Diaspora (Commonwealth Union) _ Vinod Bajaj, a 73-year-old man born in Punjab and residing in Ireland for almost 50 years, is attempting to secure a Guinness World Record for the “greatest cumulative distance walked solo on foot.” Bajaj recently completed his second Earth Walk in 1,114 days, surpassing his own record by 382 days compared to the first walk completed in September 2020. This double Earth Walk totals over 80,000 km, equivalent to twice the Earth’s circumference.
Bajaj initiated his journey in August 2016 with the initial goal of losing weight and improving fitness. As he shed kilograms, his passion for walking grew, prompting him to explore various routes, including indoor malls to overcome weather constraints.
Despite initial concerns from his wife, Bajaj completed the second Earth Walk and expressed his intention to continue walking, albeit at reduced distances and durations, as walking has become his daily enjoyable routine.
During the first three months of walking seven days a week, Bajaj lost 8 kg by maintaining a daily caloric deficit of 700 calories. Over the next six months, he shed a further 12 kg, attributing the weight loss primarily to walking without significant changes in his eating habits.
A retired engineer and business consultant, Bajaj, who grew up in Chennai and moved to Scotland in 1975, aims to cover 100,000 km in his walking mission. His application for the Guinness World Record, covering twice the Earth’s circumference in 104.8 million steps over 2,637 days, is currently under review.
As Bajaj continues his walking journey, he hopes to motivate people of all ages to embrace walking. His advice to walking enthusiasts includes walking continuously for at least 30 minutes for effectiveness, maintaining discipline and self-motivation, setting daily goals, adapting to weather conditions with appropriate clothing, investing in good shoes, and listening to one’s body while seeking advice when needed.
