7th ECR Run - The Official Race Report

Folks,

The Official Race Report on our 7th East Coast Road Run is finally out!

You can read it online at http://ecrrun.chennairunners.com/
Should you want to take a print and read it in leisure, download the PDF version at http://chennairunners.com/images/ecrrun/Chennai_Runners_7th_ECR_Run_FINAL.pdf

Again, thanks to all the participants for having made this event a memorable one!

Happy Running!
--
Karthik Vijayakumar

Posting messages to the Chennai Runners group

Dear Members,

We'd like to remind everyone of the fact that WE DON'T ENTERTAIN EMAILS THAT ARE NOT IN ANYWAY RELATED TO RUNNING. In the best interest of the group, SPAM mails will be treated with utmost seriousness and the member will be BANNED from the group without notice.
For mails that don't seem to fall under the SPAM category, we will be issuing ONE WARNING to the sender. If repeated, we'll be forced to say 'thank you and good bye' (will be removed from the group).

I hope we all understand this and keep the energy, morale and the spirit of Chennai Runners as high as ever. Thank You!

PS: Should one have any doubts on how we classify mails as SPAM, refer to the definition of SPAM in the below two links -

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spam_(electronic)

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-mail_spam

Happy Running!
--
Karthik Vijayakumar
http://blog.karthikvijayakumar.com/

Run Tomorrow - Sunday, July 27, 2008

Chennai Runners..

After our successful long ECR Run#7.. let's do another long run tomorrow..

Date: Sunday, July 27, 2008
Assemble by : 5.00 a.m
Start Time: 5.15 a.m (sharp)
Starting Location: Dimensions Gym / Sony World , CP Ramaswamy Road, Abhiramapuram
Route: Classic or Classic Plus
Distance - The total distance is about 15+ kms.. but you do what you are able to.. and remember.. you can always Do More

Happy Running!!!

Please confirm your participation...

Run Tomorrow - Alwarpet / RA Puram - Friday, 25th July 2008

Team

We will do an easy run tomorrow...

Assemble, warm up & stretch: 5:00 AM

Assembly point: Dimensions Gym, CP Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet

Start time: 5:15 AM

Route: Boat Club Road circuit / To Anna University and back - lets decide at starting point

Distance: 5 to 7 km

Please confirm your participation.

Ramesh

Run, Shoot and Share

Folks,

You can now 'Shoot and Share' pictures related to running. All you need to do is to upload your pictures to Flickr and add them to the Chennai Runners Flickr group.

Your pictures will be displayed at Photos.ChennaiRunners.Com. Here is a direct link to the same.

For instructions on how to join the Chennai Runners Flickr Group, refer this posting.

So what are you waiting for? Run, Shoot and Share!

Happy Running,
Karthik Vijayakumar

Chennai Runners on Flickr

Folks,

We are now a Group in Flickr. The Chennai Runners Flickr Group page is at -
http://www.flickr.com/groups/chennairunners/

Should you want to be a part of the Chennai Runners Flickr Group, do send an email to photos (At) ChennaiRunners (Dot) Com with your Flickr username and email address.

NOTE: This is an "invite only" group. Access will be given ONLY to Chennai Runners members.

Happy Running
Karthik Vijayakumar

7th ECR Run Photographs

The official photographs are finally out from Chennai Runners studio :)

Check out the 7th ECR Run pictures at http://photos.chennairunners.com

If you had taken pictures during our 7th ECR Run, please do email them to photos (At) chennairunners (Dot) com. (We will make sure you get the credits!)

Thanks,
Karthik

Sprint ABC

Start Time: 0545 Hrs.

Venue: MCC School on Harrington Road

Nature of Run: Sprint ABC

Let's meet up inside the campus. If you have trouble getting in from the main gate, you could get in from the back entrance.

Regards,
Shahid

ECR Run No. 7 - Everyone's a Winner

Team

ECR Run No. 7 was a roaring success. Everyone who came and ran, walked and did a combination of the two, had their own personal victories. Some had never run before and finished 20 km! There were so many who registered for 5 km, but in the end switched to 10 km! Some improved their previous best distance by at least 20% Victories all over. For me, it was a very satisfying experience - I loved being a volunteer. I can't wait now to go out and run 30 km.... it has fired me up so much. Thanks to all the participants for making this a memorable event.

