Muhammed Ali once admitted, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion’.”
Training to run a marathon too can seem hard. There is no one to cheer you on, bystanders are indifferent and, finally, no one is waiting for you at the end with a medal, pongal and vada ! But Coimbatore Runners, an informal group of recreational runners, are trying to organise the training runs a little differently. They promise to make it fun and meaningful.
Run for fun K Shanmugaraj, N Valliappan and Veeshal Shreechand discuss the training session
The trainers are not gimlet-eyed hard taskmasters, but runners who run for the joy of it and want others to do the same. The trainers say that running has changed their lives for the better and they want it to do the same for others as well.
K Shanmugaraj (35)
Shan as he is affectionately called, was a ball badminton player in his school and college days and even played at the district level. He started running only in 2013.
“When training for ball badminton, we were always obsessed with getting the better of our opponents but, in running, you train for yourself, as you aspire to better yourself.”
He currently volunteers as lead trainer on behalf of Coimbatore Runners and believes that injury-free running must be goal for every runner.
Veeshal S (34)
It was an article about Coimbatore Runners in The Hindu that motivated him to start running in 2014. What actually attracted him was the photo of the runners. He had spotted one of his friends, whom he knew wasn’t an “athlete” and wondered about his newly found celebrity status. His friend responded that Veeshal could be a celebrity too if he could wake up at 5:30 am and report thrice a week for morning runs.
“The warmth and the camaraderie on the very first day made me feel a part of the group. I felt confident enough to call myself a runner very soon.” Veeshal ran the 2014 marathon and was eager to give back. So he volunteered to be a trainer.
“Fitness is not just about physical fitness but also mental fitness. I enjoy running with the back-of-the-pack runners, chat with them to hear different perspectives and make friends for life.”
Valliappan N (48)
A regular morning walker for most of his life, Valliappan participated in the 10K event in 2013. His initial apprehension about running with the Coimbatore Runners were mostly about the “astronomical” distances they covered.
In 2014, he decided to join the training programme for the 10K event only to realise that he can actually run much more. He ended up running the half-marathon. He realised soon that it was just a mental block that was preventing him from going extra distance and that most runners weren’t any different from him.
“Trainees who come with an open mind about running soon realise that they can actually aspire to go further. The key, however, is to enjoy the runs and stay injury-free.”
Saravana Kumar (45)
He is possibly the closest to being a professional coach. A state-level athlete in his school and college days, he has knowledge about sports and prior experience in training. However, he still believes that he is only a learner when it comes to long-distance running.
“Running is easy and simple once started. Runners can choose their own goals and paths.” He feels that runners need not invest in expensive gadgets and accessories. “Use basic and comfortable clothing and footwear to get started. Once you are with the group, you will get excellent advice on what to buy and what not to buy.” The only thing that is expected is the commitment to continue.
When Where and how
The Coimbatore Marathon will be held on on October 1. The training programmes are being conducted at Race Course, Codissia, Saravanampatti, Sai Baba Colony and Perks Arch Road. For details about the programme and trainers, visit http://coimbatoremarathon.com/site/trainrun.
Quick tips
Everyone is welcome to join the training . Here are a few basic rules to keep in mind.
Use comfortable clothing and footwear
Run at a pace that you can maintain. Remember, there are trainers who can slow down to your pace and accompany you
Always carry a small bottle of water and stay hydrated
Listen to your body and speak to the trainers when you don’t feel comfortable.
S. Balaji successfully completed the Comrades Marathon in South Africa in 2012
