HAPPY WITH THE RUN SO FAR

 



“Technology is a useful servant,

but a dangerous master.”

Christian Lous Lange (Noble Peace Laureate)

 

 

This man lives in our housing complex. And, I have been seeing him leaving for his small, retail shop every morning and returning late in the evening. This morning, we bumped into each other on our way to our respective work places. “Good morning Sir,” I greeted him, and asked, “How old is your shop?”

“Forty years,” he replied.

“And, how old are you?” I asked with a smile.

“Seventy-three,” he said with an equally clean smile.

“Wow! You were 33 when you stared it; and, you have maintained your daily routine of leaving for the shop and returning?”

“Yes, I come home in the afternoon for lunch... Rest for an hour and go back to work only to come home late in the evening.”

“What were you doing, before you started this shop?” I asked.

“I worked in Dubai for thirteen years,” he said, “I went to Dubai for work when I was 20.”

“That makes a marathon run of 53 years, Sir!” I complimented him.

‘Yes, the Marathon is not over... Happy with the run so far.”

We parted our ways...

I am 67. I had started teaching, out of pure passion and love for teaching, at 17, when I was doing my F.Y. B.Com. That makes my Marathon of 50 years...

“The Marathon is not over... Happy with the run so far,” this is how I would also respond to any curious soul when asked with same questions...

When I started teaching during my college days, the computer hadn’t come. The internet, mobile phones, and all this modern, superfast technology were not even thought of... and, now, as AI is invading our lives from every direction, a question, sometimes, does haunt people like me: “Will we be able to keep up our Marathons?”




Some days ago, many who participated in Tata Mumbai Marathon, have lots of stories to share. Most of these stories are filled with immense pride and satisfaction; and most of these runners have been participating for years. If a curious soul asked them, “Why do you run Marathon, year after year?” – would the answer be something similar to that of  my  73-year-old neighbour, or his 67-year-old neighbour?

The young Marathon enthusiasts, who participate with such gusto and fervour – I am just asking this with curiosity and naiveness: Do they know about Pheidippides, the Greek soldier who had run it first, alone... through rough terrains, for over 40 kilometers, non-stop, just to break the news, that the Greeks had won the war against Persians? It was 490 years before Christ, and it was when Nike, Adidas, Puma, stamina supplements and fitness-coaches weren’t around to help you run...

The Olympics motto is ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’ - Faster, Higher and Stronger’. All these words are in the comparative degree. So, they realized the importance of adding – ‘Together’, so that we all - regardless of our castes, creeds, colours and countries – are held together as humans... simple, loving and caring children of the same God...

Today, AI has come... Tomorrow something else will come. But, the ‘run’ is here to stay... whether you run between Marathon and Athens, or CST to M.G. Road  – and, yes, between your house to workplace and back...





The running won’t be over... You and I need to be able to say with a sigh: “Happy with the run so far.”

 

GERALD D’CUNHA

 

Pic’s.: 1. pixabay.com  2  PTI

Video: BMW BERLIN-MARATHON

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