Comments on: The highs and lows of Sunfeast http://www.anitabora.com/blog/2008/05/20/the-highs-and-lows-of-sunfeast/ Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:47:48 +0530 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kishan Bhat http://www.anitabora.com/blog/2008/05/20/the-highs-and-lows-of-sunfeast/comment-page-1/#comment-1299635 Kishan Bhat Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:03:17 +0000 http://www.anitabora.com/blog/?p=542#comment-1299635 I was a volunteer for SAAHAS at the first water station near Jewels de Paragon. A couple of us did try to get in touch with the organizers - ProCam 2 months before the event. They did not respond. Finally, SAAHAS managed to get ProCam to use the litter collection service. I volunteered to raise some awareness but the response was just not impressive. ProCam also denied us a small announcement before the run asking people not to litter and instead use the bins! It was distressing to see full and half full bottles thrown. Lot of water was also spilled on the road. Bear in mind this is packaged drinking water. This when there are water related deaths in Bangalore, almost everyday. The ecological footprint of bottled water is huge, and its just an unethical industry. While there were 7-8 people from KingFisher throwing away bottles, there were hardly 2 people picking up the litter. Its ok for the professional 10k ones (actually they hardly took lot of water. Excess hydration kills your stamina). People from senior citizen run and Majja run hardly cared and freely littered. Things that I learnt: 1. Ethics - matter of convenience (ex: give away 5-6 biscuit packets (trans fats) and Bingo) 2. Cause - Can be used to lure public (ex: profit in the name of charity) 4. Free - enough reason to misuse (ex: water bottles) 5. Responsibility - something that be shrugged off (ex: litter will get picked up). I can go on. I'd never take part in this type of event. Would rather commute by bicycle and walk to nearby places, which will do more good. Finally, does anyone know the Total Dissolved Salts in packaged drinking water? (last I measured it was 16 ppm whereas recommended is 50 ppm, even more when you are running) I was a volunteer for SAAHAS at the first water station near Jewels de Paragon.

A couple of us did try to get in touch with the organizers — ProCam 2 months before the event. They did not respond.

Finally, SAAHAS managed to get ProCam to use the litter collection service. I volunteered to raise some awareness but the response was just not impressive.
ProCam also denied us a small announcement before the run asking people not to litter and instead use the bins!

It was distressing to see full and half full bottles thrown. Lot of water was also spilled on the road. Bear in mind this is packaged drinking water. This when there are water related deaths in Bangalore, almost everyday. The ecological footprint of bottled water is huge, and its just an unethical industry.

While there were 7–8 people from KingFisher throwing away bottles, there were hardly 2 people picking up the litter.

Its ok for the professional 10k ones (actually they hardly took lot of water. Excess hydration kills your stamina). People from senior citizen run and Majja run hardly cared and freely littered.

Things that I learnt:
1. Ethics — matter of convenience (ex: give away 5–6 biscuit packets (trans fats) and Bingo)
2. Cause — Can be used to lure public (ex: profit in the name of charity)
4. Free — enough reason to misuse (ex: water bottles)
5. Responsibility — something that be shrugged off (ex: litter will get picked up).
I can go on.

I’d never take part in this type of event. Would rather commute by bicycle and walk to nearby places, which will do more good.

Finally, does anyone know the Total Dissolved Salts in packaged drinking water? (last I measured it was 16 ppm whereas recommended is 50 ppm, even more when you are running)

]]> By: Sachin Bharadwaj http://www.anitabora.com/blog/2008/05/20/the-highs-and-lows-of-sunfeast/comment-page-1/#comment-1298528 Sachin Bharadwaj Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:45:21 +0000 http://www.anitabora.com/blog/?p=542#comment-1298528 Good write up but I kinda agree with Sandeep regarding the trash disposal. I was one of the runner and I was more concerned about timing than really finding a trash can to chuck the bottle...why??? It's not because I'm not concerned about environment, it's because I was aware there were volunteers who were picking up the cans. Atleast when I ran I didn't see so many plastic bottles on road and I also saw lots of volunteers in action. I've ran a couple of marathons in other countries and trust me no serious runner (for that matter nobody) ever bothers themselves of finding a trash can...coz they're aware of the fact that it'll be taken care by the event organizers. I don't see anything Indian or Non-Indian about the point. My writeup about the event is here: http://sachinb.blogspot.com/2009/05/sunfeast-world-10k-bangalore.html Good write up but I kinda agree with Sandeep regarding the trash disposal. I was one of the runner and I was more concerned about timing than really finding a trash can to chuck the bottle…why??? It’s not because I’m not concerned about environment, it’s because I was aware there were volunteers who were picking up the cans. Atleast when I ran I didn’t see so many plastic bottles on road and I also saw lots of volunteers in action.

