Chennai Runners 8th Anniversary

Chennai Runners 8th Anniversary Celebrations - March 2, 2015

We moved from IITM to Nandambakkam trail discovered by the CR Pillar Pacers for our 8th anniversary.  That was good as it gave us an opportunity to discover new running route possibilities in Chennai.

We had good crowd of close to 900 folks who trekked from various parts of Chennai to join us in the celebrations.

Milind Soman joined us to promote pinkathon, women only run.  Here, he is browsing through the Rundown magazine released on that occasion.  This magazine is an important contribution to the running community by Chennai Runners.  Thanks to a bunch of dedicated volunteers, Rundown has shaped up well over the years.  Everyone present got a free copy the magazine and a softcopy was made available online as well.

Pinkathon folks gave away a few wigs (pink color.. obviously) to promote the run.  Who else, but KP the best ambassador of that.

Chennai Runners Pillar Pacers took the responsibility for organizing the event.  They made sure all aspects the event was taken care with meticulous planning and preparation.  They also released their own chapter TShirts during the occasion, in bright colors.

CR Pillar Pacers also organized a tree planting as part of the event.  Wonder the status of those saplings now.. after a year. :-)

Of course, the celebration is not complete without the customary cake..

Now we are all set for Chennai Runners 9th anniversary celebrations tomorrow.  Please do come and be an evangelist spreading the running mantra.. Remember, you can always Do More... Be there or be square..:-)


More Photos of the Chennai Runners 8th Anniversary Celebrations here.. 

Chennai Runners 7th Anniversary

Chennai Runners 7th Anniversary Celebrations - March 3, 2013

2013 was the first year Chennai Runners anniversary celebrations moved out of the confines of Anna University.  The running community in Chennai was growing and we definitely needed more room and IITM helped us with that.

About 500+ assembled in OAT and started the run after a short stretching session.  This time around, we had two different loops.  While many chose to run the 6k, few others were content with 3k.

Beast and Harican decked up the Beast with water cups..

Swamy and family talk to us about "How is it like to have the entire family hooked on to running".. Undoubtedly Very Good..

Customary cake.. enticing folks to eat the cake but after that Do More.. Start Running..

Tradition continues.. Though we got out of Anna University and its cafeteria.. we continued with the sumptuous South Indian breakfast made exclusively for the occasion.

More Photos of the celebrations here..


Tags #Chennai Runners, #Chennai #Running

Chennai Runners 6th Anniversary

Chennai Runners 6th Anniversary - March 4, 2012

This was the last anniversary celebrations that Chennai Runners celebrated inside Anna University.  We were growing in size and it was starting to attract unwanted attention the AU security staff.  

We perhaps had over 200+ folks joining for the anniversary celebrations.  Before the run, we had stretching sessions led by Vidyuth and others.  Notice the TShirt, still the first generation ones we had released in 2009 - 10 time frame.  Since then, there have been at least 3 other editions of the CR TShirt not including the ones done by the chapters independently.

After an easy 5k run, we had Arun, Naveen and Naresh as guest speakers.  Here is a a little known trivia about Arun Krishnan.. He was part of the first bunch that started running movement in chennai, much before Chennai Runners 2.0 was born.  Naresh, a globe trotter (hiker) is now in US and Naveen is in Canada via West Indies.  Once a Chennai Runners, always one..

The customary cake and

And the customary breakfast at Anna University canteen.  We had KP incharge of distributing coupons.  Also seen are Senthil, Shankar, Shahid and VPS.

Do you know where Chennai Runners celebrated 7th anniversary?

