Thaindian News

Washington, June12 (IANS) India’s grand old marathon man Ashis Roy has completed his 110th marathon in the inaugural Carmel Marathon Championship in Indiana with a timing of 6 hours 30 minutes and 20 seconds, his best in America.

“The weather was super, ideal for running,” an elated Roy, who turned 79 June 1, told IANS on phone after shaving nearly 17 minutes on a cool and cloudy Saturday from his last run in the Delaware Marathon last month.

Roy, who was the oldest participant among 580 runners in the race starting and finishing at the Palladium at the Centre for the Performing Arts, was cheered along the way by bystanders saying, “You are our inspiration. You are an example of fitness.”

A few cars honked and drivers waved as they passed him by.

Roy, a resident of New Delhi, who began running marathons at the age of 52 when he retired as a cardiologist with the Indian Air Force, has set another goal for himself - to become the first Indian to run in a marathon after he turns 80 in June next year.

The veteran Indian runner, who completed his 100th marathon in Mumbai Jan 17, would not even contemplate about hanging his boots until then.

Roy, who has penned a book on “Joy of Running” is listed in the Limca Book of Records, and has, to date, competed in 38 marathons in India and 73 marathons in 20 other countries, including the International Veterans Marathon in Athens in 1986.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)