Retired Air Force officer, 67, Gurugram

 
On the run!

13 years

The beginning

When I was 53, my blood pressure started going up. The doctor told me I had to get fit and reduce my weight. So I created a small gymnasium at home. This also led me to go out and run. It’s a 3-km circuit around Nehru Park. Before I knew it, I was doing four rounds regularly.

First marathon

2005 Hutch Delhi Half Marathon

No. of half-marathons

16

Personal best

02:10:00

Running means….

I like to have a balanced life, not a unidimensional one. The aim is not to be the fastest or run increasingly longer distances. Running is one component—a very nice component—of my life. I also like to travel, sample new foods, and spend time with friends and family.

The challenge

When I started, the barrier was primarily mental. Your brain does not accept the exertion at first. It takes determination and grit to get past that, backed up with necessary physical conditioning.

Training

I ramp up my routine six weeks before the marathon. I target a particular distance per week and increase the target as the weeks come along. It is a very disciplined approach, especially in terms of mileage and speed. I don’t let exuberance take over the mind.

Health issues

When I started, I had developed Achilles tendonitis. The back of my ankles would hurt after a long run and I would be left limping for days. This carried on for years. After many consultations and some reading, I decided to start having protein powder on a hunch. In a few months, the pain started subsiding. Over the next couple of years, the heel healed and I stopped the powder.

Motivation

When I’m not feeling up to it, I go into my small gym and turn the AC on high. The only way to get warm then is to start working out…small steps.

Top gear

My mental clock! It’s always ticking.

Marathon moment

I decided to go to Mumbai for the 2008 marathon, right after the terrorist attack, and be with the people there. It was a very emotional run for me. All of Mumbai was on the streets—the way they greeted the runners, the way the families came armed with water…and the kids! I have never experienced that feeling again. Mumbai was hurting a lot and this run sort of brought everybody together.

The goal

My first goal is to run when I am 70, then at 75, and then at 80. After that, we’ll think about it when the time comes.

The age effect

Age has slowed me down, especially in the past two to three years. But I’m not running against the clock. I just hope I don’t slow down to unacceptable speeds.

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

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