The Great Chattisgarh Run (TGCG) is an annual event conducted by “Let’s Run ” Raipur. For the past few years, this has been a major attraction for sports enthusiasts in this state. The district administration and Let’s Run organises this event in four categories – 6 km, 10 km, 21 km, and 42 km, in Nava Raipur.
This was my first attempt at a formal marathon. The others I participated were simple fun events and so I did not have any official run time. I registered for 10 km as soon as I saw the event on Facebook. My previous Lets Run event was 6km run, before Covid, which was very memorable and became a miles tone in my life when I realised I can do this and I don’t mind the grill :-D Thanks to Dr. Dipti Kothari for that trip to Raipur.
Dr. Dipti Kothari has been a motivator from the beginning for any kind of sports. Inspite of being a busy Radiologist and a mother of two young boys, she finds time to engage in cycling, running, and sports like Kung Fu for which she travelled to Thailand and completed her one month course(in two parts).. yes she motivates us to do our bit …. This time too I was fortunate to travel to Naya Raipur with her.
We started by 5 am on 17th December from Bhilai and reached Nava Raipur in an hour as our event (10 km ) was to start by 6.30 am. 42 km run started by 4 am and 21 km started by 5.30 am. Participants are to report early as the warm up is a major attraction. Huge stage is set up for Zumba trainers and the whole crowd loves to stretch and shake the lethargy away with the music. The air is vibrant with the loud music and the energy of the participants which i have loved, young and old together! It was a chilly winter morning and removing our warm clothes felt like punishment, but imagining the chill felt by all those who had to start at 4 am … We had received our Tee shirt, BIB (chest number with RFID card) a day before, Dr. Kothari was kind to collect mine too. So you see, the event is well organized. .. 🙂 and the race starts on time.
At the start point, huge digital timer shows the hours and minutes and by 6.25 am everyone moved towards the start point and we were flagged off exactly at 6.30 am. There we see on the path a blue mat with a slight hump, we have to step on this mat which records our start time, on the RFID card on our BIB. Similarly at 5 km/10.5 km point a mat is placed, which records the half way time for all and step on the mat for the final time to record the finish time.. .
This year the Event had a theme inspired by “Birds of Chhattisgarh” – The run mascot was “Gracula religiosa peninsularis“, Bastar Hill Myna.
The 42 km participants have to run the 21 km twice, and 21 km runners will run till 10.5 mark and return. For 10 km runners will return from 5 km mark. The whole path is well marked and dotted with event organizers standing with water, energy drinks, dry fruits like almonds, raisins .. and best part is the dhol music. Dhol beats added much needed zing to my feet .. There were not many women I must say who were above 40 there … in this event. Mostly it was youngsters, and groups of men who pat each other and become the driving force for their friends.
Walking has been a pleasure to me. It started in the past decade when I realized my knees ache while I go up the steps. An orthopedic doctor suggested some knee exercises and asked me to walk everyday, which I have been doing. I love the idea of running, it gives me a kind of pleasure to look at athletes running…. but I cannot run. I can jog but not more than 200 meters at a stretch so walk-run is my strategy to participate in a marathon!! Most mornings, a few kilometers of brisk walk is “my time”. Once I have registered for an event like this, I am regular and try to walk/jog atleast 4 days a week.
It is recommended that those new to running should get a checkup from their doctor, as there are certain warning signs and risk factors that should be evaluated before undertaking any new workout program, especially marathon training. It is so important to train for atleast three months, so that our muscles know what is expected and is tuned for the long haul. Here too I saw an ambulance rush past the 5 km mark… must have been someone collapsing due to the exertion.
I do not mind testing my limits and kept jogging for short intervals and then walking for the whole time on this bright morning. Some listen to music while running, some need company to run. For me it is a kind of meditation.. plain walking. … There were many who ran past me competing for the 10 km, 21 km, and 42 km. Overall the vibe is everyone to do their best… complete the stipulated distance and check your own time and exult ! 🙂
In 90 minutes I completed the 10 km. The results of the various categories were made available by “Sports timing Solutions” website. Individual run time ofcourse got SMSed to the mobile numbers for most. Sadly I didnt get the SMS…. Once the results were announced I was glad I could see my name among the first 10 female participants for 10 km !
It was a delight to participate in the event.. I just wish more women participated, though it is inconvenient, hard to mobilize/challenging. …
The Organizers had arranged real good breakfast, gave lot of goodies along with the dry fit Tee-shirt. There were stalls which distributed milk products, potted plants.. and other Knick knacks. Three cheers to the Organizers ! Hurray !!! Job well done…
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