Runners' block
Reams and reams have been written about road safety before, and more would be written in the future too. But safety remains a distant dream for all sorts of road users.
I am a runner, part of a vibrant running group in Velachery, Chennai. Recently, we lost a fellow runner who was hit by a speeding car. I do not want to go into the merits of the incident as to who was at fault. The fact remains that we runners practise at our own risk each day.
Amateur running has gained huge popularity in India in recent times; and almost every month, if not, every week, a major event is conducted in some part of the country. Our runners, both professionals and amateurs, are taking part in many prestigious international events such as Comrades Marathon and Boston Marathon and bringing laurels.
However, when it comes to practice, we are literally on the streets, with dangers lurking from all sides. Every time we step out, we stand like Oliver Twist and enact his food table role in our own way, 'Please sir, I want some space.'
The only place where runners could run safely is roads that have a wide platform or sidewalk. Wide platforms are available only in major cities, especially on major roads. Even interior roads of major cities are narrow; with vehicles jostling for space.
That apart, most of the roads across the nation are battered and bruised. When motorists themselves are exhausted in their fight for a motorable road, claiming a separate lane for runners and cyclists would be viewed contemptuously and rejected as a luxury and scandal.
Dogged runners
Even if one manages bad and narrow roads, stray dog menace is a big threat for us. Many a runner has suffered dog bites, needing administration of vaccine for weeks, which would mean, staying away from practice.
With a decade of experience and numerous encounters and face-offs with the man's best friend, now I can convincingly guess, by its very gaze, if a canine is going to charge at me or remain silent. In a lighter vein, these chasing dogs help us to get some extra pace.
During rainy season, we face another set of problems. Inundation and muddy roads force us to stop our practice. Potholes lie hidden under the muddy water. When walking itself is difficult on such roads, running cannot even be imagined or attempted.
Woman runners have their own set of woes. They suffer harassment, cat calling, rude remarks, indecent gestures and the like. I personally know a few woman runners who have quit because of these issues. After some persuasion, now we are running as a group, to safeguard ourselves.
Long-distance running is an art. We need a safe stretch to practise. At the same time, I understand the ground realities and I do not wish to blame the government.
I only call upon my fellow runners to be extra cautious while running. The solution lies only with us. Please always run as a small group. Wear bright T shirts. Run in the opposite direction of traffic so that you would be visible to the drivers and you too could notice the oncoming vehicles.
Keeping ourselves fit is very important; more so being alive. Your family needs you.
taraj2804@gmail.com
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The Hindu
17-05-2025
- The Hindu
Runners' block
Reams and reams have been written about road safety before, and more would be written in the future too. But safety remains a distant dream for all sorts of road users. I am a runner, part of a vibrant running group in Velachery, Chennai. Recently, we lost a fellow runner who was hit by a speeding car. I do not want to go into the merits of the incident as to who was at fault. The fact remains that we runners practise at our own risk each day. Amateur running has gained huge popularity in India in recent times; and almost every month, if not, every week, a major event is conducted in some part of the country. Our runners, both professionals and amateurs, are taking part in many prestigious international events such as Comrades Marathon and Boston Marathon and bringing laurels. However, when it comes to practice, we are literally on the streets, with dangers lurking from all sides. Every time we step out, we stand like Oliver Twist and enact his food table role in our own way, 'Please sir, I want some space.' The only place where runners could run safely is roads that have a wide platform or sidewalk. Wide platforms are available only in major cities, especially on major roads. Even interior roads of major cities are narrow; with vehicles jostling for space. That apart, most of the roads across the nation are battered and bruised. When motorists themselves are exhausted in their fight for a motorable road, claiming a separate lane for runners and cyclists would be viewed contemptuously and rejected as a luxury and scandal. Dogged runners Even if one manages bad and narrow roads, stray dog menace is a big threat for us. Many a runner has suffered dog bites, needing administration of vaccine for weeks, which would mean, staying away from practice. With a decade of experience and numerous encounters and face-offs with the man's best friend, now I can convincingly guess, by its very gaze, if a canine is going to charge at me or remain silent. In a lighter vein, these chasing dogs help us to get some extra pace. During rainy season, we face another set of problems. Inundation and muddy roads force us to stop our practice. Potholes lie hidden under the muddy water. When walking itself is difficult on such roads, running cannot even be imagined or attempted. Woman runners have their own set of woes. They suffer harassment, cat calling, rude remarks, indecent gestures and the like. I personally know a few woman runners who have quit because of these issues. After some persuasion, now we are running as a group, to safeguard ourselves. Long-distance running is an art. We need a safe stretch to practise. At the same time, I understand the ground realities and I do not wish to blame the government. I only call upon my fellow runners to be extra cautious while running. The solution lies only with us. Please always run as a small group. Wear bright T shirts. Run in the opposite direction of traffic so that you would be visible to the drivers and you too could notice the oncoming vehicles. Keeping ourselves fit is very important; more so being alive. Your family needs you. taraj2804@
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Think race car drivers aren't athletes? Take their grueling workouts for a spin
