He’s considered one of India’s premier running experts, and Gul Mohammed Akbar, who is now at the helm of several marathons, tells me that despite having started with a small number of marathons in the country, the discipline is more popular than ever.
A pioneer for running in India, he is often described as Bengaluru’s Marathon Man – and has used the opportunity to promote the sport in India.
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“There’s a growing urban population that needs to be fitter,” he says. “And running is a good way to do it. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t want to do it because it seems like ‘work’ and they find it boring.
“But there are several running groups,” he says, “and not just on Facebook.” Akbar was one of the original members of the Bangalore Hashers – or the Hash House Harriers, a running group that describes themselves as “drinkers with a running problem, or runners with a drinking problem.”
“Most people are really nice, and the whole aspect of mingling with people, meeting people and running with them, it is incredibly encouraging,” he says, “and then it does not seem like work, or exercise.”
The Hashers are one of the many groups across metros in India that get together to make running a social activity, which helps promote the activity. Comprised of senior runners, neophytes, and a number of former – or current professional athletes, these running groups help those slacking with an extra push, and also provide a forum for some invaluable advice.
Discussing everything from shoes, to equipment, technique, injuries and more, they also help new runners with a support system – most importantly psychologically – which itself is a crux of the sport.
“Right now, only 0.1% of the population of the country runs,” he tells me. “That’s a really low number, and lifestyles are becoming sedentary too. Most careers are spent at a desk, and that, coupled with eating unhealthy food, means that health is taking a big beating.”
Akbar, one of the pioneers of marathons in India, has now taken charge of the Bengaluru Midnight Marathon. As the name suggests, the event sees runners take off at midnight. “We faced a lot of opposition in the beginning,” he tells me. “They said things like, who will want to run in the night? It’s so difficult to even see then, and nobody will come.”
“But we made it a fun event. It’s not just a run, it’s a party. We tried to have it like that, like the hashers, so people would want to celebrate it together. Music, dancing, and they run.”
“That element of fun is very, very important. It brings people off their desks and chairs to move, helps them with health, and at the end of it all, it’s also a social event. Hopefully people see, eventually, that running can be fun, and that motivates them to lead healthier, happier lives.”
What’s next for the fit runner? “I’ll be in a movie next,” he tells me, “because they like these mean-looking, athletic, big villains. It’s a fun role, and I got it quite by accident – I was just one of the producers!”
