At 66 years, Okay Selvanayagam is of the agency perception that operating is in everybody’s blood. “If you resolve to run and have the resolve to see this via, the remainder of your life — your schedule will robotically fall into place,” he says. This is unquestionably the case for the #Chennai resident, whose day often begins at 4 am, with a 90-minute run on one of many metropolis’s many flyovers.

Okay Selvanayagam throughout a marathon

Selvanayagam is among the many metropolis’s hordes of runners, and at 60, has seen the evolution of operating within the metropolis — proper from the formation of the town’s first operating teams. “Long in the past, just a few of us used to run right here and with no social media to convey us collectively, we might place a small signboard close to a tea store on the seashore asking individuals who recurrently walked there to affix us in the event that they have been ,” he remembers. Times have now modified, with a number of neighbourhood communities having strolling and operating teams, senior residents banding collectively to go on walks and runs, and #Chennai Runners, the town’s largest operating neighborhood increasing to sixteen chapters to cowl the town. 

Having participated in marathons for years, Selvanayagam’s coronary heart now lies with Nature and temples. “For eight years now, round 15 of us have been collaborating within the #Sivalaya Ottam, the place we go to round 11 temples by overlaying 95 kms on Sivarathri day. This is likely one of the most interesting examples of an unorganised run of kinds taking place for years, and the gap is a real check of your psychological dedication,” he says. 

Capt Dr Narasimha and Malthy Simha put up the Berlin marathon

The causes for senior residents taking to operating are diversified. For Capt Dr Okay Narasimha and Malthy Simha, it was a mixture of desirous to prioritise their well being, take up an exercise collectively, and beat the empty nest syndrome as soon as their kids moved overseas. 

“When we began operating with #Chennai Runners in 2013, I bear in mind us being among the many first couple to run collectively,” Malthy laughs, recalling their beginnings. They have participated in over 23 half marathons, and most lately, ran on the fiftieth yr of the #Berlin #Marathon in September 2024. 

Running with the wind

For individuals throughout ages who need to get began on their operating journey, Yasir Sultan, president, #Chennai Runners says they’ve a yearly couch-to-5k program which is freed from price. “We encourage individuals who haven’t any background in operating or health to affix. They are assigned the operating chapter closest to the place they stay, are educated individually and are given customized plans,” he says. This, he says, has been extraordinarily helpful for senior residents and the #Chennai Runners has seen an uptick in individuals above the age of sixty join. “Instead of them randomly making an attempt to run, we information them on what to do and have mentors and coaches on board. Once their coaching is finished, they’re absorbed into one of many sixteen chapters we’ve, and so they can run all-year-long,” Yasir explains. 

“Running has given us the chance to journey to a number of various cities and discover,” Malthy says. An lively a part of the Bessie Flyers chapter of #Chennai Runners, Capt Dr Narasimha makes a robust case for individuals seeking to begin operating to affix a gaggle. “You is not going to take heed to your tempo or your tiredness — the pitter patter of ft operating throughout you’re going to get you into the groove. Couples who can, particularly, ought to run collectively. It is a superb bonding exercise,” he says.

At #Chennai’s greatest marathon this coming weekend, Capt Dr Narasimha will likely be a pacer for the twenty miler. Malthy, a scientific psychologist provides that operating as part of a gaggle has taught them persistence, focus, self-discipline, higher resolution making, and most significantly social expertise. 

“#Chennai has been particularly protected for girls to run, in my expertise. When I used to coach for full marathons in peak summer season, I used to begin operating on my own from as early as 3am, and I’ve by no means confronted any points,” she says. 

Baba Arasan throughout a marathon in #Chennai

The new yr has nearly begun and the primary few months of the yr already appear filled with marathons for runners like Baba Arasan, a retiredForest Department official. On Friday, the lengthy distance runner will head out of the town for the Hyderabad airport run. “I’ve participated in over 300 marathons up to now and half marathons are my favorite,” he says, having been operating for over fifty years now. From the Vasai Virar marathon in #Maharashtra to the #Tata Steel marathon in Kolkata, Baba has been travelling to run fairly a bit, and rattles off a listing of his greatest timings and finishes — every extra spectacular than the opposite. “In the 2019 #Chennai #Marathon, I completed the half marathon in 1 hour, 25 minutes and 26 seconds,” he says.

For individuals seeking to be bitten by the operating bug this yr, we ask these veteran runners for suggestions and tips.

Selvanayagam, Capt Dr Narasimha, and Malthy, all unanimously preach waking up early, given how #Chennai’s scorching climate makes it not possible to exit for a run within the late morning or afternoon. 

“I additionally advocate for everybody getting a medical test up achieved earlier than they begin, and with operating, I consider {that a} correct technique ought to be adopted. Start with easy mobility and stretching, then stroll and jog and slowly choose up from there,” Malthy says. 

“Most importantly, operating teaches you the right way to hearken to your physique,” she provides.

Published – January 01, 2025 01:23 pm IST

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