Sunday Long Run (28th Feb 2010) Post Run Report

Hi All,

We were eight of us at the 5:15 am start and Ramani was there at 5:45 am for the beginners.

1.Ramesh McKinsey

2.Saravanan

3.Sarav

4.Senthilanand

5.Karthik P

6.Yash

7.Abdi ( Guest Runner from Kenya)

8.Shankar Lal M Patel

Abdi is Kenyan but now staying in London and has been here for the treatment of his father and somehow he came to know about Chennai Runners and was here for the run. He has done only half marathon and is not happy with his 1h:28min finish!!!!

We all ran the classic route. Abdi, Sarav and Ramesh tagged along and Senthilanand, Yash and me were running together.

At the finish point we met Madhavan and Ram who had started a bit late.

Some of the CR's had gone for the Charity Run of 3.7 kms at the Lighthouse.

Puru is going back to Mumbai and remember you have a good running buddy at Mumbai to run with. Puru we all are gonna miss you. Wish you happy running.

Run Schedule for Tomorrow - 28th Feb 2010

Dear Chennai Runners

Run Schedule for tomorrow..


Date: Feb 28, 2010
Day: Sunday
Assemble by : 5.00 a.m
Start Time: 5.15 a.m
Starting Location: Anna University - Near Cafeteria (which is close to the Anna University athletic grounds)

Parking: Two options..

Near the main entrance via Raj Bhavan Road (This is open all the time.. and use this entrance if you are coming before 5:00 AM)
Near the side entrance via the Kotturpuram Road. (Gate opens only @ 5:00 AM, sometimes you have to gently push the sleeping security guard to open the gate for you..)
Route: Classic or Classic Plus (Pl. familiarize with the route @ run.com).

Distance - The total distance is about 15+ kms.. but you do what you are able to.. and remember.. you can always Do More.. and for that you should Start Running..

Happy Running!!!

Please confirm your participation...

Beginners and experienced alike..: We would like all of you to join us in the run and have loads of run.. but if you are not join us @ 5:15 AM for some reason.. come down to Anna University anyways and run what you can.. and joins us for the informal 'networking' dutch breakfast at Anna University Cafeteria around 7:30 AM.

Anna University Cafeteria Location - Starting Point for Sunday Runs

View Anna University, Cafeteria in a larger map

Thursday LSD Run - Post Run Report

Hi All,

"What distinguishes those of us at the starting line from those of us on the couch is that we learn through running to take what the days gives us, what our body will allow us, and what our will can tolerate."
-John Bingham.

We were Five of us at Start.

1.Narayanan
2.Shahid
3.Shanaz
4.Shameek
5.Shankar Lal M Patel

We started at around 5:20am to run up to the Velankanni Church and back. Shahid had taken off right from the beginning and Shameek was running slowly as he was tagging along with us and suddenly due to pitch darkness he could not see the drainage lid which was higher than the normal road level and had a fall but luckily he did not have any injury. Then he slowly took off followed by Shanaz. Myself and Narayanan were running at very comfortable pace as Narayanan is recovering from an injury and he was running at a lower pace which helped me to tag along with him.

Shanaz, Shahid and Shameek did the full loop to Velankanni and back. Narayanan and myself decided to return from Rajaji Bhavan. We stopped at Rajaji Bhavan, stretched and started running back. Once again on the Malar Hospital bridge we stopped and did some wonderful stretches for calf and glut muscles, totally new to me and was good. Thanks Narayanan.

We finished the run of approximate 10k distance in 1h:09min.

Shameek (68 mins) and Shanaz (71 mins) did around 12.45 kms

Shahid did around 8 miles as per his Garmin as he added the De Monte Colony on his return.

Puru joined us running from Nungambakkam and ran a 4km recovery run after his maiden marathon at Auroville.

Ultimately it was good run for all of us and enjoyed the same.

Wednesday Run from Alwarpet with Guest Runner Joe

 

Hi All,

It was our pleasure to run with Joe along with Senthil VPS, Ramesh Mckinsey, Gautama, Ramesh Balan, Shahid, Shanaz, Jaishankar, Ramani, Karthik Padmanaban and Shankar Lal M Patel

Well, we did wait for the runners who had replied positive to join and since it was getting late we started at around 05:25 am and decided to do the Gandhi Vanakkam route.

