The 23rd March edition of http://m.timesofindia.com/city/mumbai city hints “TCS may be new sponsor of Mumbai Marathon”. Having personally organized few events at 50-1200 participant scale, there are two statements that made me look back into all my expenditures, fundraising efforts in new craze of running – next glamour after golf.
- TCS’ parent Tata Sons may also be a part of the Mumbai Marathon whose annual sponsorship cost is INR 30 crores.
- The Mumbai Marathon’s prize money of $384,000 is one of the highest awards in marathon globally.
And it drew my attention towards my expenditure, during last one year (19th March 2016-17, my 38 to 39 age journey) in running and related events, which stands at:
- Alone on Registration Fees: INR 14,522
- Expenses incurred on travel/commute, logistics/lodging, food, etc. on paid events: INR 25,963
- Expenses incurred, as an organizer or group admin, on events (with => 25 participants): INR 59,725
Note: I have provided break-up charts as well if you want to refer at the end of this article.
I do not travel much outside NCR for running. I only went to Mumbai for SCMM, so these 40,475 (14522+25963) are very average figures of an average runner J like me.
Now, I checked with few friends who smoke and drink (again not regular or chain smokers/drinkers) on their annual spend on these habits they consider as their passions 🙂 that is considered bad (for health) by our society.
- Smoking – An average of INR 2000 per month i.e. 24,000
- Drinking – An average of INR 3000 per month i.e. 36,000
At the same time, I received a letter from NGO (Name is kept confidential) which asks for exactly same amount equal to my registration fee expenditure of INR 14,400 for sponsoring an annual education of class 1-9 Standard student.
You must be wondering what I am up to? I (a teetotaler) am actually trying to defend few question and concerns from my wife:
“Why are you wasting so much money and time on these activities? What is the need? You already pay for society maintenance (Gym is free) and can run without spending as well. Yes, I can gift you a pair of shoes or basic runner’s TomTom watch on your every birthday and that should be enough.” You have already fundraised 2.5 lakhs for less privileged through your own pocket and runs of 15th Aug, 26th Jan, Run and Chai (Tea) for Cancer, Woman day and ADHM, apart from corporate fundraising of 10 lakhs through sports activities. So, can’t you give your extra time to me, and money to buy me a new pair of diamond earrings???”
I do not have an exact answer yet, however it is all about mental health and peace, apart from becoming physical active when you live passions like these. And when you are more productive, you can generate or produce more output in whatever good you do. One also needs to understand the fact that a lot of economies (gadgets, shoes, sports gears, T-shirts, bicycles, bands and lot more) with increase in its scale of business is now building around fitness and running (generates employment and opportunities for many) that gives a boost to new businesses or enhances the value of existing ones. And if most of players sincerely contribute to the social cause and larger good as well, we are making the contribution pie bigger for our lesser privileged friends or for social sector. Yes, sincerity by everyone and frugality is needed to balance things out so that we maintain a culture of dignity while giving and start treating our less privileged friends as primary beneficiary – They should be a part of the model right from the start (Snack boxes are left, oh let us give it to NGO kids ☹). The resources management, and avoid wastage are different concepts but not at the cost of hurting someone’s dignity or making someone feel they are secondary.
Let’s change the way we think about changing the world and live our passion with our SRQ – Social Responsibility Quotient, and we will see our other SRQ – Sports and Running Quotient smiling as well!!!
Sumeet Aggarwal
Xpress Fitness and Running
Reference and Sources:
19th March 2016 – 19th March 2017 (38th to 39th Birthday) – Particpant Fee Chart | ||||||||
Event Name | Distance | Date | Place (City) | Regn Fee | Travel (Including Bib collection, route reiki) | Logistics (First-Aid Kit, Banners, Arrangements) | Food and Entertainment (Including Pre event day) | Total Cost |
