Search Results for: trail challenge

November 9, 2019 By Anusha Subramanian Leave a Comment

Do You Know #SuperRunner Samir Singh?

Running keeps you fit! It’s a tried, tested and approved fact. Now, whether you’re running to lose weight, catch a bus you’re obviously late for or running away from your problems, at the end of it there will be change. If you must run, can your goals be kicked up a notch? Can they mean something more? One man decided to push the envelope of what’s possibly the ultimate test of strength, endurance and mental fortitude. Have you heard of the Super Runner, yet?

In mid-October, ultra-runner Samir Singh, also known as the Faith Runner, took to challenge his mind and body by attempting to run 10,000km in over 100 days. He calls his run the “Fit India Mission 10000”, a humble dedication to the Fit India Movement. “I think this is the best movement that the Government has started. The movement is inspiring a lot of people to take up fitness as a way of life and I strongly believe in it,” he says in support of the Government initiative for a healthier, fitter India.

It has been around three weeks since he started and has completed approximately 1500km. “I believe in myself. I have dreamt of doing this for a long time and I believe it is possible! I can do it!” said Samir with confidence. For him, it is his self-motivation and passion that keeps him moving. But what drove him to take such a huge step?

Coming from a humble background where his family’s main occupation is farming, Samir managed to come to Mumbai from his hometown Kanaheda in Madhya Pradesh in 2000 in the hope of getting a decent job. He got one with a marketing agency where he was asked to do surveys by interviewing people. In one such survey related to marathons, he got interested in running. It led him to believe that running and winning marathons can not only help him get fit but also earn money.

Samir Singh gave up his sedentary lifestyle and took to running long distances at the age of 35. Prior to embarking on ultra-runs, he started running full marathons. Did a couple of them and even won some of them. His first ultra-race was the Mumbai Ultra (a 12-hour run) where he logged approximately 107 KM in 2015 and 120 Km in 2016 with a podium finish.

Having achieved these feat, he understood his body and how it reacted to stress. His urge to challenge himself further and do something extraordinary kept nudging him and he decided to push himself to do a 10,000km in 100 days. In his first attempt of 10,000km, he unfortunately fell short of just 36km and ran only 9,964.19km.

What is interesting to note is that he started his running career without any fancy gears. Sometimes barefoot and sometimes with make do shoes. His focus was only on running. He does not have any major nutrition plans and does not take any supplements. He believes in ‘Satvik’ food which is simple, nutritious and less spicy.

Upon hearing this man’s story and his determination to challenge his body, GOQii decided to extend their support to his mission. GOQii has been working with him to ensure that his nutritional needs are met during his journey to spread awareness for the Fit India Movement. GOQii has also helped him choose the right gear to ensure his run is a major success.

So far, the Faith Runner shows no signs of slowing down, steadily taking one step forward towards his goals. You can see Samir Singh begin as early as 4:30AM in the morning every day from Girgaum Chowpatty, opposite Wilson College and run all the way till Juhu Beach and back! If you feel motivated after reading this story, lace up your running shoes and join him in running towards a healthier India and a fitter you!

If 100km is too much, you can try joining us for the GOQii Trail Challenge 2019 in December. Get all the details about the beautiful, scenic trail here and gear up for a health retreat that will leave you breathless: www.goqii.com/gtc.

#BeTheForce

May 18, 2019 By GOQii 1 Comment

Sapan Gupta: Running For Good Health!

Have you been passionate about something but as you turned older, your busy life overshadowed your passions? Most of us can relate to this, especially when it comes to running or some form of sport. While being really energetic and active at a young age, one often falls prey to a sedentary lifestyle. Such was the case with Sapan Gupta as well.

Life Before GOQii

Sapan Gupta, a 37-year-old working professional is a Deputy Manager with an Online Software Development Company. Since school days, he had always been passionate about running but as he grew older, he stopped. He also suffered from frequent bouts of cold, cough and sneezing. In 2016, he began jogging but jogged for 2km max.

Stepping it Up With GOQii

In Jan 2018, Sapan Gupta was introduced to GOQii via his Axis Bank Account. Since then, he hasn’t looked back. After joining GOQii, with help from his coach, he began training for marathons. His health goals were to stay fit and reduce belly fat.

Since Sapan always ate home cooked meals and ate out only once a fortnight, there weren’t many changes made to his diet. His GOQii Coach introduced him to healthy proteins and mindful eating. His intake is more balanced and nutritious now.

Now, instead of 2km, he runs for 5km easily, everyday and sometimes even without a water break. He tries to walk for 20 minutes even when he is at work. On the weekends, he plays badminton and cricket. Sometimes, he even cycles.

