Ranjith Vijayan aims to put a Rubik's Cube twist to Mumbai Marathon

Marathoner Ranjith Vijayan runs with his Rubik's Cube

One of the most enduring lures of the marathon event is the personal challenges it presents to amateur runners. For many, every marathon is an opportunity to improve one's previous best in the 42-km distance, for debutants it may be reaching the finish line. For others like runner Ranjith Vijayan the Mumbai marathon to be run on January 21 is an opportunity to break a Guinness World Record. Vijayan, who is based in Singapore, will try to solve at least 400 Rubik's Cubes of the standard three by three during his full marathon run which he aims to finish within 4 hours and 45 minutes. The Guinness World Record, Vijayan said, is held by a New Zealander who solved 254 Rubik's Cubes during a full marathon run.

Cheer here
Vijayan added, "I have been a runner since the past three years. I have run the Mumbai Marathon in 2016 and what struck me most was the enthusiasm of the cheering crowd on the sides." The solutions architect who works in the IT sector in Singapore said he had been solving Rubik's Cubes as a hobby for nearly six years now.

"I started solving them while long-distance training. Some people count electrical poles while running a long course, others count trees, I solve Rubik's Cubes," laughed Vijayan, 39, and says he started running when he was 36.Vijayan, who is originally from Thrissur (Kerala), said, "I do not have any athletics background. I started running simply to prove that marathons are for everyone." Vijayan will be accompanied by a support crew of two runners who will be scrambling the Rubik's Cubes for him to solve.

Going on record
"I will also be wearing a 'Go Pro' camera around my neck which will be recording my attempt. This is according to international stipulations." Mumbai organisers confirmed that two Pune runners will be running alongside Vijayan to scramble the Rubik's Cubes, and hand them to him as he runs.

Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here

Download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on the go