Indian marathoner gunning for Guinness record

Indian marathon runner Raj Vadgama will attempt to create a Guinness record of running 10,000 kms in 120 days.

Mumbai's Vadgama will start his marathon (called Bharathon) on Independence Day, Friday, and will cover more than 25 cities in his four-month run that will culminate back in Mumbai Dec 12.

Raj will set off on his record-making run at 6 a.m. (local time) Friday from the Gateway of India.

The Marathon Man of Mumbai, Vadgama, will aim for the fastest 10,000 km run.

Vadgama's run is to promote health awareness in India. He plans to address the masses in small events in all the 25 cities. He also plans to raise funds during these events for treatment of children suffering from cancer and heart diseases.

Vadgama will pass through extreme terrains and climatic temperatures, making the run the ultimate test of endurance and fitness.

Vadgama, a 47-year-old interior decorator, had applied to the Guinness World Records in January this year for attempting to complete the fastest 10,000 km by running 85 km every day.

He is not new to ultra-running. He took up running after reading about the Mumbai Marathon in 2004 and has participated in the event every year since then.

Vadgama will be accompanied by an experienced long distance runner and a team of Fortis doctors in a vehicle.

The medical team will conduct medical check-ups at regular intervals every day and at Fortis hospitals in Mumbai, Jaipur, Amritsar, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai.