GUWAHATI: Three friends named Dr Santanu Dutta, Dr Jnanankar Medhi and Dhiraj Dutta ran a marathon from Guwahati to Tezpur. They started the marathon on the evening of 25th December and ran till the morning of 27th December braving the cold weather and the highway traffic.
The entire journey stretched 170 km, thereby crossing the significant 100 miles landmark.
Two of the trio - Santanu and Jnanankar - are practicing physicians of the city. Dhiraj Dutta is a businessman.
Although they had a support vehicle on the way, they faced severe hardships while running their way towards Tezpur.
To complete this herculean task, all the three had to face the cars that drove in the opposite direction and braved the winds accompanying the vehicles. "We were running in the opposite direction and when the wind hits the body, it gets tiring and cold. There was even pain in my right leg as I had developed a blister. I had to run 77 km with that foot," said Dhiraj Dutta.
Meanwhile, Dr. Santanu Dutta has loads of experience in marathons including the participation in Iron Man contests. At 45, for him, age is just a number and he has participated in other marathons amidst his busy schedule.
He emphasized that mental preparation and strength are the most important tools to complete such tasks. "We had an overall experience of preparation of such runs. But the most important aspect is the mental strength," said Santanu Dutta. Santanu further adding that a message is important along with such runs and as such their team chose the idea of awareness for specially-abled children in this case.
The third partner of the trio Dr Jnanankar Medhi, who is 48 years old doesn't see age as a deterrent for such achievements. "I started when I was 38. I believe even in a busy schedule, one can continue to run. It is a matter of passion," he said.
As a doctor, he highlighted the importance of hydration during such a run. "While we were running, we kept a check on our hydration and nutrition so that we could maintain our energy levels to carry us through the entire distance," Medhi told G Plus.
To train for the run, he had to get up early in the morning to practice before going to work.
The trio has proven that is never too late to start achieving fitness goals.
