In the early days of the lockdown back in March, Coimbatore-based P Chandramohan would get up in the morning, put on his running shoes and go to the terrace of his house. Down below in their bedroom, his wife would wake up to the pounding of his footsteps.

“My terrace is around 60 feet long. I have to run 100 laps to complete 2 km.” That is how Chandramohan, who took to running marathons after retirement, kept himself fit during the lockdown and even participated in a few events, albeit virtually.

The 69-year-old former general manager of a private engineering firm has participated in 40 full marathons so far in a period of nine years. During the lockdown, he says he ran in eight virtual events.

“I managed to participate in marathons held in San Francisco, Mexico and Berlin as well. I would not have been able to attend these events without the virtual option,” he says.