By Arun Kumar

Washington, Oct 12 (IANS) India's grand old long distance runner Ashis Roy has completed his 96th marathon, chipping 11 minutes from his previous timing in the Baltimore marathon, his eighth marathon in North America in six months.

"It was a good run and I felt very happy," an elated Roy told IANS on phone after completing the race, formally known as the Baltimore Running Festival Saturday with a timing of six hours and 25 minutes.

Running on a beautiful cool and cloudy day over the 26 mile course with several ups and down, Roy - at 77 the oldest of 4400 participants in the full marathon - clipped 11 minutes from his timing of six hours and 36 minutes in Rochester marathon last month.

His timing at Baltimore, where he ran the last mile in his quickest time of 14 minutes, was even better than the 6 hours 33 minutes to finish second in the 70 plus age group in the Self Transcendence Marathon at Rockland Park, near New York City in August.

Dr Roy, who plans to run two more marathons in the US next month in his quest for 100 was particular happy at the response of other participants, officials and bystanders watching the race.

"You are an amazing person; a great example to the young," they said as they clapped and cheered Roy along the route and at the finishing line,

Roy, who is listed in the Limca Book of Records and has, to date, competed in 20 countries outside India, including the International Veterans Marathon in Athens in 1986, has run ten marathons this year, two in India, six in the US and two in Canada.

His next run would be in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC on Oct 25.

The seasoned marathoner would be competing in one more marathon in the US next month before returning to India for his 13th run this year and topping it off with his 100th marathon in Mumbai on Jan 17, 2010.

Roy began running marathons at age 52 when he retired as a cardiologist working with the Indian Air Force. He has also penned a self-published book called the "Joy of Running".