Hussain Sagar came alive on Sunday morning as city residents of all age groups showed up in large numbers for the 17th Edition of the Hyderabad 10K Run
It was the veterans, who stole the show with their amazing display of spirit and stamina throughout the run. Nearly 16,000 participants showed up for the 17th Edition of the popular Hyderabad 10K Run, organised by the Hyderabad 10K Foundation on Sunday morning.
While A. Babu and Nanjundan secured first and second place in the Mens’ Veteran category, Dinaz Vervatwala and Usha Kiran Venigalla bagged Gold and Silver in the Womens’ Veteran category respectively. Rachel Chatterjee won Gold in senior veteran category.
This year, the event took its goal of promoting health and fitness to the next level.
Says 52-year-old Adi Sheker Raju, “Hussain Sagar lake was so lively and beautiful. All the runners ran with one spirit and slogan — It’s My City, My Run.” Another veteran, 65-year-old, Srinivas Rao, who participated with his wife, proudly says, “This was my third attempt in the 10K Run.” Meanwhile, veteran M.S. Moorthi of Signode Industries says, “We are an inspiration to the younger generation, I take part every year.”
Retired IAS officer Rachel Chatterjee, who won in the Senior Veteran category (65 plus) says, “I have been running since I was 55, and have run several long distance races —10K, half and full marathons. But the Hyderabad 10K run is a beautiful run around the picturesque Hussain Sagar, a flat course too, so one doesn’t have to make that extra effort for hill running. And the weather was perfect. I never miss this run unless I’m travelling.” She adds, “I am now in the Senior Veteran category, but still going strong. This year, my son Ishan ran with me, and that made the run even more enjoyable. We saw many families running — parents and children and that’s a great way of bonding. Just like ‘a family that prays together stays together’, ‘families that run together have fun together’!”
Interestingly, while she finished in 1 hour 2 minutes, Rachel’s son Ishan completed the run in 54 minutes. “His first run and he smashed me!” exults the proud mother.
Starting young
Six-year-old Jatin Reddy, who finished the 10K in 1:22:40, says, “I decided that I was just going to keep running. I had to get to the finish line. I have been running for the last one year in 2K, 5K and 10K, but this was my best.” Apparently, the young boy runs every morning for an hour with his father, Pratap Reddy.
