Woman marathoner running for Guinness makes pitstop in city

For this 46-year-old, The Great India Quadrilateral Run was flagged off from the Gateway of India, Mumbai on October 21, 2015. From then onwards, Michelle has covered 4,610 kms so far, covering Delhi, Kolkata and has finally made her way down south, to Chennai. Speaking about this ambitious attempt, Michelle said, “All my earlier records had been overseas. When I decided to attempt for a Guinness World Record, I wanted India as the backdrop. I chose the Golden Quadrilateral because it encompassed the entire country.” 

She explained, “Being on the road, running 35 to 40 kilometres every day, was physically demanding. The pollution levels, especially between Mumbai and Delhi, which are dotted by industrial areas, were extremely high. I developed a bout of bronchitis, which lasted for two months. Once I got beyond Delhi and entered the rural hinterlands of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the air was much fresher and my body had adapted to the rough terrain.” 

A day in Michelle’s life begins unimaginably early. “I get up at 2 am and after my warm up, I start running by 3.30 am. I run for three hours before I halt for breakfast, after which I complete the target for the day. I take a day’s rest every eight days, to ensure I don’t injure myself,” revealed Michelle, who is travelling with a team of five, including a physiotherapist. 

Michelle said that the journey brought with it a multitude of experiences. “While running the stretch between New Delhi and Kolkata, the security was a concern, since I was a woman, running at ungodly hours. But, there was not a single moment where I felt threatened,” recalled this mother of two. 

After spending around five days, running across Tamil Nadu, Michelle will head home – sprinting through Karnataka and Maharashtra before arriving at the Gateway of India on April 30. 

Gearing up for the last lap, Michelle said, “Everyone has their own reasons to run. But a marathon is one sport where everyone is on a level playing field. You could be rich or poor, big or small but everyone has the same goal – to get across the finish line. In a way, life is like that too!”