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Personal information | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Marathon Man of India |
Nationality | Indian |
Born | Shillong, Meghalaya, India | 1 June 1932
Education | St. Edmund's College Assam Medical College Pune University |
Occupation | Cardiologist |
Website | www |
Wing Commander Ashis Roy, MD FRCS (born 1 June 1932) is a runner, author, and cardiologist best known as the first Indian man to run 100 marathons. [1] As of 2015, he has completed 145 total races, 115 of which are full marathons. [2] [3]
Roy was born 1 June 1932 in Shillong, Meghalaya, India, the son of sports player and organizer Sudha Sindhu Roy. [1] [4] He graduated from the Government Boys' High School in Mawkhar, then attended St. Edmund's College, Assam Medical College (Medical Studies), and Pune University (MD) [4] [1] He joined the Indian Air Force in 1957 and served as a Wing Commander until 1978, when he retired after 21 years of service. [1] [5] After leaving the military, he became a consulting physician and cardiologist in Chittaranjan Park, Delhi. [1] [6]
His daughter Amrita sometimes joins him for races in the US, where she lives. [7] He has another daughter who lives in Canada and a son who lives in London. [4]
Roy's first competitive race was a one-mile run in 1949 when he was 16. [1] He did not run a marathon until the Rath Marathon in Delhi in 1985 after he left the Air Force. [8] [1] [9] Some of the races he has run include the World Veterans Games (1987) in Melbourne, Australia, the 100th Boston Marathon (1996) in the US, the Millennium Marathon Burlington (2000) in Canada, the Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race (2008) in the US, and the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon (2015) in Chicago, Illinois, USA. [1] [7]
On 17 January 2010, he became the first person from India to run 100 marathons and was the first Indian ever to join the 100 Marathon Club, which he did in 2015. [1] [10] [11] In 2013, when he was 81 and had run 115 races, he was listed in the Limca Book of Records as the oldest marathoner in India. [1] [12] Roy began running only half marathons after a spinal injury in 2011 left him partially paralyzed. [10]
No. | Country | Number of Marathons |
---|---|---|
1 | India | 40 |
2 | United States | 44 |
3 | Canada | 12 |
4 | United Kingdom | 2 |
5 | Greece | 1 |
6 | Netherlands | 1 |
7 | Poland | 1 |
8 | Finland | 1 |
9 | Sweden | 1 |
10 | Norway | 1 |
11 | Japan | 1 |
12 | Korea | 1 |
13 | Malaysia | 1 |
14 | Macau | 1 |
15 | Australia | 1 |
16 | New Zealand | 1 |
17 | Russia | 1 |
18 | Germany | 1 |
19 | Czechoslovakia | 1 |
20 | Austria | 1 |
21 | Pakistan | 1 |
Total | 115 |
Year | Age | Achievement | Location | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1992 | 60 | First Indian to run a marathon at age 60 | [15] | ||
1999 | 66 | Only Asian to have run marathons in the USA on three consecutive Sundays | USA | Toledo Glass City Marathon, Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon, Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon | [16] [17] [18] [19] |
2003 | 71 | First Indian age 70+ to run in two European marathons on consecutive Sundays | Europe (Czech Republic, Austria) | Prague International Marathon and Vienna International Marathon | [20] [21] [22] |
2007 | 75 | First man 75+ to run 8 marathons within 8 months | [15] [23] | ||
2009 | 76 | First Indian marathoner to publish a book about marathons | The Joy of Running | [4] | |
2010 | 77 | 100th race run | Mumbai, India | [11] | |
2012 | 80 | Best Sports Person of the Year | India | Presented by the Union Ministry of Social Welfare | [4] |
2015 | 83 | Induction into the 100 Marathon Club | Mumbai, India | First Indian to be made a member | [4] [11] |
2015 | 83 | Run with Me Foundation Runner of the Year Awards - Lifetime Achievement Award | [24] |
The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of 42.195 km, usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair divisions. More than 800 marathons are held throughout the world each year, with the vast majority of competitors being recreational athletes, as larger marathons can have tens of thousands of participants.
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon race hosted by several cities and towns in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, United States. It is traditionally held on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897, the event was inspired by the success of the first marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics. The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world's best-known road racing events. It is one of six World Marathon Majors. Its course runs from Hopkinton in southern Middlesex County to Copley Square in Boston.
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road. This differs from track and field on a regular track and cross country running over natural terrain.
Meghalaya is a state in northeast India. Meghalaya was formed on 21 January 1972 by carving out two districts from the state of Assam: (a) the United Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills and (b) the Garo Hills. The population of Meghalaya as of 2014 is estimated to be 3,211,474. Meghalaya covers an area of approximately 22,430 square kilometres, with a length-to-breadth ratio of about 3:1.
An ultramarathon, also called ultra distance or ultra running, is any footrace longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195 kilometres. Various distances are raced competitively, from the shortest common ultramarathon of 50 kilometres (31 mi) to over 200 miles (320 km). 50k and 100k are both World Athletics record distances, but some 100 miles (160 km) races are among the oldest and most prestigious events, especially in North America.
Trail running is a sport-activity that combines running, and, where there are steep gradients, hiking, that is run "on any unpaved surface". It is similar to both mountain and fell running. Mountain running may, however, include paved sections. Trail running normally takes place in warm climates, on good paths, or tracks that are relatively easy to follow, and does not necessarily involve the significant amounts of ascent, or need for navigating skills, normal in fell running. Unlike road running and track running, it generally takes place on hiking trails, often in mountainous terrain, where there can be much larger ascents and descents. It is difficult to definitively distinguish trail running from cross country running. In general, however, cross country is an IAAF-governed discipline that is typically raced over shorter distances.
Shillong is a hill station and the capital of Meghalaya, a state in northeastern India, which means "The Abode of Clouds". It is the headquarters of the East Khasi Hills district. Shillong is the 330th most populous city in India with a population of 143,229 according to the 2011 census. It is said that the rolling hills around the town reminded the British of Scotland. Hence, they would also refer to it as the "Scotland of the East".
Guwahati is the biggest city of the Indian state of Assam and also the largest metropolis in northeastern India. Dispur, the capital of Assam, is in the circuit city region located within Guwahati and is the seat of the Government of Assam. A major riverine port city along with hills, and one of the fastest growing cities in India, Guwahati is situated on the south bank of the Brahmaputra. It is called the ''Gateway to North East India''.
Dean Karnazes, is an American ultramarathon runner, and author of Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner, which details ultra endurance running for the general public.
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The Leadville Trail 100 Run is an ultramarathon held annually on rugged trails and dirt roads near Leadville, Colorado, through the heart of the Rocky Mountains. First run in 1983, the race course climbs and descends 15,600 feet (4,800 m), with elevations ranging from 9,200 to 12,620 feet. In most years, fewer than half the starters complete the race within the 30-hour time limit.
Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (ADHM) is an annual half marathon foot-race held in New Delhi, India. Established in 2005, it is both an elite runner and mass participation event. It is an AIMS-certified course and is listed as a Gold Label Road Race by the IAAF. The race has seen the best of the athletes competing since the course is considered one of the fastest half marathon route. The event sees about 40,000 participants through the race categories of half marathon, the 7 km Great Delhi Run, a 4.3 km run for senior citizens, and a 3.5 km wheelchair race
Fauja Singh is a British Sikh and retired marathon runner of Punjabi Indian descent. He has beaten a number of world records in multiple age brackets, but none of his times have been ratified as records. His personal best time for the London Marathon (2003) is 6 hours 2 minutes, and his marathon best, claimed for the 90-plus age bracket, is 5 hours 40 minutes at the age of 92, at the 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
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