The weather on Saturday evening did seem to be playing spoilsport but it actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the participants of the ‘TCS World 10K’. Many felt that the rains had a suitably cooling effect and made the much-awaited run thoroughly enjoyable.
Gathering at Kanteerava Stadium from as early as 4.30 am on Sunday, running enthusiasts put their best foot forward in the various categories, namely ‘Open 10K’, ‘Majja Run’, ‘Senior Citizens’ Run’, ‘Champions with Disability’, ‘Elite Women’ and ‘Elite Men’. Selfies were at an all-time high at the event but what was worth witnessing was the effort put in by several participants who either displayed innovative posters with meaningful messages, came dressed as certain characters or simply used colourful props to add to the fun. A few drew attention with the national flag painted on their cheeks.
‘Fighting poverty’, ‘Women’s empowerment’, ‘Rainwater harvesting’, ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’ and ‘Joy of reading’ were some of the themes that were beautifully represented. Gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and brand ambassador for the event, Stephanie Rice from Australia, happily posed for pictures with many. While celebrities like supermodel Nicole Faria and Kannada actor Srinath also graced the event.
Vinay Jain, a chartered accountant who participated in the ‘Open 10K’, termed it as an “awesome” experience. “I have taken part in the ‘Majja Run’ earlier but this was my first 10k. The rains made it quite pleasant. I started participating in 2009 for charity and now it’s become a habit,” he said. Lekha Rajeev, a fashion designer, came all the way from Chennai to participate.
“I have been running for about three years now and this is my first time in the TCS 10K. The route was really nice, with not many inclines and the constant change of scenery. I have never run with such a huge crowd before and this was surely a unique experience!” she said.
Poornima Nataraj, an employee at TCS, went for the ‘Majja Run’. “One needs to have head to toe flexibility for this. I have been working out sincerely for a month and a half. I was also particular about a few things — avoiding heavy food, drinking lots of water, eating Vitamin C rich fruits, having a heavy breakfast and finishing dinner by 7 pm. It’s a proud moment to be a part of this coveted event of my company!” she expressed.
Meanwhile, present International Tennis Federation champion (45 plus category) in India, Indira Jayaraman, was elated as she stood first in the senior citizens category. “I completed 4.2 km in 25 minutes and I think I am first among the ladies for sure. I run around three km slowly everyday and go for a fast five km run once a week. I would advise women to start running from the age of 30 and maintain that habit else the bones can become brittle. However, one also has to be wise and not overdo it,” she said.
The young and the old alike were seen having a good time with the varied elements of the event including live music, dance and the numerous food and drink counters with something for everyone.
Participants lauded the efforts of the organisers in putting up a well-organised show of this magnitude despite the inclement weather.