Bengaluru 10k Challenge.

Definitely 'the tougher 10k'.

By Veloscope

August 13^th, 2017

From the organizers of the famous Shriram Properties Bengaluru Marathon under the NEB Sports banner, the 3rd edition of Bengaluru 10 Km saw an overwhelming participation of over 10,000 runners from Bengaluru and other metropolitan cities who made to the start line, to participate in this challenge across different age categories and different race formats of 10 km – Timed run and 5 km – Fun run. This race boasts itself as the toughest 10k challenge in the city and rightly so, with the Nice road, offering a rolling terrain for the race with an elevation gain of 110 meters, it demands the best effort out of you.

THE HUMAN WAVE.

THE EARLY PASS.

Sunday, 9th July 2017, the NICE road toll gate at Hosakerehalli was buzzing with tons of energy and enthusiasm of the runners who were at the venue for participation and for supporting their fellow runners. Drum rolls added the cultural flavor to the event, peppy music and the presenter making loud energetic welcome notes and announcements and encouraging the runners for a proper warm up lead by the fitness instructors made it a super charged morning.

WAKE UP, WAKE UP!

THE START.

The 10 k race was flagged off by the Arjuna awardee and a long jump International athlete Reeth Abraham, who’s also a part of the organizing committee of Bengaluru 10k amidst lot of cheering at 6:00 AM

The elite runners took the front lines and off they went on the countdown with unbelievable speeds lead by the event motor bikes.

The river of colorful runners flowing down the route in the early morning sky colors and on the scenic and clean roads of NICE road was so poetic and quite difficult to give a literal explanation to – it was a treat to watch, capture in the shutterbugs and to soak in the view.

What started as an extra serving of a well-organized race distance option of 10 km to the runners of Bengaluru with already enough full and half marathons to their weekend/ monthly race itinerary, to get more and more people out on the road running and embrace the gift of health and fitness, it has transcended to the most awaited 10 k race after TCS 10k, for which runners start gearing up in terms of training months ahead to combat the challenge which this race offers yielding their efforts into their personal bests, which is by the way one of the unique factors to this race. While it tests your toughness, it is a lot of FUN.

STEPS TO MATCH.

For the benefit of runners, the event organizers appointed official pacers for different finish times from 50 minutes to 75 minutes to help the runners with the extra push and a good pace to zip through the distance of 10 kilometers. The pacers were running with the pipe flag at the back for differentiating them from the rest and for a good identification. While everybody is racing against the clock, a pacer takes the mass of runners with a specific goal at hand and in mind towards the finish line – which has churned out in a good amount of appreciation from the runners that it has been extremely helpful to them to stick to the bunch of same paced runners and not give up.

THE INTRUIGED ONES.

While the runners made the event, spectators and volunteers added to the life of the event. Things when appreciated, makes way to their growth and promotes it to the larger masses. The aid stations were well equipped and were eco-friendly. The minimum trash output that could be recycled was the aim around the planning and it was visible on the event day. The volunteers were cheerful and enthusiastic. All the kilometers were well marked and a volunteer was placed at every mark to keep the things flowing and hassle free.

To add to the unique factors governing the NEB sports race planning and organization, all the age category winners are felicitated, in both the gender and given cash prizes in addition to the fastest overall winner taking the obvious glory, to encourage all the age categories to feel inclusive and competent and to help promote the sport.

The race is all set to come back bigger and better next year on July 8, 2018 for the runners to break their own personal records and get more people running towards fitness and their goals.