and became inactive.
After working for almost six years with IDLC, he joined the City Bank in 2018. He was taken on as Talent Acquisition Manager. The job was more challenging, and so was his life. He stuck to the same routine - work, home, work, home. He still wasn't concerned about his health.
Picture: Md. Masum Billah.
All this changed in early 2023, when he connected with Sultan Mahmud Ripon. Ripon completed an Ironman. The encounter was an accidental one. As the days went by, he grew more interested. He heard about endurance races - running, biking, and swimming. Ripon completed the Ironman, and the office was proud of him. He was given a gift by him - a cap. That cap, however, resulted in something more. It made him realize that he needed to think about his life. He asked himself if he would be able to do the same.
Not long after, he signed up for his first race, a 7.5 km race by Biman Bangladesh in May 2023. He wasn't trained and prepared. He just turned up. He wasn't in it to win on race day. He simply wanted to run the race. As he finished and received the first medal, it was a breakthrough.
But that shook his perspective. He knew he had to improve his lifestyle. He was now living closer to work at this time. He went to a nearby park. He started to run, typically in the evening hours. He had to try hard at first, but he did. He began training in the gym to get rid of a bit of fat and build muscle. He was competitive, so he didn't want to do it casually. He wanted to do a good job.
Picture: Md. Masum Billah.
Initially, even a kilometer was too difficult. But he worked hard. 5 kilometers, then 10 kilometers. He suffered from damaged ligaments, which prevented him from being able to run quickly. The pain occurred when running quickly. Therefore, he evolved to run slower. This helped him to avoid injuries while running longer distances.
Today, his longest distance is 25 kilometers, in a Run Bangladesh event. This was a great accomplishment for him. He did not want to be constrained, however. He was seeking to delve deeper into running than just running. This began his involvement in running, and he met the event organisers. He made his training public on social media so he could maintain his focus. This gave him more confidence and relationships.
He decided to make the next big leap and do the Powerman in Malaysia in 2025. This was a duathlon, a combination of running and cycling. This was an event that was new and challenging. At the time, he didn't even have a bike. He took a bicycle from a friend to train. He went for a cycle and rode on the road. He even participated in a 21 km cycling race. After a while, he purchased a Road Bike.
Picture: Md. Masum Billah.
Following Ripon's advice, he had a training plan. And he did a practice race. By the time he got to Malaysia, he was ready. This event included a 5km run, a 30km cycle, and then another 5km run. He started the first run slowly, but picked up speed. He went quite well in cycling and the second run. It was an amazing race to complete with the flag of Bangladesh. Cheers from the crowd made it even better! It wasn't a race. It was a personal and a national triumph!
He continues to be engaged in race management in Bangladesh. He started as a race marshal for the ActivePulse Chattogram Marathon 2025. This enabled him to gain hands-on experience in race management. He participated in meetings and gave suggestions. He observed how decisions were being made, such as the route, drinks, and food. He loved how his suggestions were taken into account. ActivePulse Bangladesh listened and responded to feedback. He made an observation at the event. It was the same for runners, the first and the last. There was no respite, even several hours later. This demonstrated their dedication.
He believes that there is a bright future for endurance sports in Bangladesh in the future. The number of participants is increasing at a fast pace. There is an increasing trend toward the formation of more communities. Triathlons and Duathlons, like the Ironman and Powerman, are starting to get noticed. However, challenges remain. Not all events are organised well or cater to runners' needs. He would wish to see a Governing Body for the purpose of maintaining high standards. This would prevent the new runners from having a poor run experience.
Masum still trains on a regular basis. He runs in the week and cycles on the weekend with his friend. His next milestone is a mighty one - a 70.3 Ironman in 2027. He is progressing slowly. He transformed himself from a couch potato to an endurance athlete, little by little. In fact, his story is so simple. The positive impact of one decision.
