I am travelling to Hyderabad in India in a couple of weeks for work. It is my first time in India and hoping to get out for a few runs while I am there - it is such a great way to get to know a city, especially in the early morning before the place wakes up. However, have had advice (from non-runners) that it is too dangerous and polluted to be worth the risk. Has anyone any advice on running in India (not really an orienteering question, but perhaps someone has experience in this area)?
I worked in India for 3 years on and off and managed about 3 runs in that time outside a hotel treadmill; in parks in Delhi and Kolkata. It was extremely rare to see other people running either. In the more remote areas it just wasn't an option socially or culturally.
Yes it is polluted but no more so than Dublin in the 1970s. Traffic is crazy but their attitude is different to what we are used to - they will make allowances for the unexpected whereas here most drivers don't think runners or cyclists should be on the road. It's just not pleasant with the amount of traffic and the continuous honking of horns.
hmmm I went to Bangalore with work earlier this year with the plan of running around the streets whilst I was there. I would say it's largely unfeasible. I decieded not to attempt it. You'll work out what I mean when you get driven from the airport to your hotel......
I guess the traffic becomes less of a problem before 8 am. But then there are no footpaths, and the completly uneven surfaces (think large steps), 1 m deep holes and exposed electric cables kind of put you off.
I would reccomened as above you get your driver to take you to a large park and go for a jog there. But even that will be a bit odd. Personal security wise in Bangalore everything seemed very safe. But people are not used to westerners even walking around the main street in Bangalore as most people seem to get their drivers to take them from place to place.
Good luck.
I ran in Mumbai a couple of years back; early in the morning wasn't too bad. IIT Mumbai University Campus was the best place to run. I saw many other runners there.
Streets were very dirty and trashy but it's also kind of fun just to see things and run past cows, people, vehicles, whatever. It was very hot, humid, not particularly good running.... even on sidewalks I had to be extremely careful not to fall into open sewer holes, etc. I was never afraid of the people, just of the traffic.
I was in Pune for a few weeks on two separate trips four or five year ago. From my experience, if you're looking to get in a specific mileage or effort level, stick to a treadmill. If you want to get out of your hotel and look around the city, a lighter jog could work. I'd second O-ing's comment about the drivers. In India, you will be able to frogger across busy streets that you would never dare go across in a lot of other countries.
I lived two years in the Punjab and ran outdoors once. Good luck.
I ran a couple of times in Delhi. Safety wise I didn't feel it was remotely a problem. You will probably get a little attention because you'll be a highly unusual sight. If that kind of thing bothers you, you may not enjoy it but equally you might find it encouraging.
It was December when I was there so very cool/cold in the early morning. Even then it was only just bearable with the pollution.
Many thanks to all for their advice and comments! It does sound relatively challenging. Fortunately, the hotel has a fitness center with treadmills (and a pool - yay!). Will use them and then perhaps check out whether an outdoor run is feasible both physically and culturally after a few days of familiarization in the area. Wil let you know how I get on :-).
You could try to hire a pedicab, ask the owner to get in the back and you could get a workout cycling around the city.
There is
this to think about, too.
Perhaps you just need to pick the
right part of India?
Stray dogs:
"Joggers carry bamboo rods to beat them away, and bicyclists fill their pockets with stones to throw at chasers."
Gee... there are hashes all over India. If those with half a brain can find a place to run, so perhaps can the highly sophisticated orienteers?
On the south-east edge of Hyderabad out by the Nehru Ring Road is an area called Budvel. I don't know who owns it. It looks like a bunch of old quarries or mines. Perhaps Dow Chemical used to have a plant there but it looks as if it would be great for running AND for orienteering.
If you go orienteering, make sure to bring some tiger repellent.
Univ. of Hyderabad? Besides the campus, Google satellite view shows lots of undeveloped land and a lake NW of U. Also, there appears to be two undeveloped residential (grid of streets) both W and NE of U.
Worth looking into?
Gee... there are hashes all over India. If those with half a brain can find a place to run, so perhaps can the highly sophisticated orienteers?
Vlad, are you suggesting that hashers are less intelligent or sophisticated than orienteers? Your comment seems pretty unequivocal on that point.
Having spent a considerable amount of time with both, I can suggest that it is just the opposite, at least in domains that matter.
Many hashers refer to themselves as "half-minds"; I am certain that is the source of Tundra's comment. ON ON!
That does it. The prospect of rabid stray dogs is the clincher. Looks like it is the hotel gym treadmill for me! At least I won't need the Garmin :-)
Greetings from Hyderabad! Well, I can report that I safely went for a 40 minute run outside at 6am this morning! Pollution no worse than Seoul, dogs easily frightened off, traffic okay at that time of day, and only a few stares from the inhabitants (although it is definitely an odd activity to be doiong - saw noone else running at all this week). It helped that I am staying near the Silicon Valley part of the city and so I didn't have to go past many slums or poorer areas. There were no footpaths and so ran on the road or the dirt verge. I had already been for a couple of runs on the hotel treadmill, which was fine, but it was good to get out and have a look around - very different perspective than I have had from the taxi or bus to and from the conference venue! Thanks to all for your advice. My advice would be to not rule out running in some parts of India (well, Hyderbad at least) but to check it out for a day or two before committing to an outdoors run.
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