Visakhapatnam: An unprecedented number of professional walkers of Visakhapatnam on Sunday competed in the half marathon 25-km beach road walk from Visakhapatnam city to Bheemili during the sixth edition walk, organised by Visakha Walkers Association. Of them 350 participants attempted the adventurous half-marathon attempt, some even with medical assistance. National and inte-rnational walkers inclu-ding international walker 85-year-old Commander Sriramulu (retired), was one among top five international walkers.
Flagged-off by local MLA V. Ramakrishna Babu at Alwardas Grounds in MVP Colony, the walkers were divided into 17 batches based on age groups and all the batches managed to complete the walk within three hours. “The competition-cum-awareness walk was organised in order to inculcate the ha-bit of walking among the public,” said Visakha Walkers Association members. Expressing concern about the lack of walking habit, some officials from Eastern Naval Command also participated to inspire the young walkers of Vizag.
Among the participants there were a significant number of women and senior citizen professional walkers including the 85-year-old retired naval officer, Comma-nder Sreeramulu, who completed the half mara-thon walk successfully.
Commander Sreer-amulu was one among top international walkers from India who had bagged gold medals last year in USA as well as best walker in Australia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Among many first time walkers who completed the walk in three hours are Kusuma Kumari and V. Pushpa Kumar from the age group batch of 50-60 and Bhavana, Laksh-mi and Ammu from the age group of 30-40.
“Although a number of youngsters participated in the walk, the time has come to inculcate the habit for life as a mantra for better health,” said members of Visakha Walkers Association.
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/marathonjpg-716