Fitness is essential and the Juniorun – mini marathon organized by a Facebook community, Gurgaon Road Runners (GRR) portrayed the same. The event, organized on Sunday morning, witnessed 2880 young participants running for health.
The mini marathon was the brainchild of Siddharth Chaudhary, owner of the fitness group GRR. The gathering of young enthusiast ran for various categories. The four categories were- 1km-long costume run for parents, grandparents and children aged 0 to 12 years of age, 3km-timed run for 5 to 15-year-olds, 5km-timed run for 8 to 18-year-olds and 10km-timed run for 12 to 18-year-olds. There are also trophies for inter school champions and school with the highest participation The run for healthy life was conceptualized to drift away the kids from their sedentary lifestyle. Siddharth said, “It is not merely a marathon. It is the run for their healthy future. Today’s generation kids are stuck to TV and videogames, this run will motivate them to opt for outdoor activities”.
A volunteer, associated with GRR shares, “The fitness virus will surely catch the kids of Gurgaon. After the run they will surely have a feeling of accomplishment which will drive them to run for their better and healthy lifestyle”.
Rudransh Singh (6 years old), a student of Lotus Valley International School, says, “I never thought I could run for three kilometers in a go but this event has encouraged me to perform. When I reached the finish line, I realized I can run, run and run. I am looking forward for the next event of this kind.”
The marathon won the hearts of the kids but many parents left disappointed. A parent expressed her anger, “We never thought there would be this kind of mismanagement of things. It’s so much chaotic. There is a mad rush at the medal counter, certificate counter and the refreshment centre.”
The parents also were in fury because of the delay in the run.