More Photos of the celebrations... here

Tags #Chennai Runners, #Chennai #Running

தமிழ் நாட்டின் மனிதர்கள் - சின்னம்மா

தமிழ் நாட்டின் மனிதர்கள் #6 - சின்னம்மா  (சுமார் 75 வயது )

இடம் - கண்டியூர்  / தொழில் - கோவில் சுத்தம் செய்தல் 

"நான் ஜெயலலிதாவுக்குத்தான் வோட்டு போட்டேன்.. அவுங்கதான் எனக்கு மாசா மாசம் பணம் கொடுக்கிறாங்க" 

#HumansOfChennai Tamil Nadu

Flex with Flex

Flex poster printing industry must be a lucrative business in Tamil Nadu as anyone who has anything to say says with flex banners.  It does give easy publicity at others' expense.  There are flex banners for every possible occasion.  From birth to death and everything in between there is a 'case' for flexing flex muscle.  These posters mushroom from nowhere overnight and are a public nuisance in most cases.  They take the precious road space and hinder vehicular movement.  Needless to say they are a big nightmare for pedestrians.  Madras high court did pass strictures on flex banners in public places few years back, but nobody seems to care..

Rather long flex banner found in Peralam.  I didn't count, but it is a safe bet to say it has 67 images of Ms. Jayalalitha.. 

Flex industry must have made a killing this week with the birthday of AIADMK supremo Ms. Jayalalithaa.  Her party workers made sure everyone knew about Ms. Jayalallithaa's birthday by going overboard with flex banners across the state.  I wonder who paid for all these banners and if they got permission to put them up in public places.  Well, who dares to ask?  It is Amma's birthday after all..

Tags #Chennai, Politics

Chennai Runners 5th Anniversary

Chennai Runners Fifth Anniversary - March 6, 2011

In my earlier post we saw us celebrating Chennai Runners' fourth anniversary and thus commencing an annual tradition.  In today's post we will move on to our fifth anniversary celebrations in our runup to Chennai Runners 9th anniversary celebrations this Sunday, March 1, 2015.

This time also Anna University was the venue for our celebrations.  We had 100+ runners join us for a friendly 5k run.  Can you identify the running trio here? KP, Tiger & Balaji. (Can you spot the other two guys in back ? I see Shahul Hameed and Venkat Rangan - Do you?)

If Harican was walking around with crutches in the CR fourth anniversary, it was VPS's turn this time around.  While on a motorcycle trip in north east (India), VPS slipped while posing for a photo (no selvi then..) and had a bad concussion.  Ramani doing his usual duty, clicking away kodak moments.

Amit Sheth and Jacob Bhoopalan(not in the picture) graced the occasion.  This was when Amit's book, Dare to run had just hit the market.  His Comrades adventure was a catalyst to many in India to try their hands or more aptly try their legs on the Durban hills, including yours truly.

Like last year, we had kids cut the cake and end the festivities with breakfast at AU canteen.  Can you spot a small boo-boo in the cake?  I am not telling.. :-)

More Photos in FB

Tags #Chennai Runners, Running, Chennai

தமிழ் நாட்டின் மனிதர்கள் - மீனாக்ஷி அம்மாள்

தமிழ் நாட்டின் மனிதர்கள் - மீனாக்ஷி அம்மாள் (சுமார் 70 வயது )

இடம் - கண்டியூர்  / தொழில் - விவசாயம்

"என் பையன் நிலங்களை பார்த்துக்கரதுக்காக இங்க இருக்கேன்.. மத்த பசங்கல்லாம் மிச்சத்துல இருக்காங்க இவன்  மட்டும்தான் கஷ்டதுலயிருக்கான்.. அதனாலேதான் " 

#HumansOfChennai Tamil Nadu

Chennai Runners 4th Anniversary

As we get ready to celebrate Chennai Runners 9th anniversary next weekend, here is a quick look at the fourth anniversary celebrated in 2010.  I start with 4th because that's when we started celebrating CR anniversaries.

We celebrated Chennai Runners fourth anniversary in Anna University.  It was a low key affair and attracted about 50+ runners.  We did two outer loops in AU amounting to about 5K.  Look who is sprinting here.. that too in a 'traditional running shoe'... Preeti - When did you switch to Vibrams?

