Barefoot jogger does Bengaluru to Varanasi in 38 days
Six years after a near-fatal heart attack, Giridhar Kamath covered 1,850 km to promote fitness
02/12/2019, BISHWANATH GHOSH,KOLKATA
Six years after a near-fatal heart attack, Giridhar Kamath covered 1,850 km to promote fitness
02/12/2019, BISHWANATH GHOSH,KOLKATA
Long run: Giridhar Kamath averaged about 50 km a day, carrying just 1.4 kg in luggage. Special Arrangement Special Arrangement
Like many people, Giridhar Kamath decided in his early forties that it was time to get fit. In 2011, when he was 42, he began running — short distances at first and then challenging himself to the 10-km target.
Then, in 2013, he had a heart attack at the finishing line of a race.
But unlike many people, who might have given up running after this potentially-fatal episode, he merely changed his approach to running. “I moved to barefoot running from then on. It is one of the most natural modes of human movement,” says the Bengaluru-based Mr. Kamath.
And recently, barely weeks after his 50th birthday, he ran all the way from Bengaluru to Varanasi — a neat distance of 1,850 km — in one set of clothes, with a pouch and a hammock tied to his waist. “I have covered several ultra runs between cities and done races spanning 100 km to 800 km. But this is my longest run till date,” says Mr. Kamath, who set off from Bengaluru on October 2 and reached Varanasi on November 10.
Travelling light
The idea of travelling light came from a mendicant he had encountered during an intercity run from Puducherry to Chennai in 2018. “He was walking solo with no support or luggage, and he made me realise how easy it is to be light. I reached Varanasi in one T-shirt and shorts and just 1.4 kg of luggage, which also included my mobile phone and charger,” he says.
Mr. Kamath averaged about 50 km a day, and reached Varanasi in 38 days. The most challenging stretch was the forests of Madhya Pradesh.
“This segment took me three days to cover and I was compelled to have a crew car follow me for reasons of safety,” he said.
Like many people, Giridhar Kamath decided in his early forties that it was time to get fit. In 2011, when he was 42, he began running — short distances at first and then challenging himself to the 10-km target.
Then, in 2013, he had a heart attack at the finishing line of a race.
But unlike many people, who might have given up running after this potentially-fatal episode, he merely changed his approach to running. “I moved to barefoot running from then on. It is one of the most natural modes of human movement,” says the Bengaluru-based Mr. Kamath.
And recently, barely weeks after his 50th birthday, he ran all the way from Bengaluru to Varanasi — a neat distance of 1,850 km — in one set of clothes, with a pouch and a hammock tied to his waist. “I have covered several ultra runs between cities and done races spanning 100 km to 800 km. But this is my longest run till date,” says Mr. Kamath, who set off from Bengaluru on October 2 and reached Varanasi on November 10.
Travelling light
The idea of travelling light came from a mendicant he had encountered during an intercity run from Puducherry to Chennai in 2018. “He was walking solo with no support or luggage, and he made me realise how easy it is to be light. I reached Varanasi in one T-shirt and shorts and just 1.4 kg of luggage, which also included my mobile phone and charger,” he says.
Mr. Kamath averaged about 50 km a day, and reached Varanasi in 38 days. The most challenging stretch was the forests of Madhya Pradesh.
“This segment took me three days to cover and I was compelled to have a crew car follow me for reasons of safety,” he said.
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