The Hindu : Front Page : Delhiites keep a date with some running

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 17, 2005

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Delhiites keep a date with some running

Mandira Nayar

DELHI RUNS, AND HOW: A view of the runners in the Delhi Half Marathon from Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium on Sunday. Photo: Sandeep Saxena

NEW DELHI: The Capital took to its feet on Sunday. Getting up early on a bright and sunny morning on a holiday for the Delhi Half-Marathon, it was a day when ordinary and extraordinary achievers came together to show a rare streak of enthusiasm. While for some it was the first experience of seeing a day begin so early on a holiday, for others it was just another meeting place with old friends.

With television cameras beaming the event live, FM music stations constantly playing loud Hindi music and the area around Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium turning into pedestrian zone, for once the traffic police did not have to deal with impatient honking motorists at least till the end of the run. "It is fun at least till now,'' said Yogesh, a young enthusiastic runner at the start of the `Great Delhi Run' who had put on his jogging shoes for a cause. "I have never got up so early on a Sunday morning, but I think it is fun. I don't know what will happen at the end of the race,'' he said brimming with excitement.

A fiesta with loud music, teeming people, the city finally `met' each other breaking the boundaries of posh addresses, distance, age and certainly "brand stereotypes'' to finally get out and run. Dressed for their athletic experience serious runners might have been quite impatient with those who chose just to walk through the iron gates totting their mobile phones and pretty slippers, but all in all, the Great Delhi Run was a celebration of the spirit of participation.

But for the brave, the earnest and those who wanted to use the media attention to highlight a cause, it was putting their feet where their money was. With a number of non-government organisations supporting causes from autism to environmental issues to education for all, it was an occasion to give those who don't have equal opportunities a little bit space in the minds of people.

Then there were those who decided to steal the show by their courage. From the differently-abled setting an example with their courage like the two representatives from mobile crèches to the differently attired like the witches who set out to have a Halloween Party or the little boy dressed as a shark, it was Delhi's date with a little exercise and certainly enthusiasm.

While the Great Delhi Run started off with people excitedly taking to the challenge of running over 7 km by loudly cheering each other to go the distance, the end saw sweat-soaked runners come back thrilled that they could push themselves so far.

"I stared running three months ago. I just had a baby and I wanted to get back into shape. So I took to running. I actually enjoyed it. I ran with my coach. I wanted to see how I could keep my time,'' said Manika.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit might have not lead by example, telling reporters that she was doing a lot of running "otherwise'', but she was surely there to cheer those who decided to do it the regular way.

Coming out in a big way, celebrities from different walks of life from the young Member of Parliament Naveen Jindal to former cricket all-rounder Kapil Dev, all decided to give up their sleep to enthuse those who came out to run.

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