JOIN USIt was a display of passion and dedication at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Sampangi Rama Nagar on Sunday, where the Bengaluru edition of ‘Pinkathon’ was held. The event, which was flagged off by Milind Soman, saw women runners of different age groups come together to support the cause. While some came with friends and families, others were happy enough to be on their own.
The event saw runs in different formats of 3 km, 5 km, 10 km and 21 km. First-time runner Tanuja Panda, a teacher with NPS (Yeshwanthpur), ran the 3km run and found it to be one of the best challenges she had taken up till date. “It was amazing to see the cancer survivors and hear their stories. While we get worried about the smallest things in life, there are people around us who have fought bigger battles and come out victorious, which is very inspiring,” she said.
The run was part-entertainment and part-encouragement, she added. “Though it was meant to raise awareness about a serious cause, it was also a fun event,” said Tanuja.
The ‘Pinkathon’ was also made memorable by the fact that physically-challenged participants and people who battled serious health conditions took part in it. “It also made me realise that I needed to concentrate more on my fitness level and take the topic of health more seriously,” said Rituparna Acharya, a banker, who participated in the 5 km run.
Participants like Ritika Kandhari, a financial analyst, talked about how connecting with people was better than depending on fitness apps and how the run was a window to many issues. “The need to stay fit and healthy and to continue to inspire oneself to do this were the highlights. The event saw participants from all walks of life; including ladies who were 75 years old,” she said.
These senior participants, sporting the famous white T-shirt over their saris, put in all their effort and didn’t even take a break or slow down for refreshments. “Their persistence level was a definite inspiration for youngsters like me, who feel lazy to get out of their bed in the morning and go for a run. Most of us often complain about being too busy, which is just an excuse,” added Ritika.
The event saw various moods and emotions and people did not miss a chance to capture these through pictures— while many were seen clicking selfies, others posed for candid shots. Sumit Kumar, a photographer, said that he was able to click many happy faces at the event.
“This explains the success of ‘Pinkathon’ and the positive message it spread. There were around 10,000 runners at the event and each of them must have taken a valuable lesson home. From the fun and energy seen at the zumba sessions that preceded the event to the excitement of the run itself, everyone was deeply involved,” he said.
The run, which was well-managed by the Traffic police and authorities, saw varied activities that aimed to put the spotlight on women’s health, said Shamala Manmohan, a homemaker who ran the 21 km run.
“And I felt the best part of the event was that one could choose the format they wanted, according to their preferences and pace,” detailed Shamala.
The exclusivity factor of the run was one of the highlights. “A ‘ladies only’ run by itself makes the event special. A diverse range of participants, varying from children to young mothers, were seen at the event. There were also interesting stalls which gave away gift vouchers and offered free health check-ups. Overall, it was a rewarding experience,” she added.