CHENNAI: Running a 10K marathon demands high levels of stamina. It is a sport for the fittest, and as these septuagenarians in the city are proving, not just the exclusive domain of the young. V R Jayaraman (75) and S Sundari (79) recently took part in the 6th edition of GAVS Dream Runners half marathon recently in the 10K marathon event; and this was not their first time as they are regular marathon runners!
“I have been participating in marathons for the past three years. For my age, I do only 10K events and brisk walking...no running,” says Jayaraman, who clocked the 10 km route in two hours. Encouraged by his son, who is a regular half-marathon runner, Jayaraman first took part in the Dream Runners marathon in 2014. “It was a wonderful experience. I was never really bothered about my time or pace. I initially started with the 5K run, but when I saw a few people behind me I thought why not stretch it to 10 km,” he recalls, adding that he now participates in over three to four marathons a year.
Jayaraman attributes his fitness to his early village upbringing. “Though we didn’t have any sophisticated ‘sports’ events back then, some form of exercise was naturally a part of our lives...for example, we walked a good 4 km to and from school every day! But after coming to Chennai for a job, I never had time for anything else. But now through my son and grandson, I’m getting to do what they are doing in my own small way,” he says.
More than achieving or winning, the priority is to have an injury-free run and enjoy the whole experience. “Just going to the place, walking alongside 5,000 runners, and realising that even at this age my body permits me to do this — that’s what it’s all about for me,” he smiles.
For Sundari, a retired Sanskrit professor from a university in Delhi, running a marathon is about connecting with a new city. “After spending 65 years in Delhi, I didn’t know anything about Chennai when I first shifted here in 2003. And now, it has become so dear to me because of that first run,” she recalls.
One day, she received a pamphlet about a run for senior ladies, and registered for it on a whim. “The registration desk told me just one thing, ‘Whatever you do, don’t stop. Just finish the race’. That was a 5 km race, and I finished it in 40 minutes!” she grins, even remembering correctly the date that changed her — February 6, 2006. Since then she has participated in over 25 marathons, running at least three marathons a year.
Recalling some of her best moments, she says that would be last year’s Pink marathon. “The route took us through the harbour, and soon as I came out of island grounds, the sun was up. I will never forget that moment. While crossing Marina, a bunch of kids who saw me running shouted out, ‘Paati odraange. Nambalum odlaam’! That felt good... it felt like I was encouraging them!” she says.
So how do these marathoners practice every day? “I wouldn’t call it practice…it’s more like my daily schedule — I walk for about a kilometre or two every morning and evening,” says Jayaraman.
Sundari concurs, saying the key is to eat well and maintain a regular fitness routine. “My doctor advised me to do anything but actually ‘run’. If we lift our foot above the ground and either jog or run, we get short of breath. So we should only do brisk walking, without lifting the heel above ground,” she advises.
The GAVS Dream Runners half marathon had over 5,000 participants, of which Jayaraman and Sundari were the only senior citizens from the city. “Getting runners above 60 years of age is rare. But every year, we attract a few runners who are in late 60s or early 70s because we are not looking for people to run fast...we just want to encourage participation,” says Prashanth Sankaran of Dream Runners.
Running tips for seniors
Maintain regular fitness, no special training required
Don’t jog or run, but walk fast without lifting your heel above the ground
Breathing through the mouth while running helps
Take it slow and steady at first.After the run, drink fluids and eat solids only after an hour.