After completing my Cdo course with an injured knee in 1998, I was on leave to undergo knee surgery for ACL tear. In Mar 99, I joined unit and straight away went on PP6 in Munawar Tawi area of 10 Div. I was still under physiotherepy which I could never complete for the prescribed duration courtesy Op Vijay.
It started in the month of May and things got very hot in 10 Div area too. On the fatefull day of 15th July 99, I came under firing of mortar and got severely injured. Profusely bleeding all over the body when I reached hospital I was decelared dead by the surgical specialist. As the luck would have another doctor, Anesthetic, was present there at that moment, who had a look at me and could revive me.
Since then, till Nov 2009, it took me ten full years to regain my ability back for which I was famous among my coursmates in IMA as I use to be the first one to sleep in the outdoor classes and come back in first five, when sent on round the temple to sit and relax while others were still running.
It all started with my craze of going for Rally sports. During my army days also I was passionate about rally sports but could never get chance to explore that area much as I was denied entry into such adventures owing to my medical condition. Once out, I began to explore it more, however as its an expensive sport, I needed money and sponsors. It was the hunt for sponsors which forced me to prove my worth as an individual first as whomsoever I met in this regard, frowned on me because of my physical status. During that period I came across the advertisment of Airtel Delhi Half Marathon to be happened in Nov 09 and I enrolled for it.
Month of oct in delhi is neither cold nor hot, in a way, ideal to get up early and go for jogging. First day, I donned the jogging suit and went out on road,started with a normal walk for about 2 kms. Long way to cover in next 14 days but there was some spirit, spirit of proving my worth again, spirit of doing something worth after a long. And thus every day I started getting up early and going for jog.
Within few days, I was able to hop run for about 4 to 5 kms. Sweating out like this after about 9 yrs was a feeling of elation. The max upto which I went during practise session was mere 9 kms. I wanted to do about 14 to 15 kms but in between there were various challenges like, coming back late from office and not able to complete the sleep to get up early, upset stomach or some other commitments in which I went out of delhi. Controling stomach was biggest challenge as due to injury twice my stomach underwent laprotomy in order to remove the intenstinal adhesion. But after consulting a doctor I had a medicine to ease out this trouble.
As I was not able to complete the mark of 14 km in practise so, I was not sure whether I should attempt the run or not, there was some element of confusion. But I guess its normal to have such doubt before any test because this only makes you give your best.
Though I had prepared myself by buying new jogging shoes which will give me better grip and cushion to my left foot, toe and heel but toe and heel had given me piercing pain many a times while practise session and intolerable pain while doing the frist marathon.
Early morning on the day of marathon, I got up at around 4, cleaned my bowl well and had my daily diet of (anjeer, kishmiss, khazoor and badaam) first thing in the morning. Mind was still confused whether to go for run or sleep again. For about five minutes I was confused, then suddenly I made up my mind to reach at starting point atleast before the half marathon starts and let things to happen on its own. That was perhaps the moment of Rubicon, because after that not going ahead with run never struck me. I reached there on venue and wore my chest number. Public was amazed to see a one leg guy getting ready but that was giving me strenght rather. While I was standing next to gate in the holding area, I met a 75 yrs old guy with his friend. He was an athlete of his times and was there to run half marathon. I touched his feet and he wished me good luck for the run. That was the moment when even the iota of doubt I had at the back of mind also got washed away.
And rest is history now, since 2009, I have completed three consecutive half marthons at Delhi and Mumbai both. Amazingly, improving time by 15 min in every run. My present prosthesis has over lived its life of 5 yrs by more the double and its giving me trouble since last 3 yrs but some how I could manage my runs without getting bogged down by even this restraint. I am now trying to get a new prosthesis specially designed for running purpose with an aim to explore marathons outside India too. The fact that Limca book of records has published my attempt as maiden attempt in India and thus a record has given me a further push to take it forward.
