Indore Marathon 2014 - Run for the Homeless

How can running for a marathon help the millions of homeless people in the world? Let’s start from the beginning. People love running, and take it up competitively around the world. Often, these like-minded people come together and participate in a marathon. Unlike the sprints, Marathons are a test of endurance. Speed is not your biggest strength, Endurance is. If you have witnessed a marathon, you will agree with me that the runners assembled are mostly running for the joy of it. Some have personal goals set, of bettering their previous timings. If you stand at the finish line, you’ll see their faces light up with relief when each person completes the run. Marathons are a huge congregation of people running not against each other, but against themselves.

IIM Indore organizes Indore marathon every October 2^nd, and this year the theme is ‘Run for the Homeless’. There are around 2 million people without a roof over their heads in India. When you ‘Run for the Homeless’ this year, spare a thought for the struggles of the lesser fortunate. There are thousands of families struggling constantly against poverty in our country – some barely able to afford one square meal a day. By running the Indore marathon 2014, you are supporting the cause. Like all the runners, the Homeless are also constantly battling against poverty and hunger. Perhaps a home is their finish line. Their fight is also about Endurance – Each day is all about survival. When a runner makes it to the finish line, he has put in a lot of hard work and has sweated it out through pain to complete the run. Much like the average runner, the Homeless also struggle through sweat and pain, striving for shelter.

But then, why should YOU ‘Run for the Homeless’? By being a part of this initiative, you have endorsed our idea of helping the lesser privileged. You have agreed to assist the Homeless, in any way you can and spread the message. You understand that the Homeless are also in a rat race for survival, and you know how that feels. Like Christopher McDougall said, “Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up – it knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up – It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're the lion or a gazelle-when the sun comes up, you'd better be running.”