We had about 100 people in all, including volunteers. 85 persons participated in the event. The largest ever!

Special thanks to:
All the volunteers - you made the difference!
People behind the scene - in the lead up to the run, helped ensure that all preparations were in order.
Pepsi - for sponsoring Aquafina and helping us keep hydrated all the way!
KK, Karthik, Ram, Shahid, Senthil -for being there and taking care of so many of the "to do" items
"The Evangelists" - Shahul and Venkatesh - for spreading the spirit of Chennai Runners and bringing along sizeable contingents from Maverick Gym and the YMCA

Karthik volunteered to write up a small report on the run and post pictures. You will get an email on this soon.

As always, there have been lots of learnings in organising this event of this nature and areas for improvement. Do give us your candid comments and feedback on the good / bad / ugly or what you would like us to stop / start / continue - it will go a long way in ensuring that your experience of the runs organised by us are an improvement every time, just like your own performances!!

Thank you and keep running!
Cheers
Ramesh

Nice Guys (and Girls) Finish Last

For some of the beginners running tomorrow. check this out.

ECR Run No. 7 - Update 6

Team

Just about 30 hours to kick off!! Has the ECR fever set in yet?
We have crossed 100 registrations!!! It's going to be a fantastic run, with runners not only from Chennai but Hyderabad and Bangalore as well.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION / SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RUN

SAFETY FIRST: Please note that we do not have any safety net in terms of ambulance & insurance etc.. All of us running at our own volition and it is important to adhere to safety norms at all occasions.

THERE IS NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTION or police assistance for this run. “Self regulation” and discipline among ourselves is therefore very important. This is not a race for positions, it is a run and you compete only against yourself!

CARRY emergency information with you all the time

ALWAYS run on 'right side of the Road' facing the traffic. In doubt, slow down, let the traffic pass.

BUDDY up with a runner amenable with your pace and stick with them through out the run

DO NOT run abreast. Run in a single file or max TWO at any given time.

YIELD to traffic - Chennai traffic is unrelenting and does not stop for runners or pedestrians... So, yield to traffic.

DO NOT run if you are not medically fit. You and your physician are the only folks who can counsel you on that. Consult your doctor and listen to your body before embarking on the run.

STOP running and seek medical help if you feel uncomfortable at anytime during the run

Here is some new info / re-cap of various arrangements:
Date: Sunday, 20th July 2008
Assembly Point: Green Coconut Resort, Muttukadu, ECR Road
Assembly Time: Between 4:30 and 4:45 AM
Briefing: 4:45 to 5:00 AM
Run Start Time: 5:00 AM Sharp
Distance: Flexible - 5, 10, 20 or 30 kms with turn around points @ 2.5, 5, 10, 15 kms respectively.
Finish Line: Green Coconut Resort (Starting point)
Here is the route map:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2072932 and the routes for the different distances:

5 km - Green Coconut Resort ( GCR ) to Muttukadu Lake and back to GCR
10 km - GCR to the "left turn to Kovalam" ( about 500 mts past Taj Fish Cove ) and back to GCR
20 km - GCR to Crocodile bank and back to GCR
30 km - GCR to Dolphin City and back to GCR

Here is the route map to the start point - Green Coconut Resort. Please reach start point by 4:30 AM. The run will start at 5:00 AM sharp.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=12.833854,80.241866&spn=0.019457,0.037594&z=15&msid=103014197306411639476.0004524901c5d9c572727

Here is the route map to Dimensions Gym – please be there by 3:45 AM so that we can leave by 4:00 AM
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=103014197306411639476.00045248f0e871035363e&ll=13.031485,80.254043&spn=0.00486,0.009398&z=17

WATER, SPORTS DRINKS, REFRESHMENT STATIONS will be available at the 5 km, 10 km and 15 km points which will cover the 5, 10, 20 and 30 km mark. These stations will be manned by our volunteers. We will also have some basic first aid items like Dettol and Band Aid available at these stations.

RUN DAY LOGISTICS: Our aim is to arrive at the resort between 4:30 to 4:45 AM, park our vehicles at the resort, warm up, stretch and be ready to start the run by 5:00 AM.

