When asked to write about how I started running, I have to go back (way 
back) to my school days.

I had always been sporty and had represented my school at a few 
inter-school meets in Kho-Kho and Long Jump. Then became the sports 
captain of my "house" and therefore had to struggle to get participants 
for various events during inter-house Sports Day. One Sports Day when I 
was in class X, our top athlete was not well and in no condition to run. 
We were not only disappointed at loosing our assured gold medal in the 
individual track event, but also hurt and upset looking at the joyous 
faces of the other "house" participants. Those of us who know about "house 
rivalry" can recall how we felt at that point. I put my name for the 100m 
and 400m race instead of our star runner after getting special permission 
 from the Head Mistress. At the end of both the races, I was shocked to see 
myself on the winner stand (came third in 100m and first in 400m) and thus 
ensured that we got the inter-house sports championship cup. That is when 
I realized that I could run.

After that, only ran to keep fit and to get away from stress. But after 
marriage and babies, had moved to other forms of exercise like swimming, 
pilates, yoga, walking and hiking. During our stay in the bay area in 
northern California, a friend of mine wanted to participate in a triathlon,  
but she had never swum more than 5 laps in a pool. So I agreed to teach her  
swimming and in return she taught me road biking and we signed up to do a  
triathlon together in San Dimas, near LA. That was June 2005. The three components 
of the triathlon were swimming for half a mile in a lake, biking for 13 miles, and  
finally running for 3.2 miles. So as part of my tri training, I started to run again  
and realized what I was missing. Having completed my first tri in the top half of my  
age category, signed up for another two triathlons the following year. Then in October  
2006 ran my first half marathon, the San Jose Rock and Roll Marathon. I ran 13.1 miles in  
2 hours and 23 mins and remember finishing strong and feeling satisfied. It was  
becoming clear to me that training was the key  to feeling good and not getting  
hurt after the race, which were my two important goals.  

So started running twice a week regularly but always with a buddy. Then my 
husband announced our move to Bangalore in January 2007 and panic struck 
since I was sure there would be no place to run and more importantly no 
buddy to run with, in Bangalore. Frantic searching on the net resulted in 
no successful hits. Then a friend mentioned RFL and I signed up 
immediately upon reaching Bangalore. The runs turned out to be fun and met 
many like-minded runners during those runs. Encouraged by the support of 
RFLers and Dr Rajat's team, signed up for my first full marathon, the 
Mumbai Marathon in Jan 2008. I walked a lot especially after the 25K mark, 
but managed to complete it in 6 hours 16 mins. I finished strong and was 
injury free and so had met both my goals: I was elated. It is an 
accomplishment I will always cherish for the rest of my life.

Then one fine day (so it seemed) RGI was born and I had to jump at it: got 
to it as fast as I could run, but Sabine was always way ahead:- mapping 
plans and T shirts and what not. Cannot thank her enough to kick-start 
this lovely movement of women empowerment through running and encouraging 
all women to run like a girl.