Women runners' group rocks road to fitness

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For city folks, a group of women running daily between 5.30 am and 7.30 am on the Kawdiar-Vellayambalam-Vazuthacaud route is surely not an uncommon sight. For the last several months, they have got used to the sight. The group of 20 women runners comprises IT professionals, doctors, homemakers and volunteers. But what binds them together is the love for running. Most of them hit the roads a year ago through the Trivandrum Runners Club (Tracs).

“I was introduced to Tracs founder Abhay by a common friend. Being obese I wanted to shed some weight. So I decided to give running a try. After walking and jogging, I started regular running since November. Now I run five to six days a week,” said Syama who works for a global IT firm. The women runners follow a strict regimen. They wake up quite early - 4.30 am, do household chores, fix breakfast for schoolgoing children before turning out in their running gear at Kawdiar junction, the starting point.

The runners follow scheduled routes covering 5,7 and 10 km on week days. Some extra miles are added on the weekends. “Initially I was a bit hesitant. But after becoming part of this wonderful group, I found that running was fun,” said Dr Deepa, a paediatrician. The women runners do not hide the fact that most of them started running for weight loss. But things changed significantly after they became part of the group. “Group running is amazing, infectious and addictive,” they all swear.

Running has surely given them many positives, likeminded friends besides boosting their inner strength, confidence, and endurance. Seven of them trained hard braving rain, wind, humidity and exertion for their first run outside the state – the Dream Runners Half Marathon (DRHM) 2016 at Chennai in July. Syama, Deepa, Mini, Jyothika, Anjana, Rajani, Keerthi and Trui Knijnenburg all successfully completed the 22.5 km stretch fighting hot and humid conditions.

“If we can do it anyone can do it,” says Deepa inviting women to take to running. The camaraderie is not limited to running. Now birthdays are celebrated out in the open park at Kawdiar. The group is now looking forward to the Trivandrum Marathon to be held in October and the Spice Coast Marathon in Kochi in November.