Joe in action, miling and smiling (middle), Gautama (left) and Karthik (right)

When I was taking this photo, Shahid and Ramesh Mckinsey were already on the top of first Flyover!!! We were running at a comfortable pace and soon Jaishankar joined along with me and started asking what would be the total distance and I said it would be around 9kms and he said then he would return as he could only do around 5kms and I said just continue running and not think about that. He just followed and at one point just before reaching Gandhi Statue, he badly needed water and I was not carrying my fuel belt and hence he got into a tea shop had water and then we continued and by this time Shahid, Ramesh McKinsey, Gautama and Shanaz were running opposite to return to the start point.

Ramani and Karthik did not run to the Gandhi Vanakkam as they both had decided to return to start the run at 5:45 am for beginners. ( A good initiative by Ramani). Hope you had good run, Ramani and Karthik along with newbies’ 

Me and Jaishankar reached the statue and took a photo.

Soon Joe, VPS and Ramesh Balan joined and we took couple of photos just below Mahatma Gandhi Statue.

Then we started running back and avoided the flyovers and ran through the CIT colony and when the final 500m was to the finish point I asked Jaishankar to increase the pace and finish stronger, he did follow me for around 300 m and then slowed down and then I slowed down to join him and ran the final 50 m sprinting to the finish point and by this time all had finished except Ramesh Balan who had pain on his knee and also had lost the way and he soon joined us. Bharani had joined us cycling from his house.

Sorry Shanaz only your left hand is seen.

Photo by Shanaz, Thanks.

 Look at Joe’s ever smiling face.

Then VPS offered to have coffee at Sangeetha’s. Joe, Ramesh Balan, Bharani and myself joined for the coffee and enoyed the fresh coffee (Thanks VPS) and dropped Ramesh Balan at his house and dispersed.

Finally it was very good run and I can take it for granted, after seeing everyone’s smiling faces, that all enjoyed running with Joe.

Run Schedule for tomorow - Wednesday, Feb 17, 2010

Dear Chennai Runners

After the successful Auroville Marathon for all those participated from Chennai Runners.. We will look to hit the asphalt again tomorrow (got to get ready for Chennai Marathon.. How can we not run in Namma Chennai!!!1).  We are privileged to have an ace guest runner join us tomorrow.  Joe has escaped (good for him..) the cold Toronto to the sunny part of the world and would be running with us tomorrow..  

Please do plan to join us.. 

Run Schedule for tomorrow.. 

Date: Feb 17, 2010
Day: Wednesday

Assemble by : 5.00 a.m
Start Time: 5.15 a.m
Starting Location: Dimensions / Punjab National Bank

Route: Gandhi Vanakkam

Distance - The total distance is about 10k.. but you do what you are able to.. and remember.. you can always Do More..

Happy Running!!!

Please confirm your participation...

Intro on Joe (from Senthil's mail)

Joe started running a couple years back, on the insistence of his wife who had registered on his behalf and wanted him to start running.

He took a 17week training program and completed his first marathon. He was so enamored by his first marathon finish, wanted to continue running.

He wanted to be a part of the Marathon maniacs( 3 marathons in 90 days is the qualification), completed 3 marathons in 72days. And he has not stopped running since then, chasing marathons allover the world for the past two years.

btw.. Joe is 63

Feb 7, 2010 - Sunday Long AU Run

Making this a very brief one.

Runners today were Ramani, Vilwa, Madhavan, Senthil Anand, 'McKinsey' Ramesh, Shahid and Karthik.

Started just past 5:20 and runners paired or tripled up and did their runs. :-)

Shahid and I turned back from Velankani Church and ran home, and so do not know if the stretching and breakfast happened.

This was the last long one before Auroville. Looks as if everyone is geared up for that. Happy running folks.

Run Schedule for Tomorrow - Sunday, Feb 21, 2010

Dear Chennai Runners

Tomorrow we will not have our regular run but will participate in the SDAT Chennai Marathon.  Many of us have registered for half.. There is still time to register and participate.. Please go here for the details...

Even if you are not able to join the run, do join the fun by just being there and supporting the runners..

Happy Running.. Remember you can always Do More..

Feb 4, 2010 - Thursday: Circuit training with Sandy, MCC school

Let's get this out upfront: Today was special.

We had VPS, Nandita (VPS's better half), Shahid, Sudhir Ahuja, moi (Karthik) put through our straps by the pro himself - Sandy. We had done a 3 lap warm-up (~1.5 k) when Sandy joined us around 6:15 and got the circuit training started by 6:25 or so.

