HYDERABAD: It seems that senior officers of the state are taking their fitness pretty seriously. The fact that two officers had a great run in the recent Mumbai Marathon alongside famous athletes from Africa and India proves as much.
While 51-year old additional DGP Rajiv Trivedi clocked a creditable 3 hours and 28 minutes for the 42 km distance in the Veteran Men's category to stand second among Indian veterans and fourth overall, Rachel Chaterjee (61), the chairperson of the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission completed her first marathon in 5 hours and 1 minute to stand first in the Super Senior Veteran Women's category.
A 1986 batch IPS officer, Trivedi ran his third consecutive Mumbai Marathon even though he had a strained hamstring. Talking about his performance, Trivedi disclosed the secrets of his fitness. “A disciplined, balanced, simple and contented life with lots of hard work and enthusiasm has kept me going,” he said.
The senior officer who is passionate about music and gardening said that he runs 21 km to his office once a week apart from daily exercise. Trivedi has also been awarded the Commonwealth Scholarship, Director's Gold Medal for Best Officer Trainee at LBS National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, Sword of Honour for the Best IPS Probationer (Outdoor) at SVP National Police Academy, Hyderabad, the United Nations Medal, the Indian Police Medal and the President's Police Medal for his outstanding contribution to service.
Speaking about his corunner from AP, he said, “Rachel is a very inspiring person. She is a role model on how to balance demanding work and fitness schedules. She is strong-willed and pursues her goals with tenacity. She has set a benchmark that would be a challenge for anyone half her age.”
A Swimming Champ as Well
Apart from long distance running, Rajiv Trivedi has also swam the English Channel and Strait of Gibraltar in 2001. He also swam across the turbulent Palk Strait from Talaimannar in Sri Lanka to Dhanushkodi in India on March 25, 2011. He has also swam 30 km of open sea in a record 12 hours and 31 minutes along with his friend DSP Balasaheb R Ghadge of Maharashtra Police.
No wonder the fit IPS officer was the only one to volunteer to search for the former chief minister YSR when his helicopter went missing in 2009 in Nallamalla forest.