Footloose

Suparna-Saraswati Puri

Occasionally, the serenity of the Himalayas provides encounters of another kind. In the recent past, at a cosy homestay in a remote hamlet, Rukhla, of Himachal Pradesh's Kotkhai tehsil, an intimate gathering of poets, writers, sportspersons and travellers from India and abroad shared their experiences, reiterating that life must be enjoyed to the fullest. A multifaceted Mark Shrosbree, a 59- year-old British national living in Japan, was part of this lively gathering. He started out as a carpenter, is into academics, is crazy about triathlon, and loves visiting India for mountaineering and spicy food. Here’s how he finds time for all this and more...

You started off as a carpenter in the UK. How did you land in Japan? 

I was interested in cycling before I became a carpenter. Living in Sheffield, I worked with the city council, primarily doing repairs for schools, public housing and hospitals. Even though I liked carpentry, I wanted to do something else. It was during a visit to Spain to meet an old friend, who taught English at a university, that I realised teaching was something I'd want to pursue. And that decision is responsible for my residing in Japan for the past 27 years. 

How does a carpenter from the UK become a triathlon champion in Japan?

It was in 2009 that I ran my first triathlon at Kamaishi (in Northern Japan). It was an international event, and the organisers had kept just three to four slots for the non-Japanese contestants. That's how it all began. From 2009 till 2018, there have been so many highlights for me, including learning to swim more than 100m, my first road bicycle race, running my first marathon, winning a number of age-group races, representing Japan in the age group world championships in London. In 2012, I won the age group Asian Championships, and then after several years of finishing second, I finally stood first in the overall JTU ranking for my age group in 2016. In September 2018, I again represented Japan in the world championships, in Gold Coast, finishing eighth. In December 2018, after several years of trying, I achieved my goal of a sub three-hour marathon.

Running, in particular, is a liberating experience for you.

I believe humans are born to run because our body has hormones like adrenaline, dopamine and endorphins that kick in when we sprint. The turning point in my running came when I began running in the hills around my house in Japan. I carry my running shoes along wherever I go for my academic work. Running around the Acropolis (in Athens) was one of the most memorable experiences. Running makes me happy, keeps my brain free from stress and sort things out. It is meditative for me, a very much a spiritual lift.

What do you remember of your first visit to India?

Every experience that I had during my first visit in 1990 was intense. It was for mountaineering that I first visited India along with two friends. The trip was planned as one of the two friends was keen to climb the Himalayas. I remember the drive in an ambassador from Delhi airport to our budget hotel through streets that had no lights, lined with cows sleeping on the roadside and loads of rickshaw drivers sleeping in their vehicles. The next morning we went for a samosa breakfast. And the moment we walked out of the door of the hotel, the first thing I saw was an elephant walking away and I recall saying to myself, "This (India) is something else". I learnt a lot from my first climb (Zanskar) in the Himalayas. I still think that's the best thing I've done in my life. 

What connects you with India?

The thing I like about India is that it changes me. I live in a country that has a very precise society. Whenever I come to India, I really love having not to do things my way because you have to go with the flow. Indian music is another aspect that connects me to the country. It was in Goa many years ago that I first heard Shiv Kumar Sharma's santoor and loved it instantly. Some of Lata Mangeshkar's songs have also touched my heart. Interestingly, it was Indian food that prompted me to be a vegetarian. I simply love the pulses, lentils and spices. 

How do you strike a balance between your work and passion? 

For me, time is very important. I don't really think about the future, I think about the day. I want to achieve something every day. The advice to my young students is to find the thing in life that makes you happy and make each day count.