During its 5 year history CTC has organized many major non-profit events to create awareness on outdoors, conservation, sports and health. These larger events are being organized periodically every few months in parallel with our ongoing weekly treks and other outdoor events which happen throughout the year.
Successful organisation of these major events is only possible through the efforts of many selfless volunteers coming together through a shared passion.
The most recent in this long list of inspirational initiatives, is the 2nd edition of our Chennai Trail Marathon - an event targeted at creating awareness towards a more active & healthy lifestyle through running and sports. Thousand+ runners from all over South India and abroad, including 100+ children and 150 women participated across 4 categories - Full & half marathon, 10K and kids run. Members of several running groups participated including Chennai Runners, Dream Runners and Cool Runners. In line with CTC's foundation we tried bringing participants closer to nature through a trail run outside the city outskirts making it unique among marathons in India as well as one of the more challenging runs. The event was possible only with the support of several sponsors and partners below...
... as well as hundred+ volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes on the event date itself as well as months beforehand to meticulously plan an event of this scope fully "in house" without any help from professional external agencies. Organizing CTM 2013 involved many interlinked areas including:
Trail planning
Permissions
Registrations
Sponsors
Poster design
Social media
Accounts
Purchase
T-shirts
Medals
Banners
Refreshments
BIB distribution
First aid
Trail marking
Finish/podium
Sports physio
Photography
Bike marshals
Cycle marshals
Finish timings
Certificates
News media
Transportation
Crowd/vehicle mgmt
Kids run
Luggage counter
My memory is too short to recollect the names of all the volunteers who made our marathon possible this year. My sincere thanks to all of you - no doubt - once again - we created something unique in South India which is being talked about by tens of thousands of people, yet another feather in CTC's cap. Below I just wanted to recognize a few key contributors who were instrumental in the organization of CTM 2013:
Neville
Neville accomplished 27 marathons in the last 39 months and ran in 6 different countries. He is leading rounds of Marathons around the world to raise funds through running and cycling. He is a long distance runner who covered 79km in 9.5 hours and a "Super Randonneur" completing 200K, 300K, 400K and 600K in the previous two years. He is the man behind Dawn To Dusk (D2D) a yearly fund raising marathon. Neville inaugurated our marathon this year.
Prabakar
The million dollar man behind our marathon taking care of virtually all aspects of the organization of this and other sports events in CTC in sync with our ongoing passion to spread more awareness on an active & healthy lifestyle through running and outdoors. He has been the driving force in our recent Triathlon series including our upcoming Full Iron Triathlon on December 15th, first time in India.
Thilak
Social ambassador of the Chennai Trekking Club, bright light in the lives of thousands of less privileged children in the city and one of the key organizers behind many of CTC's events including our yearly Chennai Coastal Cleanup and Chennai Trail Marathon. He ll be in charge of the finishing/timer team on Sunday.
Rakesh
Another key figure behind the scenes, always brimming with bottomless enthusiasm. Rakesh has organized many social treks in CTC taking out less privileged children on one day outings and a known face behind many of our big events including Trek Polamaa, Triathlons, Chennai Coastal Cleanup and more. Taking care of registrations, accounts, certificates and more.
Durai
One of CTC's most active runners and the man who showed us one of the most beautiful running location nearby the city - Cholavaram Lake. Lawyer, blogger, photographer, wilderness explorer, runner, triathlete, organizer... the man who pollinated CTC with his valuable experience in marathon running. Durai was in charge of the running trail.
Nivya & Karthik
Organizers of photography workshops, field trips and ever present during all major CTC outdoor events they are the masters of light & lens and will be leading a team of 18 photographers who will be covering the marathon in detail in both still and moving pictures.
Saba
Ever present face behind any big CTC event - Saba is a broad shouldered, all rounder who takes care of many aspects of each of our major ongoing events through the year. Among others Saba brings you the beautiful medal for CTM 2013. He ll be in charge of the spot registration team on Saturday (Hablis) and Sunday (Cholavaram).
Yazar
Creative head and never tiring nocturnal volunteer who created all the artwork, posters, designs for our CTM 2013. Driving force behind the portal of our event to the online world.
