Marathon Man

Kiran Prakash

Mallika serves nankhatai and tea 

If proof be ever required of holistic health, look at this picture on the right. Here is a 65-year-old man who, at the crack of dawn yesterday, put on his running shoes and had cut across to the other end of town to join some 40,000-odd fitness fiends on the Mumbai Marathon, near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST).
There were no prizes for the Senior Citizen Run category he took part in, but surely, he stands out as a living inspiration to those of us who cannot undertake a 100 metre sprint, even if our lives depended on it.
“It was just a 4.3 km distance,” said Kiran Prakash modestly, trying to underplay his feat. “Besides, it was not so much of a run or a race, as a hurried walk.

Mumtaz Jahan serves gulab-jamuns

But more than anything, it was the joy of participation… being part of a mammoth gathering on a bright Sunday morning.”
In Prakash’s estimate, he would probably have covered around seven kilometers because in addition to the 4.3 km “official stretch”, there was a good deal of extra walking the participants had to do in and around Azad Maidan which was unaccounted for. “But no complaints,” he added dismissively. “Next year I intend to persuade my son to take part, at least in the six kilometer Dream Run.”
On our part, we were content with stuffing ourselves after the exercises with Mallika Kagzi’s nankhatai from her recent trip to Surat, followed by hot tea as usual. And if that were not enough, Mumtaz Jahan showed up with a box of syrupy gulab-jamuns in myriad colours from a trip to Delhi. At this rate, any hope of our ever taking part in even a micro-mini marathon can well be dismissed as a distant pipe dream – at least for this life.
Kiran Prakash:
I am feeling embarrassed. It was really no big deal. In fact, all of us can run in the marathon easily. I am happy that Bhaswati-ji and Monthi-ji have already planned to do so and told me to organise it. I shall request everybody to join next year. It will be real fun. As a matter of fact, my son has participated in the Half Marathon i.e. 21.1 km and I intend to promote myself to the 6 km Dream Run next year on Sunday, 17th January. Thank you very much for the encouragement. It has given me a new impetus. Also thanks Mallika-ji and Mumtaz-ji for the treat.
Lt Col Angad Singh (retd):
Hats off to Kiran Parkash-ji. He has done a great honour to the Club by participating in the marathon. It is certainly an inspiration as some of the members were enquiring as to when names are to be sent for participating next year. This shows how health-conscious our members are. Light refreshments after the daily Club routine are welcome. Mumtaz-ji has to brief us on her experiences in Kashmir.
Jagmohan Papneja:
Walking and laughing are free, and the best medicine available. Similarly different eatables are freely available after the exercises. Whether these would neutralise the effect of the medicine or further our enjoyment, only time will tell.