Around 20 years ago, I was diagnosed with epilepsy and doctors had warned me of dire consequences if I strayed from my scheduled medications. But stray I did, and I have had great fun proving the doctors wrong!

I experienced my first epileptic seizure while on a road trip with family and friends. Doctors had said that, for the rest of my life, I would have to be very careful while stepping out of the house. They also said I would have to be on medication for the rest of my life.

I had enjoyed a long and satisfying career in the Eastern Railways and, on retirement, returned to Bangalore where I had done my schooling. I was 62 years old when I was diagnosed and I had never had a day’s sickness until then. I did not feel there was anything wrong with me and here I was being told to lie still and not venture out!

So, one day, early in the morning, I slipped out of the house to go for a walk. I walked for a couple of hours and as nothing happened, I started doing this regularly. I began running and walking alternately and found I could do quite a distance without getting tired.

By the end of the year, I had started cycling for short stretches and was enjoying myself. I felt just fine and I was not going to stay indoors as the doctors had suggested.

Then, one day, I took off on a 40-km bicycle ride without telling anyone. I felt wonderful—healthy and good like I had never felt before. After I reached my destination, I called up home. My wife and children were quite upset with me because I had stopped taking my medicines. In fact, my wife would often puncture the tyres and tubes of my cycle so that I would not take the cycle out. She gave up when she realised that I was really determined.

A couple of months ago, I took part in the IDBI Mumbai Half Marathon and completed it in under 3 hours. There were so many things I had not done as a teenager. I feel like I am reclaiming that time. I have also taken part in ‘vertical’ runs—running up many flights of stairs. I was invited to run up the iconic Kohinoor Square in Mumbai, with its 52 floors. There were 1,250 stairs and I covered them in 15 minutes. Thereafter, I was invited to participate in a vertical run at Almas Towers at Dubai Marina. The building has 64 floors and 1,600 stairs.

I have no health problems, no blood sugar and no cholesterol. I eat mainly home-cooked food and drink lots of water. The only problem I have had is with my eyes. A couple of years ago, I was bitten by an insect while I was riding my cycle. The burning did not subside even after two days, so I consulted a doctor. He told me I had the beginnings of glaucoma and that I had made it just on time. Timely intervention and medication have helped and now I only have to use eye drops to keep my eyes safe.

I cycle an average 53 km a day, which adds up to 1,600 km a month. I aim to ride the distance between the earth and the moon; that is, 384,400 km. I need only 11,000 km more to achieve that goal. I need to mention here that I am in no way encouraging other seniors to break the rules their doctors may have prescribed. Obviously, everyone cannot do it my way.

—B R Janardhan, Bengaluru

Photograph by Shyamola Khanna
Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
November 2016