Pick up point - Dimensions: We are looking to car pool from Dimensions on CP Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet to reach the start point. Please report to Dimensions by 3:45 AM. Cars will leave Dimensions at 4:00 AM sharp. I am sending a separate list of those who have said they need pick up from Dimensions. Please let me know how many of you with cars can come to Dimension so that we can add you to the number of cars available for car pooling?

Runners can also reach the start point directly to be in time for warm up session / start.
Other pick up points may be available, depending on your location and other runners driving/riding from your area. If you are driving to the starting point and can take some runners with you, please let us know your location / route so that others can join in.

ENTRY FEE: Rs. 250. This will be collected at the start / finish time. The entry fee is to defray the cost of organising the run such breakfast, first aid, fruits, water, sports drink, fuel cost etc.
There is a 2500 sq ft fresh water swimming pool which may tempt you after the run, this facility is available as an option to you at an extra cost of Rs. 75 per person.

CANCELLATIONS: All arrangements are being made based on registrations. Please let us know in case you are not able to make it, as last minute cancellations, no shows etc are a potential financial liability… the fee covers our cost of organising the event and some costs like breakfast are on fixed head count basis so we cannot afford to be out of pocket!!

VOLUNTEERS: We need volunteers to man drink / aid stations enroute and help with water, sports drink and generally provide first aid cover. I request some of our members who are NOT running to pitch in and help the runners. Join us as a volunteer and feel the thrill.... Please let me know if you are interested / know anyone who would be interested in helping us out.
Many thanks to Shumit, George, Ram (for volunteering his son!!), Arun Krishnan, Bhargav and Siva for your kind offer to volunteer full time for this event, and thanks also to Vidyuth, Ranga Thiruman and Ravi Kumar who will transform into volunteers after they finish their runs.

REGISTRATION: If you have not already registered, please register for the run on line at our website, www.chennairunners.com under the “Upcoming Runs” section. A list of registered participants will be sent out by separate email – please check if your name is there.

Stay tuned and feel free to raise any queries / comments to me…. And if you are feeling feverish, it’s about time you felt so!!!

Cheers and looking foward to Sunday morning!
Ramesh

ECR Run No. 7 - Update 5

Team

5 days to go!!!
79 participants confirmed so far!!!!

We need another 21 more to hit a century!! Do spread the word....

Volunteers: We need volunteers to man drink / aid stations enroute and help with water, sports drink and generally provide first aid cover. I request some of our members who are NOT running to pitch in and help the runners. Join us as a volunteer and feel the thrill.... Please let me know if you are interested / know anyone who would be interested in helping us out.
Special thanks to Shumit, George, Arun Krishnan and Ram (for volunteering his son!) for having confirmed that you will be able to volunteer during the event. .. fantastic gesture, should I say "sacrifice for the cause"...

Registration: If you have not already registered, please register for the run on line at our website, www.chennairunners.com - you can find the registration form under the "Upcoming Runs" section.

Logistics
We are looking to car pool from Dimensions on CP Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet to reach the start point. Alternatively, runners can reach the start point directly to be in time for warm up session / start
Cars will leave from Dimensions Gym, at 4:00 AM sharp
Other pick up points may be available, depending on your location and other runners driving/riding from your area.
Please let me know how many of you with cars can come to Dimension so that we can add you to the number of cars available for car pooling?
There are some of you (14) who have indicated that you need transport – can you all join us at Dimensions or enroute? Please confirm.

Here is some new info / re-cap of various arrangements:
Date: Sunday, 20th July 2008Assembly Point: Green Coconut Resort, Muttukadu, ECR Road
Assembly Time: Between 4:30 and 4:45 AM
Briefing: 4:45 to 5:00 AM
Run Start Time: 5:00 AM Sharp
Distance: Flexible - 5, 10, 20 or 30 kms with turn around points @ 2.5, 5, 10, 15 kms respectively.
Finish Line: Green Coconut Resort (Starting point)
Here is the route map: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2072932

Keep running and stay tuned!!

Cheers
Ramesh

ECR Run No. 7 - Update No. 4

Team

6 days to go and counting down!!! Are you ready???

We are inching towards 75 participants… we have 60 registered participants and another 10 who expressed interest via email but yet to register… I am sending out a separate email on this list…. Can you bring along your friends, family, colleagues… lets try to get to 100!

