A long-distance runner for the past several years, Mumbai-based Pervin Batliwala, is often a podium finisher in many of the races that she participates in.

Her list of successful completions includes the 88 to 90-kilometre-long Comrades Marathon, held in South Africa every year, the 72-km Khardung La Challenge in Ladakh and the six-star World Marathon Major circuit (Berlin Marathon, Boston Marathon, Chicago Marathon, London Marathon, New York City Marathon and Tokyo Marathon).

A few years ago, Pervin took up swimming also as a recreational sport. In 2019, she attempted her first race in open water. At that time, she had signed up for a two-kilometer swim at the Goa Swimathon, organized by Enduro Sports. She completed the swim but outside the assigned cut-off time. In February 2024, Pervin opted to do the one-kilometer swim and this time she finished with an age category podium. She writes about her experience at this event.

I started swimming during my college years. About five years ago, the interest acquired a more serious tone. That said, training for a swimming race was difficult in Mumbai as I am not a member of any of the pools.

I had to depend on friends to sign me up for a session or two at their respective pools. Most often it was my friend Zarir Baliwalla. An excellent swimmer, he would ask me to accompany him for training sessions at the Breach Candy pool of which he is a member. Besides such access to pools for training, the 2024 Goa Swimathon posed another challenge. Unlike in 2019, the gap between the Mumbai Marathon and the Swimathon was less; just two weeks. I therefore opted for the one-kilometer race. I was however confident that with minimum training I would be able to do this distance.

I like open water swimming and am quite comfortable with it. In 2019, a few days before the race, Zarir had taken us into the water at Goa to help us get acquainted with swimming in the sea. I enjoyed it thoroughly. This year, I landed in Goa a couple of days before the event. The race was at the Miramar beach where the Ironman triathlon race is also held. I had signed up for a 45-minute training camp to help me acclimatize to the event and the waters. I had not done any open water training for the 2024 race. But like I said, I am comfortable with the medium.

At Goa, I opted for basic swim wear and not the rash guard as most swimmers were wont to. I got bitten by a jelly fish; though nothing serious. Nevertheless, my race went off quite well. I enjoyed my time in the sea thoroughly. I finished the one-kilometer distance in 30 minutes,34 seconds, significantly better than my timing during my training sessions which used to range from 39 to 41 minutes. I finished with a second-place podium in my age category of 60 years and above. I was quite stoked by the time I took to finish. With minimum training I was able to pull of this timing. It prompts me to attempt the two-kilometer race again, next year. I want to train in freestyle swimming. Right now, I do the breaststroke. Freestyle swimming will help me further with timing efficiency.

(The author, Pervin Batliwala, is a retired corporate executive based in Mumbai)