RUNNING: BRAZIL TO SUKHNA LAKE

 This article of mine was published in The Tribune on 26 Feb 2015. That time I was posted to Chandimandir Cantt which is close to Chandigarh. Since that time Chandigarh has started having many marathon running events. The local club of which I was one of the early member has grown big and they organise runs and travel around in groups to participate in running events all over the country. 

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Posted at: Feb 26 2015 12:23AMBS Yadav

Running: Brazil to Sukhna Lake

 

For most, Brazil may conjure up images of samba, beaches, beauties and football. But for me it resonates with running, the sport I picked up during my three years stay in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. Brazilians may be crazy about football but it is the running which is the most visible sport. People of all ages and gender are seen running at all times of the day and night. On all weekends the six-lane main road in the city centre is blocked for the exclusive use of runners. I had my first 10-km run there and was instantly addicted to the sport. Besides the natural highs, it was also the excellent arrangements that included the electronic chip which tracked my running parameters. The route was scenic with hydration points, energy drinks and lavish foods interspersed at regular intervals. The presence of aid stations, ambulances, paramedics and police patrol made you feel important. Of course the huge crowd support and assured medals for all finishers made the event more of a carnival.

Soon my wife and daughters too joined, though the younger one was underage for the runs and could not be registered. However, the course was open to all, difference being that the non-registered runners were without the bib and were not entitled to medals. At the end there was a separate entrance for non-registered runners who just merged with the crowd. She ran two races free and we were happy as the runs did cost a reasonable amount. However, she put her foot down for the third race insisting that for all the hard work she too needs recognition and a medal and refused to run as a non-registered runner. So I pleaded to the organisers who asked me to sign a waiver absolving them of any responsibility for any mishap.

We all ran together and for the first few runs we reached the finishing line along with the ambulance, race directors and the recovery vans which accompany the last runner. We, however, also drew maximum applause at such times from the sporting crowd. We ran many 10 and 5 km runs and gradually improved our position to be amongst the last 1/3rd. When not participating we ensured that we stood on the road and cheered the runners.

While running these races I always lamented lack of such sporting culture in India and how I was going to miss it on my return. On my repatriation to Bangalore in 2011 I was happy to see that the running culture has caught on and soon I was running the Bangalore 10-km run and found it very nicely organised. Running culture has spread wide and proper in India with major cities boasting of their own marathons. Of course Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Hyderabad marathons attract top international athletes but even smaller cities too are taking pride in hosting their own marathons.

So on my posting to Chandigarh in 2013 I looked for the running community and found the Chandigarh running club (it is on Facebook with the same name) which regularly runs at Sukhna Lake. The city has some beautiful running spots which are constantly being explored by the club. However, what stands as a sore thumb is that in spite of such locations and history of sportsmen like our own Bhag Milkha Bhag the city doesn't have a marathon of its own.  Having a marathon unites the citizens and develops pride apart from grooming a sports-oriented generation.