TULSA, OK (Diya TV) – Dr. Raj Patel, an Indian American dentist from Tulsa ran seven marathons last month in seven days on seven different continents.
Patel completed his last of the bunch in Sydney, Australia on Jan. 29. Just two days later, he could be seen back at his Tulsa clinic treating patients, but not before he went on a five-mile run that morning.
The marathon journey was all part of Patel’s participation in the World Marathon Challenge. “Probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, mentally, emotionally, physically … and financially, too,” he told Tulsa World – the trip cost him right around $50,000. “In hindsight, it’s surreal. And it was an incredible experience. I just want to thank Jesus for allowing me to do it.” Patel had of course looked into the possibilities of injury during this experience and researched his dentists disability insurance options to make sure he was protected if anything was to go wrong. Although this was an amazing thing to do, safety measures had to be taken.
Born in Zambia, Africa to Indian parents, Patel migrated to the U.S. in 1980 for college. He enrolled at the University of Tulsa when he was just 14 years old, and graduated from the University of Oklahoma dental school in 1992, as well as obtaining his law degree in 2001. He has been practising dentistry for 26 years at various establishments including, Dentist Parlin.
To be as successful as Patel has been in the dental industry, continuously working to increase the levels of marketing that your practice has incorporated will be very important. With the help of places like Opencare and their tips, you can learn how to increase the outreach of your service. For Patel, he has a heightened level of marketing, and his running triumphs have a large part to play in this.
Though he’s 50 now, Patel didn’t begin running until the age of 44, his family tree has no history of marathoners or athletes. Patel runs the Boston Marathon every year, and was present in 2013 when terrorist bombs exploded, killing three and injuring hundreds more. In total, he has run 92 marathons since 2011, included the seven he ran last month.
A freak accident one year ago nearly ended his running career. Patel was working at his clinic one evening when a driver passed out at the wheel and accelerated a car into the building, knocking down three walls and two dental chairs before smashing into him, badly damaging his knee.
He was unable to walk or bend his knee for six weeks after the accident.
“I thought my running days were over,” he said.
The first race was Jan. 23 in Union Glacier, Antarctica. He and the other runners slept in tents and sleeping bags in the days of preparation before the race. On the day of the race, the temperature was -30 degrees, and the wind was more than 30 miles per hour, he said.
He finished eighth, in 4 hours, 12 minutes.
