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 arbingers of Hope Marathon Training Program
By Lalitha Oruganti, Marathon 2004 Coordinator, Asha Silicon Valley
The Harbingers of Hope Marathon Training program was initiated in 2000 with the intent to provide Silicon Valley individuals an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Indian children. With the commitment of several founding volunteers the program has grown from a 20 runners to 150. The program has brought the Bay Area Indian community a unique opportunity to combine fitness and community service. The program has been serving as the principal fundraiser for Asha Silicon Valley for the last four years and is continuing to flourish. Marathon destinations have included Honolulu, Maui, Portland, Long Beach and Victoria, British Columbia.
During the five-month program, men and women of all age groups train under the supervision of a high-caliber coaching team. Participants often begin with no prior running experience and train to complete the marathon challenge. The stories and motivations of these runners are a true inspiration for anyone and represent their deep commitment to the Asha cause. The training program provides runners and walkers the following:
- Personalized coaching
- Group training and support
- Mentoring from past marathoners
- Airfare and lodging expenses for the marathon day
In addition to introducing individuals to the joy of running, the program serves as a key fundraiser for Asha Silicon Valley. Over the course of the last four years, approximately 170 runners have raised over US$500,000 for the education of underprivileged in India. Each runner who registers with the training program makes a commitment to raise a minimum of US$2620. This amount covers all travel and administrative expenses. Asha for Education is proud that every dollar raised through fundraising directly goes to benefit the children of India and we at the marathon pledge that a maximum of 15% of the total funds raised will go towards event expenses. The US$2620 figure translates to US$100 dollars per mile. Several runners over the last four years have far surpassed this amount.
With commitment and endurance these men and women, most of them first-time marathoners, complete their first marathon with flying colors. Through the Harbingers of Hope training program many have overcome the odds and made their dreams of athletic accomplishment bear true. Larrisse Dillon of Marathon 2000 remarked, "The training program is an excellent way for me to contribute to Asha because in addition to helping education in India, I am also helping myself to become a much healthier person."
Vinay Kumar of Marathon 2003 has this to say about the program, "In the past few months, I have gained physical fitness, self-confidence and pride with a marathon medal under my belt and a great sense of satisfaction that I did something more meaningful than anything ever before."
Coaching Staff
The Harbingers of Hope Program is fortunate to have an excellent coaching staff. Both our coaches volunteer their time, create training schedules and provide valuable training and injury management advice.
Tony Fong has played a pivotal role in the creation and the sustenance of the Harbingers of Hope marathon program. He has been coaching the Asha marathon team since the birth of the program in 2000. He has completed 43 marathons and has coached over 1000 runners in his coaching career. With his insight, style of coaching and commitment to making a difference through Asha, he has been instrumental in making the Asha marathon program a success. He has coached high school teams for 7 years and has coached all of the 170 past runners at Asha. His personal best marathon time is 2:32:20. Tony works as a sales manager at Rainin.
Rajeev Patel began coaching the Asha marathon team in 2002. Since then, his characteristic exuberance and infectious love for running have inspired many runners in the program. Rajeev has completed 12 marathons and is training for 5 marathons this year. The large number of past runners, who ascribe their marathon accomplishments to Rajeev, bear testament to his dedication and his stellar abilities as a coach. His personal best marathon time is 3:37:01. Rajeev is a manager at Oracle and is a true inspiration to the marathon team. His personal motto says, "If I am not at my desk, I am probably out running."
Volunteer Staff
The Harbingers of Hope program would not have been a success without the support and help of countless volunteers who man water-stops during weekend long runs. Every Saturday four to five volunteers wake up early in the morning to cheer the team and to provide water and energy supplements to runners.
2004 Harbingers of Hope
This year a record 140 individuals are taking part in the marathon program and aim to raise approximately US$250,000. In an attempt to increase the appeal of the marathon to the middle-aged demographic we have also inaugurated a walkathon program. This has attracted many new people, especially women, to the program and is seeding an entire new arena for further fundraising opportunity. Among the chief accomplishments for the program this year has been the institution of a mentor program. The program is comprised of past Asha marathon runners who, in exchange for reduced fundraising targets, take beginner runners under their wing and mentor them through their weekly running schedules. The continued success of the Harbingers of Hope marathon program has inspired other Asha chapters nationwide to start their own versions of the program. Please consult www.ashanet.org/siliconvalley/marathon for more information, to volunteer and to join us for a run!
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Coach Fong provides running tips to the Marathon 2000 Team
Marathon 2003 Team runs its first mile on the Stanford tracks
Marathon 2003 Team
  
Coaches Tony Fong & Rajeev Patel
Marathon 2004 Team stretches after a post-run yoga clinic |
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