Professor, 67, Greater Noida

 
On the run!

7 years

The beginnings

I have been fond of sports since my school and college days. I played badminton and other sports back then and I later took to running and swimming on a daily basis as it was an exercise where I was not dependent on others. I was enthused by the idea of running 21 km, which I completed in 2 hours 24 minutes.

First marathon

2009 Airtel Delhi Half Marathon

No. of half-marathons

6

Personal best

02:09:54

The high!

It is an exhilarating experience and gives me a sense of achievement and fulfilment. I run once a year and gloat about it for the full year! I was happy with last year’s run, which I completed in 02:15:24.

The challenge

Getting cramps and dehydration towards the end of the race. I took training tips from YouTube videos that helped me finish runs without complete exhaustion.

Training

My exercise routine is independent of the marathon. In summers, I swim every day for 45 minutes to an hour without a break; I consider it the best exercise. In winters, I jog 5 km every morning. I also do Swiss ball exercises and stretches on my exercise bar at home. Our society has a pool and a well-equipped gym, which I use when I get time. My exercise routine is usually completed in the morning as I get up quite early.

Health issues

I had bypass surgery in 2001 after blockages were detected in my arteries. But since then, I have been leading a well-regulated life. I have given up smoking and I drink only occasionally.

Top gear

Nike shoes and Reebok jersey

Motivation

Fitness is my ultimate motive.

Marathon moment

Crossing the finish line at every marathon is a memorable experience.

The goal

To remain fit and self-sufficient

Photo: marathon-photos.com
Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
November 2017

• KHUSHRU PATEL
• VINOD KAUL
• ELSIE NANJI
• P K N NAMBIAR
• PERVIN BATLIVALA
• NISHA SUTARIA
• MAHADEV SAMJHISKAR
• PREMANAND RAMANI
• ASHOK KALLA
• SUNEETHA PRASANNA
• KRISHNA AGARWAL
• MOHAN NATHANI
• RAKESH MITTAL
• JAYANT DAVDA