Sridhar
What better gift can we give our children than be around for them in good shape and health! People take to running for different reasons – some for fitness, some for passion, while some others seeking remedy to chronic health problems. Well, here’s someone who takes to running for the sake of his family. Yes, he runs because he wants to enjoy his daughter’s growing up years, and not be limited by worrying about his health! Meet Sridhar Sukumar, who has been running with us since January this year.
There is earnestness in his voice as he speaks. “My entire family has a history of heart problems, and my lifestyle was almost leading me there…but, I would like to be fit, for my little daughter, to see her through atleast for the next 25 years” says the thoughtful father explaining how his toddler got him back to his feet, after nearly two decades of sedentary lifestyle.
Having led an active life during college days, he has attempted long distance running along with other physical activities. However, like many others in pursuit of career advancement, he succumbed to work pressures, putting fitness in the back burner. An obvious side effect was weight gain and associated health issues. Taking the warning signal seriously, he decided to make a lifestyle change, and started running – away from slack, towards fitness.
After a substantial gap, resumption to running was certainly not a cakewalk for him. A strong runner then, who could cover long distances with ease, found it challenging to run even for 5-6 minutes continuously. Building his endurance steadily by setting short-terms goals, he signed up for a full marathon in TWCM last year. Making it to the 23 Km mark, he had to give up due to physical discomfort – but that did not deter him. Rather it gave him the determination to work harder and emerge fitter to try the same again this year.
With a never-say-die attitude, he joined Bessie Flyers for training, which eventually turned out to be a perfect choice for him. He shares a strong sense of team spirit and camaraderie with the group, while enjoying the freedom and space for personal exploration. This, he feels, is uniqueness of the group, and the main reason for him to run with the Flyers.
Performing better in routine runs and formal races further motivated him to stretch his boundaries. Not only did his strength show in appearance, it also translated into mental fitness. Gradually, the borderline health threats started showing up as normal readings. His life transformed for the better, and so did his guilt-free indulgence over his wife’s culinary explorations!
After nearly a year of regular running, the long distance weekend run has now become a need for him. He looks forward to this as a logical closure to the week, that helps him to recalibrate the balance between his professional and personal space. Running has now become so integral to his lifestyle, that his pair of running shoes is deemed as important as the dental kit in his travel bag!
Learning from mistakes is indeed the secret of success, if only we choose to learn from them! Walking the talk, this strong and steady runner, who is also a finisher of 3 half-marathons now, is all set to face the full-marathon challenge in December with the more enthusiasm.
While wishing him luck on behalf of Bessie Flyers, I sign off lingering with the thought that the world would indeed be a better place if only actions spoke louder than words – something precious that he is passing on to his daughter than all the riches in the world!
Join us for a run tomorrow, and meet this strong man speeding away along the Bessie roads, who believes in himself over destiny!