Meraterahrun

Meraterahrun The Mera Terah Run (MTR) is a collective that picks socially relevant causes every year and combines awareness-building and fund-raising. MTR is back!

And this year, the yatris will travel to Chilika Lake in Odisha, the world’s largest brackish water lagoon. While exploring this biodiversity hotspot and running all around it, MTR will be supporting Wildlife for Cancer, an organisation that raises funds for the treatment of retinoblastoma through wildlife photography. The runner yatris will run half marathon (13.1 miles) distances and the walkers

will walk 13.1 kms in each town for 9 consecutive days and travel from place to place by overnight trains.

MTR 2024 Day 13 Update: The final run of the 10th edition was along the BRTS line in the cleanest city of India - Indore...
14/10/2024

MTR 2024 Day 13 Update: The final run of the 10th edition was along the BRTS line in the cleanest city of India - Indore. We were joined by our ever cheerful and man for all troubleshooting Col. Krishna along with Saurabh and Yogesh from Indore running group.

Post run, Bhagyashree Deshpande, a clinical psychologist spoke about perils of negative thoughts and overthinking, and how we could overcome them. We also reflected upon why we run and our experience during the past 13 days of the Yatra. It wasn’t a surprise that all Yatris truly revel in each other’s company and that’s the power of a healthy community helping maintain a healthy mind.

… and of course, while we are in Indore, we savoured much of the street food - Poha & Mawa Jalebi, Shikanji, Kullad pizza, Hot dogs, Smoking Paan, Aloo kachoris and what not. Some of us paid a visit to the iconic Shree Mahakaleshwar mandir in Ujjain. Second round and celebration dinner is at the Sarafa Bazaar tonight. Thank you Shilpa and Sandeep for hosting us in your city.

Curtains come down on the 10th anniversary special yatra and cheers to our 4 Yatris who did the entire 13 days - Jaggi da, Sindhu, Brijesh, and Guru; Cheers to Anand, Santanu, Suman, Neet, Pradeep, Nitin, Shilpa, Sandeep, Rajesh, and Ashwin who joined us at various parts of the Yatra. We truly are grateful to all our running group partners and mental health professionals who made this event their own.

Keep moving, Get some Sun, and Prioritise Self Care.

MTR2024 Day 12 Update by Brijesh: Kem chho? We asked people of Surat. And they answered with unparalleled exuberance. Ne...
13/10/2024

MTR2024 Day 12 Update by Brijesh: Kem chho? We asked people of Surat. And they answered with unparalleled exuberance. Neither the fervor of Navratri garba nor the overnight thunderous rains stopped more than a thousand people to join us for the RUN FOR MANN. Flagged off with the musical band by the blind school children, the event had laughter yoga, yoga, games, garba, zumba, quiz, singing and what not along with the run. It was all focused on the various aspects of mental health. Cheerful volunteers greeted us on the course. The breakfast after the run had quintessential Surati touch. More than 40 organisations came together to put up this event. It was an example of how important role of community is in a personal and societal health.

We thank Dr Ami Yagnik, Sarvajanik Education Trust, Vama Wellness Center for Women, Ramkrishna Samvedna Trust and all the other charitable, educational, and fitness organizations who made this event a memorable one.

Surat, you rock!

MTR2024 Day 11 update: We were joined today by Pyarelal and his local running group - Morning Musketeers, along with a b...
12/10/2024

MTR2024 Day 11 update: We were joined today by Pyarelal and his local running group - Morning Musketeers, along with a bunch of cross country runners from the Indian Army. We ran alongside the vast expanse of the Ana Sagar lake, with some friendly banter and lots of photographs clicked from drones! Poha and chai for breakfast and then the runners broke into two groups to visit Darga Sharif and Brahma temple in Pushkar.

This is said to be the only Brahma temple in India and it was a pleasant experience. We savoured Malpua with rabdi, Ganne ka juice, and dal baati for lunch.

We’ve watched in movies, heard about the significance of Darga, so while in Ajmer, we didn't want to miss it. It was a clean place, not crowded and seemed very organized. Happy to have found time to stop by and pay a visit at the world famous Darga.

Now we are off to Surat for the penultimate run, and boy, what experience awaits us!!!

MTR2024 Day 10 Update by Brijesh Gajera: The tenth run of the tenth year of MTR was truly exceptional. In the chilly wea...
11/10/2024

MTR2024 Day 10 Update by Brijesh Gajera: The tenth run of the tenth year of MTR was truly exceptional. In the chilly weather, we ran in the Ambala Cantonment area. We were accompanied by Mr Sudhir Daryan and a bunch of cross country runners. Mr Daryan recently finished the very demanding Khardungla La Challenge, a 72km run in the high altitudes of Ladakh, in 10 hours 24 minutes.

Our run today was through the avenues lined with flowering trees. Buoyed by the scent of flowers and the calls of hornbills, parakeets and mynas, we started fast and finished faster. The run had everything - cool weather, warmth of rising Sun and the company of some amazing runners. These are the same elements one require for a healthy mind. So step out and seek some Sun, nature and healthy community.

