Looking for someone to run with on your very first run? Looking for someone to push to you to your personal best yet? Well…..look no further than our genial and gentle Khuzem Lal. He is the ‘Partner’ at Dream Runners.
From the start line to the finish, he will guide you, cheer you, and push you to your limits to bring out your best. A runner with no mean achievements of his own, he is always ready to put his run on the back burner for the sake making someone else achieve.
He has many marathon finishes to his credit. A regular sub 5 hour runner for the full marathon, he clocked his best of 4:26 at TWCM 2014. He also has a sub 2 finish, 1:59, for a half marathon at the Auroville event in 2013. More recently, he has run many 10k races, regularly clocks sub 1 hour times comfortably and was a Podium Finisher at Marina Runners Event.
He has mentored the Anna Nagar chapter of Dream runners – Anna Nagar Dreamers from its humble beginnings. It is now a vibrant and active chapter of Dream Runners getting more and more first time runners into their fold.
The Race Director for the DRHM 2015 edition, he showcased his managerial and organizational skills to guide the event to great success.
“Ajeeb daastan hai yeh, kahan shuru kahan khatam…..” is not only one of her favorite songs which she croons melodiously, but also seems to be an inspiration to the runner in her! Cause when she runs, you won’t know where she started and where she ends..such is the strength of her stride, consistency of form and steely resolve.
A multifaceted personality, her interests and talents vary from the fine arts to fitness. One of the early members of team Dream Runners, she has always been into sports and fitness even during her school and college days. She is now a veteran of many half and full marathon events. She was a podium finisher at CTM 2015 half marathon (not an easy race given terrain and conditions….) with a time of 2.21 and also achieved her personal best for a full marathon at SCMM 2016 with a time 5:07.
A technology professional running an enterprise of her own, aside of managing family and household commitments, it is much more than running and fitness skills that she brings to team Dream Runners. A meticulous planner, organizer and executer, she was part of the race management team for DRHM 2016.
It is for a good reason that Rekha Sudarsan is aptly and fondly christened as ‘Captain’ of team Dream Runners. One of the first founding members back in 2008, she continues to be the foremost flag bearer of the team through thick and thin.
A well-known healthcare professional with a busy travel schedule, a homemaker, author of articles on healthcare and a book on pregnancy, an individual having varied interests – she wears all the hats with great aplomb and success. Her passion for running is unmatched and infectious. Whether it be an early morning flight to catch or a late night arrival, be sure that she will turn up for training without a flinch.
A veteran of many marathons, her best is a 2:04 of a half at the Cool Runners 2015 and a 4:46 for the full at SCMM Mumbai. More recently, she has had multiple podium fishes to her credit in 10K races, where she can regularly clock sub 1 hour times. But what defines her are sheer grit, determination and spirit to complete a race even when the going is not good. Completing the race at the SCMM 2016 in a time of 5:23, after a near blackout at 23 km stands testimony to that.
A firm believer in a holistic approach towards health, she continuously strives to promote fitness and lifestyle to one and all by conducting workshops at corporate companies and other forum apart from appearing on various electronic and print media from time to time to put forth her learnings and ideas.
Depending on the attire he chooses to wear, he could look the tech professional that he is..the mridangist drumming up a beat, which he occasionally is..or the pious and enlightened wise man in touch with the truth..which he always is! When in running gear he is a fine combination of all..technically precise, striding to a perfect beat and rythym of percussion, with the calm and control of a seer!
Sankaran Annaswamy, is the ‘Do Gooder’ at Dream Runners. Ever the quite doer, Sankaran has played a huge role in inculcating the habit of service in team Dream Runners. In recent years, he has been the spearhead in getting the team involved in a variety of service projects and initiatives through the platform of DRHM as well as at other times. Most recently, team Dream Runners under his stewardship, played a significant role in rescue and relief operations following the Chennai floods. A reluctant beginner to distance running, the elation of hitting the finish line tape has made him take to it as a sport for which he now trains regularly and seriously. He has completed many half and full marathons. His best being a 2:04 at the Cool Runners HM in 2015 and 5:09 for a full marathon at SCMM 2015.
Sankaran was the Race Director for the 2016 edition of DRHM and through his meticulous approach and calm disposition ensured that the event was a grand success!
If you had to pick someone to run for your life, Ali Nawaz Raja is your man. Fondly known as Ali bhai and more recently as the ‘Ultra Man’ of DR, he began his foray into running in 2008. Never away from a gregarious smile and never at a loss of words, Ali bhai is the live wire in the DR family. Being that, of course you do get a shock sometimes!
An ‘Ultra’(50 K) at CTC 2015, one of the toughest trails in the city with very harsh conditions, attempted with a carried injury is one such shock. Never the one to give up, Ali bhai soldiered on to complete this extreme race. He has thus far attempted and completed 2 ‘Ultra’ runs. He also was nominated as ‘Pacer in SCMM 2015 and TWCM 2015.
He sets up unique challenges to capture the imagination of the ever-growing running community. ‘Year-Month-Day’ run is one such challenge. Started in 2012..it involved running 12km for 12 days consecutively! In successive years, he has improvised on it such that the last digit of the year signifies the month in which challenge will be attempted. This meant that in 2015, he ran 15 km a day for 15 consecutive days in the month of May……the hottest month here in Chennai!
