THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Biju R Das from Thiruvananthapuram who kept on running has run all over America. Biju R Das is the only Malayali in the club of those who have completed full marathon in every state of America. Those who know Biju from his past will laugh and disbelieve when they hear this. He did not participate in a single 100-meter race while studying in school and college. Not a single cricket ball was ever fielded by him. Then how?

Biju, who lives with his family in Atlanta, USA, was driving one day when he saw that the road was closed. The road was closed for a 10 km race. When his wife Geenadas told him that a co-worker was also running in the race, he thought he might have a look. Biju took a decision when he saw that colleague who was past 50 years of age running. Next year I should also participate in the same 10 km race. He practised by running one kilometre and increasing it to two kilometres and so on...

The following year, Biju outdistanced his wife's colleague in the 10km race on the same road. With that, his excitement also increased. It wasn't long before he joined a running club and ran a half marathon followed by a full marathon.

Biju came to Chicago in 2005 to participate in the 42 km full marathon. With big crowds to watch, Biju reached the target in four hours. Biju started taking marathons seriously. Then came a challenge from the Runners Club. Complete six full marathons a year. When that goal was achieved, a new goal was acknowledged in 2010. Participate in marathons in all 50 US states. Biju surpassed that goal last month by participating in the Cape Cod Marathon and became a member of the 50 State Full Marathon Club.

From Palode to Museum

When Biju came back home recently, he ran 42 km from his father Ravindran's hometown Palode to museum at 3 am without stopping! Although his house is in Palode, Biju completed his studies by staying at his mother Leela's family home in Sreekariyam with his maternal grandmother Rugmini and aunt Vimala from class 8 onwards. After completing his engineering studies in CET, Biju went for training at ISRO. From there he became a software engineer in a private company and then went to America. His sons Kannan (21) and Gian (15) are not interested in running. They prefer football and basketball.