 Indomitable Harican..  He broke his leg but still managed to crawl in for the celebrations.  That's the first Tshirt we made for Chennai Runners.  We pooled in 30k of our money to do the order and recoup the monies later.

Here is the other guy, Vidyuth and his amazing flexibility.  As usual, Ramani is doing what he usually does when he is not running.. capturing the Kodak moments.  Thanks Ramani for the wonderful memories over the years..  much appreciated..

 We ended the celebrations with a cake and AU canteen breakfast.  Can you spot few known faces here?  Tiger is easy, but how about Srinath?  Both have since moved out of Chennai..

From 50+ runners to over the 1000 expected on March 1, 2015, It has truly been a wonderful ride.  But for a city of 10 million people, we can do more... Can we all do this simple trick ?

Each Get One.. We determine to get our spouse, brother, sister, friend, colleague.. someone, anyone just one person take to running..   If we all could do this.. it would simply double the Chennai running population..

Can we?  Will you?

More Photos from the Anniversary Celebrations here and here in FB

Tags # Chennai Runners, Running, Chennai

சென்னையின் மனிதர்கள் - எத்திராஜ்

சென்னையின் மனிதர்கள் - எத்திராஜ் (சுமார் 50 வயது )

இடம் - அபிராமபுரம் / தொழில் - ஆட்டோ ஓட்டுனர் 

"நான் அஞ்சாங் கிளாஸ்தான் படிச்சேன், ஆனா என் ரெண்டு பசங்க காலேஜ் படிக்கிறாங்க " 

Tags - HumansOfChennai, Chennai

Run Auroville for the joy of running - Part #2

Run Auroville for the joy of running - Part #2

Getting to the start line

I had some tense moments on this front.  Ended up rushing to the startline with only couple of minutes to spare  and started running with no time to settle in.  Want to know how I ended up rushing instead of being cool, calm and relaxed like a monk?? Read on..

Last minute rush doesn't work for me.  I generally get to the start line at least 30 minutes ahead of gun time.  This gives me ample time to deposit bag, stretch and soak in on the pre-event energy.  This time, I ended unwittingly adopting kanban (just in time) strategy and got to the start line as the race was about to begin.

I thought, I planned it well.  Staying in Pondy and not having my own transport, I had two choices; 1)Take the Auroville shuttle at 3:30 AM or 2)hitchhike with other FM runners staying at Surguru.  Lucky me (or so I thought), I stumbled upon couple of FM runners staying at Surguru and entered into a pact to ride with them to Auroville.  This got me another 30 minutes of sleep and I was happy.....Hooray

Sunday morning, we left at 4:15 AM instead of the appointed 4:00 AM. Even then we had adequate time to reach Auroville.. So far so good

Head north on ECR without knowing the 'miss if you blink' left turn.. Not so good

Missed the 'miss if you blink' left turn and didn't even realize it... .. Not good

Realized the goof up much later and called Google for help.  We were 10K north of that crucial Auroville turn... Definitely not good.

Make U turn and fly south on ECR like the cars in Fast Furious..  Not good at all..

Rush through the infinite speed bumps on Auroville Road.. Oh S***

Reached Auroville parking with just 8 minutes spare..  Finally..!!!!

Forgot Camera, Music and Vaseline.. Too bad

Arrived at the start area 2 minutes before the gun time.. Thank You God

I was totally stressed out and rushed to the start area without even waiting for Srikumar and Balaji forgetting that they are also running FM.  Thanks Srikumar for staying calm and ensuring that we reached on time though I was a wreck.

But then, things got better from there.... Read on..

Route and Enroute

From the very start, I had company.  Though the company kept changing along the course.  I was fortunate to have good company and had engrossing chat with all my running buddies.  This is one of the perks of running in familiar environs; ran with lot of known faces.