Prem
Hard-core trekker, kind hearted soul, navigator, explorer and survivor - one of the main trek organizers and driving forces in CTC who makes people go beyond their known mental and physical boundaries. Prem is leading the refreshments & breakfast team for our marathon to ensure the runners keep going all morning till the finishing line!
Ravindran
Co-lead for the CTM refreshment team with Prem, Ravindran is yet another example of unending selfless volunteerism. A triathlete and passionate trekker, he is always eager to help out in whatever is going on. Truly an inspirational volunteer.
Deepti
Broad and ever present smile, lighting up any group, enthusiastic trekker & outdoor soul, Deepti and her team will welcome you at Hotel Hablis this Saturday for BIB & running kit distribution.
Vallab
PASO is the official Sports Physio partner for our marathon and ongoing Triathlon series. Vallab and his team of sport physios will be providing pre-run warm up, post-run cool down and be assisting any runners facing difficulties during/after the run. His team is stationed at the 5K, 10K refreshment points and finish line.
Arun
One of CTC's main organizers, Arun is a hard-core trekker and his recent passion has been into bike trips. He set a new LIMCA record driving from Leh to Kanyakumari in the fastest time and recently lead a group of bikers to the beautiful highlands of Buthan. Arun will be leading our bike marshals team in this marathon providing guidance and assistance.
Vijay
The man who brought cycling to CTC from off road MTB rides to cycle workshops. Vijay will be leading the cycling team to guide the runners to find their way along the track.
Masu
Driving force behind CTC's green team who has been planting thousands of saplings in the city and beyond. The green team was instrumental in garbage segregation during our last Chennai Coastal Cleanup recycling and minimizing disposed garbage. His recent passion is in organic farming. His team is in charge of our start/finish stage setup and banners.
Gokul
Amazing Gokul - never ending bundle of energy who is always ready to help out with any organizational aspect of our ongoing CTC events. Gokul typically takes charge of BIB/banner design/printouts and several other background aspects of our periodic sports/awareness events.
Hassan & Bhavadarani
Our two member videography team who has been capturing the spirit & action in CTC's recent sports events. Check out their enticing video on our last Triathlon over here.
Jagadish
Enthusiast trekker, always smiling and kind person - Jagadish is a trained first aid instructor with ALERT (First Aid Partner of our marathon) and will be leading a team of trained first aid volunteers to attend any medical issues during the marathon. His team will be available nearby all refreshment points.
Shailesh
Trekker, cyclists, runner - Shailesh has been an self driven and untiring force in all major recent CTC events pursuing sponsors to make our non-profit events realizable.
Nandan/Ganga/Punitha
This energetic trio will be leading the Kids Run volunteer team. Nandu and Ganga are regulars on CTC's social treks and Punitha has organized a number of mother and kids treks in CTC.
Rajasekaran
Hardcore trekker, marathon runner and CTC organizer, Rajasekar is in charge of crowd and vehicle management at the running venue. He ll be welcoming you at the entrance gate of GOJAN college.
Raj
One of the main organizers in CTC over the past few years Raj needs no introduction to anyone. His disciplined looks hide a kind and helpful heart. Raj is in charge of the transportation team (car/bike pooling) for our marathon.
Kannan
Don't be deceived by this person's thin frame - he's a hard core trekker and volunteer and has co-organized several treks in CTC. Kannan will be in charge of the Baggage Counter at the venue.
Sankar
Always smiling, always kind & caring, the silent sweeper carrying the heaviest load - a truly passionate trekker, Sankar recently organized three "Monsoon Survival Missions" to the Western Ghats battling the monsoon from above and the leeches from below. Sankar and his team will welcome you at the Info & General assistance desk at the running venue.
Durga
Feminine face of CTC's green team - Durga is bringing along her eco-warriors to the marathon to assist in many of the above teams as well ensure we leave Cholavaram lake after the run as beautifully green as we discovered it.
My sincere apologies if I missed out some of you who took care of key areas
Photos and details on our marathon can be found over here:
0 comments:
Post a Comment