Our Heroes
Fauja Singh, 101, Announces Retirement
... But Only From Competitive Running
KIERON MONKS
If Lance Armstrong destroyed your faith in endurance sports, a turban-wearing pensioner could restore it.
Not that drugs
would ever appeal to devout Sikh athlete Fauja Singh, 101, the world’s
oldest marathon runner who has announced his retirement.
"I recognize that the longer distances are becoming challenging and
taking part in races adds pressure on me as I like to be seen to be
enjoying myself and not struggling," Fauja Singh said in an interview over the telephone from Punjab. "I’m
not sad and want to retire at the top. I have achieved all I wanted and
there are no more records to be broken."
The Punjab-born Briton, who ran his first marathon at age 89 and seven more since, now has an eye on his legacy.
"I want the young to be inspired to take up physical activity and
maintain it through their lives. Hopefully they will see the folly of
taking drugs. I also want the elderly to embark on getting fitter – if I
can run my first marathon so late in life, no one should use the excuse
of old age as a barrier."
Fauja Singh’s epic journey has seen him post records in eight distance
categories, including his best time of 5 hours 40 minutes at the 2003
Toronto Marathon. His achievements have earned him a lunch date with
Queen Elizabeth II, and a starring role in TV commercials alongside
David Beckham.
Harmander Singh, his coach of 13 years, credits Fauja’s enthusiasm. "He
was my best trainee, always keen to do more than I expected. I would
suggest a 10-kilometer run and he would ask 'why not 20?'"
Harmander describes his student as a "simple and humble man" – who has stayed close to his faith.
The pair established the ‘Sikhs in the City’ running club in London, now
participating in inter-faith marathons across the world. In retirement,
faith and sporting charities will become his focus, along with "meeting
people at a more leisurely pace."
Fauja’s achievements have become a reference point for sports scientists.
"He has demonstrated the limit of human capacity," says Professor Jose
Gonzalez-Alonso, Director of the Centre for Sports Medicine and Human
Performance in London, Ontario, Canada. "I’m sure it will motivate other
elderly runners to beat his times."
Fauja’s last official race will be a 10-kilometer event in Hong Kong on February 24, 2013.
Q & A with Fauja Singh
Metro: What has been the proudest moment of your running career?
Fauja Singh: Every moment has been topping the last but I was
particularly pleased to have completed the Toronto Waterfront Marathon
at the age of 100 and finally my home London Marathon – I also value
crossing the finish line of my first marathon as special.
Who is your sporting hero?
When I was young there were great Punjabi and Sikh wrestlers who were
legends and everyone wished they could be like them. Later it was Ajit
Singh from Huddersfield and Amrik Singh from Glasgow, friends who ran
many marathons all over the world long before me, and persuaded me to
try longer distances than the 100 and 200 metres I used to run.
Would you like your record as oldest marathon runner to be broken?
All records are meant to be broken, but it is great while they last. I
wish the next record breaker well and hope they enjoy doing it.
Do you wish you had taken up running a bit earlier?
I never worry about things that I cannot control, I am grateful to God
that I have lasted this long as it can be tiring to be ahead of the
field for so long – 13 and a half years is, I am told, exceptional to be
at the top. No British Prime Minister has lasted as long.
How you can still be running aged 100? – with Professor Jose Gonzalez-Alonso
- - Balance your exercise of different muscle groups
- - Use specialists such as chiropractors
- - Train every day for at least half an hour
- - As you get older, adjust your attitude to accept slowing down and still enjoy it
-
- Run in competition
[Courtesy: Metro World News. Edited for sikhchic.com]
January 29, 2013
Conversation about this article
1: Harinder (Uttar Pradesh, India), January 29, 2013, 10:41 AM.
S. Fauja Singh ji: you should never, never retire. Run and run as long as you are blessed with life. You are such an inspiration for all of us. May Waheguru bless you ...
2: Irvinderpal Singh Babra (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), January 29, 2013, 10:52 AM.
S. Fauja Singh is a rare marathon runner on the planet, and now when he is retiring, I will be looking forward to any one who can take his place and lead in long distance running. He needs rest and not to struggle anymore. As most long distance runners come from Africa, in the Olympics and elsewhere, Fauja Singh as a Sikh and Punjabi runner has astonished many in the sports world and sports medicine fields. He has conquered many factors in long distance running, like aches, pains, urination, weather conditions, keeping his turban intact, pace, stride, diet and much more. Life is a marathon, not a sprint, and Fauja Singh is the finest brand ambassador for running and keeping fit. Most people at his age are dead, or in wheel-chairs and this man is a intercontinental runner, which is something out of this world. Thank you, sir, for the lead and inspiration you provide to the world, including the royalty and the masses, on this planet. I also salute his coach Harmander Singh for his coaching and loyalty to him. Running is great and I would like to be in Fauja Singh's shoes ... though it is still a dream!