Most people stop running long before 90. N S Dattatreya started at 91.
A retired manager of the State Bank of Mysore, Dattatreya lives in Bengaluru. He played football as a young man, but for most of his life he was not a runner. In January 2019, at the age of 91, he ran his first distance race. He wanted to keep fit. He never stopped.
“It started with just wanting to keep fit and soon it turned into a lifestyle,” he told PTI in 2024, when he lined up as the oldest runner at the TCS World 10K in Bengaluru, aged 96.
Gold at the Asia Masters
Since that first race, Dattatreya has entered hundreds of running events, including the TCS World 10K, one of India’s biggest road races. He also won five gold medals at the 21st Asia Masters Athletics Championships in Malaysia, according to The Better India.
His daily routine
- 5:30 am: warm-up exercises, then about an hour of cycling.
- Evening: a session on the treadmill, often alongside his son, Murali.
His reason is simple. He wants to stay active so that he does not become a burden on his family. “There’s no point in having a lot of money if you aren’t able to enjoy it,” he said. His motto: health is wealth.
What we can learn from him
- It is never too late to start. Dattatreya began in his nineties.
- Keep it daily. A fixed morning and evening routine matters more than any single race.
- Do it with family. Exercising with a son, daughter or grandchild keeps you going on difficult days.
Before starting any new exercise after 60, especially running, check with your doctor. Begin with walking and build up slowly.
Sources: Udayavani / PTI, 4 April 2024; The Better India, 6 June 2026.
