The path to good health

keeping Fit

It is an entirely different feeling to run for the sheer joy of running.

Bangalore seems to have a visibly growing running culture with the sprouting of running groups like Runners For Life, Runners High,

RunnerGirlsIndia, and Greater Bangalore Hash House Harriers in recent years. “Running helps people regulate their heart rate, increases cardiovascular fitness, and releases endorphins that help the general well being of life,” says Pramukh Natesh, a medical student, who helps regulate heart rate during marathons.

Runners For Life (RFL) is the largest community of people who run to get fit in Bangalore. Both RFL and Nike, its running partner, are involved in supporting ‘Feet on the Street,’ a five-km-run held every month in Cubbon Park.

Runners are also able to support a cause while improving their health. “I joined RFL because I like running and staying fit. If such a group of like-minded people exists, then why not join it?” asks Charudut Shetty, an engineer, who recently joined RFL after finding it online.

There are sub-groups under RFL as well, making running an area-wise activity for its members across the City. The most famous of these is the Nike Run Club, a
weekly run held every Saturday for members to train and run together.

“As an Indian living abroad, I’ve noticed that there is a strong running culture abroad. This trend has been catching on in Bangalore. I feel like I’m in an Australian city on Sunday mornings,” says Sanaya Sinha, a member of the Nike Run Club.
There’s also RunnerGirlsIndia (RGI) an exclusive running club for women to run and to discuss various health-related issues.

Girls-Only-Runs (GORs) are organised in Cubbon Park on alternate Saturdays, where women runners of all levels, ages and sizes run together.

“The reason we started an only-women running group was because we were slower than the men and generally more chatty. It just made sense to start our own unrestricted group,” says Naina Lal, co-founder of RGI, which has more than 300 members.

Cubbon Park, Ring Road, Bannerghatta National Park, Jalahalli and Malleswaram are some of the available running routes one can take, depending on which area of the City you are in.