E Ramesh gave me company for about 30k.  (Photo courtesy - Bindu Upadhyay)

First I started out with Karthik Gangadharan (of TNagar Trend Setters) and Ramesh (of Chormpet Chettahs).  Though it was pitch dark for the first hour and we were moving forward gingerly with the help dim torches, conversations with Karthik helped miles melt.  Karthik warned me that if he stops he wouldn't be able to restart.  As luck would have it, Karthik did have to stop to fix his shoe lace at around 12k and that was the last I saw on the course.

Next to give company Bib Bala and Athmanand Perumal.  We tried to recite slokas aloud and sing bhajans.  Though we were exerting and spending energy, miles chugged along.  But that exertion caught up with me.  First Atha and later Bala sprinted ahead leaving me slumbering along.  But a while later, I saw Bala slowing down and this tortoise had the pleasure of overtaking the hare.

All the while, I had Ramesh for company.  He put up with all my singing and still gave me company.  But he was adamant on one thing though.  He refused to sing even after repeated requests (badgering).  But he also sprinted ahead at around 36k leaving to chug along.

With just around 1.5k to go, Geetha (of OMR) joined me and got to run faster.  I checked my Garmin and the last 1.5k was the fastest on course.  Thanks Geetha for taking me to the finish line faster than I would have on my own.

Thanks Karthik, Bala, Atha, Ramesh and Geetha.  For, your company helped me to keep moving and achieve a PB on this course.

Distance
Getting an accurate reading in Garmins have been a challenge at Auroville.  This I attribute this due to the terrain.  As the route takes us through thick forest and criss-crossing trails,  it is possible that GPS don't give good reading.  This year also, there was lot of discussions about the actual distance.  I heard many runners comparing their GPS watch readings and conclude that the distance was shorter by about 600 meters for half and close to 2k for lot for full.

Route grab from my Garmin 620

At the finish line, my Garmin read 40.26 km, almost a full 2k short.  I wonder if this helped me do my PB here at 4:05. 

Medal
In the past, not all editions of Auroville Marathons had medals and there was none this year as well.  I have seen lot of discussions in the social media on this subject.  Runners are 'upset' in not getting a medal.  I understand their disappointment as medals have become a norm for most of the running events.  Having said, I also saw 'no promise' by the organizers.  So, I was cool not getting one.

As I said before, I go to Auroville for the sheer 'joy of running' and on that front, Auroville hasn't disappointed me in the last 8 years.

With this first marathon for the year, my marathon count is at 53 now and hope to do a couple of more this year.

Tags - Marathon, Running, Auroville

Photos from the 8th Auroville Marathon Expo (2015) - Here

Photos from the 8th Auroville Marathon - Feb 8, 2015 - Here

சென்னையின் மனிதர்கள் - விக்னேஷ்

சென்னையின் மனிதர்கள் - விக்னேஷ் (16)

இடம் - அபிராமபுரம் / பகுதி நேர வேலை  - பேப்பர் போடுதல், மற்ற நேரத்தில் பள்ளி மாணவன் (+1)
"ஒரு வருஷமா பேப்பர் போடறேன் "

#Humans of Chennai #3

Running Shoes - Traditional Vs Minimalist

Running Shoes - Traditional Vs Minimalist

My two cents on this topic appeared in the The Hindu today.  I know much has been said and discussed on shoes Vs minimalist / bare foot.. What's your take?

Link to the story in The Hindu..


