Sivabalan Pandian finished his first marathon of 42.195 K at the age of 54. Suffering from diabetes at the age of 50, he started running to keep up with the deteriorating health. Which started as a routine walking soon evolved into running marathons. He has no background of running or any other sport in his young age. The first Indian to complete 508 (still counting) full marathons (42.195 km) and ultra marathons (>42.195 km) across 6 continents in just 9 years. Now he is 63+ years old but he feels as if he is in his 30's and he is enthusiastic than ever before. He has been confirmed as the Indian with the most number of Marathons (93 Full and 18 Ultra) run in 2018 ( in one calender year) by the LIMCA BOOK OF RECORDS. He says that luxury makes people sick and so he has adopted a very simple life. He feels that his life has changed completely in other words GOT TRANSFORMED - he keeps up with his work as a textile industry consultant alongside with his intense marathon schedule – he feels very efficient and better organized.
At an age when everyone plans to retire and relax, Sivabalan Pandian stands as an example not only for old people but also for youngsters.
His journey gives us a subtle but a strong message that 'limits exists only in our mind'.
This inspiring marathoner is all set to impart the knowledge, experience and importance of running and fitness to several young and old generations through Pandians Marathon Academy. Sivabalan has dedicated his life to help as many people as he can to improve the qualities of their lives and to achieve physical and mental well-being through long-distance running.
In the year 2010, I shifted from the bustling suburbs of Lokhandwala, Andheri (West) in Mumbai, (India) to the verdant green surroundings of Royal Palms, Goregaon East.
I was 51 years old and being a diabetic, I started slowly walking. In the year 2011, I started slow jogging up to 10 km. By 2012, I could slow jog 18 kms at a stretch. Slowly steadily I started running half marathon and then completely moved into full and ultra-marathons.
When I just start to jog and completed 18 kms at a stretch, I happened to bump into one of my society friend, Mr. Rajesh Shetty, who had run the Standard Chartered Mumbai Half Marathon a few times. He inspired me to register for the 2013 SCMM Marathon. Unfortunately, I missed the half marathon registration deadline by a few days. I had no other option but to register for the Full Marathon.
I landed at my friend, Mr. Reynold D'Cruz's place to understand the registration process better. There I realized that a previous running record with a timing certificate was compulsory, which I didn't have.
To achieve this end, I participated (Bib number: 22033) in the Kaveri Trail HALF Marathon on September 15, 2012. I completed it in 2:46:23. Armed with this timing, I registered for the SCMM Full Marathon 2013 of 42.195 kms.
On October 14, 2012, I participated (Bib number: 2848) in the Vasai-Virar Mayor HALF marathon and finished with a timing of 2:50:30. I also completed (Bib number: 27083) the Reliance Sabarmati HALF Marathon, Ahmedabad held on January 6, 2013, in 2:27:00, which boosted my confidence to run the full marathon of SCMM, which I would be running in a few days (January 20, 2013). In the Ahmedabad Marathon, at the flag-off, a small brief about the history of the marathon was delivered by the former Chief Minister of Gujarat and current Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi. He had mentioned that it started as a sport only for men. The introduction of the women's marathon happened many years later. His speech inspiring and it motivated me to run my first full marathon at SCMM on 20 Jan 2013. with timing of 5:46:12.
Eventually, I started running full marathons at the age of 54 and still running!!
Started 4 marathon
completed
10 marathons
completed
27 marathons (Full + Ultra)
completed
96 marathons (Full + Ultra)
completed
168 marathons (Full + Ultra)
completed
279 marathons (Full + Ultra)
completed
393 marathons (Full + Ultra)
completed
418 marathons (Full + Ultra) completed.
508 marathons ( Full + Ultra) completed.
663 marathons ( Full + Ultra) completed.
713 marathons ( Full + Ultra) completed.