Retired flight operations manager, 75, Mumbai

 
On the run!

13 years

The beginnings

I wanted to keep myself fit after retirement. In 2004, I registered for the half-marathon at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, held on 15 February. As I had not undergone any training, I completed the 21-km stretch with brisk walking. Six months later, on 1 September, I started running at Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali. It’s my favourite spot for running—it offers me clean air and 100 per cent oxygen!

First marathon

The half-marathon at the 2004 Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, which I completed in 2 hours 51 minutes.

No. of half-marathons

38 half-marathons

Personal best

All 5 marathons in the sub-2 category. The most challenging was the 2007 Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. At 65, I ran in the 55-plus category and completed the run in 01:56:34. The toughest was the 2016 Ladakh Half Marathon at an altitude of 11,800 ft. At 74, I ran in the 52-plus category and finished in 02:39:00; I was ranked 7 out of 49.

Running means….

It is my life; I cannot survive without it. I train on my own and analyse my performance after every marathon so I can improve and innovate upon my style. However, I’ve never attempted 42 km as I run for my health and respect my body. I don’t want to exert it.

The challenge

I’ve run in the worst conditions and have had my share of problems such as fatigue and breathlessness, but then I mastered the art of running. I run non-stop but I slow down, listen to my body and adjust my speed accordingly. I call myself a ‘seasoned’ runner as I run in all seasons: torrential rains, burning heat and harsh winters. Nature has adopted me.

The high!

Running gives me the ultimate high. There’s no stopping now. A friend once introduced me to an audience stating, ‘Earlier this fellow would run after girls and now girls are running after him.’ My biggest accomplishment is when people get inspired by me.

Training

I run four times a week on alternate days. Before running, I exercise for 20 minutes to condition my body. Post-run, I stick to light exercises. On days I’m not running, I do cross-training such as cycling, swimming, hydro-training in karate and strength training. Two days before the marathon, I prepare myself by doing yoga, eating nutritious food, getting hydrated and having a good sleep.

Marathon moment

The 2015 Cross Country Marathon at the Australia Masters Games—an Australian runner and I touched the finish line within a fraction of a second. He received the gold; I got silver. When I returned to my room and checked the result sheet on the computer, I realised I had touched the line first. I rushed to the convention centre and told the organisers; they checked the results once again, apologised and presented the gold medal to me!

Technique

An acquaintance once told me the right way to run is to lift the body, bend it a little and run on the toes without putting pressure on the heels. This way, one gets forward motion through the hands and thrust through the toes. I recommend this technique for everybody.

Other achievements

At 63, I joined judo/karate and now I’m a black belt in karate. And 65, in 2007, I did my first Kailash Mansarovar trek. It was a 193-km trip for 26 days with 45 km of Kailash parikrama.

Motivation

I lost my wife within seven years of marriage and was left to fend for my ageing parents and three kids. My parents’ health slowly deteriorated but I couldn’t be with them owing to my transferable job. Their suffering motivated me to get fit and live a quality life so I am not dependent on anyone in my old age.

The goal

My all-time goal is to run for my country and win laurels for it.

The age effect

I look in the mirror and notice my grey hair but don’t feel I have aged.

Message for silver runners

Ageing is inevitable but don’t treat it as a barrier. Give time to your health. Good health cannot be bought—today, I can say with pride that I’m a millionaire in terms of health. I’m 74 and I know the process of degeneration has begun within my body. But I want to run till my last breath.

Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
November 2017

• KHUSHRU PATEL
• VINOD KAUL
• ELSIE NANJI
• P K N NAMBIAR
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• KAMAL KALRA
• NISHA SUTARIA
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• SUNEETHA PRASANNA
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