Fit and fabulous with Runner Girls India

I’ve done the 6am Bollywood dance-aerobics, strengthened my core with Pilates, improved my flexibility with yoga, even sweated it out at the gym. But something was missing: Fresh air and the great outdoors. But while I loved the picture of myself sprinting through a tree-lined park, wind in my hair, one thing held me back: I run like a girl.

Fortunately, I discovered Sabine Tietge’s Runner Girls India, the first club of its kind in India. Sabine’s aim is to get Bangalore’s women moving — and not just because running is healthy or good exercise, but because it’s fun!

The group organizes fortnightly GORs (Girls-Only-Runs) in Cubbon Park, where women runners of all levels (newbies to marathoners), ages (I even met a friend’s mother there) and nationalities can safely run together, without encountering ogling eyes and snide remarks. Post-run, we adjourned to a restaurant for breakfast and bonded over marathon prep and shoe-talk (and not a mention of Manolo!) Even I, a confirmed couch potato, was swept up in the wave of camaraderie and enthusiasm.

Sabine is now working on adding even more juice to RGI’s website. So, apart from the existing discussion rooms and marathon training plans, expect nutrition tips, books and even suggestions on where to buy the coolest and most comfortable running gear (in sizes for Indian women, mind you!). Which girl doesn’t want to accessorize a little, while working up a sweat?

So get your sneaks on and get out there. And run like a girl.

Runner Girls India. GORs are held every fortnight in Cubbon Park; C25K (’Couch to 5K’), a nine-week course comprising three sessions of 30 minutes each on Mon-Wed-Fri at Cubbon Park, to be launched soon. Contact Sabine at sabine@runnergirlsindia.com to join up for free. Website: http://www.runnergirlsindia.com. Coming soon to Mumbai!