As a runner and fitness blogger in Delhi, I have often wondered whether, in the scorching heat, I could throw off the many layers and run in my sports bra. It seemed almost a radical idea. We have been conditioned to think of the bra as an undergarment, notwithstanding the fact that a sports bra is used by women all over the world to run in.
And so Nikita Seth and I decided to undertake this sensitive and offbeat experiment, not through a blog or a video, but with an actual run in a sports bra, on the roads of Delhi. It was difficult to rope in like minds, but we decided to go alone if no one else came forward.
We had to work on our true message: that women runners could run in the way they are most comfortable, on Delhi roads. This was not for women’s liberation or an attempt to sexualise running. It was to get rid of inhibitions and break taboos. So we called it the Shed It Run.
We picked a date, fixed a route, made a list of 40 women runners to invite. We asked our fellow male runners to show up for support. NCR’s most trustworthy running event organiser, Coach Ravinder Singh, advised us to keep the event under wraps on social media to keep negative publicity at bay. We understood that the message would be stronger post a smooth run.
As expected, there were road blocks. Women who were extremely outspoken on social media called it meaningless. Some said they’d have to ask for their family’s or husband’s permission. Some said they lacked the confidence to run in a sports bra, while some weren’t sure whether it would impact their image in the workplace. But everyone agreed that running in a sports bra in the sweltering heat was something they all aspired to do.
One morning in August, at 5.30, 13 of us runner girls met outside Nehru Park in sports bras. Together, we ran a loop of 2.7 km inside the park, and after getting over our initial inhibitions, we decided to get out on the road and finally experience Delhi for ourselves. While on the road, we came across regular women runners who broke into smiles at the sight of us. Garima Dhamija, who was on her run, threw off her tee and joined us!
From the response and success of this event — there were no untoward incidents — we collectively realised that while our bodies are not perfect, they are strong. And that we may not be able to do such a thing alone, but together, a lot is possible.
There is a larger message to the Shed It Run: Shed your inhibitions — those that hold you back from doing things you really want to. Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness and there’s a lot to learn, understand, and explore in between.