Introduction, Background and Experiences

Introduction:

In the winter of 2008, a few of us got together and shared our thoughts on running and what it means. It was amazing to see how running had changed our perceptions of life and what it does to us. Many thoughts flowed and the free spirit of running is epitomized in many such thoughts.


All these thoughts and more made us ponder and think seriously about how we can share the joy and experience of running with the broader community.
- It was not just about making beginners start running.
- It was also not about competition to see who came first in a bunch of runners.
- It was also not about 'running' in the strict literal sense - there is no shame in walking and no one started to run before they walked. The smart runner walks when she/he has to!


It is about helping everyone reach their potential, push their physical and mental limits and strive to live life to its fullest. It is about getting the Runner's high.


Our website: http://www.runnershigh.in

Background:

There is a dearth of opportunity and space for children to learn about running, and in a sense about themselves. This is true even in urban areas of India. On the contrary running is seen as punishment in schools!

Sport: Running is one sport that is meant for anyone. It can easily be made affordable, accessible and achievable for everyone. Running and the desire to attain one's physical or mental limits is actually normal. Our intent is to take away the 'super human' aspect away from the idea of running! You don't need to be fit and thin to run. If you run and develop a passion for it, you will be what you want to be. Running forms the basis for almost every popular sport - cricket, soccer, basketball, hockey, athletics etc. Even in the other sports, running helps build an aerobic base critical for improved performance and lung capacity.

Health: India is home to around 40 million diabetics and this number is thought to give India the dubious distinction of being home to the largest number of diabetics in any one country. Latest data culled from the World Health Organization (WHO) and reports published in medical journals like Lancet and Indian Heart Journal, suggest that by 2010 there would be close to 100 million cardiac patients in India. What is more astounding and sad is the alarming increase in incidence rates in children and young adults. Exercise is the best form of preventive medicine and care for serious health problems. It has been demonstrated that it can improve longevity of a quality life.

Education: Running teaches a lot, in terms of foundational attitudes in life such as patience, learning from mistakes, responsibility, being determined and spirited in spite of challenges, learning how to organize, team work and to understand how sometimes your mind and passion can overcome physical tiredness. But, the most important aspect is that running increases confidence and self esteem.

Art: It is important to realize that humans and especially children are more adept at expressing themselves in multitude ways. Poetry, sculpture, painting, drama etc. can be seen as evolved means of expression and we as a society need to also appreciate such modes of expression rather than just conventional academics. The idea of physical activity and sports as an art form equally capable of such expression has never been considered. The famous running prodigy of America, Steve Prefontaine had said -

"A race is a work of art that people can look at and be affected in as many ways they’re capable of understanding."

"Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, 'I've never seen anyone run like that before.' It's more than just a race, it's a style."

In many schools the educational system sends the wrong message to the children – that without academic excellence they are dumb, and cannot achieve.  The formal (or mainstream) education system is breaking down the confidence of many such children. The key is to help the children realize that they have skills and talent in many aspects. There is an overemphasis on competition and academics in the mainstream system. This leads to a situation where aspects related to ruthless competition and rote learning are given more prominence rather than a wholesome learning experience. There is seldom exposure to some alternative career options, leave alone the idea of nurturing the innate talent in children. With lack of sports and other physical education, children are losing out on holistic mental as well as physical development.

Experiences:

Our experiences with children and running has been the inspiration for the whole idea of constituting an organization called Runner's high. Our experiences with creating a training program for 'Team Asha', interacting with/training children at grassroots efforts has evolved into an in-depth understanding of the nuances of coaching and an ever increasing urge to learn more about children and running. These initiatives form the crux of who we are. In the first year of Runner's High, the plan will be to continue with the efforts we are already involved with and a few others that have come about thanks to friends who have approached us. By next year, we hope to bring more structure and organization based on these experiences.

A. Thulir

Background of Thulir: Thulir is an Education Resource Center for children and young adults at Sittilingi which is a tribal village in Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu. It's a Tamil word that means, "tender shoot", also "to sprout". The goal of Thulir is to provide a place where children are in the presence of adults who can motivate them and provide support for learning, and can access basic learning resources that are not available to them in their homes or schools.  It is also a place where children can attend supplementary classes or prepare for exams away from crammed and noisy homes, and interact with visiting professionals from various walks of life to get exposure. Young adults are trained to create similar spaces for children in their own villages. As children grow into young adults, they can have access to vocational training courses and network with other such centers. Learn more about their efforts at: http://www.thulir.org

Relation to Runner's High: Experience as part of working with Team Asha. This effort has been the main inspiration that led to Runner's High being formed. See Addendum for an account of the experince that led to our continued interaction with Thulir in terms of running.

Interaction: 2 children particpated in the Kaveri races - One of them in the marathon and one child in the 10km run. Both of them finished the runs successfuly. 7 children from Thulir in the age group of 16-20 participated in the Auroville marathon this year. Four of them participated in the 5K run and finished strongly. Two of them finished the half marathon with times of 1:48 and 2:10. One kid finished the full marathon at 4:10. All of them have been training for the races under the guidance of Team Asha and were monitored on a weekly basis from Bangalore. Detailed training schedules, guidance, injury prevention tips etc. were provided on a regular basis. There was a lot of support from the co-ordinators at Thulir - Anu and Krishna as well.
About Thulir: http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=967

Team Asha and Thulir:
http://teamashablr.blogspot.com/2008/09/trip-to-thulir-sep-2021.htm

Outcomes: Quoted in Thulir's blog - http://thulir.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/news-update-sept-08-to-jan-09/

