Well there is nothing new in finding a room-mate who dream to start running every time he is about to pass out or hogging burgers on food joint. I have been little lucky to have never lived in dearth of such company, but why lucky? because I can share my experience today and more importantly it was their bane which cemented my strength every day.

I have always loved athletics and since school days have always participated in events at different levels, including a national level athletics meet.I have never shied away from idea of going out for run even on chilly winter nights.I have been asked this many times, how do you run alone on an empty roads for hours? Well, to be honest even I never thought about it, may it was just like shopping or eating habits for some people where they splurge to spoil themselves.In my case, it was a physical break down after a 10 k run which brought the feeling of being spoilt.When I look back ,I realize that I went on doing it probably because I never questioned Why?

Today when I go out, I see lots of people running on the tracks and I can clearly see the passion for staying fit on their faces.It was during one regular run where I met a guy named Rick, an american national staying in India for some education research.He must have been in his 50s .We used to run on the same track and greet each other with a smile on the crossing.Though aged by skin but he was clearly one of the seasoned runner and disciplined too.On a Saturday evening, we faced each other on a casual walk and quickly strike a conversation about what we loved, running.He was a very open and funny guy who was willing to share all his experience and stories.When I asked him since when are you running? He answered, its been 15 years.He went on to add that he used to run in marathons and have participated in Mumbai, Hyderabad and New Delhi Marathons during his stay in India.It was awe-inspiring to talk to him about his experiences and tricks of the trade.

After an interesting 10 mins conversation, he sighed a little bit and told me something that moved me.He said that he has been running since his college days and was always one of the fittest chap in the gang.He always loved his life but one day when he was just 35 years old, he got some pain and sluggish movement in his stomach.He went to see a doctor and after diagnosis he came to know that one of his kidneys has stopped functioning.He felt devastated and equally enraged.He had taken care of his body all life long, how could something like this can happen to him.He said that he could not pull himself up for months, he was also put on some medications.His only conviction was that doctors were asking him to do what he has followed for years, “Do some running”.

He turned a story teller for me that evening and mentioned that earlier he used to run with passion for a fit body and stamina.After that life changing moment, he started running with another passion, longevity.I can’t imagine a better splurge to spoil yourself.I was dumbstruck and my mind travelled back tracing someone’s feelings when such a tragedy strikes.Despite what Rick went through, he didn’t lose his sense of humor, he said “I have one less serious function to worry about( referring to his solitary kidney), so why not laugh around”.

Since then we used to meet everyday on our running track and share some laugh.Not everyday you come across such brave hearts who truly have conquered their downfall and turn that bane into their reason to survive.Rick left India after a month and went back to US.

I continue to go out running with question in my mind, why people are still waiting for that day to step out for a run.There cannot be a better day than today.Perhaps, I have also found answer to my Why?