Mindtree RRRun 2019

Rajarajeshwari Nagar Runs for a cause

By Veloscope

March 24^th, 2019

24th February 2019

The day dawned in quiet and green Rajarajeshwari Nagar in quite an unusual fashion. The Roads were broad, and leafy and welcoming, as always... but they were full of runners in bright, high-visibility clothes, and running shoes all laced, up, ready to race.

While all was as usual elsewhere in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, the story was very different in Global Village

RACE READY

The pre-race scene at the resort was nothing short of awe-inspiring, as throngs crowded to show the rest of the world what made their community so special and warm. Under the aegis of the Rotary Club Rajarajeshwari Centennial, this race is growing in stature with every passing year.

Preparing for an exceptional experience

The race organisers are known to be thorough, and leave no stone unturned to ensure that the runners have a great experience. Bangalore has been setting the standards for footraces really high, and that is now a 12 year old phenomenon. Small wonder then, that organisers like those of the Rrrun shoot to fame because of their intent, keenness and ability to push the envelope and truly give the runners a flawless race experience.

running at Break of dawn

The race has been reporting higher participating numbers with every passing year, and that is one great way for them to be able to give visitors a great experience. This is at the heart, a community endeavour and they are open and welcoming of all neighbouring communities.

Community at the heart

The race was run by the community, at the end of the day. The proceeds from the race go towards various good causes in the neighbourhood: among medical causes are diabetes prevention and cervical cancer prevention. Among upliftment causes were schools, the literacy mission, and potable water for those most in need in the neighbourhood.

There were friends, neighbours, entire families out on the run. People chose between the half marathon, 10k and 5k race distances. People had the option of doing a timed 5k run, which is a category that is slowly seeing an upsurge in the country, and doing a non-timed 5k walk-run.

All participants got a t-shirt, which is the heartwarming explanation to an army of grey seen marching up the hill!

Folks talking selfies, folks walking or running with friends or cousins, all seemed to be having a great time. The dogs on the road also joined in for some fun.

Families that run together smile together

From toddlers to teenagers to all ages and types in between, the young carried the older ones with them, towards a healthy and bright future. Or maybe it was the older ones setting a positive example by making a Sunday morning active, and spent doing good for the community. Maybe it was both, with the young learning from the old and vice versa.

What cannot be denied is the expressions of joy and accomplishment across both sides of the age divide.

takers for every distance

The race was made spectacular by the fact that there were 1.22 finishing half marathoners and first time runners, all picking up on each others energies and storing up positivity. Being in the same place at the same time is what creates opportunities to learn from each other - on the road during the race, and off. The Rajarajeshwari Nagar running community is highly active, enthusiastic and appreciative of the smallest efforts of others. This helps keeping a race like this wonderfully welcoming and warm.

Conquer every hill

These are the stories of our lives. Some of us crest the hills with smiles on our faces, others want to record that moment with a friend with posterity, yet others want the whole community to witness their success and some others put their heads down and push till they are over it. Irrespective of the path and mental talk that got us there, all the people who ran the Rrrun in February 2019 know the high that comes from cresting hills. Here's hoping that it keeps them coming back for more the next year and the years after.