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

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

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

Who is Gandhi?

Who is Gandhi?

That's the question I asked a couple of fifth graders and their answers might surprise you.  These kids were hanging around the subway the Chennai Runners were cleaning on the Gandhi Jayanthi Day (Oct 2, 2014).   I wanted to engage the kids, so started by striking a conversation about Gandhi, which I thought would be 'easy' ice-breaking question.  But was it ? see for yourself..

Kids didn't know much about Gandhi, but they did know he did good for the country and was shot!!!!

Though the kids were initially reluctant, they pitched in and helped us clean the subway.  They might not much about Gandhi but did know how to join a party and help.. !!!  Thank you kids for helping us making your hangout place a little cleaner.

Photos from Chennai Runners #CleanIndia initiative

CTC Trail Marathon - Sloka Class

Marathon Diaries - Chennai Trekking Club (CTC) Trail Marathon - October 20, 2013

Here is a short compilation from CTC Trail Marathon held on Oct 20, 2013.  (post next)

Rain and slush had made the marathon route unpredictable.  ECR Siva was my running partner and we had sloka class.. listen in.. you can also me kill a AR Rahman song..  

Running in Chennai - Running Notes #1

Running Notes # 1 

I always say 'Running is better with company'.. and we had quite good crowd today even before 5:00 AM at Anna University start point..

Initially, I tagged along with Ramesh M, Ramesh S, Advocate Hari & Vilwa with an intent to do a half but that didn't last for long.. Ramesh M. and Hari took off.. perhaps chasing Shahid and I settled for a easy run with Vilwa, but not before trading some Advocate jokes with Hari..

"Good advocates know the law.. Better advocates know the judges.... and the Best ones know the jail wardens".. For this I heard.. Good & Advocates don't go together.. !!!! 

After trading jokes, I only saw both of them at the finish point.. they apparently had done little over 18k at 5:45 pace.. Well done Ramesh M & Hari..

At Elliots beach, we saw a charity run being organized by HP and even saw Shreyas running that one.. Did you do a podium finish? Shreyas..?

Talking of podium finish, Airtel Delhi Half Marathon happened today and I hope Anandaselvan and all other runners from Chennai had a great run..

Now back to our run today..
Vilwa & I chugged along.. talking about digitizing Indian language books via crowd sourcing and the 'hot' topic of the week.. FDI in Retail..  These topics kept us engrossed and the distance just flew by.. this is why I say 'Running is better with company'..

Part of the Sunday running crowd

By the time we reached back Anna University we had done little over half at little under 2:15..

Some pictures from today..

Also, I tried my hand on a short running video.. take a look and give me your feedback..

Running in Chennai - Why Do You Run?

Why Do You Run?

I am asked this simple question often.. and it 'stumps' me every time.

Do I run because it 'keeps me fit'? - Running sure has kept my cholesterol under control and kept the creeping diabetes at bay..

Do I run because it 'builds character'? - Running is definitely a positive influence on my life and outlook.  It has helped build the 'can do' attitude..

Do I run because it 'de-stresses'? - Running does help take the pressure off at times.... I simply go out for run when I feel all 'wound up' to clear my mind..

Do I run because it 'gets new friends'? - Running has introduced me to lot of great people across many walks of life..

Do I run because it 'brings a sense of discipline'? - I am not a morning person but Running has made me one.. (though I still struggle to fight that 'morning blues' demon every morning..)

While some or all of the above are all valid reasons.. Like many things I do, I simply don't know why I Run.. but one thing I do know..  I love running.

This morning, after our regular Sunday run, I asked this question to a bunch of Chennai Runners and this what they had to say..



Now, let me ask this question to you.. Why do you Run?

Run Schedule for Sunday, Sep 30, 2012

Have you registered for The Wipro Chennai Marathon 2012 yet.. Do so now and start training with us..

IITM Students after a 5K run.. couple of weeks back

Run Schedule for tomorrowDate - Sunday, Sep 30, 2012

Start Time - 5:15 AM (pl. be present 15 minutes earlier to stretch and get ready)

Start & End @ - Anna University - Main Entrance 

Distance - Your choice.. any distance is ok.. as long us you show up.. that's the most important thing..

Route - Chennai Runners Classic / Classic Plus

Parking : Main Entrance Parking lot by the gate - Ample parking space for both cars and two wheelers.. 

Any distance is OK.. As they say, the longest distance is not the what you run out there.. but it is within and the distance from your bed to your shoes.  So, get out of the bed and start running.. 

Pl. do confirm your participation.. a simple  'I am in' mail could motivate few others to join as well and you will good after the run.. So, Run tomorrow..even if it is for the first time.. and of course, pl. do respond to this mail..

Chennai Runners in Action - https://picasaweb.google.com/106391580634702190555/ChennaiRunners

IITM Run on Sep 22, 2012 - https://picasaweb.google.com/106391580634702190555/20120922IITMRun

Find us in face book here..

Find TWCM in Facebook here

Support Bala's 21x21

If you have been running in Chennai and with Chennai Runners.. You probably know Bala.  His energy rubs on people and motivates them to do more.. (and I get the Do More tag!!!!)

While I need multiple alarms to wake me up in the morning and still ignore them frequently, Bala has no such aid.. He has a natural alarm that puts him out on the streets early every single day.

While I 5:15 AM run start is 'early' for me.. Bala thinks it is 'late' and would like to start even 'earlier'..

While I need the stupid box to 'relax'.. Bala 'relaxes' while running and sees no need for a TV to see.

I can go on like this.. but suffice to say.. Bala is an inspiration to many and there is lot we could learn from him..

Now, I need your support to support Bala in his 21x21.. let me explain..

He has set himself a audacious goal of running 21 half marathons in 21 consecutive days.  I would like us to accompany him in all his runs for the next 19 days and help reach his goal safely and securely. (and also to ensure that he does run the 21.1k every single day.. !!!!).  If you are wondering what happened to the other 2 days.. wonder no more as Bala started this 21x21 on Mar 18 and has already completed 2 days.. So it is 2 down and 19 more to go.

Please step out and step up to support Bala.. by signing up here .  Once you put your name down in the spreadsheet.. Bala will be in touch with you to coordinate the run.

Bala's 21x21 Spreadsheet