Mangaluru: At an age when many begin to slow down, 68-year-old Madhav Saripalla, an autorickshaw driver from coastal Karnataka, is racing ahead — quite literally. Having completed more than 100 marathons since the age of 55, Saripalla is proving that age is no barrier to fitness, endurance, and inspiration.
Humble beginnings and personal challenges
Born into a poor family, Saripalla began driving an autorickshaw at 28 to support his household. Life soon presented him with personal challenges — his son Dhanaraj was born with a learning disability, and his daughter with a hearing impairment. “It was tough to raise them, but we faced it together,” he recalls.
Determined to provide opportunities for his children, Saripalla enrolled Dhanaraj in a special school where he took up skating and went on to win several medals. However, during an international event in China, Dhanaraj suffered a serious arm injury that ended his skating career.
Finding strength through running
Rather than letting his son’s setback crush their sporting spirit, Saripalla decided to carry the legacy forward. “When my son got injured, I decided to run on his behalf,” he says. “I used to carry him and walk, and realised I could run too.”
In 2011, at the age of 55, Saripalla ran his first 21-km half marathon in Yedapadav. There was no looking back after that. Over the years, he has participated in marathons across Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Mangaluru, as well as several 5,000- and 10,000-metre athletic races.
Overcoming hardship with resilience
Life continued to test his endurance off the track too. In 2007, part of his house collapsed, leaving his family in financial distress. “I had only one autorickshaw and all my earnings went towards survival. But after I started running, people began to recognise me. In 2017, generous donors helped me rebuild my house,” he recalls.
His biggest financial blow came in 2018, when he sold his autorickshaw to fund his daughter’s wedding. “For five years, I had no vehicle. Since my son cannot travel by bus, I used to drop and pick him up by borrowing vehicles,” he says.
Today, he drives an electric autorickshaw registered in his nephew’s name, as banks declined him a loan. He earns between ₹600 and ₹800 per day, enough to manage his expenses and continue training.
Inspiring a generation of runners
Saripalla’s passion for running soon caught the attention of younger athletes. “In the beginning, I ran for recognition. But now, I see youths getting inspired,” he says proudly. “When I overtake them during races, they prepare harder for the next one. It motivates them — and me.”
He adds that his story has even inspired several elders in his neighbourhood to take up walking and fitness activities. “Running gives me happiness, strength, and hope,” he says.
Simple discipline, strong determination
Saripalla maintains a modest routine. “I run 20 km in about 2 hours and 45 minutes, and train at least thrice a week,” he says. His diet is equally simple — “ganji (porridge) and eggs.”
With a growing circle of well-wishers, Saripalla now has sponsors who cover his marathon registration fees. Currently, he is training for the Mangaluru Marathon 2025, scheduled for November 9, where he plans to run 32 km.
From a humble autorickshaw driver to a symbol of determination, Madhav Saripalla’s journey stands as a testament to human resilience and the spirit of never giving up — regardless of age or circumstance.