In 2016 he attempted and successfully completed 16 k x 16 days in June. Such is the buzz and popularity of the unique challenge that he has created and made his own, that many among the running circuit, not only in Chennai but all over TN and India, supported him and took the challenge alongside him. To give an idea of the steel of this man, he ran the last 2 days while running a fever.
While Ali bhai was part of the Race Management Team for the DRHM 2016 and Race Director of the 2017 edition.
If he’s not on a flight……he is in flight….on his two feet…….! With a travel schedule that could hold a candle to NAMO’s, Dinesh Victor manages to keep up with his training and practice to turn out stupendous runs at every event he chooses to be a part of.
Having attempted and successfully completing his first full marathon back in 2012, he has now been a part of many marathon events. Dinesh has achieved personal bests of 4:58 for the full marathon and 2:13 for the half. He also recently breached the sub 1 hour barrier in a 10 K event.
Very well read and always informed, he can regale with a host of anecdotes and trivia on subjects ranging from world affairs to the world beyond….! An erstwhile banker, he now successfully runs his own enterprise involving his passion for teaching young kids. An important member of the DR Trust, he brings a whole lot of expertise in finance and management which helps run the trust and it’s events in a professional and diligent manner.
If he’s not on a flight……he is in flight….on his two feet…….! With a travel schedule that could hold a candle to NAMO’s, Dinesh Victor manages to keep up with his training and practice to turn out stupendous runs at every event he chooses to be a part of.
Having attempted and successfully completing his first full marathon back in 2012, he has now been a part of many marathon events. Dinesh has achieved personal bests of 4:58 for the full marathon and 2:13 for the half. He also recently breached the sub 1 hour barrier in a 10 K event.
Very well read and always informed, he can regale with a host of anecdotes and trivia on subjects ranging from world affairs to the world beyond….! An erstwhile banker, he now successfully runs his own enterprise involving his passion for teaching young kids. An important member of the DR Trust, he brings a whole lot of expertise in finance and management which helps run the trust and it’s events in a professional and diligent manner.
He could, if he chose to, be the handsome hunk, with his looks and shade of razzmatazz and yet he is one of the most gentle, suave, mature and circumspect person you would come across. For anyone who meets him, an instant connect is natural, for, his genuineness is effervescent. These might read like tall praises but deservedly so, for that’s what he is.
In times, when being in-your-face and loud, seems a necessity to be seen, heard and be taken note of , he is calm , composed and of pleasing personality easily liked by all. That in itself is a rarity in this era. He belongs to the blessed tribe for whom subtlety is a God given countenance.
While always being into sporting activity of some kind, he took up running seriously in 2007. He has run many half marathon events, the most recent of them being TWCM 2015 and SCMM 2016. He currently has a personal best of 2h:15m for the HM and 1h:00 for the 10K. He is now training to attempt his first full marathon, while targeting a 2h HM finish and sub 1h 10K finish. One of the early members of Dream Runners, he is passionate and dedicated to the team and has unconditionally contributed to what Dream Runners is today.
His silent and dedicated efforts in development of few chapters of Dream Runners is appreciated by all. He himself takes these accolades with the same measured smile as he would when he finishes his half marathon with a great timing. Whether it s a born trait or an acquired skill is left to the imagination of the audience but he moves on gracefully, winning few more hearts along the way.
Dream Runners are proud to have him as a part of the RMT for DRHM 17. An asset to the team, as he comes in with the strengths of a gentleman.
Prashant Sankaran – A Dream Runner. Like a zephyr he moves.
If running had a culinary analogy, Dream Runners has it’s ‘Master’ Chef. With a mix of basic ingredients like poise, grace, grit and determination, cooked just right with meticulous training and a healthy lifestyle, each of her runs is like a star dish of an exotic cuisine. Why are we talking food……? Cause we are talking of Zainab Millwala Master. An accomplished runner and an equally accomplished amateur chef……!
Petit in frame with a schoolgirl like charm, she is often mistaken for one….! She is in fact a mother of two lovely children, a seasoned Technology professional as well as homemaker par excellence.
She has run many half-marathon events and clocked her best at 2:20. She also completed successfully, her first attempt at the Full Marathon, with a timing of 5:42. She has been a mentor to the OMR and MRC Chapters of Dream Runners – many of whom have taken up running for the first time under her mentorship.
The compulsive coordinator with an uncanny eye for detail and drive for perfection, she is our GO TO person for getting things done for the various initiatives Dream Runners ventures into. She celebrates life with her philosophy of “Dream, Believe, Achieve.”
If you thought only the spirits got better with age……then you haven’t met the suave and classy Abbas Shabbir Lehry…..! Always impeccable whether in pinstripes for business or in running gear, he easily gives the younger lot a run for their money. His focus, energy and enthusiasm, to give the best effort whether in training or in race is infectious.
Business commitments and a hectic travel schedule not withstanding, he manages to keep up with training and long runs. He’s run quite many marathon events and his best timings are 1:59 for a half and 5:02 for a full marathon. He also cross trains with weekly stints of cycling, and more recently trekking and hill running.
Dream Runners is proud to have him as a member of the trust where he is a quiet guiding force with his background and experience.
