Guinness record holders to light up Rotary Rain Run in Goa

Meet these women who are participating at the annual Rotary Rain Run for a simple cause – health. Every year, these women tie up the laces of their running shoes and run, educating, inspiring and instigating people to take up the sport to lead a healthy life.

Among the 2,000 participants at the 10th edition of the Rotary Rain Run, on Sunday (July 28, 2024), starting at the Sports Authority of Goa Athletics Stadium, Bambolim, you'll notice these endurance freaks run the 21 km half marathon and motivate others to start living healthy.

RUNNING IN A SAREE

Kranti Salvi, who is running the half marathon, also holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathons in a saree. She is an advocate for health and says, “Elements like social causes and rain attract runners like me, with the goal of promoting good health and supporting the causes of women's health and education. I strongly believe in supporting any activity that educates women and improves their health.”

She is known for her unique style of running marathons in a saree. In September 2018, she achieved the Guinness World Record title for the Fastest Marathon in a Traditional Saree.

Ask her why sarees and she quickly takes us back to our roots. “Women in Indian villages and farms work tirelessly in their sarees, moving freely in the fields. Inspired by this, as well as the growing popularity of saree runs, I decided to take on the challenge of running a full-distance marathon in a saree for a Guinness World Record attempt.”

There’s also Jayanthi Sampathkumar from Hyderabad had set a record in January 2018, and her well-wishers encouraged her to break the record. “After a successful 5k trial run in a Nauvari saree on Gudi Padwa, I realised the possibility of running the full 42.2 km distance in a saree. In the same year, I signed up for the Berlin Marathon 2018 with my husband. The Guinness World Records organisation supports record attempts at the Berlin Marathon, and everything came together perfectly,” she quipped.

RUNNER ON A MISSION

Another of the runners at the Rotary Rain Run is Preeti Maske, the record breaker ultra-runner and cyclist, who was the first Indian woman to set a world record in long-distance cycling, covering 3,720 km from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in just 11 days and 22 hours. She also holds a Guinness World Record for cycling the 6,000-km Golden Quadrilateral in 24 days and 5 hours.

“This is my first time participating in the Rotary Rain Run and the major attraction, however, is Goa. Also it's raining. Otherwise, running in Goa is difficult due to the high humidity. But, certainly, rain and Goa is a unique concept. Since the focus is on fitness and community – it aligns perfectly with my values and commitment to making a difference in society – and I'm happy to be a part of it,” says Preeti, who is also involved with Bharat Bamboo, an initiative that handcrafts bicycles with bamboo frames. 

At 46, she holds five Guinness World Records, having embarked on her competitive running and cycling journey at the age of 40.

REMINISCING THE GOOD OLD DAYS

And then there’s Corina Van Dam, whose journey from a young football enthusiast to championing gender equality through sport is truly inspiring. Though this is her first time participating in the Rotary Rain Run, she decided to join the run after she was advised by runner Kranti.

"Goa is very close to my heart, as I have participated thrice in Ironman Goa 70.3, and in 2019, I completed the IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon here. I'm looking forward to running the same course during the monsoon," she says with a smile.

As a four-time IRONMAN triathlon Dutch runner, a trained sports instructor and a football, basketball and swimming enthusiast, Corina has made significant strides in the world of sports. Did you know, that at the age of 14, she started her own football team in the Netherlands and later coached a women’s football team in rural Kenya.