THE MANITOBA MARATHON, Paul & Albert
World record marathoner Dr. Paul Piplani of Phoenix was inSteinbach last week staying with ultra marathoner Albert Martens
by Carillon News Sports Writer
Terry Frey
Perhaps the most noteworthy achievement of all at this year's Manitoba Marathon, an achievement that went unnoticed by most was that by 60-year-old Dr. Paul Piplani of Phoenix, Arizona.
Piplani is an acquaintance (by reputation and email) of Steinbach ultra marathoner Albert Martens. Piplani spent a couple of days in Steinbach last week, hosted by Martens, as he prepared to run in the Manitoba Marathon for the fourth time. Sunday's Manitoba Marathon was his 801st he has completed.
Running 800 marathons around the world is quite something in itself, but what makes is so astounding is that he ran his 800th marathon on Saturday in Duluth, one day before the Manitoba Marathon. Oh, one more thing, he ran marathons 798 and 799 last weekend on the west coast. That's right, he ran four marathons in one week.
It's not that Piplani, a part-time university professor, has been running marathons all his life, thus accounting for the 800 marathons. The native of India, who first moved to Phoenix in 1996, only ran his first marathon in 1993, and has averaged 60 or so marathons a year since that time.
He ran his first back-to-back weekend marathons in 1996, as he did this last weekend, and now makes it part of his running agenda. The most number of marathons he has run in a year is 103 in 2004, which is also when he ran his 500th marathon. His personal best time is 3 hours, 22 minutes in 2000.
In an interview in Steinbach last week, prior to driving to Duluth in a rented car, he said "my short term goal is to run #1000 in 2010." He hopes that will be the famed Pikes Peak Marathon, dubbed America's Ultimate Challenge, which was also his first marathon in 1993.
Although Sunday's marathon was only the 38th for Albert Martens, the two are in many ways kindred spirits. Both have run two of the most difficult races known to man, Badwater in California's Death Valley and the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert. Piplani has also run the The Great Wall of China among many other unique events.
Along the way, Piplani has run marathons in all 50 U.S. states and all Canadian provinces and territories. Not to be outdone, he has also run ultra marathons in 45 U.S. states. He has also crossed the globe running marathons in 25 countries and every continent.
As if his accomplishments aren't enough, his outgoing and engaging personality makes him quite a character. In describing his love for running, "after I first got the bug, I just keep on doing the same thing, one foot after another."
Dr. Paul Piplani says he "runs with a purpose." He is a Christian and lives his life in the manner in which M.K. Gandhi once said," Be the change agent which you wish to see in others and live daily to make the world less difficult for others."
Piplani is an acquaintance (by reputation and email) of Steinbach ultra marathoner Albert Martens. Piplani spent a couple of days in Steinbach last week, hosted by Martens, as he prepared to run in the Manitoba Marathon for the fourth time. Sunday's Manitoba Marathon was his 801st he has completed.
Running 800 marathons around the world is quite something in itself, but what makes is so astounding is that he ran his 800th marathon on Saturday in Duluth, one day before the Manitoba Marathon. Oh, one more thing, he ran marathons 798 and 799 last weekend on the west coast. That's right, he ran four marathons in one week.
It's not that Piplani, a part-time university professor, has been running marathons all his life, thus accounting for the 800 marathons. The native of India, who first moved to Phoenix in 1996, only ran his first marathon in 1993, and has averaged 60 or so marathons a year since that time.
He ran his first back-to-back weekend marathons in 1996, as he did this last weekend, and now makes it part of his running agenda. The most number of marathons he has run in a year is 103 in 2004, which is also when he ran his 500th marathon. His personal best time is 3 hours, 22 minutes in 2000.
In an interview in Steinbach last week, prior to driving to Duluth in a rented car, he said "my short term goal is to run #1000 in 2010." He hopes that will be the famed Pikes Peak Marathon, dubbed America's Ultimate Challenge, which was also his first marathon in 1993.
Although Sunday's marathon was only the 38th for Albert Martens, the two are in many ways kindred spirits. Both have run two of the most difficult races known to man, Badwater in California's Death Valley and the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert. Piplani has also run the The Great Wall of China among many other unique events.
Along the way, Piplani has run marathons in all 50 U.S. states and all Canadian provinces and territories. Not to be outdone, he has also run ultra marathons in 45 U.S. states. He has also crossed the globe running marathons in 25 countries and every continent.
As if his accomplishments aren't enough, his outgoing and engaging personality makes him quite a character. In describing his love for running, "after I first got the bug, I just keep on doing the same thing, one foot after another."
Dr. Paul Piplani says he "runs with a purpose." He is a Christian and lives his life in the manner in which M.K. Gandhi once said," Be the change agent which you wish to see in others and live daily to make the world less difficult for others."
posted by Albert Martens at 7:52 AM
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