B. Ananya


Background of Ananya: Ananya is a learning center in Bellandur that works with children who have dropped out of mainstream schooling (primarily due to learning disabilities or behavioral disabilities). It was started in March 1998, by a group of individuals concerned about the dearth of schools that provide relevant and meaningful education for the underprivileged children in and around Bangalore city. Even though the Indian constitution guarantees free and compulsory education to all children up to the age of 14, there are no schools that the poor can choose from. Either the schools are very good, but expensive and therefore beyond the reach of the underprivileged, or they are free but have poor physical facilities and offer a standard curriculum which is dull and boring. Most children, who drop out of school, do so because the schools do not cater to their special needs. Education in such critical context has no meaning or relevance to these children. It does not provide them with the required skills to overcome the social traumas or the emotional and physical hardships they face everyday. Asha had supported the initiative in it's early stages till 2003. Though Asha Bangalore has not supported the school financially, we are still in touch with the co-ordinators. You can learn more here - http://www.ananyatrust.com/

Relation to Runner's High: Experience as part of working with Team Asha. 

Interaction: 9 children from Ananya in the age group of 11-13 participated in the Auroville
marathon this year. All of them participated in the 10K run and finished strongly. They have been training for the races under the guidance of Team Asha and were monitored on a weekly basis. Detailed training schedules, guidance, injury prevention tips etc. were provided on a regular basis. Team Asha runners also ran with the kids for couple of weeks in Bangalore. In partnership with B2F, a sports medicine clinic Asha helped provide muscle strengthening and rehabilitation sessions for the children as well. There was a lot of support from the co-ordinators at Ananya - Shashi and Uddhav as well.About Ananya: http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=14

Team Asha and Ananya:
http://teamashablr.blogspot.com/2009/02/trip-to-ananya.html
http://teamashablr.blogspot.com/2008/10/ananya-hope-for-flowers.html


Outcomes: Children developed confidence and interest in the sport of running. It also helps them in other team sports they are involved in. Team Asha regularly visits Ananya to carry on the interaction through running. More information can be obtained from Ananya's coordinators.


Addendum:

Team Asha's experience with Thulir (Note: Names have been changed)

Suresh is a 19-year-old teenager who has been with Thulir since its inception. He ran with Team Asha to complete his first marathon. Suresh is from the village of Sittlingi, and trained on his own for the most part with minimal running support.

Quite by chance, he gave company to one of the Asha Bangalore volunteers, Sridhar, on his training run near Thulir, and actually ended up running the whole distance of 16k with him. Suresh enjoyed himself a lot, and when Sridhar spoke about what Team Asha does in terms of running marathons, Suresh wanted to do a marathon.

We then talked to Anu and Krishna about Suresh's interest and came up with a training schedule for him.  From August 2008 to September 2008, we would call in with Suresh on weekly basis to give one-on-one advice and coaching asas monitor any injury. Team Asha provided him with a pair of shoes, a running shirt,  Team Asha shirt and a bottle with strap.  His training was unique and unlike anything we had come across. Suresh planned his runningrunning - stretching, drills, nutrition, cross training etc.

Suresh is a natural at running, and has amazing potential. We had decided that he will travel with Team Asha to Mysore for the Kaveri Trail Marthon. We were really inspired by his earnest and sincere effort in running the marathon.  The fact that Suresh easily trained for a marathon in 3 months shows the active lifestyle of the tribal community – who walk long distances and travel tough terrain on a daily basis.

Suresh performed well on race day. He finished the midway point in 1 hour 55 minutes and he was on course to obtain a placing. However, due to cramps, he was forced to slow down his pace considerably and walked quite a bit. He still completed his first ever 26.2miles in 5 hours and 16min. Suresh was inspired and has become even more enthusiastic about running.

Suresh called me a few days ago and said that he wants to run more.  He is already found 3 or 4 kids who want to train with him. He is also enthusiastic about going over the basics of running for the younger kids. Encouraged by Suresh's dedication and enthusiasm, we are now working on a plan to help train children and teenagers at Thulir in running.  The idea is to provide that opportunity and space for children to learn about running, and in a sense about themselves.  This opportunity to explore and exposure to running is lacking, even in urban areas of India. routes around the village - along with the terrain and distances he also had to consider accessible water points (pumps or taps). In a few runs he got a couple of kids to cycle along with him for company and support. We talked to him about replenishing salts and he started carrying water which had rock salt  (more wholesome than just sodium in common salt) and sugar mixed which helped him with the cramps. When I ran with Suresh in Thulir we went over pacing i.e. how to keep a steady pace and not go out too fast. We also discussed other aspects of running - stretching, drills, nutrition, cross training etc.

Suresh is a natural at running, and has amazing potential. We had decided that he will travel with Team Asha to Mysore for the Kaveri Trail Marthon. We were really inspired by his earnest and sincere effort in running the marathon.  The fact that Suresh easily trained for a marathon in 3 months shows the active lifestyle of the tribal community – who walk long distances and travel tough terrain on a daily basis.

Suresh performed well on race day. He finished the midway point in 1 hour 55 minutes and he was on course to obtain a placing. However, due to cramps, he was forced to slow down his pace considerably and walked quite a bit. He still completed his first ever 26.2miles in 5 hours and 16min. Suresh was inspired and has become even more enthusiastic about running.

Suresh called me a few days ago and said that he wants to run more.  He is already found 3 or 4 kids who want to train with him. He is also enthusiastic about going over the basics of running for the younger kids. Encouraged by Suresh's dedication and enthusiasm, we are now working on a plan to help train children and teenagers at Thulir in running.  The idea is to provide that opportunity and space for children to learn about running, and in a sense about themselves.  This opportunity to explore and exposure to running is lacking, even in urban areas of India.