ECR Run Rocks!

Well, of course the organising is getting better, the crowd is getting huger and the enthusiasm is out of the world!!

Well, this ECR was kind of a freakish co-incidence with an ECR that took place more or less two years ago in Nov 07 aaand that was my very first encounter with runners.

Nov 4th 2007 was also a heavy rainy day, I got dropped off in front of Dimensions at 3-45 in the moring, called KK two-three times because I couldn't find the location. I was completely new to ChennaiRunners, didn't know a single person and I volunteered for the ECR. I knew them through emails.
I must try and get a picture taken at the start point. I was peering from one corner with an uneasy smile. Ramani and I bounded off into the car and stopped every 2.5kms looking at the car's odometer. Sometimes we miscalculated, but the passing runner's garmin gave some guidance on that. The rain that was pouring for days and even hours before completely ceased for those 4-5 hours we were there.

Ramani's 3/4th of the talk seemed so alien to me at that time. huh? Whats the hamstring? What on earth was dri-fit? Carb-loading etc just went over my head.
Now, I think I didn't even know what a marathon distance was! I know, blasphemy... Hehe

The breakfast that we ate was a part of the main MGM restaurant's dining area because I think there were 30 of us, or lesser. That was when Ram (Viswanathan) asked me to have a distance goal. Eeks! I was just curious about this and have a goal?!

And the rest they say is history. Will to run was born. Wonderful runners group, this ChennaiRunners! Many good friends.

Now, two years later a freakingly same co-incidence on a rainy November. Today too the rain stopped at the ECR from about 6am to 1pm! And then it poured, it still is! What are the chances.


The event has grown and how! Pit-stops every 2.5km and wonderful breakfast and area at MGM resorts.
ECR 11 highlights.
*Kids Run! These were just the volunteers kids. Maybe this will sow the seeds of a full-fledged run to be organised by ChennaiRunners.
*Goodie Bag - Wow! A first
*Finish photograph and medal as soon as the runner finishes!
*So many groups. I guess they have convinced their friends, colleagues to come out for an easy stroll/run. Later, people sitting around chatting in groups was so nice! Such a chatty air to the place.
*From ice buckets to tables and chairs for the volunteers to sit. Many such small things taken care of.
*Ambulance 108 and doctor available for the entire duration.
*Guided stretching and guided max-plant competition.
*Beautiful start and end arches.
*185 people turned up! Amazing. Kudos to the Race Director and all those who worked on different places in putting this together.
*So many pit-stops and an extra one 1.5 kms before the end.

Next time... Race T-Shirt! How cool is that?

And a big shout out to Bharani and Srini for being eco-friendly! Super guys, we should aim for that next time.

Once again, Watching people run IS the greatest motivation to run. Hope like the ECR Run volunteering two years ago, this gets me going full on!