Hyderabad Runner's Club run 2025

 After a long time, I hit the road, but it was special. The pending wish list of running with family, and manage to get a timing for the family rather individual was a great experience. Essentially, accompanying a buddying young runner and pampering them to stay on course to reach the finish line.

It was a great exuberance to be back with the hoards energetic runners with diversity that symbolizes the true spirit of the sport. The participants were across ages, gender and social groups yet the common enthusiasm is to challenge themselves to cross that finish line. Be it the first 5K runs for many, to the seasoned 10K and half marathoners, the common goal of competing with self was visible everywhere.

Kudos to the organizing committee, volunteers and Hyderabad runners for a great experience after the good break. Looks like my batteries are charged for more of participations in future.

  

Rio Olympics 2016

As a kid, I used to read the monoroma year book, and they used to publish the medal tally. India used to have hardly any medals in thier tally. And, it used to be very disappointing. It was 1996, Atlanta Olympics, when I learnt about Leander Paes and tennis. In 2000 Sidney, it was Mallem Karneswary and weight lifting. In 2004, Rajyasingh Rathore, and 2008 it was first Individual Gold. And, multiple sports were coming into lime light. Boxing, shooting, and wrestling. Later 2012, we have sports on the high light. I was hopeful of a better show this time in 2016. But I was very disappointed with the negative news before the run to Olympics , be it Narsingh Yadav, Leander or later apathetic/sports administration. There are positives in this Olympics, however, no excuse that we failed. With 1/6th of world population, we stood at 67th in the tally. Question is not to atheletes alone but to us as a country whole, and as an individual. Why we fail in sports and is it a mindset or cultural trait ??

AHM 2016 - 10K

Dear Aruna  , Congratulations! you have finished your 10K in 01:10:10.". This is the message I got after finishing the 10K, after 10 years of running my first 10K. I had a lofty goal of doing it below 1 hr, to better my first run timings. So this timing is little dissapointing, However, now I realize what it signifies. It reminds me that I did my first 10K, 10 years back. Happy Running :)

Cycling trip to Anantgiri Hills

Starting at 4AM, drove my car along with 10 riders, and the main organizer, being in the car. It was a great journey. The black top roads, good greenery, and serpentine roads - a joy to ride. Though I didn't ride the full distance, but enjoyed the drive, and intermittent run, rides. The place of stay in Anantgiri was pleasurable, and mixed with fun and some adventure sports. We reached back around evening of the next day. Overall, it was a good weekend trip with many young bloods, and with a mix of small bug fixes.

On the way - day-1 Morning

Day-1 Evening, at the lake

After a successful day, at the starting line of the return trip - Day-2 Noon

The Excited Bunch

Freedom ride 2014: Freedom from lethargy

I was quite excited for the Freedom ride 2014. After a break finally, got back on tracks of endurance sports. And this time, it became the toughest race. It was a good opportunity to participate in one of the best rides of 2014 - a 67KM route, through the tortuous serpentine routes across beautiful hilly terrain of Hyderabad. Many thanks to Qualcomm for sponsoring the program, Saturday ride group for practice, and thanks to the organizers for a successful event.

It is a break from the monotony and reviving the habit of being on the road with a cycle or on a run. Last time I did the AHM Delhi half marathon in November 2010.

The up hills were already challenging, and the strong morning head winds accentuated that challenge with little more support from a hot weather. It’s a mixed feeling at the end, with good mixture of struggles, cramps, pain, and some dogged school-boyish determination to finish. After Mumbai full marathon in 2009, this ride was quite challenging, given the limited preparation I had. These five hours efforts needed 5 bananas, four frooties, 4 chocolates bars, and 1-2 two liters of glucose water on the way.

I will not dare to narrate my experience to my mom (the pain part at least), as I know I will get the default comment, who told to you to cycle :)! However, sore legs, cramped thigh muscles, and all that pains are a distant memory Now. Whenever I will look at the medal – there will be a sense of small achievement, yes I could do it!

 

Back on the wheels - the comeback ride

After a hiatus, it was a great ride. Thanks to Qualcomm cycling group for rejuvenating that dormant spirit. It's a perfect example - how an enthusiast can bring down the lethargies of many individuals. This is a resurrecting act for Qualcomm Hyderabad cycling group. I joined on the 6th weekend ride that comprised a diverse group with different levels of enthusiasm and experience. And, thanks to Girish for driving the activities.

Another highlighting point is the Hyderabad Bicycling Club, and it's zenith of success in driving cycling activities in the city. It's another example of how good things can happen if honest and spirited efforts can be made. Now there are multiple points to hire a cycle, and go for a ride. More importantly, the push and inspiration they provide to bring more people. Not to exclude the cycle to work initiatives.

The ride starts from Hyderabad Bicycle Club, near Hi-Tech city. Riders hire bikes or bring their own, and the group moves on different routes to reach Himayat sagar, and returns back through Narsingi and ring road. I joined near IIIT junction. It was just a great road from IIIT junction, and the straight but humpy bumpy road cutting across the financial hub of the city. It is always a pleasant experience driving or riding on these roads. It passes through Infosys, ISB, Wipro, Microsoft, ICICI etc.  to name a few, and connects to the outer ring road. Then the challenging part comes, to cross a hill. The slopes are smoother  yet  it was a challenge to ride that uphill. It was my first time on that uphill, and could finish it. After a smother ride, we reached the destination - Himayat Sagar.

We stayed for few minutes near Himayat sagar, and had some photo opportunities. The energy levels of the group is just amazing.  The returning journey was not as challenging as the onward journey. It was more of a balanced ride. The sun God was kind this time, and we are spared of another Hyderabad summer afternoon. Finally, we covered around 30 Kms, and as the comeback ride, it was good enough for me. And, it's a great  feeling after getting back on the bike for a longer distance than "cycle-to-office" route.

Details of the ride:

Route: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6351808

Assemble & Start Point – HBC Bike Station (Beside Quality Pearl Inn) https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/HBC+Bike+Station+Gachibowli/@17.4291548,78.3706612,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xa06d59e6c1659c0d

Assemble Time: 4:30 PM

Start Time: 4:45 PM

Finish Time: 7:00 PM

Rent for Cycle: Rs40 for 4 hours.

Route Description:

Total Distance: 25 Kms (To and Fro)

Terrain: Plain     

The excitement to run Delhi Half Marathon

After a successful completion of CWG-2010, the dust is yet to settle down. CWG mess is still in the air. Thanks to many channels, whose obstinate desire to follow up on this mess is active (at least till the adarsh scam surfaced). While preparation for the Asian games is in full swing (hardly any media coverage on this), I am more excited about ADHM-2010, scheduled on Nov 21.

I booked my tickets for this prestigious international event. I planned it few years back, so excited about taking part in this, especially after the glorious CWG showcase in the city.

I started off the preparation for the run. That's the best part of planning for a marathon. The dormant energy gets a boost to be physically active. Few more early morning naps or lazy afternoon hours could be converted into lively and mentally refreshing jogging in a nearby park. I should try to run and cycle from Rastrapati Bhavan to Indian Gate if opportunity comes!

That could become icing on the cake!