Sometimes, a running journey takes us further than we initially planned. Not necessarily because we suddenly become stronger or faster, but because the people running beside us make us believe that we can do more.
Video recorded at the 18 KM mark of my 21.1 km run 🏃🏃
Friday, 6 November 2026, was one of those memorable days for me. On that day, we started running around 6 AM from Lalbagh Fort and heading towards Ramna Park.
My original plan was to complete just 15 kilometres because I had been experiencing some lower back pain. However, what started as a relatively modest training target eventually became a 21.60 km run, my first half-marathon-distance milestone with our community.
More importantly, that morning reminded me of something I had gradually started to understand throughout my beginner running journey: running is not just about physical strength, endurance, or pace. Mental strength, encouragement, shared experiences, and the support of a running community can make an enormous difference.
An Unplanned Journey Beyond 15 Kilometres
At that time, our team was preparing for the 42.2 km Dhaka International Marathon, organised by the Bangladesh Army. Most of my teammates had been running regularly for more than two years and had considerably more experience than I did.
Unlike them, I was preparing for the 21.1 km half-marathon distance. I did not yet feel mentally prepared to attempt a full marathon, so my immediate goal was to become a better half-marathon runner.
Because of my lower back discomfort, I initially decided that 15 km would be enough for that particular day.
I was particularly happy to have my friend Sojib running alongside me. I had asked him to join, although he was initially reluctant. Eventually, he agreed to come, and he enjoyed the experience immensely. Having a friend share that kind of running experience made the morning even more enjoyable.
Although Sojib and I were among the junior members of the group, our teammates welcomed us warmly.
Bapee Bhai, Abser Bhai, Syeed Bhai, Mossharrof Bhai, Abedin Bhai, Momin Bhai, Gias Bhai, and Mamum Bhai were all experienced runners. They were older than us, but what impressed me most was their friendliness and willingness to share their experience.
Running alongside people with different levels of experience gave me an opportunity to learn without feeling that I had to prove anything.
It was not simply about completing kilometres. It was about enjoying the journey together.
Mamum Bhai at 57: A Reminder That Age Is Not the Limit
One person particularly inspired me that day: Mamum Bhai, who was 57 years old at the time.
He was the most senior member of our group, yet his running performance was better than all of ours.
Watching his dedication and ability was a valuable reminder that age does not necessarily determine how capable someone can become as a runner.
As a relatively new runner, I sometimes find myself thinking about how much further I can progress and what I might be capable of achieving in the coming years.
Mamum Bhai’s example gave me another perspective.
Running is not exclusively a young person’s activity. It is something people can continue to enjoy and develop throughout different stages of life.
His performance also challenged the assumptions I might otherwise have made about age and endurance. Rather than viewing age as an automatic limitation, I began to appreciate the importance of consistency, experience, and dedication.
For me, having someone like Mamum Bhai in our community is genuinely inspiring.
What Experienced Runners Have Taught Me
One of the greatest benefits of running with experienced runners is the opportunity to learn things that may take considerably longer to understand when running alone.
Among the people who have influenced my development, Gias Bhai deserves special appreciation.
He is one of our elite runners and has taught me several valuable running techniques and principles. His guidance has significantly helped my progress, particularly in developing better running economy.
Running economy is essentially about how efficiently we use energy while maintaining a particular running pace. Small improvements in technique, rhythm, and pacing can make a meaningful difference over longer distances.
There are several ways experienced runners can help beginners and intermediate runners develop:
1. Improving running form
Experienced runners can help identify inefficient habits in running posture, stride, arm movement, and overall body mechanics.
A beginner may not even realise that certain habits are making running unnecessarily difficult. Having someone more experienced observe and offer constructive guidance can help address those issues.
2. Understanding pacing
One of the common challenges for beginner runners is starting too fast and struggling to maintain the pace later.
Experienced runners can teach us the importance of controlling our effort, maintaining a sustainable rhythm, and understanding the difference between easy runs, tempo runs, and faster sessions.
Learning when to slow down is just as important as learning when to speed up.
3. Developing better running economy
Running efficiently is not simply about increasing speed.
It is also about learning to cover longer distances without unnecessarily wasting energy. Experienced runners can share practical lessons about rhythm, relaxed movement, consistency, and effort management.
These principles become increasingly valuable as our running distances grow.
4. Building confidence
Perhaps the most underrated benefit is confidence.
When beginners run alongside people who have already achieved distances they are still working towards, those achievements begin to feel more realistic.
A distance that initially seems intimidating can gradually become an achievable target.
5. Learning through shared experience
Every experienced runner has a different journey, including mistakes, lessons, and personal discoveries.
Listening to those experiences can help newer runners make better decisions and develop a more thoughtful approach to training.
I have personally benefited from this kind of guidance. Gias Bhai’s advice continues to influence how I approach running.
Unfortunately, Gias Bhai was in his village that day and our another elite runner, Momin Bhai was not present. We missed having them with us during the run.
