UK: If you’ve ever seen Ajit Singh out running, he’ll linger long in your memory.
If you ever have the pleasure of meeting this true gentleman, you’ll never forget him.
This is a man so committed to running he thinks nothing of running to town from his Dighton home in Hudders field via Outline a good 10 miles from his home. He thinks nothing of running 20 miles and has even been stopped by a puzzled policeman for running from a friend’s house back home at 3:30 in the morning Ajit a striking figure out on the streets in his orange turban and white knee bandages took up running when his bike broke at the age of seven.
Born in the tiny Punjab village of Mullanpuron Bonfire Night 1931, Ajit’s hard work at school paid dividends when he graduated from University with a degree in pure and applied maths.
After eight years teaching in Indian schools, Ajit came to En- gland in 1964 in search of a new life. “I just jumped without really looking.” he said. “It was a big risk at the time.”
After laboring in Southall for a year, he saved up enough money to fly his wife Mohinder Kaur and their three young children over to join him.
The family came north a couple of years later and laid down new roots in Huddersfield. Ajit became a bus conductor for a year, but always dreamed of attaching post. He completed his teacher training at Nottingham University so he could work in British schools, but no jobs came up in his home town.
In 1970 he accepted the offer of a post at Larkhall Academy Strathclyde, near Glasgow. After regularly commuting home to Huddersfield every weekend to see his family, Ajit is now retired, but is literally full of running. He has become a familiar figure on the roads of Huddersfied.
Those trademark knee bandages are a precaution. “I used to feel pressure on them from over running,” he said. “But I’m more careful these days and only run about 50 miles a week. The bandages are t there to keep me warm.”
Ajit’s idea of being more careful now includes three swims a week and a spot of gentle weight training and on-the-spot cycling at a local fitness center.
Weighing in at just seven stones and standing 5ft 6ins. tall, Ajit’s i slight build belies his strength and stamina.
“I may appear frail,” he admits. “But I’m a lot stronger than I look. Children try to catch me when I’m out running, but they have to give up. No-one believes I’m a runner D until they see me in action.”
“Runners need the three stamina, speed and strength. Oh, there’s a fourth smiles.” all runners are
The Sikh religion says you can only pray to God if you’re fit,” he said. “Running clears worries from the mind and improves my concentration. I used to solve math ematical problems while out running.”
He added: There’s no substitute for health. So many people are not aware of its value they are more bothered about wealth than health. But what good is wealth if you’re confined to bed?”
“I’ll stop running when my body tells me to finish,” he said. “As long as the body cooperates, there’s no harm in it. I’ve seen people -running well into their 80s.”
But his career was almost cut short when he suffered a terrible accident five years ago. A hit and run driver knocked him from his bike while cycling to work and he spend many weeks on traction re- covering from a serious back in- jury.
“Those were seven terrible weeks.” he said. “The consultant laughed when I asked when I’d be able to run again. I suppose I was 5 lucky just to be alive. I recovered gradually and now I have no prob- lems at all.”
1 Ajit is not impressed by those
who claim that they haven’t enough time to keep fit.
“Where there’s a will there’s a way. People can always find the time if they really want to.” Ajit has notched up 13 marathons since 1982, running them with his friend Glaswegian shop- owner, Amrik Singh, who opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m., but sometimes gets up as early as 4 a.m. to run.
Ajit’s best time for the marathon is 3 hrs. 3 mins at Glasgow in 1985. His best half-marathon time is 1hr. 18mins. A strict vegetarian for the last 15 years fruit, cereals, vegetables dried fruit and whole meal bread from the backbone to his diet. Needless to say, he doesn’t drink or smoke. He revealed that he has put up with the odd stupid remark while out running, but he just takes no notice.
“I’m not doing anyone any harm,” he said. “I’m only enjoying my life as is everyone’s right.”
Article extracted from this publication >> May 27, 1994
