Neither a bypass surgery nor diabetes could stop this gritty 73-year-old from completing marathons

So, what's your excuse for not exercising? Despite undergoing a bypass surgery, he successfully completed the half marathon twice so far. He is on to his third attempt now!

While most of us can only dream of completing a 21 kms long marathon, Mumbai-based businessman, Ratanchand Oswal (73), is yet another example of the saying, Where there is a will, there is a way . The oldest runner among the other patients from Asian Heart Institute s cardiac rehab centre, who have been training for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon (SCMM), 2016, Oswal has come a long way since his bypass surgery in October 2013. Here's why life doesn't end after a bypass surgery. He had tested positive for his stress echo test in 2011 and doctors informed him that he might need to undergo a bypass surgery. However, Oswal has already participated and completed two dream runs in the SCMM and also the half marathon, twice! Here are 4 tips to an injury free marathon.

In 2011, Dr Ramakanta Panda said that I would need to join the hospital s rehab centre and also use medicine management to keep my heart disease under control. That was when the doctors encouraged me to join the group that was training for the Mumbai marathon and I discovered my passion for running, says Oswal. However, after undergoing another stress test in 2013, the results were positive yet again and he underwent a bypass surgery. By then, I had already participated once in the dream run and after my surgery, I asked the doctors if I could participate in the 2014 Mumbai marathon, he adds.

While he got the green signal from his doctors, Oswal resumed with his light exercises post surgery and says he comfortably completed the 7kms long dream in the SCMM, which was barely three months later. After managing to not only survive his bypass surgery but also resume with his running, the Santacruz resident felt a lot more confident about his overall health and physique and decided to start training for the most tough marathon for new runners the 21 kms long half marathon.

After several months of training for around 2 hours thrice a week, which included warm-ups and stretching exercises, along with different ways of running and other forms of cardio exercises throughout 2014, I was ready for my first attempt at completing the half marathon in 2015. Our trainer Mr Venkat was very helpful in keeping me motivated in continuing with the training sessions, says Oswal.

His hard work paid off as during the SCMM, 2015, Oswal managed to complete the 21kms long marathon within 3 hours and 15 minutes. While he was always into sports during school and college, Oswal says he wasn t able to continue with playing cricket, football or swimming regularly once he started his own business of manufacturing bottles. Hence, when he finally managed to complete this feat, he decided to continue running and exercising regularly so he could also participate this year.

Overcoming Challenges

While Oswal s group of other heart patients, doctors and trainer helped keep him inspired and motivated to continue running, it wasn t a smooth sailing journey for him. He was forced to stop going for his training sessions for a period of three months in between. My wife suffers from Parkinson s Disease and unfortunately, her health started deteriorating for which she required hospitalization in 2014. Needless to say, I was unable to dedicate any time to training or exercising for two months as I had to take care of her. Thankfully, she recovered but shortly after that, I injured myself after suffering from a fall at home and again, had to stay at home until I recovered from that for another month, recalls Oswal.

Despite those obstacles, he resumed with running regularly and training once he sorted out these personal issues. I avoid eating fried foods at all costs except for only once every month. I am also a diabetic and it was something I was earlier worried about, but not anymore. Ever since I took up running, my diabetes is under control to an extent where doctors have actually told me I can now start eating sweets again', he exclaimed. You can also run for the marathon like a pro with these meal plans and tips.

My family members were first hesitant about me taking up running and would earlier ask me why I wake up at 4.30am every alternate morning to go running. However, now they have realized how much running means to me and my overall well-being, so they re very supportive, he adds. He is now looking forward to completing the half marathon for the third time in a row! Here are expert tips to pick the right running gear for the SCMM, 2016.

Image Source: Ratanchand Oswal

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