coimbatore protests might be raging on tamil nadukarnataka border claiming rights over cauvery water but it didnt stop a 46yearold man from running barefoot half way to coimbatore from bengaluru and pedal the remaining way to promote education among rural children giridhar kamath a resident of bengaluru started the run six days back and reached coimbatore on friday i ran for 200km and since i developed ankle pain i cycled the remaining 200km giridhar said the main aim behind this he said was to promote education among rural children and to raise funds for isha vidya school based in coimbatorewanting to celebrate his birthday on friday in a special manner giridhar started his journey from bengaluru on september 3 speaking to toi giridhar said he was always interested in health and fitness i used to walk long distances earlier after i took part in the pink marathon i started to enjoy it so i took part in many marathons and began running 10km daily i also ran from bengaluru to chennai covering 350km last year i completed that in six days before that i ran from bengaluru to hyderabad and from bengaluru to mysore several times giridhar saidgiridhars team comprises his wife and daughter who travel in a jeep along with him his wife also runs with him for some distance we have a lot of confidence in him and are aware that he can make it we do not have any ambulances or a team of doctors accompanying us we carry water and food such as ragi porridge fresh fruits and water said radha giridhar his wifegiridhar said he ensured that he got eight hours of rest every day and also ran 12 hours daily the biggest challenge he said was finding ice in rural parts which was essential for such long distance rungiridhar on friday reached isha vidya school in alandurai and met the students a magician and a toy factory owner he also entertained the rural kids with some magic tricks