Guest Article: My First Marathon, 2012

S Yesudas, Managing Director, India Sub-continent, Vizeum, shares his experience of running his first marathon – the agony and the ecstacy

e4m by S Yesudas
Published: Jan 24, 2012 7:39 AM  | 5 min read
Guest Article: My First Marathon, 2012

An undying desire that swept my heart in the later part of last year, made my registration for the event possible through a good friend, Nandan Srinath. During the next month or so, it was a lot of discussions with friends and people who participated in the Marathon earlier and reading up literature on various web sites. A site I personally found very interesting was www.runningandliving.com. The advices from experts ranged from intensity of practices to nutrition requirements to rest. And the biggest of all was No Alcohol during training.

Kick starting a high intensity running practice wasn’t impossible for me since I anyway liked running/walking and was actively into cycling. Some decent practices started progressing alongwith the Sunday cycling as part of a commitment to a club I have initiated in my residential locality in Mumbai - Chembur Cycool Club.

December 4, 2011 saw us cycle for about 60 kms and I had my relaxed Sunday afternoon scotch. By that evening, I was running very high temperature and unbearable body pain. Thanks to my good doctor, Dr Amol Pawar the specific viral attack got diagnosed very early. By this time, liver enzymes and platlets levels were topsy turvy, needing hospitalization. At discharge, body was weak and lesser in weight by 5 kilos and came along a strict prescription for complete rest for a month which included usage of lift even for the 1st floor. With the marathon just a month away, I had no choice but to put the dream in the cold storage very reluctantly. My doctor was feeling sad for me too. Days passed with rest and replenishment of body nutrients.

I had a mail in my mail box on Jan 3rd announcing the Marathon Expo and collection of the bib numbers between Jan 7-8. While a new desire suddenly appeared in the heart, had to kill it immediately based on the physical condition. However on 8th there was this inner calling to go out and collect the bib number which, against a lot of opposition, I did. In my mind I was doing it to keep it as a memorabilia. Didn’t even think I would run. But on 9h January, the desire to run reappeared. I tried living with the feeling and various internal discussions through the day.

Woke up on 10th with some determination. Running shoes came out. There was no looking back then. Having decided to run, I thought of doing it for a purpose and dedicated my run to collect donations for Vidya Vanam, an elementary school for children from tribal and under privileged families. With 4 days of practice I found myself at the Holding area for the Half Marathon at 5.30 am on 15th January 2012.

The atmosphere was electric, some 10,000 people were gathered, some in groups, some alone, some running, some stretching, some talking, some thinking, some praying and the list can go on. I met some friends from the industry Alok Nair, Deep Drona and Paritosh Joshi at the venue. My other friend and companion, Sridar Swamy (not from our industry) and I managed to do some stretches and even before I knew the gates were open at 6.15am. By the time I put my feet at the start time recording mat it was 6.25 am – that can explain the hold up at the holding area.

Within the first km, someone who threw a used bottle on the road came under my foot and I almost twisted my ankle. But by the grace of god, it wasn’t something serious. I managed to run at a steady speed for the first 11 kms. Then took a little break and again progressed. It was exhilaration and adrenaline rush. Body was getting pumped up in pure excitement made possible by 1000s of on-lookers who were constantly cheering the runners, some bands playing with the right kind of music at different corners. It was festivity all around. In addition to the on-lookers cheering, residents were coming out in dozens to serve the tired runner with snacks, fruits, juices. Saw Girish Agarwal doing the same with his family (Girish if you are reading this, you better be on the running track next year!)

By now, I was at the Cadbury junction. Witnessing the climb ahead, my speed automatically reduced. Didn’t want to take any risk of running on the stretch without training and decided to brisk walk through it. Picked up the speed again, went through to Marine Drive. Marine Drive was superb. There was music, action, cheers and the works. I slowed down to soak in the atmosphere. Now I was at the turning of Flora Fountain. The km indictor (which was placed at every km) said “last 1 km to go” and a sudden strength came up on the feet, the next board said 700 mts, 500 mts, 200 mts, 100 mts and yes I was at the finishing point with my arms wide open. The entire 21.09 Kms was covered in 2:34:50, a record I actually didn’t expect.

The last Sunday scotch was on the 4th December. Had I taken the advice from experts seriously, perhaps it would have been a different story of reaching the finish line earlier. But would it have had the ingredients this story has?

I thank my lord Ayyappa for his touch in my life. Also thank each of my friends for their contribution to Vidya Vanam.

I’m already looking forward to the next Marathon.

(S Yesudas is Managing Director, India Sub-continent at Vizeum.)

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E4M Our strategy is to target younger audiences through Sports: Rajiv Dubey, Dabur

The Head of Media at Dabur India spoke exclusively to exchange4media on the World Cup, associating with Indian Idol, the company’s digital spending and much more

e4m by e4m Staff
Published: Oct 27, 2023 6:15 PM  | 1 min read
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With quirky campaigns, memes and moment marketing, timed with the ongoing World Cup and particularly the India-Pakistan matches, Dabur India has got considerable consumer attention for its popular brands – Red Paste, Cool King Hair Oil, Chyawanprash, Dabur Vita and the recently launched Bae Fresh Gel toothpaste.

