10 weeks to 10 k

A week into training for The Wipro Chennai Marathon, the four first-time runners experienced aches, colds and fatigue, but they’re still raring to go.

K. Ravikumar, 46

I ran three days this week — a total distance of 19 km. I also did some cycling, yoga and stretching. Though I did feel tired while running, I felt good after it was over and the feeling lasted all through the day. My energy levels are high and I am sleeping a lot better.

Being a diabetic, I follow the diet given by my doctor. But as I felt more hungry than usual, I supplemented it with some boiled egg whites between meals.

I am very excited about this coming week. My flexibility, timing and capacity is better now and I hope to do the same five-six km in a better timeframe.. I am also planning to incorporate some strength training.

Girija, 53

My back has been troubling me so I could train only four times this week. Monday was my rest day. I didn’t run till Wednesday, though. I ran three times this week and walked twice. I am able to cover a distance of around five km now and I hope that I will be able to go up to seven by next week.

I have been eating clean — lots of fruit and vegetables. In fact, I ate only fruit for dinner most days this week. I also made it a point to include plenty of raw vegetables with my meals.

Other than the back ache, I had a good week. I am feeling very light and am really looking forward to the week ahead. And yes, my back is perfectly alright now.

Padmavathy R., 40

I ran only two days last week — a total of 10 km. I did four km on Thursday and six on Saturday. I cross-trained on my off days by working on my abs and core. I’ve developed a bit of a cold due to the change in weather but I’m feeling fresh and relaxed overall.

I always eat well but this week I made it a point to include more vegetables and also some energy-dense foods like nuts and dried fruit.

My pace has increased this week and I’m thrilled about it. I hope to be able to run six-seven km continuously this week, so let’s see.

Mangalamba Varma, 53

I ran twice last week and managed to do five kms in about an hour. On the other days I did some aerobics, dance and cross-trained with some spine stretches and floor exercises thrown in. I’ve been feeling a bit tired, so I took it easy this week — surprisingly, however, people tell me that I look very fresh.

I’ve been eating well — fruits, such as mosambi, apple and banana, whole grains, such as brown bread and fibre cookies, and proteins in sundal.

My thighs and hips feel free and easy — I feel healthier and lighter. I am looking forward forward to pushing up my endurance levels and achieving more in the coming week.

The runners are being trained by the Chennai Runners for the Wipro Chennai Marathon, powered by The Hindu.

H 30 Sep 2014

Wipro Chennai Marathon

PREETI ZACHARIAH meets four newbie runners who are training to cross the finish line at The Wipro Chennai Marathon on December 7

There will be days when I don’t know if I can run a marathon. There will be a lifetime knowing that I have. ~ Unknown

Four people. Four stories. Four very different dreams. All come together at the third edition of The Wipro Chennai Marathon (TWCM) to be held in the city on December 7 this year. The Chennai Runners, a group of running evangelists who have spearheaded this marathon, are training four newbie runners to run a 10k. The initial training has begun, now with 10 weeks more to go the training has been ramped up.

THE ROAD AHEAD(Left to right) Girija, Padmavathy, Mangalamba and Ravi KumarPhotos: R. Ragu

“This is in keeping with our theme for the marathon, ‘There is a runner in you’,” says V.P. Senthil Kumar — race director, TWCM 2014. “We want every single person out there to believe that they can run.”

The four people chosen hail from different backgrounds, the only commonality being that they have never run before but aspire to do so for myriad reasons.

“Running is a great enabler — almost anyone can do it. Everyone has access to it because you don’t need a gym membership or fancy gadgets. Statistics show that more people stick to running because it is so easily accessible and can be done anytime, anywhere. I hope that this will be a start of an exciting new journey for these four new runners and they will continue to run greater and longer distances,” says Krishna Kumar, president, Chennai Runners.

The Hindu MetroPlus , will chronicle the progress of these runners over the next 10 weeks documenting their successes, failures, disappointments and defining moments as the training for the 10k goes beyond the run and becomes a metaphor for life itself.

The Wipro Chennai Marathon is brought to you by the Chennai Runners powered by The Hindu.

H 24 Sep 14