HAPPENING -- 28:

MOUNTAIN GAUR’S RUNNING CLUB  ACHIEVERS HONOURED

 

By P S SUNDAR

 

Last Saturday of November 2021 was a memorable day for the 18 achievers attached to The Mountain Gaur’s Running Club (TMGRC)  in Coonoor as they were honoured by the Bangalore-based ‘Life is Calling’ organisation which specialises in endurance activities including running and cycling.

 

TMGRC’s founder Pamela Benny Alves told me, “These persons have been honoured for their running fete for 100 days with a minimum of two kilometres daily but we had participants doing marathon and semi-marathon running each day”.

 

Pamela, who is The Ambassador for The Nilgiris for ‘Life is Calling’ organisation said, “In view of the Covid restrictions, the event was organised virtually and our members who had stuck in various places participated in their respective places including Dubai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Chidambaram and Kotagiri besides Coonoor”.

 

Cyril

Pamela

“Most participants were non-runners or seldom walkers.  The event was organised to motivate people to go for fit lifestyle and our fitness trainer Cyril Gonsalves provided the necessary fitness training in Coonoor”, said Pamela who bagged India’s Rank No: 1.

TMGRC’s organiser Pooja Singh Yohan said, “Our member Maria Benny bagged India’s Rank No: 3.  Interestingly, most runners were 40 to 60 years age.  This event has motivated more women in the age bracket to take up to running activities to stay fit”.   

While Cyril presented mementoes to Pamela and Maria, Pooja honoured each with flowers.

According to Pamela the following were the participants:

 

1.Sunitha Varghese  (43)                            

2.Victoria  Savarimuthu (51)

3.Maria Benny (41)

4.Pamela Benny Alves (50)

5.Andrew Joseph Alves (20)

6. Sheila Hillary (60)

7. Cyril Gonsalves (35)

8.Deirdre Fernandez (42)

9.Sivalinga Babu (39)

10.Deepa Babu (37)

11.Samyuktha Ganesan (12)

12. Shital Maloo (41)

13. Sathya (50)

14.  Ramesh N Swamy (51)

15.Smitha Joseph (53)

16.Sudha Babu (44)                  

17.Manoj Varghese (51)

18.Faye W (40)

 

On their request, I was the Chief Guest and adorned each with the Medal.  

 

In my Chief Guest address, I motivated them all by highlighting the significant contribution of: (a) Pamela (b) family members especially of Pamela (c) fitness trainer Cyril Gonsalves and (d) all those who ran for their level of achievement.

I threw out a formula for success in running irrespective of age, gender or family circumstances.   I called this formula “PAMELA” as an abbreviation to expand into Perseverance, Attitude, Managing time, Exercise to stay fit, Longing for long distance and long hours of running and Aiming higher by Achievers.

The impact was instantaneous and impressive so much so that Pamela recorded: “Fitting end to the 100 days of running!  Team Mountain Gaur's, an amazing appreciation by the esteemed P S Sundar Sir at the medal Ceremony! That speech is a "must hear" for every runner!    We were immensely inspired by this Chief Guest's speech!”

 

She can be reached on phone: 9626343774.

(Response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)