MARATHON AFTER SIXTY

 

Paul Padinjarekkara, during his school days at Neendapara, used to run 8 km to school and back. He did that because he was afraid of arriving late and being chided by his headmaster. He derived his endurance from that. It prepared him for his marathons later in life.

Neendapara is a quaint village tucked between Kothamangalam and Idukki and ringed by hills.

Running is a way of life for Paul or Paulettan who is 71 advancing to 72. He ran his full marathon, days after retirement in 2014 as a Superintendent Engineer at the Cochin Port Trust. He was 60. He ran from his house in Maradu, Kochi on his 62nd birthday to Neendapara, a distance of 62 miles. It brought back childhood memories. 

He has clocked over 44000 km in 12 years.

He eats 5 eggs every day. It is for his protein. Health, according to him, is the greatest wealth. He says, "Fancy designations and fat pay cheques count for nothing if your body is not in order. It is important to indulge in some physical activity."

He adds, "To prepare for full marathons, you need to clock at least 100 km in the week before the event."

He plans to run his 200th Marathon at Kollam on 13th November 2026 at the age of 71.

He had completed his 199th full marathon (42.2 km) in Alapuzha on 11th November 2026. He says, "Nobody in this state has completed 200 full marathons." He is scheduled to run his 500th half marathon on 30th December 2026, the day he turns 72.

His recent runs are a part of the state govt's "Operation Toofan," the state wide anti drug campaign. 

He signs off,"Drugs are a menace to the siciety. Through my runs, I want to spread this message among the youth."

Vishal Menon writes in The Times of India of 13 November 2026