Come Saturday, two fitness freaks from Thane will set out on a 1,155-km-long ultrathon to spread awareness about female foeticide
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Aditya Sonawane and Sanjivani Mhatre train at Upvan Lake in Thane. Pic/ DATTA KUMBHAR
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'Are you a machine, brother? You have unbelievable feet,' reads a Facebook comment posted by a friend of Aditya Sonawane, as the latter flaunts his 100-miles marathon medal. Sonawane has been running for over a year, making and breaking his own records. Working as an accountant on days he's not running, he has completed 47 marathons so far. "I started with regular marathons, and have run six ultras — more than a 100 km each. I used to run for myself, but I now feel like running for a cause," he Sonawane, talking about his upcoming marathon.
The 26-year-old Thane resident is referring to his next ultrathon from Mumbai to Jaipur where he will be accompanied by Sanjivani Mhatre, a 40-year-old athlete who runs a snacks shop. The duo have been training for two months, and will cover expansive national highways for 23 days, running through Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat. They plan to run 50 km each day with halts in Vapi, Vadodara, Ahmedabad and Udaipur.
This time around, what drives them is not just another medal. The pair is on a journey to raise awareness about the declining sex ratios in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and the obvious antecedent, female foeticide, that is high in both states. En route, they intend to interact with as many people as possible about its dangers, and why education and awareness are important. "I have come across women, doctors and the educated fraternity guilty of female foeticide. I have a younger sister, and it's appalling that such a practice still exists," Sonawane shares. Mhatre, on the other hand, chirps with sweet determination, "When he proposed the idea, I agreed instantly. It's for women, so I will run."
They have been training hard for the same — running 20 kilometres every day, maintaining a high-sodium diet and working out their core muscles to be able to endure the harsh heat.
Largely self-sponsored, the trip will cost about '3 lakh as two crew members and a driver will also need to accompany them. Starting from Thane on June 3, their journey will be GPS-trackable on their Facebook and Instagram pages as they share each accomplishment, before finally concluding their course at the Amar Jawan memorial in Jaipur. The local media of cities along their route is now supporting them too. Sonawane is suitably excited, "Things need to change, and I'm happy that I'm doing my bit. I can't wait to touch the Amar Jawan memorial!"
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