Keep those calf muscles toned and energy levels high as Runners For Life comes back with another edition of their run, this time with a cause in mind

It’s not just about staying healthy – running comes with a big list of benefits. It’s perhaps one of the most therapeutic treatments for the mind.

And Runners for Life, one of the running communities in the city has put together a run on March 8 to encourage Bangalore to get on their feet. Aptly titled Feet on the Street, funds collected from the run will also be donated to Dream-A-Dream foundation. Entrepreneur Bhaskar Sharma who has been a runner for many years and part of Runners for Life since its inception, finds it a great way to meet new people. “I’ve met many runners through this community and with the help of the online forum, we keep in touch – our discussions are not limited to running alone. I’ve also been able to actually interest people into running as well,” he says.

Founder of Runners for Life, Arvind Krishnan believes that running comes with a whole lot of benefits. “Bangalore has, perhaps, the largest number of runners in the country. The weather is conducive and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t take advantage of it. I believe that we can become a large scale community of runners in a few years. And it’s not just about being healthy. As a runner myself, I find it extremely centring. I can focus on thoughts and of course from a social perspective, I get to meet new people and spend a great deal of time with my neighbour who’s running along with me,” he says.

For first-timers, running can come with a few inhibitions, but both Bhaskar and Arvind say that it’s only a temporary phase. “Once you sign up and come for these runs, you’ll know that there are people like you who are also conscious of running in public. It’s just a state of mind, and it goes once you realise that if you are running slow, there are people behind you who are slower. We’ve had members who used to walk when they joined, and now, they run up to 10km,” says Arvind.

Ace runner, Alok Nath finds running to be one of the most exhilarating experiences. “Of course I feel fit. But I look younger, feel better from within and am one of the fastest in the group,” he says, adding, “If someone is just beginning to run, it’s always important to allow the body to adapt to pressure. So, take one step at a time. There’s no point in running out of steam just to prove a point, is there? It’s best to listen to what the body has to say.”

But where does the tie-up with charity come into the picture?

“Well we’ve been associated with Dream-A-Dream for a while now. Plus, I don’t know if people notice but most sportspeople do quite a bit for the society. Many of our members are involved in charity for a long time anyway. So what we’re going to do is donate half of the money we raise to this foundation,” says Arvind.

Sounds good to us. If you can run and go back home with a happy smile, there’s no harm in sharing the same with someone who really needs it.

The run begins on March 8 from Nike Run Club, Kanteerva Stadium. It will be inside Cubbon Park. A registration fee of Rs 200 is applicable. Log on to www.runnersforlife.com or call 41123851 to register.

Priyadarshini Nandy/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication