By Shalini Rai
Bhopal: The excitement was palpable, permeating the air, almost. A sea of orange and yellow t-shirts, with a few specks of red and white could be seen bobbing around the dew-covered Lal Parade Ground in Bhopal on the misty morning of Sunday, December 10, 2023.
I was there to attempt to complete the 5 km run as part of the Run Bhopal Run event. There were hundreds of other runners in the 10K Open Run and Half Marathon categories. Each category had been given different-coloured t-shirts and that made the atmosphere almost festive.
The route for the five km run started at Lal Parade Ground and culminated at T.T. Nagar Stadium. At the sound of drum-beats (the desi kind) around 8: 15 am, hundreds of athletes, casual runners and fitness enthusiasts surged forth as one and stepped out of the ground onto the main road outside.
We stopped traffic, literally, at the intersection that lay just ahead. From there, it was a half run-half walk affair – since the crowd of orange (the colour for 5 km runners) was large – winding our way towards the Raj Bhawan, across from Ravindra Bhawan, past 45 Bungalows and beyond New Market’s shuttered shops, till the finish venue came into view. It took the better part of 45 minutes for most people to make it to the finish line. My mobile app showed that I had just walked 7,265 steps.
Along the way, there were signs marking the route, volunteers on cycle and NCC cadets on foot guiding us along and acting as cheerleaders of sorts. Although the organizers had made efforts at ensuring a smooth run, some pit stops had run out of water and others were littered with discarded paper cups. At T. T. Nagar stadium as well, a large part of the ground was covered with discarded mango drink packets, banana peels and other food packaging.
If there was one thing that jangled in an otherwise successful run, it was this – the inability of people to follow public space etiquette and use the dustbin instead of littering the very place where they are sitting (or wandering).
The Run Bhopal Run event is being organized for the past few years, with Sunday’s event being its 9th edition. Organisers say its aim is to create awareness towards preserving and saving the Earth, through the campaign “Soulful Planet”.
With over 9000 participants taking part in various categories, the event emerged as a testament to the community’s dedication to health, fitness, and social causes. The marathon, hosted by Bhopal Runners, saw outstanding achievements in diverse categories. Notable highlights included: ‘Diverse Prizing’, where participants were celebrated across various categories, with over 05 categories featuring winners.
Special Awards recognized exceptional accomplishments with prestigious awards such as the RBR Glory Award — this certificate was proudly awarded to Bushra Khan, the RBR Shining Armour Award – in recognition of Diksha Kumari and her extraordinary accomplishments in the field of sports and RBR Stride Medal (Bronze) — For funners who have completed the half marathon thrice or more than 3 times in a row, to acknowledge their consistency and dedication.
