Teacher runs 11km home to mark retirement

Kochi: In a refreshing departure from tradition, a retiring teacher in Kochi chose to mark the end of her career with a marathon run instead of the customary ceremonial send-off. Shiny Benny , 56, a Malayalam teacher at St Teresa's HSS, Ernakulam, and a member of the runners' group ‘Souls of Kochi', ran an 11km stretch from the school to her residence in Nettoor.

The run began at 4.30pm on Tuesday and was flagged off by mayor V K Minimol . She was joined by 24 fellow runners, including her husband, Benny. Speaking to TOI, Shiny said it was a member of the runners' group who suggested marking her retirement with a run home.

"The members, along with my husband, made all the arrangements, including hydration points at Thykoodam to help us manage the heat during the run," Shiny said.

"I am feeling mixed emotions at the moment.

Although I am happy to conduct a retirement function in this manner, I am sad that I will not be a teacher at the school anymore for which I have contributed a large part of my life, supporting students in their journey," she said.

Shiny, who oversaw the school Kalolsavam for the last 25 years, played a key role in the school consistently emerging as the overall best-performing school in the district during this period.

She said balancing participation in running events with her teaching career was always a challenge due to work commitments.

"I can now utilise more of my time practising for marathons. So far, I have only completed half marathons, I have also not run a marathon abroad, and in the years to come I want to materialise that dream," she added.

Shiny's husband said they mutually agreed to conduct the retirement in this manner as the unique gesture would help bring awareness about the health benefits of running to more people.