Sexagenarian Achinto Pramanik is gearing up for a 200km relay run to neighbouring Odisha on December 29 to spread health awareness.

The 66-year-old, a resident of Gamharia in Seraikela-Kharsawan district, will lead a 15-member team of youths to Maa Tarini temple at Ghatgaon town in Kendujhar district. The run is being organised by steel city-based Adventure Athletics Group.

“I will shortly start training the team members as the run needs lot of stamina and endurance. We will start from Tata-Kandra Road at 8am and reach our destination late in the evening,” Pramanik said.

The lanky athlete has bagged numerous medals in national and state masters athletics championships over the years. At the 36th National Masters Athletics Championship held in Panjim Goa in 2015, he clinched gold in 2000m steeplechase, silver in 800m and bronze in 1500m races. At the State Masters Athletics Championship in Ranchi on October 30, 2017, he won three gold medals.

According to him, each team member will run 5km and pass on the baton to another member who will be in a SUV. “The run will be on a rotational basis and I will be guiding my team on what speed to adopt. I am really looking forward to this,” Pramanik, who runs a grocery shop near his home, added.

The team members will have light food – bread, boiled eggs, biscuits and chocolates - on the way to Odisha. “Light food is a wise idea. A full stomach will create complications,” Pramanik, who maintains a simple lifestyle, said.

Pramanik has already started preparing for the run. He wakes up early and does some physical exercises at an open space inside the compound of his home. “I jump and do stretching exercises to keep myself fit. Later in the day, I go for long-distance run on the road,” he said, adding he loves to remain fit and believes in having simple food comprising chappatis, green vegetables, curd, pulses and a bit of rice.

The Adventure Athletics Club, which was formed some five years ago, will shortly distribute pamphlets informing people about the run. “We will also hire a four-wheeler to carry the team members who will be off the road on rotation during the journey,” Pramanik said, adding they were looking for sponsors to fund the trip.

Pramanik was also part of a 10km run organised by the group on the occasion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary on October 31.