The 15 KM Run - SIMPLIRUN

                   “The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.

On 1 fine Saturday few running enthusiast got up at 3.30 am in the morning to get ready for their longest ever run , while they still struggled with the droopy eyes ,lack of sleep and way too early start for a SATURDAY they all shared the same passion that of Running.
4 cars  full of people started from Bangalore at 5ish with loud music and some catching up to do so as to keep us awake until we reached base of the very famous NANDI hills , the drive was fun as the company was good and so the  intention.
SIMPLIRUN is a group of  wonderful running enthusiast  who run together on weekdays and weekends and currently training for KTM and Bangalore Ultra under the guidance of Jai. O let me introduce you to him ,without him we wouldn't have done this-NO Never , Jai or Jaikant Kumaran,A truly awesome Person, A born Runner, A Coach to  all of us and  the founder of this Group SIMPLIRUN .

So as we waited for the other cars to join us at the starting point we wondered if we will actually complete the run, the distance being 15 kms, 7.5 UPHILL-7.5 DOWNHILL and for most of us this being  the longest run and the first run on a HILL , we joked around how we might end up just doing the UPhill or probably return half way. It was time  to do some stretches , take few key instruction from Jai and start.

We( Read me and 2-3 people) started with lots of enthusiasm but little hope of actually making it back and finishing the 15 kms mark, while we started slow ( which is  our Pace!) few others who were few meters ahead paced up so fast that we actually couldn't see them, ( you can expect this out of them, they are good!

 4 of us were running together,Jayanthi, Harish, Ravi and Me and as we encouraged each other we also kept on looking for the milestones, it felt like we have already run half the distance but  to our dismay we have completed only 2.5 kms !!  The view was beautiful, as we ascended the visibility decreased because of heavy fog ,cold breeze seem to welcome us ,motor bikes and cars zipped up fast and lots of people stared at us in awe and pity both!

We were sweating profusely and the legs started to tremble , we were running at a height of approx. 1300 m above Sea level, by the time we realized its last 3 kms the motivation increased and so did the Uphill, it was soo steep that we couldn't help but walk it up .Last 2 kms were more of a walk then a run and while we still had more then a km to complete our fellow runners were already running back, told you they are fast runners! Me and Jayanthi couldn't control the happiness when we saw the Arch at the entry of Nandi Hills, you should have been there to see that, touched it to actually believe we have Done it and started our journey back!!

We were pumped up , it was downhill and the tough part was over , as me and Jayanthi shared our reasons for taking running as a hobby we also  admired the fact that we are the only 2 girls in a group of 21 people and  felt good ,really good!!! Both of us were exhilarated when we saw Jai after all he was the driving force for the entire group, downhill was comparatively easy ,fun and we seem to ignore the milestones.

In no time we reached where we started , 120 mins to complete 15 kms, I wont say its good but its neither bad for people who started running 3 months ago. We were welcomed by Chenthill, Pulak and Prabhakaran, these guys  completed within 90 minutes , they clapped and cheered us, what a moment it was . We all took some time to actually believe that we have done it, what  looked like unthinkable few hours ago has been accomplished  with no Casualties!!!

 15 kms was DONE, our longest RUN till date , we laughed about it, cracked jokes on each other and , re-hydrated our body with water and some healthy snacks. The SIMPLIRUN group achieved yet another Milestone ,following the breakfast it was Photo session time, we click to treasure all such moments to remind us what we are capable of.

By 9'o clock we have finished  the run, breakfast and a photo session , till the end we were congratulating each other for doing it. It was a major accomplishment for all of US. It was time to disperse and go back to our regular lives and start a Memorable weekend. 6 of us continued the trip and headed towards Nandi to have a gala time , enjoyed  the pleasant morning and laughed
our stomachs out , it was a perfect end to the perfect TRIP.

The Group

This wouldn't have been possible if I didn't stumble upon this group on FB , we started with 5 kms and we  have just completed 15 kms, the next target is Half Marathon!!

The experience has been marvelous , I never ever thought I can run more then a km and I have amazed myself , there have been times when the body wont comply but how long it can stay away from something like this.
Running is pure fun, it clears your mind, Boost up your confidence ,have lots of health benefits and if you are lucky enough you get the chance to meet beautiful people who will inspire you.

So what are you waiting for?? Join us now at https://www.facebook.com/simplirun