I am, therefore I run in Switzerland
Diet, exercise, health care, clean air and water are big factors that make the Swiss among the longest living populations in the world. Having lived in Switzerland for over nine months now, one does get a sense of the importance attached to exercise in the country.
During winter months everybody is skiing and during summer there are people running and cycling all around you. If you look up at the sky, there are paragliders floating about.
And, if there is a lake in the vicinity, people swim, canoe, yacht, paddle. It is entertainment, but exercise also. When we arrived here, we looked forward to long leisurely walks to explore our amazingly picturesque neighbourhood, Saint-Legier, nestled on top of a mountain, a 20-minute drive from Lausanne.
During our walks, we noticed that a large numbers of runners overtook us from both sides. Quite a few walkers whizzed past as well. Those we managed to pass were really very old or pet parents leashed to their dogs going about their business.
I mentioned to my wife a peculiar phenomenon. It seemed the runners who were overtaking us were very young while a whole lot of those heading towards us seemed much older.
“Maybe, it is a Swiss regulation we have missed as we do not understand the French language,” I told her. “Maybe there are age and agility connected road direction rules for runners, walkers and those with pets, we don’t know about.”
As is usual, my wife cleared my doubts. “From the back one cannot figure out the age of the person here as everybody is so fit. One needs to assess from the front.”
Despite efforts, I continue to be very bad at estimating the age of any Swiss runner from behind. Sometimes, I think I am off target by over 50-years.
My initial reaction to the Swiss passion for running, that cuts across generations, was to call my mother in India. She is over 70. I told her that she needs to get rid of her sari, step into track pants and start running, instead of walking in the park, once the Covid-19 restrictions are eased in the country.
“Ladies your age are skiing over mountains here,” I told her.
Her reaction was along the lines that I had lost my mind due to drinking too much of the very cheap European wine that one can pick up at supermarkets here.
It is not as if I do not exercise. Back in India, I was a member of a gym in Gurugram, where we lived. Weight training was the most popular corner where young Haryanvi Jat boys focused on building their bulging biceps further (colloquially referred to as dolay).
I regularly used the treadmill that was patronised mostly by a few ungainly uncles and aunties who walked endlessly at speed levels lower than four. Hence, they profusely praised and admired my running abilities and fitness levels.
Here, in Switzerland, the outdoors are obviously quite conducive to exercise given the good weather conditions, no dust and pollution. I did struggle to meet the acceptable running pace here, made even more difficult by the undulating mountainous landscape.
Uphill running is not easy at all, given the extra pressure on the calves. I distinctly remember my first outdoor run. Progress, obviously, was slow. I was overtaken by an elderly lady, in figure hugging red track suit, out on a brisk walk.
I think she was a little embarrassed as she passed, smiled and good naturedly wished me Bon Jour, as most Swiss in small towns and villages are likely to. The incident, however, did not break my resolve to keep running. I have been steadily getting better.
Today, I can confidently say that I will not be overtaken by an average Swiss runner, male or female, 10-years older than me. I have set a target to reduce the gap to five.
It is possible that I have started to look taut and young from behind. I may have knocked off 10-years, but there is some way still to go, to be able to rock the 20s again.