MTR Day 9 Update by Guru: Today's run is very special for 2 reasons - It is World Mental Health Day and MTR reached anot...
10/10/2024

MTR Day 9 Update by Guru: Today's run is very special for 2 reasons - It is World Mental Health Day and MTR reached another point where rail line ends i.e. Katra. In 2014, the team had gone to Atari near Wagah border, just to touch the end of line there and we wanted to do the same here as well.

This year, the theme reminds us of the importance of ‘mental health at work.’ Safe, healthy working environments can act as a protective factor for mental health. Do read what Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia had to say on this occasion - https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/10-10-2024-world-mental-health-day

We dedicate today's run to all mental health professionals and caregivers, who strive every single day towards tackling a lesser understood problem.

Run update: The train reached Katra an hour late. So the start of run had to be pushed. The hotel they Yatris were staying at was 900 mts from the train station so the group simply walked. What is 900 mts for those that run 13k to 13 miles. Right? A quick change and the group started their run from the hotel itself. Some runners walked/ran to the start location for Vaishnodevi Temple and added distance by going there. Other runners took the scenic Kashmir Road and did an out and back.

Two Yatris - Gurudev Nagaraja and Nitin - decided to hike up to the Vaishnodevi Temple and run down the trail, which is quite challenging. They completed this adventure in 4:45 hrs. (which otherwise takes around 10hrs) and clocked 30 kms in total, while ascending 5300 ft!!. Let's all give it up for them for upping the challenge.

The Vaishno Devi temple is dedicated to Vaishnavi, the combined form of the Goddess Parvati, Saraswati, and Lakshmi. It's one of the holiest shrines in India and receives millions of visitors each year.

Lunch and rest for some time and the Yatris are now off to Ambala for another exciting run.

MTR2024 Day 8 update by Brijesh: The eighth day of Mera Terah Run brought us to the seat of power in the country - Lutye...
09/10/2024

MTR2024 Day 8 update by Brijesh: The eighth day of Mera Terah Run brought us to the seat of power in the country - Lutyens' New Delhi. In the cool and crisp October air, we ran from Teen Murthy Marg to Nehru park to Khan Market to Lodhi Garden to India Gate. The avenues lined with blossoming trees were a welcome change from the chaos of Varanasi. It was recharging and rejuvenating run. Nature has such a calming effect on the mind. Outdoor exercise is one of the best things for mental health. Go out and get going.

Yatris are very excited about the next five days. This train is chugging along nicely.

MTR2024 Day 7 update by Brijesh: Our Varanasi run started after the holy darshan at Kashi Vishwanath temple. We couldn't...
09/10/2024

MTR2024 Day 7 update by Brijesh: Our Varanasi run started after the holy darshan at Kashi Vishwanath temple. We couldn't run on the famous ghats of Benaras as intended given the river Ganges was in full spate. We ran in the labyrinthine streets of the town. People from every part of India and the world swarmed the streets. The scent of incense, the smell of frying kachoris and the stench of cow dung and dog p**p filled our nostrils. The colorful temples and the Benarasi silk competed for our attention. Post run, we spent considerable time eating poori, chhole, kachori and drinking creamy lassi.

Varanasi assimilates everything which comes its way and still retains its essence. Something we need to do as a human beings to keep our mind healthy?

One captivating story from Benaras revolves around the ancient tradition of the Ganga Aarti, a ritual of worshipping the Ganges River. Every evening, crowds gather along the ghats to witness this mesmerising ceremony, where priests perform intricate rituals with lamps, chanting, and music.

One evening, a young traveller arrived in Benaras, feeling overwhelmed by life’s pressures and the fast pace of the world. As he watched the Aarti, he noticed how the priests, despite their busy movements, were deeply present in the moment. Their focus on the flames, the prayers, and the rhythms created a palpable sense of peace.

Inspired, the traveller began to allow himself to absorb the beauty around him—the flickering lights on the water, the aroma of incense, and the sounds of devotion. He realised that like the Ganges, life continuously flows with new experiences and challenges. By being present, he could embrace these moments without losing himself.

This experience transformed his perspective. He understood that, much like Varanasi, he could adapt and grow while remaining true to his essence. This balance between embracing change and maintaining inner peace became his guiding principle.

MTR2024 Day 6 update by Brijesh: We started our Bodhgaya run from near the tree under which Prince Siddhartha attained e...
08/10/2024

MTR2024 Day 6 update by Brijesh: We started our Bodhgaya run from near the tree under which Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment to become Buddha. Lilies were in full bloom on our path. We ran towards Magadh University and IIM Gaya. Knowledge and wisdom, both ancient and modern, were our companions for the run. In such a holy setting, the run turned meditative and peaceful - an essential element of mental health - descended upon us. This run is in loving memory of our dear friend and yatri on several MTR journeys, Vinit Mehta.

Today's tip on mental health:
Gautama Buddha emphasised meditation as a vital practice for achieving enlightenment and inner peace. Buddha taught the importance of mindfulness (sati) as a way to cultivate awareness of thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the present moment. This awareness is foundational for understanding the nature of suffering and achieving liberation.

