ECR 10 - Raising the Bar

Dear Chennai Runners..

ECR runs are getting better with every run.. and the one we conducted today simply raised the bar several notch.. thanks to the tireless work done by Balaji and the volunteers... We had several firsts.. let me see if I can list some of them......

Full Marathon: We had two Saravanans doing full marathon in ECR 10. These guys chugged along braving the sheering heat and humid conditions to complete the full.. it take a lot of physical and mental stamina to achieve that.. Saravanans: Congratulations on a great job. Sarav; Do join us whenever you visit Chennai.

100+ Runners: We crossed the magical number of 100 this time... It shows that the 'running' is catching on in Chennai.. slowly but surely..

Event Book: We published an event book for the first time. Thanks to Balaji.. it was simple and contained all pertinent information..

Youngest Runner: We had runners from 11 to 64 participate today... Though not sure, this is perhaps the first time we had such a young runner participate in an ECR run..

TV Coverage: Thanks to Archana & KK, NDTV Hindu covered ECR10

It takes a dedicated bunch to organize an event like this.. ALL on a voluntary basis.. they do it because they are passionate about running and truly want to see the habit catch on in Chennai.

Volunteers: The success of any event like this depends on the dedication of the volunteers and we had a great team for ECR10.. These guys are passionate runners themselves.. went out of their way to make the runners comfortable. Thanks Rajesh, Ram, Karthik, Vijetha, Senthil, Tiger, Hari, Radhakrishnan, Arun, Nisha, Subra and few others I am forgetting.. Awesome.. You guys rock.. a BIG Salute..

Balaji: He was the race director for ECR10... From the creative event book to mile marking to running around to organize all the sundry but important things.. You did an amazing job of getting things various things on a even keel.. Thanks Balaji.

Bicycle Group: Thanks guys.. some of you ran and then coasted up and down to encourage the runners..

Rajamanikam: Thanks for the spreading the fitness mantra in your part of the world and bringing 25+ for the run.. I sure hope the folks who ran today.. take to fitness in and see a positive change in their lives..

Ramani: Thanks a bunch of tirelessly spreading the word and taking the lead on poster printing, BIB printing and distribution.. Your enthusiacm is truly afflictive..

Ram Prasad: Thanks for connecting us to Kodak and making the posters possible for the run..

Subra: Thanks for taking care of issuing the certificates.. you took it upon and did a thorough job of it.. Thanks a bunch..

Kodak: Thanks for the posters.. they help spread the word.. And for the photographers... who were with us all thru the run.. capturing the 'kodak moment'.. that we will cherish for a long time to come..

EMRI / 108: Thanks for your ambulance support.. your presense gave a us comfort feeling.. which is crucial for any event like this..

Last but not the least. Runners... You guys made it a success.. waking up early to be part of the event.. Keep running and feel the difference yourself..

Photos & Videos: Many took them.. Please do load them on to flickr / picassa / outube ..and tag them with ChennaiRunners and ECR10.

Once again a BIG Thanks to all of you for making the run a success.. see you all in ECR11 in Oct / Nov 2009.. Till then keep running and keep smiling..

Ram Viswanathan