Mumbai: Senior citizens shone at Mumbai Marathon, inspiring many with their fitness and determination. Their participation were notable across marathon categories as they were accompanied by their family members and relatives who motivated others to join such events. Like, 71-year-old Paul Padinjarekara, who travelled from Kochi with his friends.
In all, 1,894 senior citizens ran, of them 813 were women. Many seniors ran in other categories, including the 42 km.
Kochi native Paul Padinjarekara, 71, took up running after his retirement from Cochin Port Trust eleven years ago. A marathon veteran, Paulettan, as he is fondly called by the runners who came from Kerala, has run 162 full marathons, 403 half-marathons, and the 161 km twice. Clocking around 30,000 km over the years, he said that he runs to stay fit.
Niranjan Singh Arora (76), and wife Sarabjit (65), has been participating in marathons 16 years. Part of his routine is an hour of swimming. “I still control my business,” said Arora.
Arvind Desai (93) came from Andheri along with his morning walking friend, also a senior citizen. He said that he walked regularly over the last five years, they were participating in marathons. —Vijay V Singh & Rebecca Samervel