The running fever!

Get your running shoes out, Hyderabadis, because the newest trend in the city is to run your way to good health. The 100-day running challenge is pretty self-explanatory — You run for 100 days without fail, covering a minimum distance of two kilometres. Runners from over 300 cities are clocking their hours on various apps and are posting their distances covered on the challenge’s website.

So far, it is going very well and I plan to do 130 days, completing it with everyone else —Anitha Manda

While it instils discipline, the month-long challenge that started from April 29, it has also raised one concern:  people pushing their limits without resting during sickness or injury!

“So far, it is going very well and I plan to do 130 days, completing it with everyone else,” says Anitha Manda, from the Hyderabad Runners club. The runner says that she is not someone who would exercise mindlessly. “It is important to rest, because some people have to stop running completely, due to injuries. And even if we are unable to finish the challenge, what’s the big deal?”

Another runner from the city, who has suffered a hamstring injury, but is adamant not to stop, says, “Doctors have asked me to take it easy, but I’m yet to make up my mind about it. I am seeing a physiotherapist, who is trying to relieve the pain. I will go on until I feel the injury has gotten extremely bad,” she says. 

Dr Chandra Shekar Ramineni, orthopaedic surgeon, says that he wouldn’t recommend this challenge. “Personally, I would never take this up, because one day of complete rest in a week is a must. But to those who are doing it, I would suggest that they stick to two kilometres and not more,” says the doctor, who is also a runner himself.

For professional runner Udit Arora, this is the second time that he is taking up this challenge. “I do it because this challenge instills discipline. The aim of this challenge is to keep your body fit,” Udit says. “If you are injured and still want to run each day just to complete the challenge, then you’re defeating its purpose. The challenges are very difficult in the first 10 to 15 days. After that, you don't want those days to go to waste, so you keep up the pace.”