As of now, Sapan Gupta has lost 4-5kg and his stamina has tremendously improved as well! His issues of cold, cough and sneezing has reduced significantly as his immunity has increased. He has successfully completed 3 half marathons and over 52 10k runs in the past 1.5 years. He is currently preparing for a full marathon in August.

Last year, he participated in the GOQii Trail Challenge and completed it within 12 hours! He says that it was one of the most enriching experiences he has been through and looks forward to participating for the next one! He also said it was well-organized.

GOQii Active Sunday Champion

One day, Sapan received a notification for a GOQii Active Sunday session. As it was close to his house, he decided to check it out. When fellow Champion Subhash Achanta asked him to lead a session as he was unavailable, Sapan took it up without hesitation. Soon, he enrolled as a Champion and from then on he has been regularly heading the sessions in Hyderabad.

Sapan has been very active on the GOQii App. He orders products from the GOQii Health Store frequently during flash sales. As per his experience, the products he purchases are of good quality. He even participated in the India Steps Challenged and won the GOQii Vital. He says GOQii should organize more such events!

Though his family members think he is overdoing it, he feels there is still so much more to achieve!

Here’s what Sapan Gupta’s GOQii Coach Had to Say

“Sapan entered GOQii with a goal to lose weight and he worked hard to achieve it. He is very interactive, keeps me posted with his food logs and all the data he can. He is focused and has an idea of what he wants. We started with simple changes like replacing unhealthy snacks with healthy options and eating small and frequent meals.

He has great insights towards working out, which is his strength. Even on a vacation, he used do well with his physical activity. One word to describe Sapan is ‘Energetic’. With his involvement, I was motivated to guide him to achieve his health goals.”

Keep going, Sapan and #BeTheForce!

April 27, 2019 By GOQii 1 Comment

“I Am Addicted to GOQii” | Darshpreet Gulati User Journey

Have you ever casually browsed through products and then stumbled upon something that changed your life forever? You might not have been looking for it, but somehow you found it and it transformed you into a better version of yourself. Our player Darshpreet Gulati, had a similar experience.

In 2016, Darshpreet Gulati was looking for new gadgets. He stumbled upon GOQii but wasn’t specifically interested in fitness at the time. After going through the features, he concluded that it was value for money. He was particularly attracted to the personalized coaching feature and thought that the device was a cool gadget.

Before Joining GOQii

Like most people, Darshpreet Gulati led a very sedentary lifestyle with little to no physical activity. He indulged in sweets quite often and ate out frequently. He weighed around 85kg.

Enter GOQii

One of Darshpreet’s key goals was to lose weight, get fit and active. At first, he was not convinced with what his GOQii Coach suggested as it seemed to be contradicting what he already knew about diets i.e. counting calories, skipping meals, etc. He then happened to read a well-known celebrity Nutritionist’s book. This encouraged him to take his GOQii Coach seriously.

He began following the habits introduced by his coach.

Embracing the Change

Darshpreet’s Coach had asked him to cut down on junk food, eating out at restaurants, drinking aerated drinks and most importantly his indulgence in sweets. He used to eat a lot of chocolates before but significantly cut them down after realizing what sweets can do to his body. He restrains himself even if his fridge is stuffed with chocolates. As he began getting more conscious about what he eats, he started exercising portion control.

His current dietary habits include starting his day with detox water and nuts. He then eats a paratha and eggs for breakfast. He keeps his dinner light and eats around 7 PM. Before GOQii, his dinner used to be rich and high in calories as dinner was family time and everyone would sit together to eat and relax.

On the exercise front, he performs light exercises accompanied with stretching. Last year, he trained rigorously for the GOQii Trail Challenge and walked daily with high-intensity exercises.

Currently, Darshpreet weighs around 64 kg, having lost 21 kg and is a healthier and more active version of his former self. He is a GOQii Champion and leads the Active Sunday sessions in the city of Gondia, Maharashtra.

6 months back, he was diagnosed with some back issue. This condition aggravated during the GOQii Trail Challenge. Due to his current condition, he has only been able to manage 4-5 sessions. However, this Sunday, he is charged to lead participants towards a healthier lifestyle and get more players to attend GOQii Active Sunday.

Darshpreet spends his time by joining live classes on GOQii Play. He religiously follows Aliya Imran, Shweta Kariya and Vishakha Sodha as he finds their sessions interesting and informative. He enjoys Divya Thampi’s class as her topics have helped him strengthen his emotional state of mind.

