Last to finish, first in perseverance: Nasser’s inspiring feat at Rising Sun Chatsworth AC Ultra Marathon
The crowds had dispersed, and the finish line had long been taken down at the Chatsworth Oval, however, Nasser pressed on – one step at a time.
In a world focused on podium finishes and personal bests, 22-year-old Nasser Zayn Narain’s story offers a different perspective – one of determination and dedication. Nasser, who was one of the thousands of participants in the gruelling 52km category of the Rising Sun Chatsworth AC Ultra Marathon, held last Sunday, has proven that true victory lies not in position but rather in perseverance.
The crowds had dispersed, and the finish line had long been taken down at the Chatsworth Oval, however, Nasser pressed on – one step at a time. Despite finishing the race last, after eight hours, two hours following the cut-off time, Nasser has gained first place in the hearts of social media users across the country, who have been motivated by his inspiring story. In an interview with the Rising Sun, Nasser, who is a creative entrepreneur, co-founder of a content agency, videographer, and photographer, shared that he has also enjoyed pushing himself, physically and mentally.
He lives by these profound words daily: ‘Most people don’t fail because they lose – they fail because they never start.’
“My hobbies include gaming, going to the gym and running,” he said, explaining that he was inspired to take on the 52km race by his close friend, Wade Gounden. Describing Gounden as an individual who constantly pushes limits and encourages others around him, Nasser revealed that watching him take on different challenges made him realise that he was capable of more. “That pushed me to go beyond my comfort zone and take on something as intense as a 52km ultra marathon,” Nasser added.
He spoke about his feelings and mindset at the start of the race. He said, “I was actually calm and excited. I’m usually quite anxious with things like this, but this time felt different. From the beginning, I had one clear thought – I was going to finish, no matter what.” And that is something that he stayed true to! Along the route, he admits that it felt manageable at first. However, it was around the 36km to 40km mark that everything changed and ‘torture’ set in.
“I hit a wall mentally and physically, and I seriously considered quitting multiple times. I even broke down at 40km, knowing I still had 12km left,” he stated, revealing that it was the people around him who kept him going. His family offered him unwavering support by driving alongside him the entire way. His best friend, Leeneshan Pillay, who suffered a knee injury, also ran alongside him between the 40km and 45km mark – a moment which meant a great deal to Nasser.
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At the 45km mark, he became drained and ended up walking through most of the final stretch. With about 3km to go, Nasser spotted Wade, also a fellow participant, who, despite finishing his own race, walked back to find his friend.
“He walked with me to the finish, and that gave me the final push I needed. Having the support of my friends and family is what carried me through. It was the most intense physical pain I’ve ever experienced, but also one of the most meaningful things I’ve done,” he said. Nasser admits that he did not participate in the race for recognition or for others to see him complete it. For him, it was a testing ground.
“It was about being faced with something extremely difficult and deciding how I would respond. It became a form of self-discovery. During and after the race, I learned a lot about who I am, especially in moments of intense pain and doubt. To me, success isn’t about position or who’s watching. If you finish, you’ve already won. Success is about proving to yourself that you can keep going when it’s uncomfortable, when it’s hard, and when every part of you wants to give up,” he humbly shared.
When asked about what the biggest challenge he faced during the race was, he stated that both his legs cramped up along Road 701 in Montford.
“I fell to the ground in pain. I was lying there with no one around, cars passing by, and for a moment, I genuinely thought that was the end of my race. But I realised that help wasn’t coming – it was up to me to get myself back up. Through the pain, I forced myself to stand, took in some electrolytes, and slowly started moving again. Mentally, that was one of the toughest points. I had already started convincing myself I was done before I even gave myself a chance to recover. But in that moment, I simplified everything down to one thought – I have to finish this race. And that’s what got me moving again,” he continued.
Speaking about the viral video of him finally reaching the finish line, Nasser said that he did not expect the overwhelming reaction he received. “That video was actually taken by one of my close friends, so seeing it blow up the way it did felt a bit surreal at first. It was definitely strange in the beginning, but more than anything, it surprised me. I didn’t expect that kind of reaction, especially for finishing last. But the support and positive feedback from people have been really motivating,” he enthused.
His message to others who wish to start running or feel that they are not ready is simple yet effective: ‘Just start’. “You’re never going to feel fully ready, and waiting for the perfect moment will only hold you back. Start where you are, even if it’s small, and figure it out as you go. That first step is always the hardest, but it’s the one that changes everything,” he shared. So what’s next for Nasser? He has his sights set on completing a few more marathons before the end of the year.
“I’ve also been pushed by my friends to try something completely different – an 800m ocean swim – so that might be the next challenge. I’m just focused on continuing to push my limits and seeing what else I’m capable of,” he concluded. By never giving up, Nasser has certainly challenged perceptions of success, reminding everyone that sometimes simply finishing is the greatest triumph of all.
@nasser.narain This was my first ever official race, the first time I’ve ever ran or travelled this distance on my own two feet. And it was absolutely brutal. The most physical pain I’ve ever felt in my life and it was caused by the very roads I travel everyday. Shoutout to those who completed or even attempted to run this because YOH, it teaches you some things about yourself. #chatsworthultramarathon2026 #chatsworthultramarathon #lastplace