Nevertheless, the lessons I have learned from them remained valuable parts of my own running journey.
21.60 Kilometres: When Enjoyment Took Me Beyond My Plan
As the group run progressed, I found myself enjoying the experience more than I had anticipated.
My original target had been 15 km. However, running with the team made the experience feel different from a solo long-distance session.
Instead of focusing entirely on the remaining distance, I was enjoying the overall experience of running together.
Eventually, I felt capable of continuing beyond the half-marathon distance. At one point, I even thought that reaching 30 km might be possible.
However, I also understood that completing a longer distance was not necessarily the most important objective for that day.
I had started with a conservative plan because of my lower back discomfort. There was no particular reason to push myself unnecessarily just to reach another round number.
So I decided to stop at 21.60 km.
I was satisfied with that decision.
It was a meaningful personal achievement and a significant step in my half-marathon training journey. More importantly, I had reached that milestone while enjoying the company and encouragement of my teammates.
This was a team training run in preparation for the Dhaka International Marathon, not the marathon event itself. Nevertheless, it became one of the most memorable long-distance experiences of my running journey.
My Strava Running Statistics
Here are the recorded details of my activity on 6 November 2026: Click Here to check out my run on Strava
| Activity Detail | Recorded Result |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday, 6 November 2026 |
| Activity type | Trail Run |
| Distance | 21.60 km |
| Moving time | 2:11:20 |
| Elapsed time | 2:35:53 |
| Average pace | 6:05 min/km |
| Average heart rate | 162 bpm |
| Elevation gain | 30 m |
| Calories burned | 1,814 |
| Strava half-marathon | 2:32:41 |
An important distinction between these figures: my total activity moving time was 2:11:20, while the elapsed time was 2:35:53. Strava separately recorded my half-marathon best effort as 2:32:41. These represent different measurements and should not be confused with one another.
For me, the numbers tell only part of the story. The encouragement, shared experience, and enjoyment of running with the team made this achievement much more meaningful.
Running Is Not Just a Physical Challenge
One lesson I have gradually learned since starting running is that physical ability is only one part of the equation.
We need physical strength to run, but we also need mental strength to keep going.
There are moments during longer runs when the body feels tired and the remaining distance seems intimidating. During those moments, our mindset becomes particularly important.
Running with a community can help us develop that mental strength.
When we run alone, we are responsible for maintaining our own motivation. There is nobody beside us to share the experience, offer advice, or encourage us when we begin doubting ourselves.
A supportive running community changes that experience.
The presence of other runners can make long-distance sessions more enjoyable. Their experience can help us understand our limitations, improve our pacing, and approach difficult training sessions with greater confidence.
It also creates a sense of accountability. Knowing that other people are preparing for their own goals can encourage us to remain consistent with our training.
Perhaps the greatest advantage is that we begin to realise we are not alone in our struggles.
Every runner has different strengths, weaknesses, and objectives. Some are faster, some have better endurance, and others have years of experience. We can learn something from each of them.
That is what makes group running so valuable, particularly for beginners and intermediate runners.
Why Every Beginner Should Consider Joining a Running Community
When I look back at my own beginner running journey, I realise how much I have benefited from being surrounded by experienced runners.
A running community offers something that an individual training plan cannot always provide: real human experience.
You can read about running techniques, watch training videos, and follow professional training programmes. All of these resources are useful. But there is something special about receiving advice from someone who runs beside you and understands the practical challenges of the sport.
A good running community can help you:
✅ Stay motivated and develop a consistent running habit.
✅ Learn better running techniques and pacing strategies.
✅ Build confidence before attempting longer distances.
✅ Understand how experienced runners approach training.
✅ Share achievements, challenges, and valuable experiences.
✅ Enjoy running as a social activity rather than treating every session as an individual challenge.
You do not need to be a fast runner or an experienced athlete to join a running group.
You simply need the willingness to participate, learn, and respect other runners.
My experience with Lalbagh’s Morning Birds has shown me how much difference a friendly and supportive group can make.
My Biggest Takeaway from This Run
On 6 November 2026, I initially intended to run only 15 km.
I eventually completed 21.60 km.
Of course, I am happy about the distance and the personal milestone. But I would not say that the distance alone made this run special.
What made it memorable was the people who shared the experience with me.
From Mamum Bhai’s inspiring performance at 57 to the valuable guidance I have received from Gias Bhai, every experienced member has contributed something to my development. I also appreciated the opportunity to run alongside Sojib and the other members of our community.
I am still learning. I still have bigger distances to prepare for, better running habits to develop, and personal goals to pursue.
But experiences like this remind me that progress does not always happen through individual effort alone.
Sometimes, having the right people beside us can change how we approach a challenge and how far we believe we can go.
I am grateful to be part of Lalbagh’s Morning Birds and to share this running journey with such supportive teammates.
Running may begin as an individual sport, but a supportive running community can make us stronger, more confident, and capable of going further than we initially thought possible.
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