Senior citizens, people with disabilities come out to run to ‘beat the heat’

Chandra Prabhu | NT

Bengaluru: In around 30,000 runners participating in the 10k run organised by the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), senior citizens and those physically challenged stole the show, with their might and strength.

A source of inspiration for a lot, they came out, amidst the searing heat showing little to no mercy.

The TCS Open here on Sunday featured a ‘Champions with Disability’ run which featured over 500 people.

A ‘Silvers’ Run featuring around 1300 senior citizens was on the cards. Both the runs were for 2.6 kilometres.

Chandrasegharan RK, aged 73 and Shanmugham CR, 66 felt motivated after finishing the race.

“As walkers, we were excited to take part in this Marathon.”

When asked about how they dealt with the heat, Shanmugham replied, “It was the encouragement from other runners, which kept us going,” he said.

A few runners claimed that they were poorly informed, and in the hot sun, they were forced to walk further. Regular walkers Nagaraj and Subramanya, 83 and 72 respectively complained of the same.

“Apart from the course and the experience, we couldn’t find anyone to guide us to our starting point. We had to walk three kilometres extra!” said Nagaraj, who’s contesting for the first time.

Although the unbearable heat should be acknowledged, we got on with it, as there is no escape from it,” Nagaraj added.

Words from an 83 year old running in the scorching sun shows their resilience and their stride towards fitness.

For participants with disabilities, event means more than finishing

‘Champions with Disability’ as rightly put, saw around 500 people bravely cross the finishing line.

With smiles on their faces, their participation indicated thier self confidence.

Chetan Jajani, wheelchair and fitness model, enjoyed his run in the hot sun.

"Although it looked difficult, the course was manageable mainly because of the encouragement given by fellow runners,” he said.

Jajani, who had battled with Polio from a young age, felt that people like him need to believe in themselves and come out of their comfort zones.

Tinkesh Kaushik, founder of the Tinkesh Ability foundation had words of praise for the event.

“It gives an opportunity for people like us to show who we are,” he said.

Making his second appearance, Kaushik lost both of his legs and his left arm due to an electrocution at nine years of age.

“I was into sports and fitness after the incident, and events like these help me gain more strength, physically and mentally,” he concluded.