The Hindu : National : Running down the heat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 11, 2006

National

National

Running down the heat

Abdul Latheef Naha

MALAPPURAM: Scaling the breadth of Kerala on foot is no ordinary feat, especially in sweltering heat. But Peter Dulvy, a development specialist, and his friends from London are out to surprise all by running from Kasaragod to Kanyakumari under the May sun.

Prepared to brave heat or thirst, Mr. Dulvy and his friends are determined to cover 600 km in less than a month. A week after they set off on their "Heels on Fire" from the Bekel Fort, they have covered 121 km. Before them now lies the stretch of land touted by National Geographic as one of the 10 paradises on earth. When Mr. Duvy, a young veteran of 20 marathons and six ultra-marathons across the world, runs through Kerala, Desmond Roberts would take photographs and Rahul Noble Singh would write about the event. Thus, they would chronicle life in Kerala.

"Heels on Fire" is not for any financial gains. Mr. Duvy says his aim is to create global awareness about tourism, development linkages and the adventure run through the "heaven on earth." He has the support of the State's Tourism Department and Reebok.

The half Irish and half Indian Mr. Duvy has run marathons wherever he has worked — in Afghanistan, Oman, Jordan, South Africa, Zambia, Ireland, Scotland and Tunisia. More friends are joining the endeavour. Steve Young, a TV producer from London; Sudeep Singh, a freelance photographer; and Dan Inman, a writer, were in Malappuram helping the team document their run.

Every day they post their impressions and pictures of Kerala on the website www.heelsonfire.org, while the Heels on Fire blog is abuzz with comments from across the world.

Despite the oppressive heat, Mr. Duvy says he is bowled over by people's friendliness. Whenever he gets a chance, he plays football with children and enjoys the desi chicken stew and appam. Jackfruit-laden trees, local libraries, tea stalls, toddy shops, coconut juice, and above all, the high political consciousness of the people have captivated the Londoners. Mr. Duvy says his happiest moment was when he linked the "Heels on Fire" with ace athlete P.T. Usha. She ran with him at Koyilandi. In the blog he describes his meeting with Ms. Usha: "I rang the door bell [of Usha], and in a flash a boyhood dream came true." He says running with the Payyoli Express was a humbling experience.

When they ran, traffic in Koyilandi stopped, heads popped out of windows, horns honked and everyone joined in for two kilometres, and a carnival-like atmosphere prevailed. Mr. Duvy hopes to reach Kanyakumari by May 31.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News Update

Stories in this Section