Ran 63 km for his 63rd birthday, this Malappuram man proves age is just a number

Age proved to be just a number for retired Excise Assistant Inspector P Sunil Kumar, who marked his 63rd birthday on Sunday by running an extraordinary 63 kilometres.

A native of Mamboyilil in Amarambalam, Sunil is a seasoned long-distance runner with an impressive sporting career. During his years in service, he won several medals at State and national-level civil services sports meets. Even after retirement, he continues to remain active in national and international veterans' sports events, earning multiple accolades.

Sunil has also turned his birthday into a personal endurance challenge. Earlier, on January 4, 2005, he celebrated the occasion by completing a 62-kilometre run, a tradition he has continued to uphold over the years.

As part of his birthday run on Sunday, Sunil set off from Pookkottumpadam at 1 AM, covering 31.5 kilometres along the hill highway to Melattur before retracing his route on the return leg to complete a full 63 kilometres. The run was flagged off from the Panchayat office premises by ward member Reena Babu and Sunil returned to Pookkottumpadam by 8 AM.

Members of the Sunrise Runners’ collective in Pookkottumpadam, along with Panchayat president V P Afeefa and other members of the local governing body, accorded Sunil a reception. He later celebrated the occasion at home by cutting a cake with his wife Usha, children Sruthi, Jithin and Swathi and son-in-law Jushiraj.