Sikhs in the City

I missed this one back in November.  Fauja Singh finished the Toronto Marathon a bit behind the winners (as the events crew was dismantling things) with a time of 8 hours, 11 minutes and 6 seconds, which is more than 2 ½ hours slower than he did the same course in 2003.

But, known as the Turbaned Tornado, he won his class – the over 100 year olds - and while he was at it, set world class records for eight distances ranging from 100 meters through 5,000 meters.

He and some younger Sikhs (aged 82, 82 and 83) have formed a London team called Sikhs in the City and he often runs in a sweatshirt emblazoned with their name.

He attributes his long life to a simple Punjabi vegetarian diet – various sources report its elements as tea, toast, vegetables and curry – and above all, to being happy and avoiding stress. As he puts it, who has ever heard of anyone dying from being happy?  He took up running at the age of 89 following the loss of his wife and son.

So, for those Laser and other dinghy sailors who might be feeling a few creaks and groans during a race (I know whereof I speak), suck it up and get on with things. Be Happy !