Pensioner walks the world - not leaving Limerick!
A LIMERICK pensioner in his seventies has walked the circumference of the world for the second time, without ever leaving the county.
Vinod Bajaj is applying to the Guinness Book of Word Records for recognition of his feat, which saw him walk 40,097 km in 1,114 days around his home in Castletroy, just 22km over the length of the earth's circumference.
Vinod, a 73-year-old retired business consultant from India who has lived in Limerick for the last 37 years, began his walking journey in 2016 to lose weight and keep fit.
His average distance walked in a day was 36km, however, on 26 occasions he walked up to 50km in a day.
On over 200 occasions he walked over 42 km in a day, the equivalent of a full marathon.
Vinod would typically start his walks early in the morning and finish by late afternoon, walking all year round in all kinds of weather conditions, taking a variety of routes in the 10 to 15 km around his home in Castletroy.
He would complete his daily walks in two, sometimes three intervals depending on weather conditions, and sometimes accompanied by his dog.
“During some heavy snowing days, I used inside of the mall for short duration for walk,” he said.
Vinod would listen to Morning Ireland, Sky News and Prime Time on his jaunt. He would bring almonds, cashew nuts and a banana to refuel when required, sometimes calling back in home for short breaks, more snacks or an ice cream on particularly hot walking days.
He invested in quality runners and good socks to avoid feet and knee injuries, using up 21 pairs of shoes.
This is Vinod's second time walking such an incredible distance.
He has beaten his own record from his first walk around Earth (40,107 km) in September 2020 in 1,496 days, accomplishing his second walk in 382 days less.
Since taking up walking in 2016, Vinod has walked a phenomenal 80,204 km, or 103.5 million steps, in the last seven years, and burnt over 3.1 million calories in that time.
Walking has now become part of Vinod's daily routine and enjoyment.
“I will continue to walk but will reduce the distance and duration,” he told the Limerick Leader.
Offering his advice to new walkers, he said ‘discipline and self-motivation’ were very important.
“Set a daily goal and improve it over a period of time, gradually. Listen to your body,” he said.