Prologue
Only when life forcefully made us all stop, pause, slow down, and reflect during the COVID pandemic did it reveal some hidden wonders within us. Otherwise, we thought we were living a perfectly mindful life, doing exactly what we were supposed to, filling every hour of the day with chasing deadlines or achieving our ambitious goals.
If you’re in your 40s or 50s, do you ever feel that your 20s now seem like a distant story? You might be proud of how far you’ve come, marveling at how brilliantly you’ve navigated the maze of life, and recognizing that this version of you is much better. However, in this rush to grow up, we sometimes lose touch with the core of who we are.
I often wonder about those questions we sometimes get asked, like, "If money were not a challenge, what would you rather be doing?" We often come up with cool answers, but the real answers lie in our childhood. The things we enjoyed the most back then—because we certainly weren’t thinking about money as kids—often reveal our true passions. For some, it might be writing a book or poetry, playing cricket all day, painting, dancing, sculpting, or pottery—anything but Excel sheets, I’m sure. 😊
You might be wondering why I’m feeling so nostalgic. It’s because of the wonderful gentleman I’m about to introduce in my next story. He made me reflect on all this. 😊
What he’s doing now isn’t something he was an expert in as a child. When I asked him about how it all began, his answers were often, “I don’t remember, maybe from childhood” or “I’m not sure.” He knew he was good at moving balls from one hand to another while playing cricket, and that was the only concrete thought he had in his mind. From that simple observation, he dared to dream differently, pursued it, and went on to make his mark in the India Book of Records and the World Records of India.
I’m very happy to introduce you all to Mr. Ketan Abhonkar, who is a joggler (he juggles three balls while running simultaneously). So, let’s turn to the present and dive into his journey. 😊
“The Marathon Material”
I work with PTC Inc. and have been with them for the past 12 years. We have a very active runners’ group in PTC, and one day, one of my colleagues/friends looked at me and said, “You look like a marathon material.”
I have always been on the leaner side. I am one of those rare cases who has put on weight after running. Running makes me very hungry, and the changes in diet and increased intake of plant-based foods have helped me gain weight. 😊
Anyway, I got introduced to the world of running through the PTC running group and ran my first 3k, looking like a total newbie—wearing the wrong size and wrong kind of athletic wear and carrying a 1-liter water bottle! 😊
I later joined the University Group (Pune Running Group) and followed their running and strength training plan. There was a program called “My First Half Marathon” at Pune University, and with the help of the senior runners in the group, I completed my first official half marathon with a time of 2:15 hours in 2017
Since then, all my half-marathons have been sub-2. I participate in 7-8 events a year, mostly 10Ks or 21Ks. However, it took me 6 years to make the move from half marathons to full marathons.
With my run buddies from the University group, I completed my first full marathon in TMM 2020 with a timing of 4:15 hours. It was a fantastic experience. Till the 30th km, the 4-hour bus was behind us. After 32 km, I realized what it is to run a full marathon as the sub-4 bus went ahead of us. That was a great learning and humbling experience.
In 2023, I ran another full marathon at TMM, clocking 4:03 hours.
So, that’s how my running journey has been. I have participated in many events including the Hyderabad Marathon, NDA, CME, Lokmat Marathon, and AFMC, and have run at Baramati and Nashik too.
When did you transition from running to joggling? Did you see someone doing it? How did you even think about it?
(I asked this question many times because, for me, that is always the most interesting story to hear—the light bulb moment in everyone’s life.)
So, after all this running, the pandemic was the time it started. I’m not sure if I had a penchant for it or if I might have tried it in my childhood; I don’t remember.
During the pandemic, with all the time in the world, we played cricket, spent time with family, and watched and rewatched Mahabharat. But eventually, how much can you watch and play?
I randomly picked up some balls and started experimenting with juggling. It came very naturally to me, and I was able to do it with some practice. I started watching YouTube videos and followed some record-holding jogglers.
Around the same time, PTC Inc. came up with an initiative called “Try Something New.” I shot a video of my juggling and posted it. It was very well received and got a lot of appreciation as well as some coupons as rewards. This gave a boost to my confidence, so I kept practicing. The next year, in 2021, when PTC came up with this initiative again, I thought, “Let’s try joggling.”
So, I joggled for a few meters, recorded it, and shared it with my PTC colleagues. It was widely recognized and appreciated because it was new and unique for most of them. Since then, joggling has become a part of my life, and I did my first official joggling at Bajaj Allianz in 2023. I ran 5k, though I still call it 21k because the three balls and I together did 21k. 😊
My next events are the Sinhagad Half Marathon and the Satara Hill Half Marathon, and I aim for a full marathon at TMM in 2025. This year will be my fifth time running in Satara (SHHM) and my first time as a joggler. Most of my runs would now be joggling.
