Running, the New Religion.

'Run', is a new religion, and the list of devotees is increasing by the day, from the likes of Ambanis and Somans to the Aam admi, all have found the road to salvation….by running on it.

From being a religion to being a pill, the metaphors for running are endless. This Pill, at the Physical level not only add years to your life but on the psychological level also known to add life to your years, a drug that is known to give a ‘ Runners High’ & the list goes on.

Running community has moved far beyond running, They go on picnics and treks, have their Annual Runners Awards, Flash their logo’s on t-shirts, celebrate birthdays. Running has become a small microcosm.

It has spawned a big industry for the marathon organizers, to groups training for marathon run, individual trainers, energy drinks, shoes, online payment portals, website development, social media etc.

Running  is the most economical as well as the most expensive sport to indulge in.

The only equipment one requires is a good pair of shoes, but these days even one can bypass them as Barefoot running has become a fad. At the other end of the spectrum, runners are splurging huge amount of money in travelling places, national as well as international to gather unique running experiences. Indians in large numbers have started travelling to South Africa, Europe, America to participate in marathons.

A friend ended up spending close to 1.75 lakhs to run the ultimate human race, The Comrades in South Africa, that is a whopping Rs. 2000/- per km of run.

Running has gone way beyond the traditional 42.2 km Marathon, Ultra Marathon where the distances are in excess of 50km are regularly being organized. Runners participating in 80km, 100km,160km in destinations like the Rann of Kutch or Ladakh is increasing day by day. Recently a group from India completed the Brazil Ultra,135 miles. 

Thus Running & Tourism has given rise to TOU'RUN'ISM, a phenomeneon where people travel  large distances to RUN.

The best part about marathon running is that you compete with none other but yourself, therefore it fosters fantastic camaraderie amongst the runners as every one encourages each other to beat their own previous records to achive their PB’s, Personal Best.

Infact unlike other sports, your performance in running increases with age, one will find the veterans and super veterans leaving their young counterparts way behind in this endurance sport.

 Mumbai has emerged to be the Running capital of the country, thanks to the Mumbai marathon. If we refer to the Annual Running calendar, Mumbai Hosts maximum number of Running  events than any other city in the country.

Marathon is not new to our country or the state of Maharashtra. Pune International marathon has been successfully being organized since 1983. But the watershed event in the history of running happened in2004 with the start of Mumbai marathon. Since a decade of its existence, it has revolutaionised running in our country.  Running has become a religion to most avid runners and running in the Mumbai marathon is like going on a annual pilgrimage. New Temples of running have started emerging in the country in cities like Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi, Banglore, Satara, Surat etc & visiting them atleast once to pay obeisance to this fitness diety.Here you do not stand in a Q, but run  a distance, offering is not flowers, but your sweat & the blessings are not a pot of gold, but a smile of being a finisher and the ‘Prasad ‘proudly hangs on your neck, the Finishers Medal.