Run. Bangalore.
It doesn’t need a crystal ball reading to see what a typical Bangalore morning on a weekend would look like. Head over to Cubbon, Kanteerava, Lal bagh and the other familiar running routes in the heart of the city and you can see people running in the early hours training for a run/ marathon or participating in one. Statistically, Bangalore is one of the fast emerging cities with revolutionary fitness startups and with a larger population of runners in the country.
Speaking of which, the third edition of ‘Mindtree- TheRRRun’ took place in Raja Rajeshwari Nagar on 25th Feb, 2018; which in its entirety is planned, organized and conducted by the members of the Rotary Club of Bangalore, RR Nagar Centinal.
Before Dawn
Started 3 years ago as a run for the RR Nagar residents who are not usually able to join the weekend runs in Cubbon and Lal Bagh or elsewhere, the RRRun now attracts runners from around Bangalore, who travel all the way from Kormangala, HSR, and Outer Ring Road to participate in this beautiful run. With a mere participation of 1600 runners in its first edition to the approximately participation of 4000 runners in its current edition, it has surely come a long way and has made its presence on the running calendar of a regular runner.
The Inception
Located in the outskirts of Bangalore, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, with its IT Park and growing modernization, is still attached to its historic roots. The iconic arch serves as an entrance to some of the most beautiful homes and lanes covered with trees and greenery, making it ideal for runners and walkers. The surge in the popularity of running as a sport in the non-athletic population could be attributed to its easy and inexpensive accessibility and also that people of different shapes and ability levels can give this sport a go, in addition to it being the best way to keep fit. The Rotary club along with its members takes this as an opportunity to benefit from the growing sport thus encouraging and promoting active and healthy lifestyle among its people and raise funds for healthcare and education community service projects.
Fitter women. Fitter Nation.
Choices?
As strikingly beautiful orange sunrise kisses the sleepy locality and brings warmth to a new day, the morning of 25th of Feb particularly in this southwestern part of Bangalore saw a sea of close to 4000 runners join the Rotary Club of Bangalore, RR Nagar Centinal in a 21, 10 and 5 km run.
While the half marathon and 10 km distances were timed runs, the 5 km run was a family event with a fun run/ walk. The first three finishers in the timed run categories were awarded with a prize money. The run witnessed young and old equally enthusiastic to participate in one of the most challenging but beautiful routes around Bangalore taking you through traffic free routes beautifully landscaped with trees, old residential houses and buildings and IT Parks.
The journey
The route took the runners, through the sophisticated Global village, the modern societies, the narrow rural streets, the beautiful green stretch of the Ring Road. Various shades of Bangalore, indeed.
What needs to be done, needs to be done.
"I believe that the greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you."- Joyce Meyer
It is a great race with a challenging route and celebratory environment with run/ walk participants giving everyone their land to practice what they are capable of doing there best, successfully promoting healthy and active lifestyle and growing the community bigger and stronger.
FOOTNOTES: Words : Geeta Bisht. Photography : Joel Benjamin & Swearing Pirate. Edited and complied : Swearing Pirate.
Raja Rajeshwari Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
© 2018 Veloscope