Long distance running has become the ‘new golf’ with a lot of people in the corporate world taking up the challenge.The results are for everybody to see as over 32,000 runners have registered for the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon to take place this Sunday. The organisers have had to stop taking registrations in a number of categories. The run across Lutyens’ Delhi is a very visible event and has therefore encouraged many to run for a cause. There are a number of encouraging stories about people who have overcome odds to train and run the distance.
Blind Cricket Association general secretary and former captain of the Indian Blind Cricket team Manvendra Singh Patwal will be participating with 40 others who will run with the help of attendants. Mr. Patwal says running in the Champions with Disability category will help his community prove a point to society that they are talented humans and sports persons ready to take on any challenge. He adds that taking part in sports helps them create awareness and gives them the strength to develop their personality and gain social status.
P. Venkataraman, a Chartered Accountant, has been running a half marathon every month for the past three years. This is after undergoing an open heart bypass surgery in 2007. He is participating in the event to promote “running for good health”. The objective is to encourage everyone to adopt a healthy lifestyle in general and by running in particular. He is also a motivation talker on the subject ‘Sofa to 5k’.
Max Healthcare, the healthcare partners for the run, have come up with the concept of ‘Run for Someone’, in which Max employees are choosing to run for a patient they are taking care of. A patient, who because of their current medical condition can’t physically run, will have their treating doctor or nurse running on their behalf.
The story of 38 year-old Ashish Sachdeva, who weighed 140 kgs and found it difficult to walk three years back, is sure to inspire those who have been trying to put off losing weight for a long time. Ashish lost 57 kgs in three years. Ashish and his running friends also conduct a project called ‘Miles to Educate’. They run and cycle and collect Re.1 for every km they cover from friends and sponsors for the education of the children they have adopted.