First came the mounting tension in the shoulders and the weakening grip while carrying 25-pound weights (11.3 kilograms). Then the laboured breathing while ripping through the rowing and skiing simulators, and the pain in the thighs on the box jumps. Topping it off: The strain on the neck simulating what it feels like to hit the brakes while racing at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour (321.9 kph) and the G-forces felt through sweeping turns. 'You're taxing every part of the body, which is what happens in an IndyCar," Newgarden said. 'There's no power steering, you're pulling high G-forces, it's hot and your heart rate is elevated. Everything is being stressed.' The first of three workout sessions drew about a dozen people, including a local fitness coach, a biotech entrepreneur, a television and movie actor and a journalist. Newgarden trainer Jeff Richter pushed the group through a 35-minute version of the routine he designs for the driver. It's a non-stop circuit of weight lifting, rowing and ski machines, core stretches and balance exercises, burpees and broad jumping, with only a few seconds rest between each exercise. The muscular Newgarden demonstrated each exercise station before the group started. 'Push! Get your heart rates up,' Richter yelled over blaring music before getting the group into a planking position to stress their core. 'Breathe! Hold your position!' 'We can't put them in the car,' Richter explained. 'But they can get to elevated heart rates, and put their body in bracing situations to simulate G-forces and heat stress. And their eyes open up.' Picking the most fit athlete is a topic that tends to be a conversation starter. Wrestlers? Endurance runners? Water polo players? Boxers, swimmers, cross-country skiers? Race car drivers don't tend to end up high on any of those lists; they just sit and drive ... right? Not so fast. Drivers across every elite series do some kind of physical training, from Newgarden's cross-fit training to the endurance training and reaction-time exercises of Formula 1 drivers. Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson is a fitness buff who has run the Boston Marathon. Three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano questions why anyone might not consider top-level drivers to be elite athletes. The fitness challenges are different from basketball or football but still real, he said. 'I run a fair amount, I lift some. We don't want to be big and bulky inside a race care But you have to be able to do something for a long time, so endurance is a huge thing,' Logano said. Race fans are becoming more aware of the physical demands drivers face behind the wheel, Newgarden said. 'People aren't as in the dark,' Newgarden said. 'Twenty years ago, people might say, 'I have a car, I drive to the grocery store every day, it can't be that difficult.' The physical demand is extremely high. It's not that whoever is the fittest is going to win the race, but it plays a factor. The appreciation is gaining ground.' One of the most notable challenges for IndyCar drivers, and perhaps most unknown element of the series for the casual fan, is that Indy cars do not have power steering, something most people take for granted. Newgarden and other drivers train to handle the strain on their shoulders, neck and grip needed to muscle a 1,700-pound car (771 kilograms) through a race, whether navigating a street course like St. Petersburg, Florida, or ripping around the high-speed oval at the Indianapolis 500. Actor Austin Nichols, best known for recurring roles in 'The Walking Dead' and 'Walker,' said he was impressed by the workout that left him breathing hard. He was among those who tried the special halo designed to test neck strength in simulated braking and turns. 'It was harsh,' Nichols said. 'That's why I came, to feel that thing that racers feel.' Vienna Sparks of Boston signed up for the workout as a break between sessions pitching her biotech startup to potential investors. She considers herself an IndyCar fan and wanted an inside look at Newgarden's routine. 'It was pretty comparable to one of my boxing class workouts that I do,' Sparks said. 'It was more like cross-fit training that I anticipated. You think driving might not have a cross-fit component, but it does make sense in the long run overall.' Austin fitness coach Eric Bumpus was impressed by the workout with Newgarden. 'Those G-forces, I'm sure they kill on you when you're heart rate is through the roof,' Bumpus said. 'I can't fathom doing that for a long period of time. It really is sensational.'
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Time of India
Sharon Lokedi sets new Boston Marathon women's record, John Korir triumphs in men's race
Kenya's Sharon Lokedi made history at the 2025 Boston Marathon by breaking the women's course record with a time of 2:17:22, more than two and a half minutes faster than the previous record set by Buzunesh Deba in 2014. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Lokedi's victory marked her second major marathon win after her 2022 triumph in New York City, and she also avenged her runner-up finish to Hellen Obiri at the previous year's race. Sharon Lokedi, of Kenya, crosses the finish line to win the women's division of the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) The final stages of the race saw Lokedi pull ahead of her Kenyan rival, Obiri, in a thrilling battle. Lokedi explained the intensity of the moment, saying, 'I'm always second to her and today I was like: There's no way. I just have to put it out there and fight till the end and see how it goes.' Ethiopian runner Yalemzerf Yehualaw finished third in 2:18:06, still well within the previous course record. The race started with a blistering pace, as the lead group passed the halfway mark in 1:08:46. Lokedi and Obiri maintained a fast tempo, even through the notoriously hilly sections of the course. Lokedi shared her concerns during the early stages: 'We went through halfway in 68 minutes and I thought: That's so fast! We hadn't got to the hills yet.' Despite the fast pace, the two women stayed in close contention, with only Lokedi and Obiri remaining in the battle for first place as the race wore on. In the men's race, Kenya's John Korir took the victory in 2:04:45, adding the Boston Marathon title to his 2024 Chicago Marathon win. Korir overcame a challenging start when he tripped and fell within the first 50 meters, losing his race bib in the process. However, he quickly recovered and caught up with the lead pack. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Korir's breakthrough came around Mile 20, where he surged ahead and gained a commanding lead over his competitors. His aggressive pace included a 4:41 split and a 4:40 split in the next two miles, which helped him create a gap, including during the infamous Heartbreak Hill. Korir's victory is even more significant as he is the first sibling pair to win the Boston Marathon, following his brother Wesley, who claimed the title in 2012. Korir's victory was especially meaningful to him and his family, as he became the second brother to win the prestigious race. After crossing the finish line, Korir shared a lighthearted moment with Wesley, saying, 'I had promised him that I am going to win and I made it. Today I will make jokes with him because I am the fastest in the family.' Korir's win solidifies his place among the marathon elite, with his performance ranking as the second-fastest Boston Marathon time ever, just behind Geoffrey Mutai's 2:03:02 from 2011. In the wheelchair division, Swiss Paralympian Marcel Hug claimed his eighth Boston Marathon victory, while American Susannah Scaroni triumphed in the women's race, securing her second Boston title after also winning in 2023.