After his experience in the GOQii Trail Challenge, he says that he has grown even more confident. Along with a healthy lifestyle, he has begun to place more focus on his personal goals as well.

What did Darshpreet’s Coach Have to Say About Him?

“If I would have to describe Darshpreet Gulati in just one word then it would be a “FIGHTER”. He joined GOQii with a goal to reduce weight and for that he worked on his diet, exercises and most importantly, managed stress. Darshpreet believed in me and I tried my best to keep him motivated. The turning point in our journey came when he registered for GTC 2018. He was determined and worked extremely hard for that. Since the time he has joined GOQii, he has lost around 20 kg and has been maintaining it quite well through our healthy habits. He is indeed a FIGHTER!”

July 31, 2024 By Anusha Subramanian 3 Comments

How to choose proper footwear?

One of the most common questions asked by people before starting any type of workout regime is what shoes do we get? Imagine walking 100 km or running 42 km or hiking or trekking without proper shoes. It could just be disastrous. And history is a witness that most people back out from such challenges midway not because of lack of motivation or because they are tired. But give up largely due to foot injuries caused due to bad shoes.

Why it is important to choose the right footwear?… A very Important aspect of workout which is often neglected.

A good workout is achieved with good footwear. Bad shoes can derail all the efforts that you have put into your workouts and bring your fitness to a standstill due to injury. Strenuous outdoor workout or long distance running puts increased amount of pressure on your feet and therefore wearing the right shoes are important to prevent injury.

According to University of Illinois’ McKinley Health Centre’s note on foot type and proper footwear, foot problems are one of the most common health complaints. The high incidence of foot problems is understandable given the fact that there are 26 bones, 33 joints, 112 ligaments, and tendons, nerves, and blood vessels in the foot. It’s even more understandable when the weight of the body is considered. The force of the body weight borne by the foot increases roughly 1½ times during walking and up to 3-4 times during running. Add in 10,000 steps during a typical day while wearing ill-fitted shoes possibly, and it’s a wonder one’s feet are willing to get out of bed the next day.

A condition called Plantar Fasciitis i.e. damage and inflammation to Plantar Fascia (a connective tissue on the sole of foot forming the inner arch) is caused due to repetitive activity creating a strain on the plantar fascia.

Another common condition often faced by people is Achilles Tendonitis i.e. tissue damage and pain to Achilles Tendon caused during the contraction of the calf muscles. When the calf muscles contract some amount of tension is created on the Achilles Tendon and Wrong footwear further adds to that stress.

Let us now understand the three main categories of foot types :

1: Normal (Medium) Arch: If you see about half of your arch region filled in, you have the most common foot type. Usually, this means you have an arch that naturally supports your bodyweight and pronates normally under load. Some pronation or “rolling in” of the foot is desirable and acts as a natural shock absorber. Most runners with this pattern can wear just about any shoe.

2: Flat Floot (Absent curve): If the arch of your footprint is filled in, it’s likely that your foot collapses inward when you run. This acts as a shock absorber, but the additional rolling in of your foot may stress your feet and knees, adding to your injury risk. Usually, it is recommended that shoes with more stability, such as internal wedges that build up the arch side, dual-density midsoles, and supportive “posts,” or wider, more substantial midsoles be used.

3: More or High Arch: If your footprint shows little or no contact along the outside edge and you see just your heel and the ball of your foot, you have a “high” arch. Your foot may not roll in much when you run, but it doesn’t absorb much shock. We would usually recommend you use a well-cushioned shoe with little or no arch support or stability features.

Here are a few basics to keep in mind

A good shoe must be very comfortable and must provide good cushion
Good grip on the floor to avoid sliding or skidding
It is important to understand your foot type. Visit a store that specializes in all kinds of sporting and athletic footwear. The associates there can help you find a shoe that’s appropriate for your foot type, the way you walk, and your sport.
The right time to buy a shoe is in the evening when your feet are tired and there is more swelling in the feet.
For Sportspersons variety of shoes are available depending on the type of sport.
Running shoes have inbuilt shock absorbers, walking shoes are light weight and for Hiking one can choose low, mid or high cut shoes. High cut shoes or commonly known as Ankle shoes protects the ankles and provides more protection. And, finally, there are the cross training shoes which are suitable if you do more than one type of workouts.
One size larger than your usual shoe size is better in terms of trekking and trail running shoes.

A good shoe must support your foot, front and back and provide protection, stability, and good shock absorption.

We hope this article helps you choose the right footwear for your activities. Is there an interesting way you select your workout shoes? Let us know in the comments below. For more tips on fitness and health, check out Healthy Reads or speak to a certified expert by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.