It’s been really difficult trying to get a post out and I keep telling myself that I’ll write one “tomorrow,” but somehow tomorrow always turns into next week, and next week into “maybe after one more cup of coffee.” But anyhoooo, here I am back with another post 🫣 owww and this is more of a weekend walk than a Wednesday Walk, I don’t think that i’d ever be free to walk on a weekday 🥹
Somewhere around mid-September, my dad sent me a Facebook post. Now, usually, his Facebook forwards involve things like “10 signs your phone is listening to you” or “miracle Ayurvedic remedies for knee pain,” so I didn’t pay much attention at first. But this one was kinda sorta different, it was about a walkathon organised by Parvathy Hospital in Chennai, scheduled for October 5th.
The post said something like:
“What began as a meaningful event for patients recovering from knee, hip, and spine surgeries has grown into a vibrant community movement. In 2023, we opened our arms to everyone including children to walk together in unity. In 2024, we expanded our vision further, inviting individuals from all walks of life to join us in a celebration of hope, healing, and togetherness. This year, in 2025, we shine a light on the power of family. Whether you’re walking, running, or simply showing up, come experience the joy of movement and connection side by side with those who matter most.”
I remember reading that and thinking, “Hmmm, that actually sounds.. nice?” And then I looked at my dad he had that familiar look in his eye, the one that usually means “I’ve already decided, you’re coming with me.” 😂
So, we decided to go ahead and register. The registration fee was Rs 500 for a pair, which felt fair enough for what seemed like a wholesome father-son morning adventure (And Probably A Free T-shirt).
Now, here’s the part where reality kicked in, I hadn’t worked out in ages. My fitness routine had recently consisted of long stretches of sitting and thinking about going for a jog. So, to “prepare,” we came up with the genius idea of taking an early morning walk every Sunday leading up to the event.
The “Training” Phase
Our first Sunday walk began full of enthusiasm. We started early, with matching caps and a level of optimism that would put gym influencers to shame 😆 But about 30 minutes in, the enthusiasm gave way to mild regret for me. Still, we managed to complete our route, and when we checked, it turned out to be 6.3 km which was slightly more than the walkathon distance.
That little discovery made us feel ridiculously proud, as if we’d just trained for a marathon. “We’ll ace this 5 km walkathon,” my dad said, confidently sipping his post-walk tea. I nodded in agreement, pretending my legs weren’t questioning my life choices 🙂
And so, every Sunday became “our” walk day. It was peaceful, actually a somewhat seemingly quite highway, the smell of filter coffee wafting from nearby homes, and a few friendly neighbourhood dogs cheering us on (Or Barking Us Off Their Turf, Depending On How You See It).
The Pre-Event Excitement
A week before the event, we got an email from Parvathy Hospital. It contained the event schedule and a note asking participants to collect their goodie bags from the hospital beforehand.
I’m a sucker for event goodies. It doesn’t matter if it’s a T-shirt, a wristband, or a paper badge, I’ll wear it like it’s part of a uniform for a secret society. The goodie bag included a T-shirt for all participants, a wristband, and a sling bag. My dad, being the practical one, immediately said, “Ah good, sling bag means we can keep our keys and wallet safely.” Meanwhile, I was just excited about the matching T-shirt photo op 🫣
Thea Early Morning Challenge
Now, the event was set to begin at 6 AM. That sounds fine on paper until you realize the venue is an hour and a half away. Which meant we had to leave home by 5 AM. Which further meant waking up at 5:30 AM.
Let me tell you waking up that early in the morning is voluntarily and is an extreme sport. Especially for someone whose natural wake-up time is “whenever the sunlight becomes too strong.”
On the day of the event, we somehow managed to get up, eat a banana, gulp down some water, and hop on our scooter. The air was chilly, the roads were surprisingly empty, and there was this quiet excitement in the air the kind that reminds you of early school trips which was well a lifetime ago for me.
We decided to skip some of the opening events like stretching, Zumba, and the warm-up sessions. I told my dad, “We’ll stretch during the walk,” which, in hindsight, sounds like something only a lazy optimist would say.