Tags - #Running 

சென்னையின் மனிதர்கள் - கிளி ஜோசியர்

சென்னையின் மனிதர்கள் - கிளி ஜோசியர் 

இடம் - திருவான்மியூர் கடற்கரை  / தொழில் - கிளி ஜோசியம்
"என் கிளியின் பேர் - ராஜ கோபாலு "


Tags # HumansOfChennai Chennai

சென்னையின் மனிதர்கள் - நாகவள்ளி (45)

This is my attempt to do 'Humans of Chennai'.. in Tamil

சென்னையின் மனிதர்கள் - நாகவள்ளி  (45)

இடம் - பீச் (கடற்கரை) ரயில் நிலையம் சுரங்கப்பாதை / தொழில் - பூத்தொடுத்து விற்பது
"போஸ்டர் ஓட்டாதேன்னா கேட்க மாட்டேங்கறாங்க"

#HumansOfChennai #Chennai

Run Auroville For the Joy of Running

Run Auroville For the Joy of Running - Part#1

Going to Auroville is like an annual pilgrimage for me.  I keep running Auroville Marathon for its trails, ambience and pollution free running.  Many things have changed over the years but the allure of Auroville still remains.  I would be running Auroville for at least the next two more years to have the satisfaction of running 10 consecutive years at Auroville (Organizers - Does it qualify me for a permanent green color bib? like they recognize 10 time finishers in Comrades?)

Getting there
The first Auroville Marathon was on Feb 10 2008 and the running community was rather small in Chennai.  All of us could fit in one small bus.

Can you spot familiar faces in this photo from 2008? I could spot Balaji, Ashwin, KK, Siva, Mohan, Venkat, Sandy and Shumit.

In 2008, we arranged for ONE small bus to take us all Auroville.  We all met up at drive-in woodlands (which is now (செம்மொழி பூங்கா) Semmozhi Poonga.. wait a minute.. does that still hold? I thought Ms. Jayalalithaa got rid of that name !!!!!..) as the common starting point and rode down to Auroville from there.  From that one small bus to several (50+ ?) car loads of runners this year, running movement in Chennai has come a long way in the intervening eight years.  This time, I car pooled with Rajesh, Mahesh and Kavitha and comfortably reached Auroville around 4:00 PM.

Accommodation
There was enough room within Auroville to accommodate us in 2008.  In fact, almost all runners stayed within Auroville.  We stayed in dormitories near the starting point for a nominal price.

Let's continue the game.. I can spot Siva, Rajesh and KK in this photo from 2008

We got a big clean room with mattresses on the floor.  This communal living gave us more time for gentle banter and connect with other runners and unwind before the run.  Now, it is no longer possible to find accommodation within Auroville, which augurs well for the Pondy economy.  Most of hotels in the vicinity get booked by runners well ahead of time.  Thanks to Rajesh & Mahesh, I got a room in Surguru.  Just as I expected, it was filled with runners from all over.

Expo
Bib distribution is always a simple affair in Auroville.  In 2008, we got handmade cloth bibs and after that we hung around for the pasta party before retiring early to bed.

BIB distribution this year

Over the years, bib distribution has grown in size to require some process and manpower.  Yet, there is no change to the low key, no frill nature of Auroville Expo.  For minute, I thought we got T-Shirt as well this year, but I was quickly told that I had paid for it separately, at the time of registration.  Here is a short clip on expo.

சந்தை along with Auroville Expo this year

One welcome addition to the bib and 4 pins is the community market.  Folks living in the community selling all kinds of unique stuff, but I don't think they are all made locally within Auroville.  Nevertheless an interesting experience to hang around, meet runners and spend money. Here is a short clip of the saturday market.

Pasta Party

Who do you spot in this shaky photo from 2008? - I spot KK, Sandy & Shumit

Another USP of Auroville Marathon is the pasta party.  It used to all you can eat pasta and salad in a relaxed atmosphere.  Over the years, as more runners started flocking to Auroville, the lines (and the price) at pasta counters have gotten longer and things have gotten busier.  To avoid the rush, I chose the sumptuous Suruguru tiffin options this year.  It also helped me hit the bed early.  

Getting to the startline
I had anxious moments getting to startline.  For awhile, I thought I wouldn't make it on time.  That story and more in my next post.. stay tuned.

Photos from the First Auroville Marathon (2008) - Here

Photos from the 8th Auroville Marathon Expo (2015) - Here