By Arun Kumar

New York, Sep 13 (IANS) India's grand old marathon man Ashis Roy has completed his 106th marathon with a run in the MVP Health Care Rochester Marathon in Rochester, New York - his fifth race in the US this year.

In Sunday's marathon, Roy, who turned 78 June 1, finished the 26.2 mile up and down course taking in historic landmarks and great scenery in six hours and 52 minutes, much slower than his six hours 38 minutes in the same race last year.

Starting on the Andrews Street Bridge, the course followed 12 miles on the Erie Canal Bike Path, before winding back downtown with a finish line in the Frontier Field parking lot.

It was a cool cloudy day, perfect for a marathon, as Roy finished the first half in three hours, 16 minutes and 24 second. But his arthritic knee started acting up on the uphill course slowing him down considerably, a disappointed Roy told IANS over the phone.

Rochester race was Roy's last run in the US this year. But the veteran Indian runner, who completed his 100th marathon in Mumbai Jan 17, has no plans to hang his boots yet.

Roy, who has penned a book on "Joy of Running" is listed in the Limca Book of Records, and has, to date, competed in 37 marathons in India and 69 marathons in 20 other countries, including the International Veterans Marathon in Athens in 1986.

Roy, a resident of New Delhi, began running marathons at the age of 52 when he retired as a cardiologist with the Indian Air Force.