ACHIEVEMENT -- 9:
RITESH FINISHES ‘MUMBAI MARATHON’ FOR FIFTH YEAR
P S SUNDAR
Ritesh Choudhary, General Manager, Taj Savoy Hotel,
Ooty, has brought laurels to The Nilgiris by completing the ‘TATA Mumbai
Marathon 2019’.
“I happened to be the only one from The Nilgiris to do
this amidst 8,414 who ran the full marathon”, Ritesh told me.
He had taken over as GM at Ooty only on December 1,
2018, and so, this was his first major run after coming to The Nilgiris. “But, this is the fifth consecutive year I
have completed the full distance in Mumbai Marathon”, he said.
“I finished the full distance of 42.195 kilometres in
4:27:02 hours running at an average pace of 6.20 mts/km. This was better than my own self prediction”,
he disclosed.
“This time, while running, I suffered hamstring pull
in my thighs but carried on with my running without succumbing to the
injury. On the contrary, I enjoyed the
run with a determination to complete it”, said Ritesh who was adorned with two
Medals – ‘The finisher’s Medal’ and ‘The Inspiration Medal’.
He dedicated his ‘Inspiration Medal’ to his
nine-year-old nephew Harsh and three year-old daughter Reet. “It is such children who motivate me with
the thought that I can do it. All over
the Marathon route, I saw many children encouraging the runners. This younger generation is motivating me”,
Ritesh (36) said.
Ritesh regularly runs in Ooty, now amidst the
frost-biting early morning cold. “This
gives me high altitude training and it, in fact, helped me overcome the
inclined running up the hill at Peddar Road during the Mumbai marathon with
ease”, he shared.
“I will be participating in Ooty ultra marathon in
April. I call running as ‘moving
meditation’ because even as we run, we can medicate and sharpen our skill of
thinking and concentration. At Ooty, we
run enjoying the bliss of nature and an identification with God!”, he said.
“Besides, in India which is said to be the diabetic
capital of the world, running would help to create a healthier nation; so, the
running as a movement must be encouraged all over the country”, he added.
(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)