The weather is beautiful with the cool morning encouraging Goans to put on their running shoes and make a difference in their fitness regime. February is also the month when Goa will be participating in two major events, the Goa Marathon as a fundraiser for El Shaddai Charitable Trust on February 4, 2018 at Campal Ground, Panjim and the 5th Goa Triathlon in three categories: Super Sprint Triathlon, The Olympic Triathlon and Sprint Duathlon at Bambolim beach and Goa University Road on February 11, 2018 at 7am - 11am.
‘Sussegado Runners’ is a group formed in
the cities of Margao, Panjim, Mapusa, Vasco and Ponda where a group of runners
meet early in the morning and go for runs or exercises together. Alice Pereira
from Dona Paula will be participating in both, the Goa Marathon and the Goa
Triathlon. An editor for medical magazines, she doesn’t miss a day of running
and monsoons are her favourite months for running. “I exercise according to
which event is coming up. For the marathon, I will dedicate more time to
running, while for the triathlon, I will dedicate time to running and cross
training between cycling and swimming. Good running shoes are crucial for
everybody or you may end up with an injury and these shoes should be changed
according to either mileage or wear and tear,” advises Alice.
Speaking about the bonding that can be
seen within the ‘Sussegado Runners’ community, she pointed out that the ‘runners’
community’ is very supportive of every member and she added that the members
who are fast runners help the slow runners. “We have a Santa Run and the
upcoming Carnival run. There is no age limit for the group and mostly members
who are in their 30s and 40s form a major part of the group. There are regular
health checks and everyone has a heart rate monitor. We know everyone in the
group on first name basis but once a year we have an annual get together to
know members on a personal level,” says Alice.
A run requires good nutrition as well, at
least a seven hours of sleep and great discipline to follow the pattern
everyday. For some, running as a fitness regime was discovered by accident.
Dinesh Heda, an ultra marathon runner from Vasco, was piqued when the first Goa
River Marathon was announced in 2010. Now, he encourages anyone who he comes
across to start running, jogging, cycling or swimming. “I start out running
early in the morning by 5.30 am as it is much cooler weather and the traffic is
at a minimum level. Also there is less pollution in the air in the morning,
compared to when the traffic picks up in the evening. The run will be good for
you but the dust pollution can make you sick,” says Dinesh.
“Running has most importantly taught me discipline. I used to
play squash as well but for running you have to be passionate and learn to
prioritize things. I have learnt this over the years and I make sure not to
miss a single day of exercise. The same goes with the rest of my runner
friends,” he adds.
Dr
Melissa Pearl Luis from Vasco is a physiotherapist practicing at KLE Hospital
in Belgaum and she has been giving utmost attention to her own health. She has
been running everyday without fail either in the morning or evening. “I run
every day for about 20 minutes to 45 minutes as it lifts my mood. I have been
running since my school days and even when I studying physiotherapy. When in
Goa, I prefer running on the beach as it has a different atmosphere. My timing
for the run differs because of my duty at the hospital and my convenience. I
also recommend my patients to run to be fit depending on their condition. There
are many benefits to running which include a runner’s high which makes one feel
light and happy,” concludes Dr Melissa.