I’ve ran a couple of marathons in other countries and trust me no serious runner (for that matter nobody) ever bothers themselves of finding a trash can…coz they’re aware of the fact that it’ll be taken care by the event organizers. I don’t see anything Indian or Non-Indian about the point.

My writeup about the event is here:
http://sachinb.blogspot.com/2009/05/sunfeast-world-10k-bangalore.html

]]> By: Aathira http://www.anitabora.com/blog/2008/05/20/the-highs-and-lows-of-sunfeast/comment-page-1/#comment-1290746 Aathira Thu, 28 May 2009 10:43:04 +0000 http://www.anitabora.com/blog/?p=542#comment-1290746 I am running this year and very scared! I am not at all prepared! I am running this year and very scared!

I am not at all prepared!

]]> By: Ranu http://www.anitabora.com/blog/2008/05/20/the-highs-and-lows-of-sunfeast/comment-page-1/#comment-793277 Ranu Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:50:16 +0000 http://www.anitabora.com/blog/?p=542#comment-793277 Hey, I am presently residing in California where the weather is favorable for running. I do prefer outdoor exercises but when it comes to massive workout (including running), remember the JRD sports complex in Jamshedpur. Nothing as motivating as seeing athletes exercising in front of you. Hey, I am presently residing in California where the weather is favorable for running. I do prefer outdoor exercises but when it comes to massive workout (including running), remember the JRD sports complex in Jamshedpur. Nothing as motivating as seeing athletes exercising in front of you.

]]> By: Prashanth M http://www.anitabora.com/blog/2008/05/20/the-highs-and-lows-of-sunfeast/comment-page-1/#comment-774954 Prashanth M Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:30:48 +0000 http://www.anitabora.com/blog/?p=542#comment-774954 lol @ last pic lol @ last pic

]]> By: mangesh http://www.anitabora.com/blog/2008/05/20/the-highs-and-lows-of-sunfeast/comment-page-1/#comment-771500 mangesh Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:27:21 +0000 http://www.anitabora.com/blog/?p=542#comment-771500 i also planned to go but i had office that day but good you went i also planned to go but i had office that day but good you went

]]> By: bhupendra.kahar http://www.anitabora.com/blog/2008/05/20/the-highs-and-lows-of-sunfeast/comment-page-1/#comment-771278 bhupendra.kahar Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:42:47 +0000 http://www.anitabora.com/blog/?p=542#comment-771278 Hi friend you interested in a nice blog.Go ahead keep it up Hi friend
you interested in a nice blog.Go ahead keep it up

]]> By: Anita http://www.anitabora.com/blog/2008/05/20/the-highs-and-lows-of-sunfeast/comment-page-1/#comment-765742 Anita Sat, 31 May 2008 15:08:23 +0000 http://www.anitabora.com/blog/?p=542#comment-765742 @ prashanth: you should do it more often then! @ prashanth: you should do it more often then!

]]> By: Prashanth http://www.anitabora.com/blog/2008/05/20/the-highs-and-lows-of-sunfeast/comment-page-1/#comment-764281 Prashanth Fri, 30 May 2008 15:37:53 +0000 http://www.anitabora.com/blog/?p=542#comment-764281 Once I ran 5KM - almost 3-4 yrs ago in Chennai campus... my first long run (and only till date).. and surprisingly came in top 20 out some 100 odd ppl.. that too totally unprepared :D Once I ran 5KM — almost 3–4 yrs ago in Chennai campus… my first long run (and only till date).. and surprisingly came in top 20 out some 100 odd ppl.. that too totally unprepared :D

]]> By: Anita http://www.anitabora.com/blog/2008/05/20/the-highs-and-lows-of-sunfeast/comment-page-1/#comment-759580 Anita Tue, 27 May 2008 14:36:19 +0000 http://www.anitabora.com/blog/?p=542#comment-759580 @ manoj: hey! i am doing you some publicity :) in fact, i will have to charge you commission if i help you succeed in your mission! @ sandeep: i definitely wouldn't put all the responsibility on the organizers. and since they didn't seem to provide for the required bins, i would have expected people to be a little more responsible. but those are my expectations and obviously have nothing to do with what people are really like! so i think people are equally to blame! i am not talking about garbage in general - that is a totally different can of worms! @ manoj: hey! i am doing you some publicity :) in fact, i will have to charge you commission if i help you succeed in your mission!

@ sandeep: i definitely wouldn’t put all the responsibility on the organizers. and since they didn’t seem to provide for the required bins, i would have expected people to be a little more responsible. but those are my expectations and obviously have nothing to do with what people are really like! so i think people are equally to blame! i am not talking about garbage in general — that is a totally different can of worms!

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