After a hiatus of about a year, the time was right here again. Airtel Delhi Half Marathon was waiting with open arms to embrace the enthusiastic and fitness-freak Delhiites. Wintry morning bike ride to the venue (Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium) ran the same chill down my backbone that I, for some inexplicable reason, enjoy to the hilt. Parked the bike and my worldly thoughts at a friend’s place, I quickly changed into the running gear and was off to the venue to meet the synergy that thousands of Delhites create at this juncture every year. The atmosphere was bubbling with common spirit to support noble causes that Delhi marathon offers individuals to run for. I felt one with the feeling too.
I have been a regular at the Delhi half marathon for the past three editions. The entire idea of awakening weary souls from lazy bodies through an event as big as this struck an instant cord with me three years back. It's like a reality check regarding our sedentary lifestyle. What else, we get to donate the participation fee to a cause we feel for. My money was for providing quality education to one and all.
Young ones, oldies, bodies that were in superb shape and the ones that I would refrain from describing here for want of socially-acceptable expressions took part in the marathon with the same gusto. I met an old colleague (ex-boss) and a regular marathon bunny at the event – Anup Sharma. His enthusiasm for running is contagious. I joined hands with him yet again and headed towards the starting line. Delhi CM Hon’ble Sheila Dikshit, Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, Glam doll Bipasha Basu and new-handsome-on-the-block Rajeev Khandelwal were present there at the do to flag off the race and support the cause.
People wearing fancy costumes, flashing messages to overcome evils of society and inspiring music by professional rock bands were the highlights of the event. Corporates, like every year, sponsored their employees and chipped in with substantial money for various causes ranging from eradication of poverty, female foeticide, gender bias, racism and promoting quality education for underprivileged lot among others.
I participated in the ‘Great Delhi Run’ category and completed the entire 6-km stretch; this time round without stopping once. May be my stamina has improved from last year or it could be the curved lips that decorated beautiful faces running alongside which proved to be my motivation. At every bend, there were percussionists, guitarists, folk dancers and singers who jammed to buck up the runners. Rock bands from Delhi University were missing though due to internal exams. All in all, it was a great fun activity and I enjoyed myself as much as I had expected. Looking forward to next year now and hopefully I will be able to participate in the half-marathon (21 kms) next time. That will be quite an achievement for me. But the next season is one entire year away from the present. Time for me to start checking my calorie intake and being a regular at gym now.
