Run India run: A marathon mission made possible

COACH TO WIN: Nagarkoche retired from the armed forces eight years ago.

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Nanded (Maharashtra): It’s 5 am and young boys and girls have gathered at the playground of Sainik school in Nanded.

After a few quick warm-up exercises, it’s time for action. It’s today that coach Bhagwan Nagarkoche will check the timing of his pupils as they run a seven-kilometre stretch.

In the school in eastern Maharashtra Nagarkochehas been helping a generation of children — from orphans to remand home boarders — run to victory.

The pilot project is based on marathon's unwritten scouting law — scan the rural countryside for lean frames.

Their daily struggle for survival tones up their calves and opens their lungs as they run along the harsh reality of life. These are the body types Nagarkoche says are hard to find in urban cities.

“There is a sea of difference between city kids and these kids. These kids have simple needs and are not distracted by anything,” Nagarkoche says.

Nagarkoche retired from the armed forces eight years ago and took up the position of a physical instructor at this School, bringing with him discipline and fitness.

He helped handpick marathon hopefuls from a mix of orphans, remand home borders and students of a modest Sainik school.

So his students took nothing for granted and just ran empty stomachs and wearing simple canvas shoes.

“They just want to run. They have a passion for running. They say they want to run more,” Nagarkoche adds.

Running here is an expression of breaking free.

With freedom, came dedication and results followed. They won races at district, state and national levels. At Vishakhapatnam, Pune, Aurangabad and Mumbai, Sagroli's boys and girls were the winners.

In the under 18-category at the Mumbai Marathon they stunned everyone when the girls took the first, second and the third positions.

It’s hard to say who the real heroes of Sagroli are. Little ones who get up at 5 am every day to run even when their limbs are heavy or the school whose instructors make sure they do with no help and infrastructure.