KHAMCHAND Goolcharan is not a household name, but he is intent on keeping active in sport, even at the ripe old age of 73.

Goolcharan, a retired postal worker, made the transition from cricket umpiring to long-distance running, and is intent on resuming competitive racing, once the covid19 restrictions are lifted.

He even wrote an essay on cricket, which was published on the 2014 edition of the Wisden cricketers' almanack.

'When I retired in 1999 from the public service, the post office, I started to do some studies in umpiring,' said Goolcharan, during an interview in the Newsday's Port of Spain office on Saturday. 'I took the umpires course and I started doing some umpiring, in the North-East zone. They're affiliated with the TT Cricket Board.

'Then the cricket started to (slow down) in the east and the money was $40 (per match). I said 'look, let me take a little rest'. You can't go and work for $40, taking hot sun and missing lunch.'

During that time, Goolcharan decided to try his hand in long-distance races.

'I started to run from 2000 and I started to run competitive from 2005,' he continued. 'My first medal was in 2013 with TTARP (TT Association of Retired Persons), I came third in the over-65, and I keep on running each year. The last year that I ran was in 2019 (with TTARP) and I came second.

'I also ran other races. I run the TT marathon in 2017. I didn't finish it, but my ability is to run half-marathon and 5k.'

How did Goolcharan cope during the government-imposed covid19 lockdown?

The Tunapuna resident acknowledged, 'I continued running and walking. I used to walk from home to Curepe or to Arouca and back, when gyms were closed. But I start back in the gym now.'

According to Goolcharan, 'When I retired, I wanted to do something in sports. I used to always walk fast. Them fellas used to say 'how you always walking so fast, better you start to run'.

'I'm a member of Crunch Fitness in El Dorado, about 15 years now. I was in another gym in Tunapuna, but the (owner) died. He was Trevor Pile.'

Once the restriction eases, does he plan to return to competitive action? 'Yes, if TTARP have their races I'm taking part,' he replied. 'Anytime there is a 5k in the Savannah I'm going.'

Goolcharan said he was always passionate about cricket, since his pre-teen days.

'I used to go and see cricket in the (Queen's Park) Oval from when I was about 12. I saw the Test in 1961, that is the essay I (wrote), West Indies playing England with (Ken) Barrington and (Colin) Cowdrey. I (wrote) 'when the Trinidadians drinking their rum and coke, the Englishmen having their coffee and cake'. Since then, I've been a regular visitor to cricket in the Oval. I hardly missed any Test matches.'

Does he follow T20 as well? Goolcharan replied, 'I always liked Test cricket, although it's dying now, but you'll always get the die-hards following England and Australia.

'One of my recommendations, in my essay, was to do away wi