Leverage in Ladakh

"Running in this breathtaking landscape with the undulating hills, snowy peaks, crisp, cold air is indeed the experience of a lifetime,” stated 47-year-old Dr Jerestin Watchmaker of Nagpur, a member of the Orange City Runners group, who trained for 18 months to participate in the Ladakh Marathon on September 10, 2017. "The visuals change at every kilometer… Ladakh with its serenity, barren beauty, placid lakes, warm, hospitable people will remain imprinted in my memory,” added the running enthusiast whose "biggest fear was the biting cold…at an altitude of 11,070 ft.”

The start and end point of the world’s highest marathon being the N. D. S. Memorial Stadium, Watchmaker recounted the excitement of the day when the 42 km run was flagged off first, followed by the 21 km half marathon, and, in the end the seven kilometer run-for-fun which she completed in 48 minutes. "Each person who ran or walked that day felt like a winner. The marathon truly tests the limits of each person’s endurance but it is also a very enriching and fulfilling experience,” she reported.
Impressed with the energy of the locals to showcase its prestigious event in great style, Watchmaker related, "All the streets were lined with people and the Stadium was also full to capacity. The locals take great pride in organizing this event and go all out to make sure it takes place smoothly. Some enthusiastic locals are always tracking you to see if you are coping well and that you are not facing any health issues. They encourage you and egg you on to run just a little more. ‘Don’t give up,’ they say constantly as they pass on water and refreshments to the runners. Hundreds of school children also turn up to watch and cheer the runners. Some hold your hand and run little sprints with you. They come running with you and pull you to the end literally. The energy and love you get from them is infectious. We also noted that the Army did some amazing work there. Disciplined and always helpful, you can see them working everywhere all the time.”
At the salgirah function of the Bai Hirabai Mullan Dar-e-Meher organized by the Nagpur Parsi Punchayet on October 29, 2017, Watchmaker was awarded the Best Sportsperson of the Year prize. Prior to the Ladakh Marathon she had participated in the six kilometers run for fun in Pinkathon in August 2016, in the 10 km Nagpur Marathon in November 2016 and the 10 km event in the Nagpur Walkathon in January 2017. A national level swimmer during her school days, Watchmaker is a doctor by profession having completed her MBBS and MD in microbiology from the Government Medical College in Nagpur.
A resident of Nagpur, Jerestin’s family includes husband Cyrus, their daughter Ruxshin who works at the advertising and public relations agency Madison World and son Danesh who is pursuing his chartered accountancy and BCom studies in Bombay. Although unable to regularly visit the agiary like she did when she was growing up in Cusrow Baug, she says she likes "to pray everywhere and whenever I get time. I definitely feel confident and completely dressed only with my sudreh and kusti and have tried to (impart) their importance to our children.”