The ultimate inspiration for the runners at the Tata Mumbai Marathon has to be the 30-year-old runner suffering from cerebral palsy who participated in the Dream Run category, upgrading from his ten-year stint as a runner in the Champions With Disability category.
Although the Tata Mumbai Marathon has a separate category for runners with disabilities, Aditya Diwakar Kini participating in the Dream Run Category with his elderly parents, became an instant inspiration for other runners. Kini has been suffering from cerebral palsy, a group of neurological disorders that affect a person’s ability to move, maintain balance, and control their muscles.
Although suffering from the condition since childhood, Kini has not allowed it to restrict his journey on the path of education and fitness. He is a qualified lawyer with a masters in business law and has a passion towards running. He has been participating in the Champions With Disability category of the Tata Mumbai Marathon for the last ten years. However, he upgraded himself to the Dream Run category, running 6km at a stretch with his parents.
Talking to The Free Press Journal, Kini said that he used to go swimming as a daily activity but his routine was affected during Covid-19. Since he needed physical activity, he took up walking and became a regular walker on the Eastern Express Highway. He credits his decision to walk a longer marathon this year to his fellow walkers for constantly motivating him through his daily walks.
“My friends at the EEH walking routine are participants of South Africa’s Comrades Marathon, which is a 90km marathon, known as the ultimate human race. When they cheer for me, it becomes the ultimate motivation. People in Mumbai are very cheerful and the vibe at Mumbai Marathon has always been very positive, which motivates me a lot,” said Kini.
Kini has been running the Tata Mumbai Marathon since 10 years and has also participated in Navy Run and Mumbai Kargil Soldier Athon.
