Starting a new running habit needs a little more than a pair of good sneakers and the willingness to stay fit; it needs discipline. 24-year-old graphic designer Jaie Bhadane learnt this only recently. Until last year, Jaie had always been partial to weight training and maintained a regular gym schedule. Then she moved to Mumbai from Pune for a few months and found herself with just her sneakers and no time to find a new gym. Jaie decided to take up running to keep fit, but her first time was a rude shock. “I couldn’t cover even 500 mts without gasping for my dear life,” she says. “The endurance level I had as a kid was gone because I wasn’t practicing at all.” But instead of being discouraged, Jaie challenged herself to get better.
“I had been limiting myself for a long time and I had to break free of my inhibitions,” she says. While the early days were tough, with diligent practice, she has now worked her way up to a brisk 10 kms. During this time she learnt the basics of running, about the right kind of footwear and the right surfaces to run on. “I also started setting simple goals for myself, like pushing myself to run to the next mailbox or waking up early in the morning to go running. Then I focused on fighting the urge to look at the clock or how much I had covered – I just kept going. Even when your mind tells you that you’re done, there is still more energy left in you. It gives you the much-needed discipline that you need in life.” Now she never fails to share these victories with her Instagram community for a motivational kick. “Everyone usually sees the physical benefits, but they need to see the mental strength it helps you build, too,” she says.
Pro Classic sports bra, Power Epic Lux 2.0 running tights, Sportswear Windrunner jacket, VaporMax shoes; all Nike
Photographs: Manasi Sawant, Styling: Karuna Laungani, Hair and make-up: Kritika Gill, Art direction: Reshma Rajiwdekar
