Growing up, Sushil Bhasin was an active boy who enjoyed playing cricket, football, and hockey. This enthusiasm for sports continued until his early 40s when he began experiencing kidney issues, prompting a visit to a specialist. At 43, tests revealed that Bhasin had renal agenesis, a rare condition where an individual is born with only one kidney.
“The one kidney I had was hydronephrotic [a condition where the kidney swells up due to the buildup of urine] because of a defect. So, the doctor had to do surgery to salvage it. It was during the initial checkups that I got to know that I was living with one kidney; I also got to know that I had diabetes,” recalls the now 74-year-old marathoner.
Bhasin’s doctor advised him to avoid strenuous activities to prevent further kidney damage and to manage his condition with dietary restrictions, including limiting magnesium, potassium, protein, and fluid intake to one and a half liters per day.
A Life-Changing Visit to the US
After recovering from surgery, Bhasin continued to live a cautious life until a visit to his son in the US in his early 60s changed everything. It was during this trip that he participated in his first run, which soon became a passion.
“My son was going for a 10K run, and he registered me for a 5K one. Till then, I had never run in my life, so I thought I would just go and try, but I got exhausted after 300 meters. I somehow managed to finish the five kilometers and was not interested in running again at all,” shares the septuagenarian. “But my son kept asking me to run. So, I started doing small distances like 50–100 meters, and after one-and-a-half years, I fell in love with running. It made me happy, so I started running every day.”
Over the past decade, the Bangalorean has completed numerous half-marathons, marathons, and ultramarathons, including 200- and 500-mile non-stop runs. Initially self-conscious about running, Bhasin would train at night to avoid being seen. “I felt shy about what people would think as to why this old person was running. So, I would do my training at night when people were not there to see me. And if I saw somebody coming, I would stop and restart once they went away. Slowly, I overcame my shyness,” he says.
Embracing a New Routine
Bhasin’s current routine includes running, yoga for flexibility, and strength training. He follows a balanced diet, a habit he has maintained since childhood. He has plans for a 24-hour non-stop run in July and a 500-mile run from Bangalore to Hyderabad in September.
“We don’t retire from life unless we are dead,” Bhasin asserts. “People can retire from their profession, but we don’t retire from life unless we are dead. At any age, one can start any activity. I started running at 62, and I know people who are in their 80s and 90s and are still doing activities. They are the inspiration for me. I am 74 now. If I can start at 62, an individual can start at whatever stage they are.”
Advice for the Younger Generation
Bhasin encourages younger people not to delay starting a healthy lifestyle. “Whenever younger people get to know that I started running at 62, they think that they have enough time to start. I tell them not to wait until they’re 62 like me; start as early as you can because a healthy life is what will always keep you happy.”
