I got invited by Indo Global Social Service Society (IGSSS) to run the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon and I was really excited for the same. I was running the 6 km marathon and supporting IGSSS cause of providing homeless people with essential items to protect them from Delhi Winter.
About IGSSS and their cause
IGSSS is a non-profit development organization, established in 1961 to support development programmes across India, especially to empower the vulnerable communities and grassroots community based organizations. Last year, they worked across 16 states and one Union Territory of India.
Through the years, IGSSS has evolved as a major player in the development sector in India. They work on the themes of Sustainable Livelihood, Disaster Risk Reduction, Urban Poverty Reduction, Gender Equity and Youth Development.
Currently they are working for “Winter of Hope”; an initiative to provide homeless people with essential items to protect them from Delhi Winter. To support their cause, you can donate here https://icfn.in/ADHM/IGSSS/
Before the race began
I was running the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon for the first time and didn’t really know what to expect. I was running the 6 km race and for that I had to report around 7:30 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
After initial checking, I entered the stadium and there was a different energy all together. It felt as if I have entered a rave party. People absolutely “high on life”; everyone dancing and supporting their cause. There was a training zone, where everyone was warming up.
I headed to the “run-in-costume” zone where participants had dressed up and were planning to run in their costumes. These participants were majorly from NGO’s and through their dress up; they were supporting a cause. They had even prepared skit around their cause and it was quiet a good filler till the race didn’t began.
My experience at Airtel Delhi Half Marathon
Soon the race began and it was so much energy. Everyone from the booth were cheering and waving at us. Initially I decided to run but I soon realized you just cant. (:p) So the race I had participated in was had a lot of corporates/organizations employees and the participants were in groups of 15-20 people. Whenever I decided to run, I would come in contact with a group and would have to say “excuse me-excuse me” & the running momentum would just drop.
The entire race was quiet comic. There was a guy on the speakerphone who was coming up with funny comments like “People who are taking shortcuts would be penalized and made to run again.” (they were majorly his team members who had decided to take a short cut :p ).
Then a group of runners, decided to take rest and were eating “cholien kulche” on the way. In my experience, the whole race was quiet comical. So if you are really interested in a serious run, I’ll say-skip this and go for the 21 km run.
The race track was quiet entertaining; there were small installations and pop-ups everywhere. All the sponsors had used their spaces to give a unique experience to the runners. At the end of the race we were served piping hot breakfast: “poha” with granola bars. Overall a Sunday morning well spent!
