Visakhapatnam gears up for the marathon season with structured training and camaraderie

Visakhapatnam's running community gears up for marathon season with structured training, injury prevention, and camaraderie among runners.

As the marathon season approaches, the running community of Visakhapatnam is in full gear, preparing with vigour and discipline. Various running groups in the city have embraced a structured approach to training, with emphasis on injury prevention, fitness and fostering camaraderie among runners. For many, these activities are a mix of disciplined preparation, community support, and a commitment to encouraging newcomers to take their first strides towards marathon success.

Vizag Runners Society, a dedicated collective, has been encouraging runners to focus on gradual endurance building. The emphasis is on long runs over the weekends, complemented by midweek strength training and shorter, fast-paced runs. Madhuri Palli, a seasoned marathoner from the group, shares, “Strength training and mobility drills are key to avoiding injuries. For new runners, we suggest they gradually increase their mileage by not more than 10 percent per week, allowing the body to adapt without overloading it too soon.”

The Visakhapatnam-based radiologist and founder of Vizag Runners Society recalls a memorable moment when she completed the Comrades Marathon held on June 11 in 2023 in South Africa, a 89.885 kilometre race between the cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban. “It is an ultimate test of endurance and mental fortitude,” says Madhuri, who also became the first female runner from Andhra Pradesh to complete the gruelling marathon, known for its demanding course and rigorous competition. However, Madhuri says, just like life, races too have their highs and lows. Recalling her experience at the Buddha Trails the same year, she says: “That was my low point as a marathoner. I could not finish the race in the cut of time. It was a training race for the Comrades which I ran on my birthday. I did feel bad for a while; but we must learn to move on.”

Madhuri says whenever one is training for a race, the focus should be on effort. “On the race day, the terrain and weather will be different, but your effort should remain the same. Learn how speed interval and an easy pace feel like; replicate those efforts,” she adds.

With rolling hills and inclines being a part of the city’s topography coupled with its humid climate, Madhuri emphasises on wearing two layers and training a little later in the day. “Flat rolling hills may not cause much injury but we have to be careful how we land and impact the body in steep inclines and declines. Foam rolling helps relax tight muscles which are usually prone to injury,” she adds.

Meanwhile, the Visakha Trail Running Association (VTRA), a community of passionate runners, has a six-month-long time trial series to help runners prepare for marathons. The time trails are held every Sunday and are going on from April and will end in September, in the run up to the Vizag Half Marathon in October. Here, the focus is on promoting running and fitness. The time trial series has a 1.6 kilometre run for children, 5k and 10k for adults of all age groups.

“The timings are captured and shared after the race on our website (www.vtra.run). The best performance or toppers are awarded trophies. The awards are a way of encouragement,” says Yogesh Rao Vangada, founder of the association.