Chennai | Kickstaring your running journey in 2025? Get inspired by these veteran runners

Do fitness resolutions that involve running feature high up on your list for 2025? Let these runners above the age of sixty from Chennai inspire you with their stories

At 66 years, K Selvanayagam is of the firm belief that running is in everyone’s blood. “If you decide to run and have the resolve to see this through, the rest of your life — your schedule will automatically fall into place,” he says. This is definitely the case for the Chennai resident, whose day usually begins at 4 am, with a 90-minute run on one of the city’s many flyovers.

Selvanayagam is among the city’s hordes of runners, and at 60, has seen the evolution of running in the city — right from the formation of the city’s first running groups. “Long ago, only a few of us used to run here and with no social media to bring us together, we would place a small signboard near a tea shop at the beach asking people who regularly walked there to join us if they were interested,” he recalls. Times have now changed, with several neighbourhood communities having walking and running groups, senior citizens banding together to go on walks and runs, and Chennai Runners, the city’s largest running community expanding to sixteen chapters to cover the city. 

Having participated in marathons for years, Selvanayagam’s heart now lies with Nature and temples. “For eight years now, around 15 of us have been participating in the Sivalaya Ottam, where we visit around 11 temples by covering 95 kms on Sivarathri day. This is one of the finest examples of an unorganised run of sorts happening for years, and the distance is a true test of your mental determination,” he says. 

The reasons for senior citizens taking to running are varied. For Capt Dr K Narasimha and Malthy Narasimha, it was a combination of wanting to prioritise their health, take up an activity together, and beat the empty nest syndrome once their children moved abroad. 

“When we started running with Chennai Runners in 2013, I remember us being among the first couple to run together,” Malthy laughs, recalling their beginnings. They have participated in over 23 half marathons, and most recently, ran at the sixtieth year of the Berlin Marathon in September 2024. 

“Running has given us the opportunity to travel to a host of different cities and explore,” Malthy says. An active part of the Bessie Flyers chapter of Chennai Runners, Capt Dr Narasimha makes a strong case for people looking to start running to join a group. “You will not be conscious of your pace or your tiredness — the pitter patter of feet running all around you will get you into the groove. Couples who can, especially, should run together. It is a great bonding activity,” he says.

At Chennai’s biggest marathon this coming weekend, Capt Dr Narasimha will be a pacer for the half-miler. Malthy, a clinical psychologist adds that running as a part of a group has taught them patience, concentration, discipline, better decision making, and most importantly social skills.