It was clear right away from the way he loped across the track to mark a 30 mt line, that he was in a different league of his own. 30 meters!? C'mon, that doesn't seem long for people aspiring to run 42 kms, but trust me, for some of those exercises that we had to do, it was long - very long.

We warmed up with some skips. I hadn't realized that there were so many variations in good ol' skipping - we did normal skips, fast skips, high-knee skips, long skips and a few others in between.

(All pics courtesy Nandita - Thanks)

Warmed up more with some criss-cross side walks/ runs, and a back run (yeah, just run backwards - but try that without losing your lane :-) )

That was then followed by the lunge-walk which was a total killer.

Probably the most hilarious one was the hop. The school time one legged hop - except that Sandy looked like a one-legged kangaroo effortlessly loping over the track while I resembled a crippled duck. This had variations too where we had to hop as long and high as possible. Ouch.

The 30 m was getting longer and longer. We actually had to reduce to 15 m for some of these ones.

Bounding came next - similar to running, but we had to imagine that there were puddles which we had to leap over: so basically, long, jumping strides, which was much tougher than it looked.

Finally came the 3 short sprint bursts. Never knew there was so much technique and posture to it. Fantastic.

Finished off with a slow jog and a walk around the track.

A terrific session. Thanks a ton Sandy. VPS - Owe you one for posting and getting this done. We loved it so much that we are going to be needing more of this, hopefully every week after Auroville.

Wednesday (03 Feb 2010) Run from Alwarpet - Post Run Report

Hi All,

"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves...The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, 'You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.' The human spirit is indomitable." 
-Sir Roger Bannister, first runner to run a sub-4 minute mile

Ram and myself were there at start point and decided to run to Anna University via Boat Club, River view road, AU and back to start point. Ram said this would be around 9-10kms. 

We started and there was some problem with my Garmin and by the time we were about to reach the new flyover after the Boat Club loop, it beeped to say Lap 1 (3kms) in 12m:35s and I was stunned and knew definitely we have not covered 3kms and even if we had covered not in 12mins. I just rebooted and started again.

The climate was cooler and we reached Anna University and did inner loop and wanted to take a short cut through a small gate which leads to the main road but when we reached there it was closed and hence we had take the same gate on the Kotturpuram side we entered and then took a short walk break ( we had run around 9.66kms in 58 mins as per Ram's Garmin) and continued running through St.Mary's Road and reached the start point via the De Monte Colony. Since we both forgot our head bands we discussed many things related to running and also some good mentoring from Ram with regards to Time Management. Thanks Ram.

Finally the total run was 13.29kms in 1h:22min @ 6m:17s/km as per Ram's Garmin. (As always it was Ram's 9-10kms run).

Then we had a good core strengthening session after the regular stretches.

Tuesday (02 Feb 2010) Gandhi Vanakkam Run from Alwarpet - Post Run Report

Hi All,

Today I had tough time convincing myself ( read as my mind) to cover the distance from my bed to the shoe rack.

Ramesh McKinsey, Rajesh S and myself were there at the start point. Ramesh Mckinsey was out of action ( read running/walking more than 5kms, but he was regular to gym) due to his ankle injury that he had 6 weeks back doing the same run on a Tuesday along with me and Balaji. 

Today he declared that he wants to run slowly till Gandhi Vanakkam to see if he is ok doing a longer distance of 9-10kms. Myself and Rajesh were happy that we can run together but just after the start before we reached the first Flyover he had already taken off like a jet and was not seen.

Rajesh and myself were running at our pace and Rajesh was struggling a bit from the beginning. Rajesh told the weather was more chillier than the previous days, which I could also feel. But was perfect for the running. 

On our way just before reaching the Gandhi Statue, we saw Vilwa running down on the other side of the road and waved hands and we ran till Gandhi Statue and then took a break for stretching and started our run back. We did not take the flyovers on return as the option was left to me to decide and I did not want to strain much. 

I ran the final 400m running faster,finished stronger and felt great. Ramesh did his around 8.6kms at 9.6kmph (This is what he meant as slow run!!!) had a good run. Rajesh and me did 9.11kms in 1:00hr @ 9.1kmph. 

Ramesh shared a very important information that in a Marathon, the first half is done with your legs and the later half is by your Core  and upper body. Thanks for the information.