Mumbai: Blind runner getting ready to crack a 150

Amarjeet Singh Chawla 67 lost his vision completely when he was 40 but the visually impaired gentleman has refused to let that put him down and turned putting ability into disability from a catchphrase into a reality Chawla is all set to run his 150thtimed half marathon 21 km at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon scheduled for October 15 2023The Kandivli resident said of his journey ldquoIt has been such a long way since I ran the 59 km Dream Run at the Mumbai Marathon in 2004 That was the start the teaser to the lsquomain dishrsquo and whetted my appetite for running Then I got addicted to running I started running half marathons in 2005 After that it has been mile after mile I have taken part in marathons all over IndiardquoPartner runsChawla said he needs an escort or partner on his runs ldquoI am totally reliant on them I hold a white cane that blind persons use gripping it on one end and the escort who is guiding me holds the other That is how we run togetherrdquo An escort or sighted running partner for the visually impaired at the marathon is like a readerwriter the visually impaired students need for their exams ldquoYou need to be in sync with the running partner It takes some time getting used to Sometimes the escort runners cannot get used to the cane so then we hold hands and runrdquo stated Chawla ldquoThey too need to be comfortable as they are running but they are also ensuring my safety Earlier I used to find it difficult to get running escorts Then as people started recognising me they actually came up to me and said they wanted to be my escort runnersrdquoSport onChawla who goes by his epithet lsquoThe Sporty Sikhrsquo added ldquoI train in a way that suits me as a visually challenged person I do 30 minutes of spot jogging every single day I follow this with freehand exercises and 75 minutes of Pranayama which is all important for lung power and endurance My diet is flexible but I never eat till I am absolutely full I am 34th full and that is the time to stoprdquo Chawla who now works with insurance used to sell lottery tickets in a Malad shop earlier He said ldquoI participate in many running events I ran a 21 km in Valsad last month I am going to run a 25 km in Borivli in the National Park on September 25 The course has several gradients so that is good This is how I prepare too for long runsrdquo The runner claimed there was a time when he ran different races on most Sundays from 10 km to 21 km but sometimes paying entry fees for himself and the escort runner was pricey ldquoSome organisers do bear the expenses and escort runners do at times pay for their entry but at other times I have to pay and it becomes expensive for merdquo said Chawla The runner has completed 231 races in all where he has 148 halfmarathons 21 km 77 10km runs and six Ultramarathons Ultras are any distance above the traditional marathon distance of 42 km Asked why he had not attempted a marathon the 42 km since he has done ultrarunning too Chawla explained ldquoIt is difficult to get escort runners for the marathon distance I get them for shorter distances and in the ultras which are at times 50 and 60 km or more several different persons do the escort running like a relay of escortsrdquoAlso read Mumbai In eco setback no action against PoP Ganpati idolsDance onA firedup Amarjeet Singh Chawla said milestones make up his big moments ldquoMy 150th run in New Delhi will be the significant one I have competed in 33 states in 13 cities in India I wish I had a sponsor to run abroad Just one race too it will surely be thrillingrdquo While Chawla has to stay within physical borders nothing gets him down The fizzy fleet of foot Sikh has even earned a label lsquoThe dancing Sardar from Mumbairsquo in a race in Hyderabad ldquoAs when I hear dhol music on the support route I take a minute or two off to dancerdquo he laughed adding ldquoRunning is about spirit soul or sole whatever way you look at it and joy in your journey so it is okay to take your eyes off the clock and turn your running shoes into dancing shoesrdquo