10K Transformation: How a Bunch of Couch Potatoes Became Finishers

Back in 2019, before COVID-19, I penned a blog recounting my very first half marathon on my personal blog. You know how the first time doing something sticks in your memory forever? Well, this post isn’t about me. It’s about my team. They were a bit unsure when they started their first 10K run, but they finished strong and now they’re full of confidence and ready to keep going with their fitness journey, having a blast along the way.

I want to kick off this post by acknowledging that I’m just an occasional amateur runner, someone who’s determined to stay fit. Along the way, a handful of people have inspired, helped, trained, and motivated me to keep at it. Let’s face it, our natural inclination to be lazy kicks in from time to time, but thanks to the encouragement of these folks, I’ve managed to stay on track so far.

I’ve been eager to pass on this enthusiasm to my colleagues in the office. I’ve been constantly encouraging them to join me in running events, hoping they’d experience the camaraderie of group runs and find joy in turning a mundane exercise into something fun and competitive. Despite my efforts to invite them to various events, only one person, Sreeni, showed interest.

However, things took a turn when our company decided to sponsor a running event and set up a stall in our office space to encourage employees to participate. My gut told me this was the perfect opportunity, so I took matters into my own hands and practically forced many of my colleagues to register. To my surprise, in no time, 12 of them had signed up and confirmed their participation.

We had a solid one-month window to prepare, with the exception of one individual, none of them had attempted a 10K run before. The organizers, Striders, provided a well-crafted training plan, conducted boot camps in our office space twice a week, and even offered dietary guidance. Additionally, I took the initiative to share my own weekly runs on WhatsApp, hoping to inspire others to lace up their shoes and join me before the big day.

Despite my persistent nudges, the initial response from the 12 registered participants was lacklustre. However, as the deadline approached, a few of them finally started to take practice runs seriously. As is typical for any group event, achieving 100% attendance isn’t always feasible, and dropouts are to be expected, and we were no exception. We also had a few dropouts, with three individuals opting out for personal reasons. But two travelled from their hometowns just to be a part of the event, while another battled through a viral fever to join us. We experienced both extremes.

People weren’t confident on Friday (Two days before the event) due to a lack of practice and fear of attempting the 10K for the first time. I can understand it completely, having felt the same way before. One day before the event, I shared the below list of points as a preparatory checklist. I tried to strike a balance by being witty and avoiding a preachy or scary tone.

Tomorrow the race day. Few free Gyan from my end for the last time!

1) Venue: Island ground @5:15 AM — assemble like the Avengers. Skip Bessy to keep your run less messy! Don’t forget the BIB and don’t forget to step on running mat to record your timing!

2) Join the fun squad with me at 8 Pace — we’re in it for the giggles! Serious runners, leave some vada for me at the finish line, okay?

3) Leave your jeans, lungis, Bermudas, and tracks at home — it’s all about dry-fit gear! And soft boys, protect your precious parts and feet with a touch of Vaseline — friction-free fun awaits!

4) Start hydrating now, wake up your inner camel to stay quenched

5) Load up on carbs like it’s your last supper, it’s your fuel for the fun run ahead!

6) Tonight ditch the binge watching marathon whatever XX YY ZZ app it is and come early to be part of quarter marathon!

7) Walk, walk + run, run, or even crawl — however you roll, just aim to cross that finish line in one piece!

8) Scope of drawing motivation would be plenty out there on road, i leave those to your creativity. Don’t be heroic and become comedian

9) If the discomfort kicks in, don’t hesitate to hit the brakes and declare a Did Not Finish (DNF). Trust me, a DNF is way cooler than an ER visit — safety first, speed second!

10) Try not to die. That would be a great way to enjoy the race!

On the D-Day, the event took place at Island Ground, with a starting time of 5:30 AM IST. Getting to the venue proved to be a significant challenge for many, especially those residing on the OMR, as it was quite far. I opted to take the first suburban train at 4 in the morning, arriving at Fort station in just 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, others embarked on their own journeys in vehicles, traversing the full marathon distance of 42 kilometers to reach the venue for their debut 10K run. While waiting for an auto at Fort station to transport me to the venue, I encountered a delightful surprise. A cheerful auto driver approached us, inviting us to hop in. Curious about the fare, I inquired, to which he responded with a smile, revealing that he also works for a corporate and was heading to the same venue to participate in the run.

Intrigued, I casually asked him about driving an auto alongside his corporate job. He explained that he had been driving autos for a living before joining the IT industry and still continued to do so in his spare time. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration for his dedication and hard work. Reflecting on this encounter, I hoped that the top management wouldn’t view his situation as moonlighting.

At 5:30 AM, the race began, but despite my multiple reminders, I hadn’t spotted anyone from my group. Feeling confused, I started my run alongside my friend Swami. After just 500 meters, I heard a familiar voice calling my name. There, I spotted two members (Praveen and DP), and at 700 meters, two more juniors (Govardhan and Subash) joined me. I was informed that three others (Logesh, Surya, and Sreeni) had sprinted ahead of them.

With everyone now in the race, as promised, I maintained an 8-minute pace to accompany Govardhan and Subash to the finish line. Meanwhile, DP, Swami, and Praveen formed a team for a walk and run strategy. Two of them ran comfortably until the 5K mark, maintaining an 8-minute pace with me, but started feeling a dip in their energy afterward. To boost their spirits, I asked Subash to play some peppy music on his phone and encouraged them to maintain momentum despite experiencing some cramps and foot heat due to friction. They responded well and followed my constant encouragement.

During the second loop, we caught up with Sreeni, who joined our group. At the 8KM U-Turn, we spotted Lokesh, who was ahead of us, powering through towards the finish line. Govardhan was slowing down, so I urged them to pick up the pace and finish the last kilometer at top speed to end the 10K on a strong note.

We pushed ourselves, increasing our pace to 7 minutes per kilometer, and with a triumphant roar, crossed the finish line with all participants witnessing our unique celebration.

Our initial goal was simply to cross the finish line, but to our surprise, everyone finished comfortably and in commendable time. We were all thrilled and enjoyed the experience, especially feeling the essence of a group run and self-motivation to maintain our fitness.

The event left us daring and motivated to participate in more running events, constantly practicing to improve ourselves. We also discovered a speedster in our group, Surya, who completed his first 10K well within 60 minutes — a feat I personally wouldn’t even dare to dream of achieving myself.

With medals proudly around our necks, we indulged in a mouth-watering breakfast from Hotchips and left the venue with full confidence, after giving our muscles a good stretch.

Kelvi, a community forum, was initiated with the hope of sharing, helping, and achieving collectively. In staying true to this vision and motto, I feel immensely fulfilled and satisfied with our teamwork in this event. Witnessing the results, I am confident that we are on the right track.

I hope that many more will join us in future events to further grow our community and continue our collective journey of support and accomplishment.