COMMUNITY, TORONTO

I Joined a Sikh Running Club and I'm Not a Runner!

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Yo, guess who went for a run today? This guy! And because I did it, I’m going to tell you why you should do it too. I’m going to be one of those corny fitness guys who lifts weights for the first time and just goes all in, telling you why you’re wasting your life not doing what I do, because I just did it for the first time. So yeah, if you didn’t go for a run today, what are you doing with yourselves? Why are you guys so lazy? Get up, get off your back and behind, and do something, man! If I could do it, why can’t you? No, I’m kidding. Mostly.

I’ve been wanting to get back in shape since May. I went to my cousin’s wedding, and all my younger cousins were in impeccable shape. Seeing them just walking around, I thought, ‘Bro, I wish I could look like that. I wish I could be chiseled and ripped and have no care in the world.’ And then it hit me: I’m married. I have kids. These guys are in their 20s. But then it hit me again that that’s still no excuse to be in the shape I’m in, where I huff and I puff and feel like I’m going to blow my own house in after walking up the stairs. Man, I know ‘round’ is a shape, so I can’t say I’m not in shape, but I’m definitely not in the shape I want to be in.

It’s been on my mind for a while. I like golf, but let’s face it, you’re not going to become a chiseled god walking around playing nine holes at Peel Village. At the same time, I never had that pull, that discipline, to keep going. I thought, ‘You know what would be cool, man? If there was a Sikh Run Club or something like that.’ That would be awesome. And then, right there on my Instagram feed, I saw it: A Sikh Run Club starting up! I thought, ‘Dude, what more can I do to ignore the universe and just join in?’

I imagined myself: ‘I can’t walk 5 km without feeling like I’m going to vomit. I can’t jog with my legs feeling like putty. Can I keep up? Is this something I can even do?’ Their response was perfect: ‘Dude, everyone does their own thing. You come, you do two kilometers, you do three kilometers, you do five kilometers, you do 12 kilometers. Some guys are doing 15 kilometers. You just put in that action, you put in that motion, and hopefully, the next time around, you can put a little bit more motion in.’ I was like, ‘Alright, you guys are speaking my language.’ They told me, ‘Yo, if you want to come and walk for an hour, walk for an hour, but hey, try to jog for 10 minutes.’ I thought, ‘Okay, I can do that.’

And so I did that today, and I feel great. I’m just putting this out there for any other Sikh, any other person, who is in the same boat as me – where you’re like, ‘Yo, I want to be fit. I want to be a little faster. I don’t want to feel the way I feel every single day, like I’m melting away.’ I don’t want to be the person who only gets excited about moving when an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen shows up. That’s who I am. But it is what it is.

So, if you’re interested, check them out! They’re on Strava. There’s a WhatsApp group where they coordinate all the runs. These guys plan to meet up three or four times a week, and if you can make it, great! There’s no obligation to be there every single time. I think it’s part of just holding people accountable and holding yourself accountable. This isn’t necessarily a ‘social chat while we walk’ type of place. It’s about walking, reading your body, listening to your internal cues. And for me, it’s seeing someone else and being like, ‘Look, if he’s up there, I’m going to try to catch up to him.’ And then you put a little bit more pep in your step. Hopefully, that motivates them to put a little bit more pep in their step to catch up to the person ahead of them, and you’re just all pulling each other up. That’s how I see it, anyway.

But if you’re interested, message me! I can send you the WhatsApp group or the Strava link. And if you’re in the Toronto, Greater Toronto Area, check us out! Look at me saying ‘us’ like I started this thing. Check them out, man. Anyways, till the next one.

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updated_at 11-08-2025
Ai Disclosure: The above posts were transcribed using AI tools. Some language may not have been accurately transcribed.
Ai Header Image Prompt: A dynamic, high-quality, and highly detailed image of a Sikh man (30s-40s) mid-stride during a challenging but determined run. He wears athletic gear and a vibrant keski/turban with a beard, showing effort and progress. The art style blends realistic rendering for the figure with strong abstract digital art elements for the environment and motion. The scene features: - **Abstract Motion & Energy:** Swirling, translucent digital lines and streaks of vibrant, energetic colors (e.g., electric blues, greens, oranges, purples) emanating from the man, suggesting speed and the flow of energy. These lines subtly evolve from denser, more amorphous forms near the start of his perceived motion to lighter, more defined streaks as he pushes forward, symbolizing transformation and overcoming initial struggle. - **Geometric & Digital Abstraction:** Subtle, glowing geometric shapes or fragmented digital patterns are integrated into the blurred background, hinting at an urban park or running path, giving a sense of structure and progress. - **Implied Community:** Very soft, abstract blurs or distant, stylized silhouettes of other runners in the periphery, subtly suggesting the presence of a group or club. **Emphasis on:** - **Anatomical Accuracy:** Ensure all limbs, hands, and fingers are naturally formed and articulated without distortion. - **Naturalism:** Avoid an overly 'plastic' or generic AI appearance. Focus on realistic textures for skin and fabric, and natural facial expressions. - **Abstract Balance:** The abstract elements should enhance the narrative of effort, transformation, and community without making the central figure or action unclear. - **Vibrant & Energetic Color Palette:** Use colors that convey dynamism, motivation, and positive change. **Avoid:** Any bold text, titles, or literal numbers/statistics within the image. Ensure the overall composition is free from typical AI art quirks.