GetSetUp's Marathon Journey: Celebrating Active Aging at the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2024

unning a marathon is an extraordinary feat at any age, but it's especially remarkable for active agers. At the same time, every marathon is a story of personal battles and victories. This year at the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2024, I faced my own set of challenges, including a delayed start amidst the bustling crowd, battling cramps, and managing hydration needs. Despite these obstacles, the exhilaration of crossing the finish line was unmatched. It was a powerful reminder that perseverance and determination always lead to success. One particularly inspiring moment was witnessing a gentleman in his 70s conquer the half marathon. His passion highlighted how age is just a number and events like the Tata Mumbai Marathon have a profound impact, fostering accomplishment, boosting confidence, and reinforcing a commitment to discipline, health and wellbeing.

Upon finishing my run, the excitement grew as I witnessed our inspiring GetSetUp community. As they completed their respective race categories, Dream Run and the Senior Run, the triumph they shared wasn't just in crossing the finish line but in the journey of preparation, discipline, and community spirit that led them there. 

“This was my first marathon and truly memorable.😊 The GetSetUp 45-day fitness challenge helped me a lot. I could walk and run so easily due to the practice that all the GetSetUp Guides gave us. The tips by our co-runners from GetSetUp, Ashwini, and Venkatraman were all constructive 🙏 In addition, the team was enthusiastic and encouraged us today. I enjoyed the run. I am looking forward to more such runs by GetSetUp now, who have played a great role in motivating us and helping us complete our run stress-free. I enjoyed every minute.” - Meena T.

Watching our members cross the finish line, hand in hand, offering each other support and encouragement, was inspiring. Their determination, resilience, and community spirit were evident throughout the event - from the preparation phase to bib collection and on race day itself—a true culmination of learning and doing.  

“Absolutely an enjoyable event with all GetSetUp members. Looking forward to more such activities in the coming times. Great start to the year 2024!” - Binda K.

At GetSetUp, our approach to fitness among older adults is holistic and community-driven. We believe in empowering our members through regular training, interactive classes, and a supportive environment. Our Guides, ambassadors, and community hosts motivate and guide members through various fitness challenges and activities. We understand that fitness is not just physical but also mental well-being and resilience that allows social connection, which fosters strong bonds within our community. As we now move forward in the year ahead and embrace ourselves for newer challenges, let's carry the lessons on staying active and bring in the learnings from the marathon into our daily lives.

Staying Consistent with Physical Activity Post-Marathon: Tips for Active Agers

• Consistency and Discipline: A key tip for maintaining a fitness routine is consistency and discipline. Every small step and habit contributes to significant results over time. Remaining consistent with your activity levels and adhering to a disciplined approach in your training and overall lifestyle are crucial. There will be days when you may not feel like training, and listening to your body is important. Embrace the fact that there will be low days, but stay disciplined in your overall approach, including the nutrition, hydration, and sleep.

• Quality Sleep: Sleep is a vital factor in allowing your body to repair itself for the next day’s challenges—both the quantity and quality of sleep matter, with an emphasis on achieving high-quality sleep. Meditation, positive thinking, and deep breathing before bedtime can improve sleep.
• Mindful Nutrition: It's essential to continue making healthy food choices. A balanced diet helps in fitness recovery and maintaining a steady fitness level. Opt for healthy food choices, avoiding saturated and unhealthy fats, processed foods, and excessive sugar or salt. Incorporate snacks like nuts and fruits, and improve the intake of vegetables into your diet.
• Embrace New Challenges and Community: Try something new to keep your fitness journey engaging, whether cycling, walking, zumba, or any community fitness session on yoga or aerobics on GetSetUp. Becoming a part of a fitness community provides encouragement and direction for one's journey towards better health, it also not only fosters personal empowerment but also inspires positive lifestyle changes

Whether you're gearing up for your next run or finding new ways to stay fit, remember that every step you take is a step towards a healthier, more fulfilling life. At GetSetUp, we believe in the power of these steps, no matter how small, as they collectively lead to significant, positive changes in our well-being and overall quality of life, and we look forward to more such future events; we are excited to continue supporting each member’s journey towards a healthier, more active life through fitness sessions, in-person events, and challenges.

Article written by Ashwini Kapila, at GetSetUp. Onto his second career, after being a banker who served in the financial services sector for over 28 years. To join or partner with GetSetUp for more inspiring stories, tips, challenges, and a community that keeps you moving, learning, and growing every day, connect with me at ashwini@getsetup.io. Together, we'll continue to break barriers, achieve new goals, and celebrate the joy of active aging.