On a marathon mission

Most people passed the time by massing near a truck where some policemen were distributing t-shirts. At a loss as to where I would change into it, I stayed away. Thankful just to get a spare number from a kind policewoman, I took my place at the 5 k line. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar finally showed up at 6.30 am. The sun was well up, and I was glad not to have signed up for the 11 K.

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The theme of the run was Stop Bias Against Youth, and as the MC did not tire of explaining, it was to highlight how people don’t understand young people as much as they ought to.

Here are a few things I understood about Panchkula youth during my short run: they have masses of enthusiasm, so they waited patiently for the run to begin. Once it was flagged off, they didn’t care too much about the category of run for why were registred. Eagerly, they all just surged to the front with great (being understanding and unbiased, I won’t say scary) whoops of joy. Full marks to them: they were having fun as they ran, jogged, or walked, just as the posters said.

They also like taking short cuts, and their joy knows no bounds as they do that, as evident from the screams of delight as they cut through parks and across roundabouts.

They love free bottled water just like they love free t-shirts (to be unbiased, who doesn’t love free things?) and will risk their limbs to get one. Having got hold of it and drunk from it, they will throw the bottles on the road. But let us be understanding: there was no dustbin to throw the empties, and the place must have been cleaned up quickly afterwards. Chandigarh does have the reputation for being one of the cleanest cities in the country.

The only other time I participated in a run, it began bang on time. After the initial hurrahs at flag-off, no one shouted, and the kids were shepherded along by adult runners. Those doing the 3 k were looped back toward the start point at the 1.5 k mark, the 5 k wallahs had to turn around at the 2.5 k mark, and the 10 k types turned around at the 5 k marks. Plus, the organisers were waiting to greet the finishers.

But look, comparisons are odious. And perhaps we Chennaiites really do need to loosen up a bit, especially when we are in a different city. What that means is that if you see a middle-aged person practising joyous whooping while running, that would be me, trying to fit into my new city.