He reaped the benefits of running, now he’s one off 100 marathons: ‘99, not out’
- When he was 32, Bhoovarahan Desikan could barely run 100 metres without feeling out of breath; now 53, he’s poised to achieve an extraordinary feat
- His passion for running inspired his wife and son to take up the sport too, and they enjoy running together
Gazing from his apartment window at morning joggers in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park, Bhoovarahan Desikan was inspired. Aged 32 at the time, he despaired of his lack of fitness, in part due to the long working hours at his desk job as an insurance specialist. He decided to take up running himself.
Little did he know how the decision would transform his life. Twenty years on, Desikan, now 53, is not only much fitter, but poised to achieve the extraordinary feat of running his 100th full marathon.
Desikan has run 99 marathons over the past 15 years, averaging almost seven marathons a year, all while holding a full-time corporate job and raising a family. His journey has inspired friends and loved ones to embrace the sport, and in the process he has nurtured a community of runners.
“When I started, I could barely run 100 metres without feeling out of breath,” says Desikan, who hails from Chennai, India, and has been living in Hong Kong for 28 years.
He built his stamina by gradually increasing his daily mileage, signing up for his first races, Hong Kong’s Standard Chartered 10km (6.2-mile) races, in 2002 and 2003. He ran the half marathon a year later.