Old legs strived, but none came to cheer

MUMBAI: “Amidst all the pomp and show, we miss our families,” said Madhukanta Joshi, 63, of Kandivili after completing the 4.3-km senior citizens’ run. “All of them wished me luck over the phone, but no one came here.”

More than 1,800 elderly citizens participated in Sunday’s marathon. “It’s an annual picnic, which we can’t miss,” said Joshi, adding she had been participating for the past two years.

Srikrishna Deshpande, 83, winner of the race, was “speechless”. Hailing from Belgaum, he ran barefooted. “I am comfortable that way. Running is my passion.”

But, many participants missed the competitive spirit. “Most were running just for fun. There was not much of competition,” said Prabhakar Sangle, 65. A former joint secretary, he had been participating for the past four years. “I wish there were youngsters running along with us.”

P Venkatraman, 50, who ran the Half Marathon, said he had a point to prove to himself. A regular at the event right from its inception, he missed out last year owing to cardiac problems. But within six months of undergoing a bypass surgery, he started practising for the big day. “I completed the 21-km race without any complication,” he said.  Pradip Kirtane, 73, who came from Mahad, was seen displaying his yogic skills. “I run more than 14-15 km back home,” he said.

For some, the event was an opportunity to pay tributes and fulfil promises. “I am participating to honour the memory of my daughter, Alisha, who succumbed to cardiac arrest last year,” said Bhupendra Panth, 70, a retired banker. “Both of us were supposed to run together in this marathon, but destiny had planned something else.” Instead, wife Mohita kept him company. “We are out of shape, but tried our best to compete... Alisha would have done just that,” said 60-year-old Mohita.