Lutyens Run | HM | 20-Mar-16 | New Delhi | 750 | 500 | Nil | 100 | 1350 |
Delhi Womanathon Run | 10 Km | 19-Jun-16 | CWG, Delhi | 750 | 250 | Nil | 100 | 1100 |
Pinkathon Trial Run | 10 Km | 10-Jul-16 | India Gate, Delhi | Free | 300 | Nil | 500 | 800 |
100 Days completion Celebration Run | 10 Km | 7-Aug-16 | India Gate, Delhi | Free | 300 | Nil | 500 | 800 |
Pinkathon (Support) Run | 17 Km | 8-Sep-16 | JLNS, Delhi | Free | 400 | Nil | 500 | 900 |
T10 Corpo Jumble | 3 Km | 25-Sep-16 | Gurugram | 575 | 500 | Nil | 100 | 1200 |
Decathlon Monsoon Run | HM | 28-08-2016 | Indirapuram | 850 | 400 | Nil | 100 | 1350 |
Silver City Training Run | 6 Km | 30-Oct-16 | Noida | Free | 100 | Nil | Nil | 100 |
New Delhi Triathlon Champonship | 1.5 Km swimming, 40 Km cycling, 10 km Run | 13-11-2016 | N. Delhi | 3435 | 400 | 1000 | 500 | 4900 |
ADHM | HM | 20-11-2016 | N. Delhi | 1947 | 300 | Nil | 200 | 2200 |
Run for Enterpreneurship | 3 Km | 4/12/2016 | IIT Delhi | 100 | Along with self supported Noida to Gurugram (54.5 Km Run) | 600 | ||
Trailathon Training Run & Share and Care Finale 7th Day Run | 26 Km | 31-12-2016 | Canal Road, Gurugram | Free | 500 | Nil | 200 | 700 |
Share & Care : Time to give away | 10 Km | 7/1/2016 | Nehru Park, Delhi | Free | 300 | Nil | 200 | 500 |
Intelenet Trailathon Training Run | 10, 20 KM | 8/1/2017 | Amity-Advent, Noida | Free | 100 | Nil | Nil | 100 |
SCMM | FM | 15-01-2017 | Mumbai | 2061 | 7200 | 3000 | 4000 | 16000 |
NDM: 12 Hour Stadium team Run | 6 member Team Run | 22-01-2017 | JLNS, Delhi | Free | 500 | Nil | 500 | 1000 |
Trailathon | 28 Km | 29-01-2017 | Gurugram | 1274 | 500 | Nil | 200 | 2100 |
Valentine Day Special Self-Supported Run | 14 Km | 14/02/2017 | Noida | Free | Nil | 1500 | 200 | 1700 |
Pardada Pardadi HM | 10 Km Pacer | 19-02-2017 | Noida | 375 | 300 | Nil | Nil | 675 |
Devil Circuit | 5 Km with 15 obstacles | 19-03-2017 | Noida | 2405 | 100 | Nil | 200 | 2400 |
Total Expense | 14522 | 40475 |
19th March 2016 – 19th March 2017 (38th to 39th Birthday) – Organizer (No Service Fee) Expenses Chart | ||||
Event Name | Distance | Date | Place (City) | Organizer Expenses |
XWR – Healthy Run | 5 KM | 27-Mar-16 | Genesis G., Noida | 4000 |
XWR – Mamta Way Run “MWR” | 5-10 Km | 9-May-16 | OBS, Noida | 2200 |
XWR – Summer Kiddo Run 2016 (Public – 80) | 2-3 Km | 5-Jun-16 | Gyanshree, Noida | 3000 |
XWR Ayesha and Push कर Run | 6-12 Km | 12-Jun-16 | Nehru Park, Delhi | 1500 |
XWR – Jahanpanah City Forest Run | 5-20 Km | 24-Jul-16 | Delhi | 1000 |
XWR HID (Happy Independence Day) – Run | 15 Km | 15-Aug-16 | Noida | 2500 |
Interval Cardio Blaster Training | 5 Km | 21-08-2016 | CWG, Delhi | 1500 |
Run and Drink Chai for a Cause | 7 Km | 22-08-2016 | Noida | 100 |
Green Greater Noida Run (Public – 600) | 5, 10 Km | 16-Oct-16 | G. Noida | 8250 |
XFR – ADHM Prep GNoida Hemisphere Run | 15 Km | 29-Oct-16 | G. Noida | 2900 |
XFR – ADHM Prep 100 Minute Tempo Twist Run | 10-21 KM | 11/6/2016 | G. Noida | 3150 |
XFR – Celebratory Holiday Fun with 60 min Run | 10 Km | 14-11-2016 | G. Noida | 3500 |
XFR – Surajpur Wetland Bird Sanctuary Family Walk/Run and Fun | 5-10 Km | 27-11-2016 | G. Noida | 2000 |
XFR – Sanjay Van Run | 12 Km | 18/12/2016 | Sanjay Van, Delhi | 2250 |
XFR – Christmas Eve Run | 18 Km | 24/12/2016 | Noida, G. Noida | 1800 |
XFR – Share and Care Running Week (5th Day) | HM | 29-12-2016 | Jaypee, Noida | 6500 |
XFR – Covestro Employee Training Run | 10 Km | 8/1/2017 | G Noida | 400 |
XFR – Happy Republic Day (HRD) Flag Run | 15 Km | 26-01-2017 | Noida | 1000 |
Piku Sports – Covestro NGM (Public – 1100) | 5, 10, HM and FM | 5/2/2017 | Jaypee, Noida | 3300 |
XFR – Sanki मिलते रहना हसते दौड़ते Run | 10 Km | 12/2/2017 | Nehru Park, Delhi | 3000 |
XFR – SuMo Anniversary Run (Guest) | 5 Km | 18/02/2017 | Noida | 500 |
XFR – Family Run with Bday Celebrations | 5-10 Km | 5/3/2017 | India Gate, Delhi | 4275 |
Cadence FEMMA (Women’s Day) Run | 550 mtrs – 20 Km | 3/7/2017 | Cadence Campus | NA |
XFR – Let us run to fly and play Holi | 5-10 Km | 12/3/2017 | OBS, Noida | 500 |
XFR – Sweet 16 Run | 16 Km | 16/3/2017 | Jaypee, Noida | 600 |
Total Expense | 59725 |