Like most of us, I have tons of excuses not to run, or get out of the bed and do some exercise – Oh, it might rain when I run and I don’t want to get drenched. Oh, I feel like I might get a sore throat. Oh, I don’t have a mobile app to track my run. Oh, my T-shirt/shoe is not a branded one – And you know when one realizes that these things are trivial and petty? When one runs, or witnesses a Marathon.

I ran my first marathon yesterday, and every time I felt the urge to stop, take it easy and walk to the finish line, the sight of some of my fellow runners injected a burst of energy in me which no energy drink can do. Here are a few of them that will stay in my mind forever. I experienced a few of them myself, and a few others were beautifully captured by Runsters. (Read till the end, the best is reserved for the last).

1. Age – How does it matter?

Don’t know much distance this kid walked, but hey,does it really matter? 🙂

Enjoying their run!!

What can I say?

2. Unable to walk – So what?

 3. Being confined to their wheelchairs does not diminish their passion for a Marathon

 4. Blade runners 

They may have been unfortunate to have lost their legs, but fortunate not to have lost their determination!!

The happy smile says it all!!

39-year-old Kargil War Hero – Devender Pal Singh lost one of his legs in 1999. Here is a report from The Hindu ” He(Devedra Pal Singh) helped another physically challenged person, 18-year-old Gokul, get across the finish line. Singh said “He reminds me of what I was 20 years ago. I want him to win. Today, when I held his hand as he finished his race, he said it was like his father holding him. I cannot get a better gift than this.”(Read full story here).

5. The barefooted and bare-chested Gandhian Runner – Vishwanathan Jayaraman

He runs 42km every other day. He spins his own cloth. Meet the Gandhian marathon man – http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/7U6Fy70zokk88UmNFsVfqN/Beliefs–The-barefoot-runner.html)

6. The girl

I could not find a better title for this section. Read on.

This picture  appeared in Facebook and I was curious to know what happened to this bare foot runner. Here is what happened, in the words of Mr. Gratian Mathew Govias who posted the following in Facebook“ You guys should know the whole story. Here goes. ….. I was riding the patrol duty and noticed this kid running at an amazing pace. Alarm bells went off when she skipped hydrating at 2 water points, so I kind of decided to watch her closely. So I started with encouraging her……found her running in a daze. Before the next water point, I kept repeatedly telling her to drink water and electral. Initially she said no but at the water point she took 2 cups and drank. After the turn around half way mark she looked at me and said, Sir yenuku fever iruku(Translation : “ Sir, I have fever”) and I realised that the kid was already delirious. So stayed with her and ensured that she hydrated well at every point and also from my water bottle. As she kept coming closer to the finish, she kept getting stronger. Then I gave her targets of runners ahead to catch. She ran strong, brilliantly and towards the end she (2km to go) she said thank you, so I told her the best thanks would be for me to see her catch a runner I pointed to about 200 meters ahead and she said, Sir, unuk kaga (Translation: “ Sir, I will do it for you” )and off she went. Result I think she came 2nd in the woman’s category. Didnt see her finish but what a run and with fever, totally humbled and in awe of her performance. I don’t know her name nor from where she had the guts and strength to run like she did. Amazing.”

And guess what? This girl, L. Ambika, is the second runner-up in the women’s Half Marathon.

There are more stories like these, but the bottomline? I will no more offer lame excuses to avoid running!!! How about you?