Pune businessman attempts world record

Pune: In what can be termed as a lesson in unmatched determination, commitment, self-discipline, Pune-based Pravin Zele completed a  Herculean task of running 21 km barefoot daily for 121 days on Tuesday without missing a single day. By doing so, Zele is expected to break the previous Guinness World Record which was made by a person by running for 20 days without a gap. 

Pravin, a 37-year-old businessman, started his run on May 1 this year at a marathon conducted in Shirdi and completed his endeavour in Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU). While speaking to Sakal Times, he said, “I dedicate my run to my brother who passed away 18 years ago. He was my source of inspiration as he always motivated me to become a sportsman. That’s the reason I started my run on May 1 to mark his birthday.’’ Pravin had lost his one eye due to an accident while playing hockey 12 years ago. But this too did not stop him from taking up this challenge as no other person in the world has done it.

Pravin told Sakal Times that he would send the details of his run, pictures and GPS tracking of each day’s run to Guinness Book of Records. He added that the Guinness officials are expected to revert in 60 days.   When asked about his daily schedule during the last 121 days, Pravin told Sakal Times, “I used to get up at 4.30 am and freshen up to go for the run around 5 to 5.30 am every day.I usually started the day with two bananas before the run and protein shake after the run.” Zele added that his daily lunch used to include sprouts, two chapatis and vegetable. He added that in the evening, he use to have fruits and used to ends his day with lighter dinner.

On the final day of his quest, around 400 runners from the running community from Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad joined him in the run and witnessed Pravin complete the record.