Suriya C from Singanallur sums it up nicely, as he likens the Sunday Run to a “family function”. Around 200 runners from across the city met at Jenney’s Club to take part in an event organised by Coimbatore Runners.
“A run for fun,” is how S Balaji, one of the key organisers of the 5K and 10K runs, described members of running chapters across the city getting together for a friendly run.
“During the year, our regular runs are limited to our respective localities and the opportunity to meet runners from other chapters is limited. So, we thought this would be an occasion for all of us to get together and celebrate the wonderful ‘season of running’, which typically starts at the end of summer and concludes with the beginning of summer in the following year.”
Runners hailed each other and some smiled tentatively at the ‘almost familiar’ faces thanks to enthusiastic Facebook posts every day.
Venkatesan Rangaswamy of Sai Baba Colony made the most of the opportunity to say hello to many runners. “Even though we are in touch on WhatsApp and FB, it is always good to meet face to face. It was good fun,” he said.
The 5K runners exited from the rear gate of Jenney’s Club, ran along the road to Codissia and then around the back of the club to Avinashi Road and back again, while the 10 K runners did two loops of the same route. There were two aid stations dispensing music and water to the runners. N Valliappan from Race Course said, “It may have been a simple event but there was no compromise in the essentials and it had all the right ingredients of a great running event!”
“I eavesdropped on so many stories of how running changed lives,” exclaimed R Nithya who has now resolved to get out of bed, into her shoes and out more often to run around GV Residency.
Ramesh Ponnuswami, the head honcho of Coimbatore Runners, also mentioned these amazing stories in his address. “We hear all the time how running has transformed lives in our city and is continuing to do so. Whether it is weight loss, keeping fit, giving up cigarettes... more and more people have joined in. What began in a small way has grown beyond all expectations. May the tribe increase.”
After a brisk cool-down session, everyone headed to a satisfyingly familiar breakfast of idli, vadai, pongal and kesari. “The event accomplished what it set out to do and connected fellow runners” said Saraswathy Natarajan from Thudiyalur. Parvathy Ramesh was overwhelmed by the level of encouragement and motivation she found. “This was my first run with Coimbatore Runners and I absolutely enjoyed it. It is hard to come by clubs that do not have any membership fee or a formal heirarchy. This was just about the pure love of running and to feel good and liberated.”
Manu Ponnuswami took these photographs despite his Std XII board exams