Bengaluru: While most people his age are content to watch the world go by, 97-year-old NS Dattatreya prefers to lace up his running shoes. At marathon starting lines across the country, he stands shoulder to shoulder with runners less than half his age, often becoming the biggest attraction of the event.As he crosses the finish line, fellow participants and spectators line up for selfies, congratulate him and ask the same question: how does he do it?His answer is always simple. “Health is wealth,” he says with a smile. “Whether it is walking, running, cycling or any other form of exercise, everyone should make physical activity part of their daily routine.”Ironically, Dattatreya never imagined he would become a long-distance runner. The former State Bank of Mysore (SBM) manager discovered the sport only after turning 90.His first event, Namothon – Run for Narendra, in Jan 2019 transformed his retirement. Invited on stage and honoured for participating at the age of 90, he returned home with a new purpose. “I thought if I can run at the age of 90, why should I remain inactive?” he recalls.That thought marked the beginning of an extraordinary second innings. In the seven years since, Dattatreya has completed more than 300 marathons, walkathons and other fitness events. Representing India at the Asia Masters Athletics Championships, he won five gold medals in Malaysia in 2019 and four more in Chennai in 2025. He has also won 28 gold and silver medals at national and state-level masters athletics championships.Born on May 4, 1929, Dattatreya worked in Bengaluru before retiring from SBM in 1989. Though he played football and volleyball in his youth, competitive athletics entered his life only after he crossed 90 — proof, he says, that it is never too late to start something new.Keeping it simpleA lifelong vegetarian, Dattatreya follows a basic South Indian diet, eats moderate portions and avoids complicated fitness trends. His daily schedule includes free-hand exercises, walking, running, treadmill and stationary bicycle workouts, besides spending time tending to his garden.“Regular physical activity and consistent training are far more important than intense, occasional workouts,” he says.His preparation for major races such as TCS World 10K Bengaluru is equally straightforward. A few weeks before the event, he builds endurance by running around a lake near his home. For the rest of the year, he simply stays active.Running has become a family tradition. His son and grandson often participate alongside him.“It is a matter of immense pride for our family to run alongside my father. We often joke that we become well known simply because we’re running with him. But every race is much more than a sporting event for us. It celebrates his resilience, discipline, and the inspiration he continues to provide to people of all ages,” says his son Murali D.Away from the track, Dattatreya enjoys gardening, reading newspapers, watching devotional programmes, and following cricket and football. He believes staying mentally active is just as important as maintaining physical fitness.Two precious giftsHis advice to young people extends beyond exercise. “Parents can give their children two invaluable gifts,” he says: “The first is good education, and the second is to remain healthy and independent so they do not become a burden on their children in old age.”At 97, medals and records no longer drive him. Instead, it is the experience of younger runners stopping to shake his hand, posing for photographs and promising to take better care of their health. If his story persuades even one person to adopt a more active lifestyle, Dattatreya believes every kilometre has been worthwhile.