That’s great! Do they know that you will be joggling?
I am in touch with the organizer, Mr. Sandeep. I am only worried about the monkeys there. They might snatch away my juggling balls. 😊
Do you carry extra balls?
I haven’t tried it yet. I haven’t lost any balls so far, but I plan to carry one more just in case for SHHM.
Tell us more about these juggling balls.
Initially, I wasn’t aware that there are different balls for juggling. I juggled with rubber balls, cricket balls, tennis balls, etc. Later, I learned about juggling balls. It was quite a challenge to explain while buying these at the shops because they are not easily available in India. I got them online internationally.
They are filled with millet or seeds inside, typically like a bean bag, so they don’t bounce or roll if dropped and they weigh around 150 grams each.
Do they get wet or heavy in the rain?
I was concerned about that, but nothing happened. There was no change in their weight. I take good care of them by cleaning them properly after every alternate run. Joggling in the rain with droplets falling in my eyes is something I am learning to manage this monsoon.
How many sets of balls do you have?
I have 5 sets of balls. My favorite ones are the black and white ones because I prefer contrasting colors for better visibility. I don’t want them to blend with the T-shirt colors of other runners. I also have one with LED lights.
I teasingly asked him, “And how many pairs of shoes do you have?” and he replied, “2.” :D :D
What are some of the challenges you face while joggling, and how do you overcome them?
The main challenge is neck pain. I have a different set of exercises for my neck as during joggling, it stays in the same position for a long time. I can only move it up to 45 degrees if I am chatting with someone; otherwise, it remains in the same position.
Another common problem is that most event runs start very early in the morning. There are not enough street lights, and if it’s a new route I’m unfamiliar with, there might be some potholes. I try to do a route recce most of the time to avoid surprises, but it isn’t always possible.
I have fallen on the road, tripped over cat eyes, and gone off balance due to uneven roads. How do you manage to keep yourself safe while joggling?
Touch wood, I have never experienced these issues. I am a very conscious runner. I slow down on uneven roads, scan my surroundings, and then act accordingly. If I hear ambulance sounds at events, I get conscious and slow down.
There is a saying, “Sar salamat to pagdi pachas,” but for me, it’s “Pair salamat to joote pachas.”
How do you navigate the initial few kilometers of events while joggling, as we struggle to find our pace due to the crowd at the starting line?
I’m a sub-2 runner, so I can’t run very slowly. Once you’ve adapted to a certain pace, it’s difficult to slow down. I have to find my way through the crowd. Also, because I am a sub-2 runner, I get a good lineup. The initial few meters may be crowded, but later, the crowd thins out.
I run along with steady runners or pacers, so they unknowingly guide me as I mostly try to follow them or stay with them. Many times, when they are running with me, I am unable to see them or look at them, but I try to talk to them. They are surprised that I’m juggling, running, and talking all at once. I recognize my friends through their voices. 😊
What kind of reaction do you get from other runners or passersby? Has anyone abruptly stopped you?
No, thankfully, no one has stopped me abruptly. During events, other runners motivate me a lot. They never made me feel that I was different or trying to be different. They are quite friendly, and I also try to strike up conversations with them.
Once, an Army officer ran beside me and was quite fascinated. Many people notice me and say, “Wow, I want to do that too.” Once, while doing my tempo runs inside the Pune University campus, a security guard stopped me. He was curious about what I was doing and if any sports or events were happening. I explained, and he got so happy that he started taking my video. Later, he added audio to it and shared it with me and his friends.
Running at TMM was another fantastic experience. The crowd was amazing, and all the cheering and support from the crowd and other runners helped me complete my first half marathon with juggling balls, even though my neck started hurting badly.
Are there any rules in joggling?
You have to juggle with a minimum of 3 balls. There are other options for juggling with 5 or 7 balls, but I haven’t seen anyone doing more than 3 balls for 5 or 10 kilometers. If you drop a ball, you have to pick it up and start from the same place.
How far can you run without dropping the balls?
In Mumbai, while doing a half marathon, I dropped 5 times, so you could say I can run 5 km nonstop without dropping the balls.
Have you used any other objects for joggling?
Not yet, but I might try rings and clubs in the future. The clubs look like bowling pins. I also have LED balls. In one of the LSOM events in Kothrud, which started very early in the morning, I used those balls. They are harder, made of plastic, and roll.
