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A marathon runner, NRI Fauja Singh, (92) got
a contract with Adidas (Sports footwear manufacturer)
to co-front a major advertising campaign that
also features David Beckham, Jonny Wilkinson
and Laila Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali. You
will see Singh's face in coming weeks all across
the UK ( adorn billboards in cities)
as part of a campaign called 'Impossible
is Nothing', and who could be more apt
than Singh, who at 92 is setting various records.
He has constantly become faster. Last year,
he ran almost an hour quicker than he did in
his debut at the 26.2 mile distance, finishing
the Toronto marathon in 5hrs 40min, the fastest
time yet recorded by someone of his age. Singh's
ultimate goal is to "enter the Guinness
Book of Records as the oldest man ever to run
the distance," which means competing until
he is at least 98.
At the age of 90 when he completed the gruelling
26.2 mile distance in 6 hours and 54 minutes
for the second time (having done so at his first
attempt the previous year). This knocked 58
minutes off the previous world best (7 hours
52 minutes by D Ramsey of the USA)for anyone
in the 90+ age bracket.
Flora London Marathon confirmed almost immediately
that Fauja (who was the oldest runner in this
years race) trimmed his own world record by
a further 9 minutes in this year's event on
14th April when he crossed the finishing line
in 6 hours 45 minutes and 31 seconds.
Fauja Singh lived in Punjab (India) village
and jogged regularly "to get from one place
to the next". Before the Second World War
he took part in village sports competitions
in which he says he was faster than many of
his neighbours. The father of four children,
13 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren
moved to England to live with his son 11 years
ago after his wife died.
Every day, he clocks up a daily total of 8-10
miles, some walking and some jogging. A vegetarian,
he has breakfast at 6.30 which he calls "nutrition
balls", made from ground nuts, herbs and
spices mixed into a paste with water. After
that he walks for up to an hour and then eats
a plain yoghurt and two glasses of water. Between
then and midday he carries on walking and jogging
- to the Gurdwara, to do errands for neighbours,
to see friends - and he doesn't stop to put
his feet up once. For lunch he has mild curry,
not too hot and spicy, and one chapati with
a glass of warm water.
Neighbours introduced him to Harmander Singh,
a local community worker and marathon enthusiast
who became his trainer, and put him in touch
with Bliss, the charity for premature births,
for whom Fauja has raised thousands of pounds.
'I want to help those who are least able to
help themselves,' says Fauja. 'I like the idea
of the oldest running for the youngest .He says
ginger in food is good for supple joints and
against colds. For a snack Singh has dried,
crumbled chapatis mixed with sugar. He meditates
for 15 minutes every evening, takes a warm bath
to diffuse any tension and rubs baby oil into
his muscles at night. Next month, he turns 93
and will be the oldest man ever to line up for
the London Marathon.
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Sikh Arts & Film Festival 2011- 
