Running with Amarjeet Singh Chawla

I have been running for almost a decade (or may be a couple of years short, not too sure about it), and during my runs I have come across a number of people (many who I call friends) who have over come the odds (as cliched as it may sound) and made a name for themselves in running. People who you can truly say that they inspire. Today I had the privilege and honour of being Amarjeet Singh Chawla's 35th escort.

I first saw Amarjeet Sir during the second edition of the BNP run and then at couple of other runs, including the monthly training runs with the Mumbai Road Runners. It was during one of MRR's monthly run, when my friends Perna and Babita where escorting him that I actually got to meet him in person and introduce myself to him.

I am runner who normally keeps to myself, though I believe in encouraging my fellow runners, but today I chatted with him the entire 12 kms we ran together. Together with Jaj and Maya (who became his 34th and 36th escorts, respectively) and Kimberly, we accompanied him for today's run.

With every minute, every km, our admiration grew (and swelled) for this unassuming man who was so determined to not let the hand that was dealt to him, keep him down. He exemplifies the saying that when life throws lemons at you then you make lemonade of it. His determination and diligence left us in awe and his achievements left us gaping. Knowing that he done well over 70 half marathons and 40 ten kms left us with our jaws literally on the floor. And that to at an age when normally people pack their bags and live a retired life, here was a man going from strength to strength.

He was more concerned if we were comfortable than we ensuring that he was ok. We eagerly listened to the wonderful and insightful anecdotes that he told from the various events he has run, about troubles sometimes he has to face in getting escorts for runs, to his wife's concern with all his running (as wives and mothers normally do). He narrated various incidents from running across the country, the adulation and recognition that he has begun to receive, and the runs he wanted to do. He left me in awe knowing that he has done runs that I have stayed away considering the difficulty.

I can say that at the end of the 12 kms and almost two hours that we ran together, I have grown to not only admire and respect him more, but also grown to love him much more. Here was a person that represented what freedom truly meant to me, not letting circumstances shackle you doing, letting your spirit soar and fly, a free bird in the sky.

Thank you Amarjeet Sir for all the inspiration that you give us, truly respect and admire and was an honour and privilege to accompany you today, on a very auspicious run.