Here is some new info / re-cap of various arrangements:
Date: Sunday, 20th July 2008Assembly Point: Green Coconut Resort, Muttukadu, ECR Road
Assembly Time: Between 4:30 and 4:45 AM
Warm up, Briefing: 4:45 to 5:00 AM
Run Start Time: 5:00 AM Sharp
Distance: Flexible - 5, 10, 20 or 30 kms with turn around points @ 2.5, 5, 10, 15 kms respectively.
Finish Line: Green Coconut Resort (Starting point)

Here is the route map: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2072932 and the routes for the different distances:
5 km - Green Coconut Resort (GCR) to Muttukadu Lake and back to GCR
10 km - GCR to the "left turn to Kovalam" (about 500 mts past Taj Fish Cove) and back to GCR
20 km - GCR to Crocodile bank and back to GCR
30 km - GCR to Dolphin City and back to GCR

RUN DAY LOGISTICS:
Our aim is to arrive at the resort between 4:30 to 4:45 AM, park our vehicles at the resort, warm up, stretch and be ready to start the run by 5:00 AM.
Pick up point - Dimensions
We are looking to car pool from Dimensions on CP Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet to reach the start point. Alternatively, runners can reach the start point directly to be in time for warm up session / start.
Other pick up points may be available, depending on your location and other runners driving/riding from your area.
Please let me know how many of you with cars can come to Dimension so that we can add you to the number of cars available for car pooling?
There are some of you (14) who have indicated that you need transport – can you all join us at Dimensions or enroute? Please confirm.

Entry Fee: Rs. 250. This is to defray the cost of organising the run such breakfast, first aid, fruits, water, sports drink, fuel cost etc.
There is a 2500 sq ft fresh water swimming pool which may tempt you after the run, this facility is available as an option to you at an extra cost of Rs. 75 per person.

Volunteers: We need volunteers to man drink / aid stations enroute and help with water, sports drink and generally provide first aid cover. I request some of our members who are NOT running to pitch in and help the runners. Join us as a volunteer and feel the thrill.... Please let me know if you are interested / know anyone who would be interested in helping us out.

Registration: If you have not already registered, please register for the run on line at our website, www.chennairunners.com under the "Upcoming Runs" section. A list of registered participants will be sent out by separate email – please check if your name is there.

Stay tuned for more announcements and feel free to raise any queries / comments to me.

Cheers, keep running and stay tuned!
Ramesh

Run Tomorrow - Sunday, July 13, 2008

Chennai Runners..

Date: Sunday, July 13, 2008
Assemble by : 5.00 a.m
Start Time: 5.15 a.m (sharp)
Starting Location: Dimensions Gym / Sony World , CP Ramaswamy Road, Abhiramapuram
Route: Classic or Classic Plus
Distance - The total distance is about 15+ kms.. but you do what you are able to.. and remember.. you can always Do More

Happy Running!!!

Please confirm your participation... by going to our website if you can.. help increase the traffic..!!!!

Harrington/Kilpauk Run tomorrow July 8th

We will do an easy run tomorrow

Start Time: 0530 Hrs.

Start From: MCC School on Harrington Road

Route: MCC School to McNichols Road/Guru Swamy Road Back. Will do couple of loops and then head back. Total distance 6.50 Km.

Nature of Run: Easy 10-11 mins per mile. Suitable for beginners. Anyone needs wake up call please let me know. Also, runners living in Kilpauk can meet us in McNichols Road off Poonamalee Road directly (after MVJ towers) directly. We should be reaching there at 0545 hrs.

Relishing those few minutes..

I read from completerunning.com that the Western states endurance run has been cancelled due to the forest fires in California. First time I read or heard about this race is in the book Ultramarathon Man by Dean Karnazes. Western states endurance run is a gruelling and extreme long distance trail course which has six distinct sections covering 100 miles stretching from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Sacramento, California. Gordy Ainsleigh was the first to try, run and complete the course in 1974. In fact he competed with the horses to finish the race in 23 hours and 47 mins.

An Ultramarathon is any sporting event involving running longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195 kilometers. Even though the number of ultra runners are less today, the sport is getting popular pretty fast. Cliff Young, former winner Westfield Sydney to Melbourne; holds numerous world age records and one of the most inspiring ultra runners I have come across.