Tell me how it feels to have your name in the India Book of Records and the World Records of India
It feels great. It’s wonderful. People started asking me if I had any records in my name. To be honest, the record thing was never on my mind. But later, when many people encouraged me to try, I started exploring. I reached out to the Limca Book of Records. They said they didn’t have any such category, which meant no one had claimed it yet. So, I was happy and told them to let me know if they planned to include such categories.
I tried approaching other agencies, including the Guinness World Records. They already have records set by many European and US runners. The FM time of 2:50:12 is set by a Canadian runner and the HM of 1:17 hours. These are beyond our imagination. We are recreational runners, and matching those times is very difficult.
So, I have to try something else and am still exploring, maybe running on an elevation or something different.
Do you think Joggling will be an Olympic sport one day?
I heard discussions about this. While I am researching and reading more, there is an organization called the International Jugglers Association, ( Jogglers are also part of it) founded in 1947. They conduct yearly workshops, a kind of celebration where jugglers from all over the world come together to showcase their talent. They are working hard to get juggling into the Olympics.
What advice would you give to a newbie for joggling?
You are welcome because there aren’t many jogglers. Feel free to break my records. There is a lot of scope for this sport, and it is very safe and fun. In PTC, I have taken juggling sessions for employees. I try to connect juggling with balancing various aspects of lifework, family, and personal life.
A tip I’d like to share is that your throw has to be perfect. 😊
There are three steps to mastering juggling:
1. Practice
2. Practice
3. Practice
I practiced static juggling for three to four years before I moved to joggling. I can now juggle with my eyes closed. I hardly look at the balls. I look straight ahead as I know the pattern now. I’ve moved from the stage of “Yun to log kahenge, logon ka kam hai kehna” to “Mud mud ke na dekh, mud mud ke.” 😊
In running, you have to find your Ironman. For some, it’s winning a podium, and for others, it’s staying fit. I have found my Ironman; you should find yours too.
About Competition and Podiums
I always thought running was a healthy competition. You came to running to relieve stress or escape the rat race at work. But if you fall into the same trap of a rat race here, where will you go from there?
One should understand that we are recreational runners and not getting paid for this. You are here because you want to do other things better. I believe the more you compete with someone better than you, the more you improve. Take badminton, for example. If you compete with better players, your shots will improve. Similarly, in running, try running some distance with a faster runner and try to match them. This helped me improve my timing.
I have a couple of podium finishes in 10k and 21k races. However, it has become more competitive nowadays, and even securing a podium in the age category is difficult.
I have a story from last year. I went to Baramati on the same day as the Lokmat event in Pune, assuming I would get a podium. This was their first event, so I thought it wouldn’t be as popular.
When I arrived at the starting line, I saw a few Nigerians and thought, “What? How are they here?”
I didn’t get a podium but achieved a personal best by clocking 1:47 hours for a Half Marathon in this event
What do you think about while joggling? Do you have bad days?
My hands are focused on juggling. The juggling motion complements running. I don’t think about work or any other problems. Running itself is so consuming; adding juggling means I can’t think of anything else.
My focus has increased, and my concentration has improved. I love everything about this sport and how it brings smiles to others' faces.
I do have bad days and moments. Sometimes the balls just drop. I pick them up and try again.
So, you no longer chase timings?
My personal best in the 10k is 48 minutes. I have achieved many sub-50-minute finishes. In Satara, I have three gold medals (sub-2 hours), and one silver (2:00 hours), and this time, I might aim for bronze, because I will be joggling, not just running. Realistically, it won’t be below 2 hours. Around 2:15 hours should be achievable.
There won’t be more than a 10% difference between my running time and joggling time. There is a common assumption that timings will be higher due to joggling, but it’s only a 10% degradation. Mumbai was my first event, so I was cautious, but otherwise, the variation isn’t much.
What are your other talents apart from running, juggling, and joggling?
There is a Facebook group called “Jogglers United” where jogglers from all over the world share their experiences and ask questions. I contribute my knowledge there in my free time.
I have been nominated and felicitated for my Joggling passion at the recently held Pune Passion Icons 2024.
Apart from this, I am also a very good painter. I have cleared Intermediate-level painting and enjoy creating portraits.
On family support
I couldn't have pursued my passion and achieved my milestones without the unwavering support of my family. They are my biggest cheerleaders, yet they also keep me grounded. On days when I had long runs, my daughter often wanted to play, and my wife would step in to explain that I needed a bit of time to rest and recover.
They understand my need to miss many family functions and gatherings due to my sports commitments.
Any parting thoughts?
I think people should move from their BP (Blood pressure) terminology to PB (Personal Best) at any fitness activity, they do.
Runner - Ketan Abhonkar Pune Insta ID - @kabhonkar123
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