Why Do I run for Asha?

For you all who know me for some time, is aware of my attachment to "Asha for Education" for last 8+ years. It has been a memorable time with like-minded friends, fun events, lots of coordination, wonderful memories during project visits and above all, I believe my thought process has changed quite a bit in these years.

I was never the athletic type since childhood nor bitten by adventure bugs...It is true I want to go as close to possible to nature and like to travel but never thought I can run 21K or so!! Still today I am a very moody runner so do not take notes of my running schedule. One day I feel like running one day I feel like dragging one day I am full with spirits next day I am sleep walking. But the thing that helped me run with a good reason in mind is Team Asha.

Team Asha

I started manning waterstops for Team Asha Atlanta in 2007 and started running in 2008. You will be surprised to know before I ran any official 5K race, I ran an official 21K race (half marathon) in Atlanta Marathon 2008. It was such a memorable time with a good mix of new and old runners and a wonderful coach. We struggled with the distances but in the end, had a strong finish. This picture is the proof :-)

I kept running and fund-raise for Asha in 2009 and 2010 for ING Marathon Atlanta but taken cared of more coordination part. When I moved to Irvine, I used to miss our Team Asha runs quite a bit. 

After a short struggle with PFPS, I started running again this march and thanks to our great training group "Runners High" in Bangalore, become fit enough to run two half marathons in last six months and plan to finish 25K next Sunday in BANGALORE ULTRA. This time too, fundraising for Asha was one of my greatest motivation to wake up at 5 ams (which is super tough for a night owl like me). 

You can support my efforts at (I am still INR 1 Lakh shy of my goal for Bangalore Ultra)

http://www.ashanet.org/bangalore/marathon/runners/Padmanava_Sen.html

And this is me....Very happy while running

Why Run?

• Because it does not need much planning. Just a pair of shoes, some water/electral and some mental strength to go the distance.
• The team spirit is as good as any other game. We want to make sure everyone in our group finish strong
• Gives me a break from the laptops and I can spend time in nice trails or roads listening to my favorite music
• Increased my perseverance and made me overall more energetic in life 
• being fortunate with some great athletes who has ran 42K, 100K, 24 hr runs, 48 hrs runs etc. (super crazies)
• And the obvious, to raise funds as a group that can provide education and hope to the underprivileged children in Asha projects. 

That is all I want to say. It is good to have a great sleep in weekends, to stay home and watch TV, but it is definitely better to go out in the morning, to run as a group rain or shine, to see things different ways after the 5K, 10K, 15K, 20K marks, to remind how water is important in our lives after a long run, to see 10000 people running together,

Now, check out this photo and start running for yourself or a good cause today :-)