PANAJI
There has been a significant rise in the number of women runners participating at the SKF Goa river marathon ( SKF-GRM), Goa’s biggest marathon race.
Twenty six per cent of all runners at the 15th SKF-GRM scheduled to take place on Sunday, December 14 in Chicalim are women runners. This is a significant increase from the single digit percentage in 2010.
Women runners from Goa and across the country when interviewed, attributed this increase in numbers of women to the warm and friendly atmosphere at the event, the efficient organization of the run and the constant encouragement provided by the volunteers.
Said Goa based runner, Sheetal Pai Kane, “The SKF-GRM is an event organised by runners for runners and it has come a long way because of the dedication and hard work of the organizing team.”
While another Goa based runner Ayesha Pinto pointed out that taking part in the SKF-GRM was special because, “We meet and greet so many friends on the race route and see happy faces all the time.”
Anjali Chalisgaonkar of Bengaluru said that Goa was one of her favourite destinations and she loved taking part in the SKF-GRM as it allowed her and her running friends to spend a few days after the race, visiting beaches and eating tasty Goan food.
While, Aparna Paul Shet from Lucknow who ran her first 10km race at the SKF-GRM in 2016 says, “I have so many happy memories of running 10km, 21km and full marathons at the SKF-GRM. Sadly, I cannot come this year as I am recovering from a knee injury.”
Finally, Dr Blanche Themudo also of Goa summed of the sentiments of women runners by saying, “The best part of the SKF-GRM is the friendly support of the Vasco sports club team, the organisers of the event. They are at every turning on the route cheering and encouraging you.”
Interested runners can register for the race at www.skfgoarivermarathon.com