For persons like me, marathon training in itself is a very challenging, demanding job and becomes even more demanding if I am targeting for a finish time. When I train hard the worries of getting injured also keeps hitting my thoughts. Few weeks of layoff from running due to injury makes me to rewind my training for a month or more. I also have to keep my diet and weight on check, cut down junk food to a large extent, finishing work on time and the most hardest thing of tasting beer only once in a month. The long run on Sundays also eats away the time I spend with my family. I have plans and goals chalked down for another 3 years with targets and training growing linearly all for the heck of enjoying those joyous minutes after I finish the race.

Well, it becomes hard to imagine the way these guys training for the ultramarathon races. More than money, pride or winning against others it’s winning against ones body and mind. It’s all about relishing those few minutes after we finish the race.

Run Tomorrow - Sunday - July 06, 2008

Chennai Runners..

Date: Sunday, July 06, 2008
Assemble by : 5.00 a.m
Start Time: 5.15 a.m (sharp)
Starting Location: Dimensions Gym / Sony World , CP Ramaswamy Road, Abhiramapuram
Route: Classic or Classic Plus
Distance - The total distance is about 15 kms.. but you do what you are able to.. and remember.. you can always Do More


Happy Running!!!

Please confirm your participation...

ECR Run No. 7 - Update 3

Team

15 days to go!! How is your preparation going for the ECR Run??

We have touched the magic number of 50 participants who registered / confirmed expression of interest via email!! Can we push for 75???

The list of registered particpants is as follows:

1. Narayanan M
2. Meera Sundar
3. R V Ramani
4. Mohan Kumar
5. Karthik. k
6. Karthikeyan ( KK )
7. Balasubramanian
8. Shahid Kandrikar
9. V P SENTHIL KUMAR
10. Amrit Vatsa
11. Sangeetha Subramanian
12. Sai Prasadh
13. George Prabhu
14. Anupama S
15. Ravi Kumar
16. Hari hara prasad
17. V.SIVAKUMAR
18. Srini Bhavani
19. mahesh krishnamurthy
20. S J MADHAVAN
21. Sudheer Narayan
22. Bhargav
23. KP Suresh
24. Shahul Hameed
25. Prem Joseph
26. Karthik Vijayakumar
27. K.Harishankar
28. Srivatsan
29. Deepak V
30. S.SURESH
31. Sundar
32. Pothiraj
33. KUMAR
34. KARUTHU
35. E Manivannan
36. Ramesh Ponnuswami
37. Rajesh Subramanian

The list of participants who have confirmed interest by email but yet t register their details via our website are:

1. Ram Viswanathan
2. Vignesh Raja
3. Rajasekar Kuppa
4. Shumit
5. K. Shyam
6. Ramesh Seshadri
7. Sandy
8. Vijay
9. Saravananan Sadacharam
10. Arun Krishnan
11. Vidyuth
12. Rajesh Vetcha
13. Madhavan Madhavan
14. Nithya Ramesh

Could you all please register via our website, thanks. Registration will provide us important details such as emergency contact, blood group etc. Thanks.

Folks, we need volunteers! Could you please let us know if interested and if you know anyone else who would be willing.

Cheers, keep running and stay tuned!

Ramesh

Run tomorrow - Saturday, 5th July 2008 - Note change in start time

Team

We will do an easy run tomorrow in the Marina Beach area, we have a guest star for tomorrow, Rahul Verghese of Running And Living fame. Rahul was wanting a 6:00 am start and we will therefore start our run at that time.

Assemble, warm up and stretch: 5:45 AM

Assembly point: Near the Light House on the service lane

Start: 6:00 AM

Route: Along the service lane - one of our Marina regulars could you let us know if the lane is clear I heard that there are some roadworks on this lane, if so we need to work out some detours? We can also run in the sand for a change!

Distance: 5 km approx

Please confirm your participation!

Ramesh

To Beat the Heat, Learn to Sweat It Out

This is something, easy for Chennaites to do. To Beat the Heat, Learn to Sweat it out.

Run tomorrow - Friday, 4th July 2008

Team

We will do an easy run tomorrow...

Assemble, warm up & stretch: 5:00 AM
Assembly point: Dimensions Gym, CP Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet
Start time: 5:15 AM
Route: Boat Club Road circuit / To Anna University and back - lets decide at starting point
Distance: 5 to 7 km

Please confirm your participation.

Ramesh