Runner for life

Jacqueline Babitha Xavier added another feat to her list of achievements by winning three gold medals in her age group — 800m, 1500m, 5000m — at the 30th National Masters Athletic Championship held in the city recently.

For someone who took up running only in 2014, the 45-year-old has come a long way. Babitha has participated in over 20 half marathons, around five 10k runs and 5k runs respectively, and has been an inspiration to all. “I began running at the age of 43. Running gives me a different kind of high,” says Babitha, who runs a fitness studio.

Talking about her first experience, she says, “It was on January 5, 2014, where I participated in a Breakfast Run after coming across the event on Facebook. I didn’t know how far is 1 km, 2 km or 5 km and where the run is supposed to end. At the same event, there was a lady I knew. I thought that when she stops, I would stop as well. But she didn’t stop anywhere and I kept following her since I was embarrassed to tell that I didn’t know the calculations. I kept following her, only to realise later that I finished 21 km in 2 hours 34 minutes.”

The zumba, aerobic and fitness trainer, adds, “That was the time when I was going through menopause and I was also depressed. When people congratulated me for the success, it helped me during the depression stage. Now the goal is not to get medals, because I am sure that I will win them. The focus now is to maintain better timing.”

Babitha also participated in the Devils Circuit and currently is on the third position on the leader board. “A lot of women say that they don’t have time for fitness. If they can spend an hour on Facebook, and a long time on WhatsApp, they can definitely take out time for themselves,” she says.

Babitha also started a club exclusively for women, called Twin Cities Women Fitness Group, to promote fitness and wellness among the women. “We meet every Saturday at Sanjeeviah Park and do pilates, running, strength training etc. From March, we are planning to start having sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays as well,” she says.

Babitha, who is fondly called Marathon Lady of Hyderabad, says that it is only because of her family’s support that she can pursue her passion. Babitha starts preparing only two weeks before the scheduled run. “This year I will be doing my first full marathon. My focus is to complete it in 3 hours and 55 minutes, so I qualify for the marathon in Boston in 2019,” she says.