Maradu: For Shyni Benny, retirement marked just another starting line. In fact, her first thought upon retiring was, ‘Now I can run even more than before.’

Just hours after stepping down as a Malayalam teacher at Ernakulam’s St Teresa’s High School on Tuesday, she ran 11 kilometres from the school to her home in Nettoor.

An avid marathoner for the past eight years, Shyni is a member of the Souls of Cochin running group. Her husband, Benny, a captain in the Merchant Navy, along with 24 fellow members of the group, also joined her on the run. The event was flagged off by Mayor V K Minimol, and Shyni reached home around 6.30 in the evening.

Her next goal is to complete a full 42-kilometre marathon. She trains rigorously, visiting the gym three days a week and running six kilometres on the remaining days. Her children, Air India pilot Nevin and Nehal, a DBA student at Tevara SH College, have always stood by her, offering support.