Chandra had good reasons for choosing exercise over drugs.
“When I first started, I felt that [medication], the dosage will continue to increase. I felt that improving my fitness level would help me control my diabetes. Additionally, my job is very stressful, so I thought regular exercise would calm me down,'' says Chandra, a long-term Hong Kong resident who works as a chief financial officer in a family office.
He was unfit and overworked.Now he plans to complete the marathon for his 100th time
He was unfit and overworked.Now he plans to complete the marathon for his 100th time
Chandra first tried running in 2011, inspired by her friend Desikan Boobarahan, who has run more than 100 marathons.
“I often see Bhoova running healthy and full of energy. We ran 4km together and I almost fainted at the end. My pride kept me going. .For the next two days, I ran 5km every day. I had blisters on both my legs,” recalls Chandra. After that, he stopped running until he was diagnosed with diabetes.
When Chandra decided to give running another try, she took a new approach.
“I started by walking 1km, then ran, walked, and ran 10km. Soon my stamina improved and I was able to run 10km without stopping three to four times a week. A brisk 1 km walk to warm up before every run has helped me stay injury-free.
Six days a week, from 6 a.m. to 7:15 a.m., Chandra runs 8 to 9 kilometers before work. After work on Saturdays, he goes for a long run. He often rides his favorite routes on Lantau Island, from Tung Chung, where he lives, to Disneyland and Hong Kong International Airport.
“It's 21km long and very beautiful. I love riding along the coast,” says Chandra.
100 half marathons in 100 days, an impromptu 100km: Watch Sundeep Singh go
100 half marathons in 100 days, an impromptu 100km: Watch Sundeep Singh go
“Using this method, I was able to run slower than normal and avoid getting injured,” he explains.
Since I started running, I have run about 20,000km, averaging 2,500km a year.
He believes running is addictive and contagious. Watching their father grow up inspired Chandra's grown children, ages 29 and 24, to follow in their father's footsteps and take up running.
Driven by his passion, Chandra founded a Saturday morning running club in Tung Chung. This club has over 40 members ranging from his 30s to his 60s. Of these, 28 will participate in the 2024 Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon to be held in January, with some running the half marathon and some, including Ms Chandra, running the full marathon.
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How does he do it?Retired man approaches 200 marathons in 13 years
He ran 32km of the 42km race in traditional Indian costume, a men's skirt tied around the waist. Lungi,shirt. He finished the race in 5 hours and 6 minutes, the slowest marathon ever completed.
“It was worth it because I got to introduce my culture,” he says.
Whether it's enjoying the community spirit of a group run or enjoying some alone time, running is Chandra's stress reliever.
Inspired by a post from a group of women on exercise tracking app Strava, Chandra completed the 55km route along the coast of Hong Kong Island in 10 hours on April 2, 2022. From the Star Ferry in Central, he returned to Central via Kennedy Town, Aberdeen, Deepwater Bay, Repulse Bay, Stanley, Shek O, Quarry Bay, and Wan Chai.
Lunch and dinner are usually rice with stir-fried lentils and vegetables. He snacks on fruit and fuels himself with oranges and apples during races and long runs. He sometimes drinks beer on the weekends.
He says the support of his wife Sugnath was the key to achieving his running feat.
“She was a great cook, made delicious and healthy meals, and took great care of my diet and nutrition,” he says. “She's happy with my run, but she's worried that I'm doing too much.”
As of this writing, Chandra's last race was the China Coast Half Marathon on February 4, one week after recovering from COVID-19. His finishing time was 2 hours and 15 minutes.
“My doctor says that marathons are not for humans and that running 42 kilometers is torture for the human body. I disagree. Running makes me feel free. Masu.”
He further adds: “The human body can do anything if you train it. The pain is temporary, but the pride of running a race is eternal.”
