Runners step up pace for big day

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This strip of 21-odd-kilometres attracts a bevy of beauties from tinsel-town (Bipasha Basu will make an appearance for sure). Delhiites who need such a motivation — and those who don’t — will run in the seventh Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. But those who are contemplating running the full course need to get off their easy chairs and put in a few paces as the countdown to the “World’s richest half marathon” has begun.
Sixty-odd days is still long enough for anyone seriously interested in completing the race. And those that have set their targets in mind can already be seen slogging in the city’s well-known jogging havens like India Gate and Nehru Park.
Rajesh Wadhwa, a naval officer who is a habitual runner, says, “I run fairly regularly covering distances ranging between five to eight kilometres everyday. I would do more but I have to make time from office, family.” Arjun Joshi, who jogs an impressive 20-kilometres during weekends from his Bhajanpura residence to India Gate, laments the lack of safe running courses. “My friends and I will be appearing for Combined Defence Exams (CDS), and running is a must for the physical tests. The half marathon will only give us another reason to keep up the paces.”
Others have their own reasons to run. Prasad (who goes by the first name), an engineer who runs on a regular basis, has set a target that’s even more distant than the half marathon. “We’re preparing for the Run Against Corruption that is tentatively scheduled for Novemebr 28.” Atul Mishra, who accompanies his teenager to Chanakyapuri for his Sunday Taekwondo practice says the marathon reminds a lot many of us of the benefits of running. “Till a few decades back, people were healthier because they walked till their nearby markets/ towns as there were fewer cars and motorcycles. Then green avenues were needed for a walk, but now broader roads are required to ply cars on, so where’s the need for road-lined avenues?”
It’s important that one begins early and keeps pushing one’s limits 10 per cent every week, says Rajesh. “Assuming that one is a casual runner, or an absolute newbie, it will take an average person (with some latent strength) three or four months of rigorous training to run a 20.1 km-long half marathon. One should begin by running three kilometres every alternate day, and run for longer distances on Sundays while taking atleast three days off every week. Fitness and health is a by-product of consistent running and marathon training,” the strappy naval officer adds.