While most people in Bengaluru curled up in bed on Sunday morning, 22 thousand people put on their running shoes, plugged in their I-pods and ran for the TCS World 10k 2011. As one walked towards Kanteerava Stadium from the Halasuru gate bus stop, one could see a steady stream of people marching out of Cubbon Park- some walking, some jogging and some running at what seemed like the speed of light- happy to see the finish line.

Kanteerava stadium was overflowing with people who were queuing up near the refreshment stalls. While on one side there was the constant chatter about the fact that most of them actually finished the race, people were dancing on the other side to the beats of the DJ who managed to keep every ones spirits soaring even after the long run.

Young runners – (l-r) Deepthi, Divya, Pauline, Preeti and Ann. Pic: Smit Zaveri

15-year-old Nitya, who ran with her mom Shatakshi for the 10k run, was at a high just at the thought of finishing a ten kilometer long run under one and a half hours.

Many were there to support a cause, be it environment or child labour. The young and the old waved flags, runners in costumes posed for photographs and people on wheel chairs elated to have taken part in the run.

Peulah (second from left) with her friends at Kanteerava stadium. Pic: Smit Zaveri

Peulah .S, who took part in the wheelchair run for the second time, ran along with her friends at proVISION ASIA, an NGO which focuses on helping the physically challenged. "We were 25 people from Provident Asia and this year we ran to show every one that even the physically challenged can do anything. They only need a little help. The whole experience was just awesome!"

Ajmal locked in his plastic cage with the bonsai. Pic: Smit Zaveri

There was this group of friends who dressed up as gorillas who were catching everyone’s attention through their unique getup. But it was the 20-year-old graduate from Chitrakala Parishath, Ajmal P M, who won the kingfisher green crusader award (Twenty thousand Rupees) for his costume "Plant a Bonsai". "This plastic cage that I am inside denotes the world that we are stuck in and the bonsai shows that all of us can do our bit for the environment by planting trees even if it is as small as a bonsai" he said.

Special birthday treat for Anju (right). Pic: Smit Zaveri

Known for her cafés at Rangashankara, Alliance Française and NGMA, 54-year-old Anju Sadashiv couldn’t have asked for a better birthday gift. "I am running again after 6 years. I wasn’t sure if I could even make it a few days ago. But I was quite surprised when it got over. It went pretty well."

The event not only attracted people from Bangalore but from all over the world. Naho, who recently shifted to Bangalore from Tokyo with her husband Jun, says, "At first I was running alone but then there were some other people from different countries who asked me to join them. I made so many new friends today. Next year I am going to prepare my husband for the run."

Naho is on a mission to initiate her husband to run with her and she isn’t the only one. While some felt that the distances on the tracks could have been marked better and people should have stuck to their tracks, the event ended on a great note with a lot of hope for next year.

Winners of the 10k run:

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