Colonel Avdhesh Kumar (Retd) is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy. Commissioned into the newly raised Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAK LI) in June 1997, he was the first officer posted to his unit. He later commanded the battalion in Arunachal Pradesh from 2012 to 2014 and has extensive field experience in counter‑insurgency operations across Jammu & Kashmir and India’s North‑East. His service record also includes a deployment with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

An accomplished endurance athlete, Colonel Kumar has completed several of the world’s leading marathons, including the New York City Marathon, Big Sur International Marathon (California), Tata Mumbai Marathon, and the Hyderabad and Chennai marathons. Following his pre‑mature retirement from the Indian Army in August 2021 to pursue his interests in running and education, he qualified as a Certified Master Instructor in ChiRunning and ChiWalking, endorsed by founder Danny Dreyer, and serves as Director, Team India, for the programme. He is also a certified Gait Analyst (RunDNA) and holds Running Coach and Endurance Sports Nutrition Coach certifications from the United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy (UESCA).

Colonel Kumar focuses on promoting efficient, injury‑resistant movement through ChiRunning and ChiWalking, and has helped hundreds of runners and walkers address lower‑limb issues, including knee and ankle pain. He has designed and delivered numerous full‑ and half‑day lectures and workshops for military, paramilitary, and civilian audiences in both India and the United States. In India alone, he has trained more than 3,450 participants and regularly conducts programmes at institutions such as the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA), Hyderabad; L&T, Powai; AIIMS, New Delhi; ARTRAC; AIPT; RIMC; CDM; MCEME; MCTE; BEG Centre; HQ DG NCC, Delhi; and multiple regimental centres and state police academies.

His outreach spans a wide range of locations, including Patiala, Bhatinda, Akhnoor, BD Bari, Udhampur, Panagarh, Bhuj, Sangrur, Chaubatia, Jodhpur, Nasirabad, Bikaner, Ratnu Chak, Amritsar, Mumbai, Namkum, Gurez, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Bhopal, Rangia, Tezpur, and the National Capital Region, among others.

In September 2025, Colonel Kumar was conferred the Veteran Achievers Award by the Chief of Army Staff in New Delhi, in recognition of his selfless service beyond uniform and his contribution to promoting fitness nationwide. In 2026, he was selected to participate in the Republic Day Parade Veteran Tableau, highlighting the role of ChiRunning in enabling efficient, pain‑free living.