Ashis Roy, the oldest participant, believes the event epitomises the spirit of Mumbai and still recalls how he completed the race in 2004 with a wet towel given by a paanwala
Ashis Roy, the oldest participant, believes the event u00a0epitomises the spirit of Mumbai and still recalls how he completed the race in 2004 with a wet towel given by a paanwala
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Ashis Roy (77) is the oldest entrant in the 42 km (full marathon) to be run in Mumbai on January 18. The New Delhi resident, who arrived in the city yesterday, for the big event is familiar with the demands of the lung-searing 42 km course. Dr Roy, a physician-cardiologist,u00a0 said, "I have run 86 marathons. This is my third Mumbai full marathon." The doctor added, "Running the marathon is my hobby."
Elaborating on his philosophy he adds, "The marathon is a sport for all ages. All men, whether rich or poor and from all classes, whoever completes the marathon is a winner." In 2007, Dr Roy finished the Mumbai course in 5 hours and 8 minutes.
This year, he says he expects to complete the race in 5 hours and 30 minutes because his right knee has been afflicted by osteo-arthritis. Even with that time, Dr Roy is likely to leave men half his age, gasping at the distance.
Dr Roy who eats two meals a day, added, "We eat more than required. I think two meals are enough for my body, three is too much." The feisty doctor says that the race epitomises the spirit of Mumbai. "When I first ran in Mumbai in February 2004, I remember it was very hot.
I was so fatigued at the start of an incline that I asked a paanwalla for water. He wet a towel and gave it to me. I ran with that to the end."
Marathon Snippets
Blind belief
Visually-impaired Arun Kurkute is going to run the 21 km (half-marathon). He says, "I may run with or without a guide. I am blind, but I have road sense, on one side is the footpath, on the other, the divider, I run in the middle. I practise alone at a ground in Mankhurd where I live." Kurkute ran the 21 km in 2007, and did the Dream Run in 2008. "The Dream Run was too crowded. I am more comfortable in the half-marathon," he added.
Strength in silence
The Oberoi-Trident team would be conspicuous by its presence in the Dream Run (7 km) event of the marathon. The hotel, one of the sites of the terrorist attacks, has 50 employees running as a team. "We will not hold any banners, but run in memory of our colleagues who lost their lives and other bravehearts injured in the attacks," said a spokesperson before ending with, "The quiet, subtle way is our style."
Mor and crore
It's a hat-trick of wins for Dr Nachiket Mor who has raised the highest amount by an individual for charity, three years in a row. He raised Rs 25 lakh in 2006, Rs 57.72 lakh in 2007 and Rs 38.26 lakh in 2008. Let us hear it for the man who has made it 1 crore and Mor (pun intended) for charity.
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