2 weeks Ago
Pune: For architect Vaishnavi Satpute, Sunday mornings and running were never part of her routine — until now. "It's transformed my weekends and made starting the week with renewed energy effortless," she said. Five months ago, industrial designer Sumedh Belsare and fashion designer Siddhi Surve co-founded WePersistclub , a running club designed to bring like-minded individuals together.
Their ambitious vision went beyond creating the sportswear brand Persist, focusing on building a supportive community. From humble beginnings as a shared aspiration between these two, the club has blossomed into a vibrant group of 350 members. Every Sunday morning, members gather to run, socialize and kickstart their week with collective positivity and energy.
"Running can be an isolating experience. Forming this community was our way of getting people excited about the activity and taking care of their health, while creating a platform for fitness enthusiast sto network with like-minded individuals. We want people to feel good about their fitness journey.
When you run in a group, you always stay motivated and can keeping pushing what you initially thought was your limit," Surve said. According to her, the community has successfully created a safe and inclusive space for all members. "We're offering a refreshing alternative to the typical Sunday morning sluggishness that we've all experienced at some point," Surve said, adding, "By providing a positive and motivating environment, we're helping people start their week on a high note.
" The community meets every Sunday morning in Kalyaninagar for a 5km run. The exercise is followed by a social gathering at a nearby café, where members can unwind, mingle, and share stories over a refreshing beverage. To take things to the next level, Belsare and Surve host a special event called ‘Run and Afters' on the last Sunday of every month, with a local artist playing live music, some great coffee and food.
"‘Afters' is very similar to a club event, but in a healthier environment. There is a artist playing house music, swim sessions and even cold plunges. Sunday mornings, we realised, are usually marred by Saturday night club visits.
So ,if you are giving that up for a 7am run, ‘Afters', which is a ticketed event, is your chance to be around great music," Belsare said. Educationist Vinay Singh has been a devoted attendee of the club since the second session. Initially, the running took place at the Savitribai Phule Pune University campus, and Singh would commute from Pimpri to participate.
"I was instantly hooked. I had been contemplating taking up running, and discovering this community was perfect timing," he said. Singh tried running solo, but found it monotonous.
"I was surprised to discover that I could cover such long distances with the community's support," he said. According to the runners, the community also offers them a great deal of mental stimulation through the networking event, where they get a chance to meet people from all walks of life. "As I saw familiar faces at each run, a silent bond formed among us.
I was never into fitness, but now I eagerly anticipate Sundays. It's also helped me break free from the exhausting cycle of Saturday nights. Each run feels like a small victory, boosting my confidence and setting a positive tone for the week ahead," Satpute told TOI.
Surve and Belsare have ambitious plans to expand to other cities. "Akash Bimpalwad and Gabriel are integral members of our core team and help us strategise and execute events Their shared vision allows us to lay the groundwork for future chapters in other cities," Surve said..
