A running odyssey in Delhi and Carl Lewis

It was an experience of a lifetime. When I heard that Carl Lewis, the legendary athlete, would be the brand ambassador for the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, I was excited. For our generation, Carl Lewis is the “Sportsman of the Century”.

On the eve of the big day, I went to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to collect my bib. The stadium was buzzing with energy. Soon, Carl Lewis arrived, and the crowd erupted into loud cheers.

All those who had consecutively completed 15 and more half-marathons were to be felicitated. I, too, was among them.

As the nine-time Olympic gold medallist came on stage, the participants started asking him questions. I also asked him, “Other than sports, what motivates you the most?” And he replied, “I do coaching....” He was quite gracious. The interaction with the legendary athlete left me excited about the next day’s event.

Next morning, I reached the stadium early. Our race began around 5:30 am. The first few km went by smoothly. I met runners of all ages — from teenagers to octogenarians. One elderly man from Ahmedabad told me he had completed over a hundred marathons! His enthusiasm was infectious.

Taking a leaf from his book, I kept up my pace. After 12–18 km, I started feeling a bit fatigued, but strangely refreshed at the same time. The energy of the crowd, the cheering volunteers, and the rhythmic thud of thousands of feet kept my aged limbs going.

Spectators along the route shouted words of encouragement. Soon, I reached the 20-km marker, got myself photographed, and started inching towards the finish line. Finally, I crossed the line in three hours and seventeen minutes. I was tired, and yet deeply happy. The clapping by hundreds of onlookers made me feel as if the applause was meant just for me. As someone rightly said, “Rob a man of his delusion and you rob him of his happiness.” I happily completed my odyssey.

Pramod K Chaudhari, New Delhi