The 140-year-old company is going big on key sporting events, World Television Premiere (WTP) movies and reality shows. It is now gearing up to become the title sponsor of popular talent show ‘Indian Idol’ on Sony TV for the first time, shared Rajiv Dubey, who leads the media strategy at Dabur.

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Swapan Seth's new book 'COOL' is out

The book is a reflection of the author's 'eclectic taste across categories'

e4m by e4m Staff
Published: Oct 27, 2023 6:07 PM  | 1 min read
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Advertising professional and art collector Swapan Seth has announced the launch of his new book COOL. The book is described as "a ready reckoner to the hip and the happening, of the known and the very unknown."

The book is a reflection of the author's "eclectic taste across categories: from boltholes to exotic hideaways."

COOL has been published by Simon & Schuster India and is available on Amazon.

Seth is an ad veteran with a long and illustrious career in the industry. He became the youngest-ever Creative Director at Clarion at age 24. He was VP at 26 at Trikaya Grey. Two years later, he started his agency Equus.

He writes for publications such as The Economic Times, Hindustan Times and India Today. This is his second book and he has previously published THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

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Disney Star signs 9 sponsors for Asia Cup PAK

Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up come on board

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 26, 2023 11:48 AM  | 1 min read
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e4m Staff Disney Star has signed nine broadcast and digital streaming sponsors for the upcoming Asia Cup.

Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up have come on board for the upcoming tournament.
As reported earlier by exchange4media, Disney Star has sought Rs 26 crore for the co-presenting sponsorship on TV and Rs 30 crore for Disney+ Hotstar.

According to industry sources, the associate sponsorship on Star Sports has been priced at Rs 19.66 crore, whereas for the ‘powered by’ sponsorship on Disney+ Hotstar, the broadcaster is seeking Rs 18 crore.

As per the information available with exchange4media, Disney+ Hotstar has three sponsorship tiers-- co-presenting (Rs 30 crore), powered by (Rs 18 crore) and associate sponsorship (Rs 12 crore). The broadcaster is offering an estimated reach of 120-140 million for co-presenting sponsors, 90-100 million for powered by and 60-70 million for associate sponsorship.

A spot buy for 10 seconds has been priced at Rs 25 lakh for the India vs Pakistan matches, while for the non-India matches, the ad rate for 10 second is Rs 2.3 lakh. The India matches plus the final for ODIs has been priced at Rs 17 lakh per 10 seconds.

Asia Cup is scheduled to be held from 30 August, 2023, to September 17, 2023.

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Sorted 360 wins creative & social media mandate of Reliance Mall

The agency will manage offline and online campaigns for Reliance Mall

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 26, 2023 10:54 AM  | 1 min read
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Sorted 360, an integrated creative and social media agency, has won the mandate to providing brand solutions for Reliance Malls across India.

“Sorted 360 is set to enhance Reliance Malls' market presence with their unparalleled creative prowess and strategic thinking,” read a press release.

“Sorted 360's commitment to pushing the boundaries of creative communication aligns perfectly with Reliance Malls' ethos. With a pan-India presence spanning across 19 cities and growing, Reliance Malls has consistently captivated customers by offering an array of Reliance brands and third-party fashion & lifestyle brands. The mall has established an unparalleled connection with its patrons through superior quality, a remarkable value proposition, and an unmatched shopping experience,” it read further.

"We are thrilled to welcome Sorted 360 as our trusted partner in advancing our brand presence across the nation," said the Head of Marketing at Relaice Malls. "Their proven expertise in retail, shopping center management, and innovative creative strategies make them the perfect fit for our vision."

"Partnering with Reliance Malls is a testament to our commitment to shaping extraordinary brand experiences," remarked Prerana Anatharam, Co-founder of Sorted 360. "We are excited to leverage our strategic and creative acumen to further elevate Reliance Malls as the epitome of convenience, choice, and excellence."

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e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 25, 2023 4:39 PM  | 1 min read

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e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 25, 2023 4:38 PM  | 1 min read

KlugKlug onboards Hemang Mehta as Country Manager for Indias

Mehta was most recently Head of Agency Relationships at Network 18 Media & Investments

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 24, 2023 3:35 PM  | 1 min read
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KlugKlug has appointed Hemang Mehta as its Country Manager for India.

Mehta will play a pivotal role in driving KlugKlug's growth and expansion within the Indian market and be responsible for Sales & GTM Strategy

Prior to that, he has also represented organisations like Exponential (now VDX.tv), India Today Digital and Rediff.com. His expertise spans various domains including digital media sales, mobile marketing, media planning, and buying, social media marketing, and more.

Hemang Mehta expressed his enthusiasm about joining KlugKlug, saying, "I am thrilled to be a part of KlugKlug, a forward-thinking platform that is reshaping the influencer marketing landscape. As much as I look forward to collaborating with the exuberant team at KlugKlug, I am super excited to interact with the brands to deliver powerful data-backed Influencer solutions that will guarantee business outcomes."

Commenting on the appointment, Kalyan Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of KlugKlug, stated, "We are excited to welcome Hemang Mehta to our team as the Country Manager for India. His extensive experience in digital media sales and marketing will be instrumental in driving our efforts to provide influencer marketing solutions to our clients. We believe Hemang's leadership will be key in scaling our operations and expanding our reach within the Indian market."

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