In today's fast paced world full of distractions, Breathe and Stay in the present to reduce stress and improve concentration.

MTR2024 Day 5 Update by Brijesh: Our 14 hour train journey to Kolkata became 19 hours long and we reached at 9:30 and th...
07/10/2024

MTR2024 Day 5 Update by Brijesh: Our 14 hour train journey to Kolkata became 19 hours long and we reached at 9:30 and then started running at 10 inside the Salt Lake stadium in searing heat & humidity first and then heavy wind & rain later. The delay did not allow us to participate in Durga puja organized by Kolkata Runners but there was a pleasant surprise still awaiting for us. We had Shankar Da as company for our run, who has been running 21k+ for 1195 consecutive days! He came all the way from Shanti Niketan, 150km away from Kolkata, to run with us. We were honored to run with this inspiring runner.

Rest of the day was all about traveling on the famed streets of Kolkata, sometimes in the heritage trams & yellow taxis, and eating Bengali sweets. We had lunch at Anand Veg Restaurant which is a 70 year old award winning restaurant in Kolkata that has been serving its customers authentic South Indian food. The owner Bharati Rao hosted us, engaged us in a good conversation, and appreciated our efforts. We all had comfort food and were loaded with carbs ready for the fun and run in Gaya.

MTR2024 Day 4 Update: Let's run, said Raipur, and the yatris did. Starting from the beautiful Telibandha Lake --> Marine...
06/10/2024

MTR2024 Day 4 Update: Let's run, said Raipur, and the yatris did. Starting from the beautiful Telibandha Lake --> Marine Drive --> Oxyzone --> expressway and back, they ran with the enthusiastic runners of Raipur. A quick round of chai and poha followed, before they gathered again to listen to Ms. Vibhuti Duggar, a trained counselor and motivational speaker. She emphasized that empathy is what you need to understand mental health issues and care for those who are going through them. Mr. Rahul Agarwal, a runner himself, bravely talked about his experience as someone taking care of a loved one dealing with mental health issues. His words that a caregiver needs to be 'patient, accepting and forgiving' still resonate with the yatris.

We are eternally grateful to Dr Vinay Tiwary and the team of "let's run" for this memorable experience.

Jagdish Damania Santanu Misra Gurudev Nagaraja Sindhu Naik Neeth D'Souza Anand Adkoli Suman Rapaka Brijesh Gajera

MTR2024 Day 3 Update: After a rough bus ride Yatris reached Nagpur at 7am. They were greeted by the members of Nagpur Ru...
04/10/2024

MTR2024 Day 3 Update: After a rough bus ride Yatris reached Nagpur at 7am. They were greeted by the members of Nagpur Runners and Riders group. In their company, they ran a beautiful course passing by significant milestones such as to Zero Mile point (geographical center of India), Civil Lines, Japanese Garden, and Futala Lake. MTR run is never complete without tasting and … sometimes devouring local delicacies and today was Poha, Jalebi, and the famous Nagpur Santra Barfi before they boarded the train to Raipur. It was a short but indeed sweet day in Nagpur!
Today's message on mental wellbeing: 3 things running can help with -
1. Stress Relief: Athletes like Olympic runner Shalane Flanagan highlight how running serves as a form of meditation. She notes that the rhythmic nature of running helps clear the mind and reduce stress.
2. Community and Connection: Runners like Meb Keflezighi discuss the community aspect of running. Engaging with fellow runners fosters connections that can be incredibly uplifting and supportive.
3. Overcoming Challenges: Elite athletes often share that running teaches resilience. For instance, sprinter Allyson Felix reflects on how facing physical challenges in running translates to overcoming mental obstacles in life.

Jagdish Damania Sindhu Naik Gurudev Nagaraja Santanu Misra Neeth D'Souza Brijesh, Anand, Suman Rajesh Vorkady

MTR2024 Day 2 Update: Hyderabad run today was flagged off at the Sanjeevaiah Park Gate, and runners ran around the Hussa...
03/10/2024

MTR2024 Day 2 Update: Hyderabad run today was flagged off at the Sanjeevaiah Park Gate, and runners ran around the Hussain Sagar lake. We are grateful to Shiv Kosgi and Hyderabad Runners who joined us in the run, especially Rakesh Chinnala who hosted us and Rakesh Kandula who treated us to a delicious breakfast. A sumptuous lunch (Munakkaya Karivepaku soup
Panasapottu and Ulavacharu biryani) at Ishta, and some tea & osmania biscuits at Niloufer's made the day. Unfortunately, the train to Nagpur was delayed by several hours and Yatris have now boarded the bus "Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd"; hoping to start the run on time tomorrow!

Today's tip on mental wellbeing:
Des Linden, the 2018 Boston Marathon champion, has often spoken about the mental benefits of running. "When I’m running, I’m able to think clearly. It’s a time for me to sort out my thoughts and really focus on what I need to do." She also emphasized running as her therapy - "It helps me release stress and anxiety, especially during tough training cycles."

Jagdish Damania Sindhu Naik Gurudev Nagaraja Santanu Misra Neeth D'Souza Brijesh, Anand, Suman Rajesh Vorkady

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