Three thousand eight hundred and fifty kilometres. That is the distance Raj Vadgama has run since August 15, 2014. He is on a mission to enter the Guinness World Records and motivate young people in the country to take up running. “I want to run 10,000 K in four months. No one in the world has done this,” says the 47-year-old long distance runner who already has other firsts to his credit. He is the first Indian to run 100 kilometers at Khardung La, the world’s highest motorable pass; he holds a National record for running 1,500 K from Delhi to Mumbai in 30 days and is the fastest Indian to cover 220 K trail-running in Haryana (41 hours and 30 minutes).
Raj was on the southern leg of his ‘Bharathon’ as he calls his mission, when a runner friend from Chennai suggested he come to Coimbatore and run here. He did, and with nearly 40-50 runners from Coimbatore cheering him on and running with him, he ran 87 K in one day, “My longest run till now”.
Raj arrived in Coimbatore in a dusty black Innova with posters stuck on its side announcing Bharathon 10,000. He came from Kanyakumari accompanied by a physio, a doctor, and his driver Rajesh Pram. He set out at crack of dawn in Race Course and enthusiastic runners from the city accompanied him through out the day. He wrapped up around 10 p.m. Ramesh Ponnusamy the man behind the hugely successful Coimbatore Marathon was one of them. Ramesh said, “Thanks to Raj many of us here were inspired to improve our previous best. Many of them ran more than they ever had before.” The runners accompanied Raj in groups, and kept him company through the day.
It is not just about his personal record. Raj says he wants the country to get on its feet and start running. “We need to foster a running culture. I believe that the discipline that it takes to run will keep the youth from harmful addictions. It will keep them fit and disease free and strong in their minds.” Raj wants to start a running academy. He hopes the government will encourage ‘Marathon Tourism’. He himself coaches long distance runners, and in the course of his running in the four directions of the country, he has identified some natural runners who he will train. “I will train 12 to 18-year-olds free,” he says.
When asked if he ran any marathons abroad, Raj is quick to reply, “The kind of terrain and varied landscape we have in our country is something we get nowhere else. From mountains and deserts to forests and sea coasts, we have it all right here.” Naturally, Raj has many interesting stories he has gathered along the way. He hopes he will be able to put it all together into a book some day. He has been running for 12 years and “It has all been good, always good,” he says. No matter where he went, complete strangers helped him and cheered him on. He remembers a run in Pokharan, Rajasthan. “It was 48 degrees, there was no shade, and somewhere along the way I lost my way. I finished the water I had with me and I could make out from my skin that I was dehydrating. Out of nowhere some villagers came to my help, gave me water to drink and helped me find my way back. That is the best thing I enjoy about my running. The connect with the real people of the country, sharing a cup of tea with them…” Raj also lists his run in the rarefied mountains of Ladakh as one of his toughest runs. Also one of the most beautiful.
Four months or 120 days is Raj Vadgama’s target for his 10,000 K Bharathon that covers the North, South, East and West of India. “Running is my life. And I want to get India running. Anyone can do it. There is no money involved nor any pressure of defeating anyone. You only have to finish the run. And every runner is a winner.”
Raj’s endeavour is supported by Fortis Hospitals who provide him with a doctor and a physio, and Nike that keeps him in running gear.
