GURUGRAM: From a lonely pursuit, running marathons has become a way to camaraderie, a liberator of endorphins, a social movement even. For some, running is therapy, for others it is empowering. "As a runner, I claim my right to be on the road," maintains Shailja Sridhar.
Shailja, Deep Shikha and Sundreysh Sarup are three Gurgaon runners (among many others) who have taken part in multiple Airtel Delhi Half Marathons (ADHM). The triad's collective experience of the event, and their embrace of a healthy way of life, speaks of a revolution in the culture of running, for fitness as well as for enjoyment. It's a culture that has taken root across India, in cities big and small.
Deep Shikha, 42, is a trained mountaineer who has spent more than a decade attempting to conquer new challenges. She has entered in the ADHM for the 11th time. "The first run is always special, but so was the second one, when I went back to running after pregnancy. My daughter was there in the crowd, in a pram," recalled Deep Shikha, in a chat with TOI.
Whether full or half, marathons are not short on motivation. "People who come from smaller cities don't have a place to stay, so they sleep outside the stadium. They get up the next day, just tie their shoelaces, and run. And then you see senior citizens who're achieving such great timings. It's really inspiring."
Part of the thrill, says Deep Shikha, is having people cheer for you. "You get goosebumps, it's a different feeling altogether!"
Shailja Sridhar's first big outing was the ADHM in 2012, the year she took up running. In 2016, she got a taste of one of the world's iconic races, the Boston Marathon. Shailja, 37, believes running can be a transformative agent for society.
"If I see someone littering on the road, I'll tell them to stop, because I'm on the road. If I was only in my car, I wouldn't care," she argues.
"And the more people that are out running, the safer it is - if there are other people around you, you're protected by the numbers."
Meanwhile, Sundreysh Sarup, 47, will be participating in his fourth Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. Having done his fair share of 21kms, the 42km is Sundreysh's next goal. He feels it will be another year before he's ready to put himself through the rigours of a marathon.
But the adrenaline rush of covering long distances on foot never fades. "The sheer excitement and joy of running for the first time will remain very close to my heart. Especially when you cross the finishing line, and celebrate the moment with friends and family," shared Sundreysh.
Still, you need to be a little barmy to do this. Next, Shailja would like to sign up for a triathlon. "It gives me new goals. I never thought of running Boston before I started running - I was just running for the experience." The 13th Airtel Delhi Half Marathon on November 19 gives Deep Shikha, Shailja, Sundreysh and many hundreds of others, yet another chance to feed their passion.
Shailja, Deep Shikha and Sundreysh Sarup are three Gurgaon runners (among many others) who have taken part in multiple Airtel Delhi Half Marathons (ADHM). The triad's collective experience of the event, and their embrace of a healthy way of life, speaks of a revolution in the culture of running, for fitness as well as for enjoyment. It's a culture that has taken root across India, in cities big and small.
Deep Shikha, 42, is a trained mountaineer who has spent more than a decade attempting to conquer new challenges. She has entered in the ADHM for the 11th time. "The first run is always special, but so was the second one, when I went back to running after pregnancy. My daughter was there in the crowd, in a pram," recalled Deep Shikha, in a chat with TOI.
Whether full or half, marathons are not short on motivation. "People who come from smaller cities don't have a place to stay, so they sleep outside the stadium. They get up the next day, just tie their shoelaces, and run. And then you see senior citizens who're achieving such great timings. It's really inspiring."
Part of the thrill, says Deep Shikha, is having people cheer for you. "You get goosebumps, it's a different feeling altogether!"
Shailja Sridhar's first big outing was the ADHM in 2012, the year she took up running. In 2016, she got a taste of one of the world's iconic races, the Boston Marathon. Shailja, 37, believes running can be a transformative agent for society.
"If I see someone littering on the road, I'll tell them to stop, because I'm on the road. If I was only in my car, I wouldn't care," she argues.
"And the more people that are out running, the safer it is - if there are other people around you, you're protected by the numbers."
Meanwhile, Sundreysh Sarup, 47, will be participating in his fourth Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. Having done his fair share of 21kms, the 42km is Sundreysh's next goal. He feels it will be another year before he's ready to put himself through the rigours of a marathon.
But the adrenaline rush of covering long distances on foot never fades. "The sheer excitement and joy of running for the first time will remain very close to my heart. Especially when you cross the finishing line, and celebrate the moment with friends and family," shared Sundreysh.
Still, you need to be a little barmy to do this. Next, Shailja would like to sign up for a triathlon. "It gives me new goals. I never thought of running Boston before I started running - I was just running for the experience." The 13th Airtel Delhi Half Marathon on November 19 gives Deep Shikha, Shailja, Sundreysh and many hundreds of others, yet another chance to feed their passion.
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