The foothills of Aravallis are usually the refuge for peacocks, wild dogs, and the odd leopard. On Sunday morning, however, the hills were taken over by a different animal – man. Over 500 runners, young and old, took part in the
Annual Trail Run in Gurgaon. The race was flagged off at 5.30am from
Pathways World School, and the runners navigated the 10km Pathways Trail across several categories, ranging from a 4km walk to a half marathon. What made the run more challenging was the steep climb and descent along the trail as well as the rocky and uneven terrain.
Over 500 runners took part in the trail across several categories – ranging from a 4km walk to a half marathon
Juned, a runner from Palwal, who finished 1st in the 21km, said, “This was my first trail run and I enjoyed it. I am used to running on the roads, but this was a new experience. I loved the challenge and adventure here.” While most were in competitive mode, several runners participated just to be close to nature and have fun. Hemant Singh, a Gurgaon resident, said, “Trail Run is something that takes you close to nature. It’s all about running in the natural surroundings with no traffic, no pollution, and just enjoying oneself.”
The flag-off point for the race was some distance from the city, but that was no deterrent for the runners. Aanchal Sehgal, who ran the 14km, said, “I participated last year too and it felt like such a task coming here but this year, it felt like no big deal. The distance is no issue.”
Participants stretch after the race
