New Delhi: At 4am, while much of the city was still asleep, 71-year-old Mohan Lal Dabral was already on his way from Noida to Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon. For him, the early start was a small price to pay for a morning that promised energy, companionship and a reminder that age need not dictate the pace of life.Dabral was among the spirited senior citizens who turned up for the nearly 2.5km run Sunday, where the focus was less on the finish line and more on the joy of getting there. Some came with years of running experience behind them; others were taking their first steps into the marathon experience. What united them was the simple desire to stay active, meet people and make the most of the morning.Away from the brisk strides of younger runners, the senior citizens’ corner had its own rhythm. Under fluttering canopies, rows of chairs became meeting points for friends exchanging stories, discussing cholesterol levels and reminiscing about previous marathons. There was laughter, easy conversation and, occasionally, a few dance moves.“Participating in events like these makes us feel that we are still young. Age doesn’t really matter when you have the enthusiasm to keep going,” said Dabral, attending for the second time. “It is a wonderful feeling to be surrounded by so many energetic people.”For 84-year-old Indra, who lives in a senior citizens’ home, the event has become something to look forward to. Sunday marked her third participation, and she said the happiness she took away from the experience was reason enough to return. “I am a little selfish when it comes to my happiness, and I find it here. You can try explaining the feeling, but words do not always do justice to it,” she said.For 80-year-old Meena Vohra, who has participated in around 10 marathon events, the excitement remains undiminished. At her third VDHM, she found herself drawing energy from the sight of people across generations coming together. The atmosphere, she said, was as much a motivation to return as the run itself.Not everyone arrived with a running history. Seventy-year-old Shabnam Nanda signed up for her first marathon after a friend encouraged her to give it a try. Seeing fellow senior citizens participate with such enthusiasm made the experience all the more rewarding.Neelam Wadhera (76) came from Rohini with around 40 members of Delhi Laughter Group, determined to keep moving despite the health challenges that come with age. “Whether you are able to do a little or a lot, your enthusiasm should never diminish,” she said. “This was my first time, and I was dancing my way through the entire experience.”For 69-year-old Arun Sethi, it was also an opportunity to promote laughter yoga. A recipient of the International Ambassador of Laughter award, he has travelled on highways to encourage people to practise it. “One also uses such events to challenge himself. Next year, I am coming prepared for 10km,” he said.
