These Mangalureans are covering great distances for great company and better health Premium

Mangaluru Runners Club, a diverse community of runners brought together by their shared passion for running and commitment to living a healthy and active lifestyle, started as a small group of six people.

A few minutes before the sun rose on the day of Bisu Parba, the festival in Tulunadu to mark the first day of Souramana Ugadi, on April 14, around 50 runners assembled behind Bharat Mall in Mangaluru. After about 10 minutes of warm-up, the runners started their regular 5K and 10K “Sunday run” at 5.50 a.m.

They ran the initial 2.5 k.m. together, which covered a major part of the route that Prime Minister Narendra Modi took later in the day as part of his roadshow in the run-up to the second phase of polling to Lok Sabha elections on April 26. The 5k runners took a u-turn at the Babasaheb Ambedkar (Jyothi) Circle to return to the start point. The 10k runners continued to cover Bendoorwell, St. Agnes College, Nantoor, KPT, Kuntikana and reach the start point by 7.15 a.m.

A week ago, nearly 60 runners turned up for the “Sunday run” at the pristine Chitrapura beach at 6 a.m.. With the waves gently lapping at the shore, most of the runners ran barefoot for their 5 km run on the beach. Following the run, they did a cool down and stretching routine led by veteran runner Mehwish Hussain, which was followed by “animal flow” workout by runner and fitness trainer Nayana Shetty.

These “Sunday runs” are among the activities conducted by Mangaluru Runners Club (MRC), a diverse community of runners brought together by their shared passion for running and commitment to living a healthy and active lifestyle.

Abhilash Dominic, a software professional and old member of MRC, said the club started as an informal group of about six passionate runners. “All our focus was on participating in marathons held across the country. We participated in several runs across the country and we continue to do so,” he said. As members started to increase, weekend runs started, which was followed with monthly “Run clinics” focused on strengthening routine and other aspects of long distance running.

It was in 2022 that MRC was registered and the first Mangalore Marathon was held. The second edition of Mangalore Marathon was in November last year. Mr. Dominic was the race director for the first two editions and is the director again for the third edition scheduled on November 10. “The club members take active part in holding and participating in the runs and also other fitness activities of the district administration, police and educational institutions,” said another passionate runner Amitha D’Souza, the President of MRC.

It’s drive to maintain physical fitness that has made people from diverse professions, including doctors, engineers, investment bankers, businessmen, teacher and government officials, to start running in the city.