My R2I Diary - CA to Chennai by gshankar

gshankar · Post by **gshankar** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 10:58 pm

Completed my first FULL Marathon (FM) in Asia by running the 42.2 km in namma Chennai. Fighting various running injuries, I thought my FMs had come to a full stop. The frequent physio sessions, custom made Plantar Fasciitis (PF) footwear were all getting unaffordable for me in US. My medico brother, his ortho friend, my neighborhood physio and a cobbler put me back on track. The price of custom made PF footwear is a mere Rs 500 compared to $400 in US. What a transformation I had in a year! Also, from not knowing a single soul in last year's race to hiring a bus for our neighborhood runners to attend this year's event, we have come a long way. Couple of us got together and initiated a local running chapter of Chennai Runners (CR) in Jan 2014. It was just us running until July 2014. Once TWCM 2014 early bird registration came to close, a lot many new runners joined our group for the free training. We kept company for each other, motivated each other, challenged ourselves, ran in the dark on rainy days pushing ourselves to the limit and finally made many realize their dream of completing their first race. It has been a joy and a privilege to be a part of CR community. We get to spread the joy of health and fitness while doing our bit to the society by contributing to various causes like donating and encouraging rural running talents, raising funds for charity, swatch bharat abhiyaan etc.
Enjoy this awesome video of namma Chennai. Chennai looks breathtakingly beautiful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ojga_v5wFIM&feature=youtu.be

pazham · Post by **pazham** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 12:27 am

Awesome gShankar. CR is truely a wonderful group. I never enjoyed chennai so much until I started running. Those early morning running in Chennai made me fall in love with the city. congratulations on you FM at the second largerst marathon in India. I have been running with 2 CR chapters and they are more like an extended family. CR truely rocks

Jeya Venkatraman · Post by **Jeya Venkatraman** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 10:24 am

gshankar,

Congratulations on your FM!!
I am reading your post from beginning.. AWESOME write-up.. We are planning to R2I next year in June and finding this thread very useful. Thanks a lot for sharing your experience.It is definitely inspirational. I am also planning to enroll my daughter in Vaels billabong school. She will be in 1st grade.. Any other school recos?

gshankar · Post by **gshankar** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 10:00 pm

Jeya Venkatraman;588923gshankar,

Congratulations on your FM!!
I am reading your post from beginning.. AWESOME write-up.. We are planning to R2I next year in June and finding this thread very useful. Thanks a lot for sharing your experience.It is definitely inspirational. I am also planning to enroll my daughter in Vaels billabong school. She will be in 1st grade.. Any other school recos?

Thanks JV. I have only tried Vaels Billabong but there is no dearth of school on OMR: PSBB Millenium, Semmancheri, PSBB Eden Park, BVM Bollineni Hills, Hiranandani Upscale School (IGCSE, CBSE), HLC International, Gateway IGCSE Sholinganallur, Gateway CBSE Padur etc. Since you are in Thoraipakkam, APL Global (IGCSE) and Sishya Perungudi might be closer to you.

gshankar · Post by **gshankar** » Sat Dec 27, 2014 10:35 pm

poofygoogle;581674Good to note that. For past 7 yrs, from the time we came back, we did everything online. And nowadays online shopping has been going great for us though we love the mom and pop stores too. With Phoenix market city , Grand mall and every other day a new shop coming its been going good.. Everything has become so close by and just fyi that there are grocery shops, organic shops, fruit and vegetable subscription , libraries like book and borrow all done online.. I am sure other cities like Bangalore are much ahead too. Of course we are still in a bubble sometimes but then there is nothing wrong with it...

Other than bills, I don't do much online shopping. Love the walk in library - that's my replacement of B&N though no way that spacious. Veggies, we get it from the small farmers who sell it right from their garden/farm. On the way from Walajahbad to Oragadam are several farms where you get farm fresh veggies, direct from producer to consumer. And its dead cheap. We raise Mangoes, jack fruits, Chikkus, Coconuts and some veggies. We also raise our own chicken and eggs. For these things, R2I is priceless.

desi4ever · Post by **desi4ever** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 9:48 am

poofygoogle;581674... Of course we are still in a bubble sometimes but then there is nothing wrong with it...

Not really. I think those that are truly enjoying their R2I lives are living in a custom coccoon they built for themselves.

desi4ever · Post by **desi4ever** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 9:53 am

What I like about OP's diary so far is the postive attitude towards life. Did not complain about life in US. Highlighted on what she would miss by not R2I and just did it and living her life to the fullest. The takeaway for me and perhaps for all is not about being LIA or R2I , but trying to lead a contented life in the country of your choice.

poofygoogle · Post by **poofygoogle** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 1:50 pm

Well said @desi4ever.

asmk · Post by **asmk** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 2:04 pm

Gshankar
your detailed experience so far is awesome. We are looking for admission into Vel's billabong for Grade 6. is it possible to get in touch with you through email.
asmk

asmk · Post by **asmk** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 10:06 pm

Gshankar,

I was hoping to get a reply from you regarding Vel's Bilabong. We are seeking admission for our in to Grade 6 for 2015-2016. Being a new member to this forum , I am not quite sure whether I could ask for personal email or your contacts. If possible, could you please provide a feedback on APL Global may be from your friends. Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks,
Regards,
asmk