Here’s what the schedule looked like:
•5 AM to 5:30 AM: Crowd Gathering
•5:30 AM to 5:45 AM: Stretching / Warm Up
•5:45 AM to 6:20 AM: Zumba / Dance Session with VJ Madhavan, VJ Anne and Mr. Vishwa
•6:20 AM to 6:25 AM: Crowd Addressal by Parvathy Hospital Team
•6:25 AM: Flag Off for 5 KM
•6:40 AM: Flag Off for 3 KM
•6:50 AM: Flag Off for 1 KM
•7:30 AM to 8:30 AM: Medal Distribution & Zumba / Dance with Raack Academy of Dance
•8:30 AM to 9:30 AM: Games, Refreshments and Fun Activities
The Big Day
When we reached, the sight was incredible! a sea of people dressed in matching blue T-shirts, stretching, chatting, and taking selfies. There were kids running around, elderly couples warming up, entire families clicking group photos, it was wholesome chaos.
We later learned that over 6,000 people had registered for the event. That’s six thousand pairs of sneakers, all moving toward the same goal literally!
The walk began right on schedule at 6:25 AM. The route was a 5 km stretch along the main road, which meant traffic had to be temporarily halted. I did feel a little bad for the poor souls stuck in their cars, honking away as we proudly marched past.
At one point, I saw a family trying to convince a traffic cop to let them through because they just wanted breakfast from a restaurant down the road. The cop, visibly irritated, told them, “You can have breakfast tomorrow, skip today!” It was rude but also, classic Indian cop energy 🙂 this all happened in Tamil btw which is the local language.
The route had about 10 refreshment stations, which honestly felt unnecessary for a 5 km walk, but I wasn’t complaining. Free water bottles and glucose drinks? I’ll take it. Some people were taking the walk extremely seriously! you could see them power-walking like Olympic athletes and im like why even? This isn’t a competition or anything 😭 My dad and I? We were somewhere in between “leisurely stroll” and “slightly brisk because someone’s overtaking us.”
We chatted, joked, and occasionally pointed out things like, “Look at that guy, he’s running! overachiever!” or “I think this is the same spot we passed already,” even though it wasn’t.
There was this moment mid-walk when a little kid walked past us holding his dad’s hand, saying, “Dada, are we done yet?” and my dad looked at me with the same expression. I just laughed and said, “Almost there, Dada.”
Crossing the Finish Line
When we finally crossed the finish line, it felt good not just because we were done, but because there was this genuine sense of shared joy. People were clapping, volunteers were cheering, and someone handed us our medals.
Now, I’m not saying I’ll wear that medal everywhere, but I did keep it safely on my desk, a small reminder that sometimes, it’s not about running marathons but simply showing up and walking together.
After collecting our medals, we were treated to light refreshments, some sandwiches (Vegetarian, Of Course), juice, and biscuits. It wasn’t a lavish spread, but after waking up at 4 AM and walking 5 km, it felt like a feast.
As we sat on the limited chairs that were put up eating our sandwiches, my dad looked around and said, “It’s nice, isn’t it? Seeing so many families doing something like this together.”
And he was right. There was something really grounding about that morning, no rush, no screens, just people moving, smiling, talking, being present.
Since that day, we’ve actually continued our Sunday walks. Not as “training,” but just as something we enjoy doing together now. It’s our little weekend ritual, sometimes we talk, sometimes we just walk in silence, but it’s become this calm, consistent thing that I’ve come to really appreciate.
I’m writing this post today just after coming back from one of those walks with my dad. The sun had just risen, the air still had that crisp early-morning chill, and there was a light breeze brushing through the trees. It reminded me of that October morning. The crowd, the laughter, the tired smiles and how something as simple as a walk can leave such a lasting memory.
Closing Thoughts
The Parvathy Hospital Walkathon wasn’t about competition or fitness records. It was about connection with family at least thats what I feel, with community, and maybe even a little with yourself.
In a world where we’re all constantly running after something like deadlines, dreams, or just the next notification, it felt refreshing to slow down and just walk.
If there’s one thing I took away from this whole experience, it’s that small steps can lead to big changes and not just physically, but emotionally too. Sometimes all you need is to lace up your shoes, step out, and share a few kilometers (And A Few Laughs) with someone you love.
So here’s to many more Sunday walks with dad, to medals that remind us of mornings well spent, and to those tiny, beautiful moments that often go unnoticed.
Because in the end, it’s not about how far you walk, it’s about who you walk with ❤️
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