MARATHON RUNNING AS A LIFESTYLE: THE STRIDERS STORY

Have you been a runner all your life?

Running has been my forte ever since my school days. I was encouraged to run competitively by my school coaches very early on. I was a good runner but in 1985 going into sports professionally was unheard of. Luckily, my school and my parents supported me and I was able to represent the school, district and state in various 400 and 800-metre running events. Back then, I would have to get up at 5 AM, train at the grounds, shower afterwards and then go to school. It was difficult, but I managed and got used to following a similar routine for the rest of my life. I ran through my time at school and university, where I even broke a 14-year-old running record. After all those years of running, I got an indoor 10 to 5 desk job. This was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. During this time, I started Striders in Mumbai with my partner Deepak Londhe in 2006. It began with us training only about five to six people, but I was happy.

What was it about Striders that made you happy?

The best part about Striders was that even if someone in the group said, “Let’s run at 5 AM” the whole group would be there at 4:30 AM ready to get moving. Waking up at 4 AM was always easy. Compared to that, waking up for work at 10 AM was a big challenge. That’s the difference between a job someone pays you for and a passion you harbour internally which drives you. And when your passion becomes your profession, I don’t think there’s anything more you can ask for. Striders led me to my path. I quit my job and worked on building Striders full-time. 

How on earth do you find waking up at 4 AM easy?

It’s not the waking up at 4 AM that was easy, it’s the reason we all did it. Deepak and I started Striders as a fitness space but it evolved into something much bigger. Training is one part of it but the feeling of camaraderie in our group makes all the difference. What pulls us all in is knowing we’ll get to meet each other at the centre and train together. We look forward to getting together, running together, and even partying together! I feel people who wake up early in the morning and work towards their well-being have a unique positive vibe. I see many senior citizens wake up early and walk or relax together. They might just be passing time but they’re doing it together. It’s all about the bond we have. We train together, we’re sleep-deprived together, we run marathons together and we vacation together. 

Is building a community essential to your approach to fitness?

One thing we keep saying at Striders is, “We are not professional runners, we are hobby runners.” We run for passion, and our community is what drives us. We’re always inspiring one another and sharing our achievements. Most of us use a Garmin watch and the Strava app to record our workouts. Strava is like the Facebook of running—people see your workout, like, comment, and encourage you. Although Striders has training centres all over Mumbai, we come together on Sundays for a common long run. At Striders, we believe in maintaining your fitness levels, even at 80. We keep returning to running and this community because we love it. We want to grow together and run stronger together. Most people who joined us when we founded Striders are still with us. They say that training with Striders is the best thing that has happened to them. People appreciate the lifestyle change and continue their fitness routine even if they leave us. 

What is a runner’s lifestyle like?

When you first get into running, you start small. You do a 5K or a 7K. Then you begin to push yourself to improve and scale up. You’ll spend months training for a 21K and ultimately a 42K run. As people train, they often realise that training for a marathon isn’t just about running; it’s about wellness, healthy living and making a lifestyle change. For example, you go to bed at a particular time because you know you have to wake up early for training. You focus on what you eat and avoid unhealthy habits. A party on a Saturday night is a no-go because you have to be up before dawn for our Sunday run (Friday night’s when the partying happens!) You learn to make time for your training. One of the most dedicated runners under my training is Mr. Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of TATA Sons. He’s so inspiring for all of us because if someone with his work schedule can spend 1 to 2 hours training in the morning, then so can we. Once you become a runner, you become disciplined, the routine becomes a part of your life. 

How is Striders encouraging this way of life today?

We began in Mumbai, but today we have over 40 professional trainers and are spread across 16 cities in India, including Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad, Cochin and Jamshedpur. We also have a tie-up with TATA which helps us grow further. Most of our running enthusiasts are in the age group of 35 and up. Unfortunately, we are seeing fewer younger runners join us. Perhaps it’s because they are more interested in anaerobic activities like football and squash. However, I believe India is still young in the running space and there’s room to grow. With Striders, we are now looking at classroom-level athletics. We’ve created a foundation for a program to invest in children from municipal schools and encourage athletics early on. 

And who knows, maybe one day you’ll find the next “you” in one of those kids!

Hopefully! We want to encourage the spirit of running, fitness and passion as much as possible. As you know, I started quite young; I didn’t wait around for fatigue to set in or for my circumstances to change. I was passionate about running and I went ahead and did what I loved. I run, I make other people run, and I’m happy about it. 

Run for passion with Striders . Get in touch with them here or on Facebook and jump-start (or run-start) your lifestyle change now. If you’re feeling inspired after hearing from Praful Uchil, put on your shoes, go outside and run. See where that takes you.