Barefoot Mallu: Indian Marathon Runner Seeks To Sustain Momentum Generated By COP28
Expo City Dubai in the UAE hosted the recently concluded COP28 Summit, grabbing major achievements including the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund. Representatives from nearly 200 countries also struck a deal to transition away from fossil fuels.
In an effort to sustain the momentum generated by the climate conference, a 34-year-old Indian marathon runner and environmental activist, Aakash Nambiar, ran 104 km across Dubai in 17 hours and 20 minutes, covering important landmarks.
Aakash’s Unique Style Of Running Barefoot
The Keralite from Bengaluru interacted with locals along the way and talked about how they could contribute to reducing climate change. He began his run on December 23 at 6:40 am from the Love Lake in Al Qudra and finished his marathon in front of Burj Khalifa at midnight.
Known as the ‘Barefoot Mallu’ due to his unique style of running barefoot, Aakash passed past famous sites including the Palm Jumeirah, the Etihad Museum and the Burj Al Arab. “I feel alive when I run on streets and meet people,” he told Khaleej Times.
“I’m trying to promote the message of the leadership from the UAE, India and other heads of state who made the UN Climate Conference a success. Our leaders have done their job, and now it’s our turn to take small actions.”
The activist called the marathon a “great way to spread the message I wish to convey on environmental conservation.” Describing the conditions at the time of the run, he noted “the weather was manageable despite the hot temperature in the afternoon.”
Part Of Similar Marathons Across The Globe
Nonetheless, it wasn’t the first time Aakash ran a marathon for a cause. In 2020, he ran from the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi to Dubai during the COVID-19 pandemic to promote a healthy lifestyle. He has run similar marathons across the globe.
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The 34-year-old has been part of marathons in Sri Lanka, Spain, Portugal and several parts of India – from the Himalayan mountain passes to deserts in Rajasthan to the northeast. Last year, he took part in a mini-marathon to promote fitness in the tourism season in Kashmir.
