At the beginning of October this year, while we were taking our European guests out to dinner, we ran into Emre, one of the Adım Adım trainers. After a brief conversation, I suddenly blurted out a running longing I had, “I also want to run outdoors early in the morning, perhaps even along the Bosphorus, but I can’t find anyone to work out with so early.”
He told me there were groups like this. I told him I used to wake up early, around 5 a.m., and couldn’t find anyone to join. Emre insisted, “There are people who get up at that hour to work out too,” and asked if I’d heard of Istrunbul. I told him I’d seen it on social media. Emre then said, “Wait a minute, I’ll add you to the group. You can work out with them, and I’ll come run sometimes.” I said, “Oh, come on!” He then texted Elia, one of the group’s founders, and, thankfully, he added me that same evening. After a “nice to meet you,” I told him I could run on Monday. Then, the first Monday that came around, I started running. My first run was with Ayça, Istrunbul’s most consistent runner, and I’ve continued with her ever since. Ayça runs early every morning and, barring any illness or injury (God forbid), never misses a beat. The following Tuesday, the first week, we continued running with a large group. So, if I was in Istanbul and healthy (unless there were any special circumstances), I started running with the Istrunbul group three or four times a week. Below, you can see the pictures we took on some of the morning runs:
The Group’s Interesting Founding Story
During our morning chats, I asked, “So, what’s the history of this Team Istrunbul group? How was it founded?” Let me summarize the story I heard from Elia and Serhat:
I’m talking about a group that had already known each other and been working out together since 2009. While running short runs, they added a few more friends who also worked out at Hillside. Meanwhile, in 2011, they signed up for the Berlin Marathon, which will be held a year later. Around August 2012, the idea of establishing such a running group began to be discussed. At the end of September 2012, Elia Penso, Serhat Yıldırım, Zeki Bilsel, Türker Tunalı, Seda Lafçı, and Seçil Abalı ran the Berlin Marathon together. After running the marathon, inspired by the running groups they saw there, they began discussing whether they should have a running group, a name, or what it should be. Serhat’s suggestion, “Istrunbul,” was accepted, and the group was formed. Immediately after the Berlin Marathon, they created a Facebook group called “Team Istrunbul Running Academy.” The group’s initial founders were those who had run the Berlin Marathon together. From then on, the group grew rapidly, with a handful of new members joining each season.
A Record for Istrunbul
Following the Berlin Marathon, “Team Istrunbul” broke a significant record for running enthusiasts in Turkey. In March 2014, 40 runners from Team Istrunbul participated in the Barcelona Marathon. This was the largest single-team participation from Turkey. Including companions, 75-80 people traveled as a team. Congratulations to all participants.
I can say that my morning schedule is now set. On the mornings I run with Team Istrunbul, I wake up at 4 a.m. The first thing I do is get ready and take my dog, Sunny, out for a short walk. After taking Sunny out for at least half an hour in the morning, I make my final preparations and head out of the house. Since I’m usually on my way around 5:00 a.m., Ayça picks me up. We start the run at Bebek Park around 5:10 or 5:15 a.m. Then, we run short runs (like a round trip to Arnavutköy) and pick up those who started at 5:30 a.m., 5:45 a.m., and 6:00 a.m. After we’ve formed a group of six, we begin our uninterrupted long runs. We either run to Ortaköy or Beşiktaş, or the other way, to Baltalimanı or İstinye.
The Finery of Running in a Group
Running in groups has its own unique pleasure, but since we’re usually running on the road, we can’t pass two or three people abreast. Sometimes, in the early morning when there are many cars passing by or in risky conditions, we might even have to run single file. Because we’re constantly being passed by vehicles from the opposite or behind. Some even manage to brush past us out of spite. Some even honk their horns at the crack of dawn.
Another problem we face, besides cars, are the dogs loitering about like gangsters. As an animal lover, I deeply regret this situation. I understand dogs barking out of a sense of territorial defense, and we just run past them. However, sometimes, one or two dogs, among the more aggressive ones, can escalate into an attack. I haven’t experienced this myself, but I’ve seen runners and cyclists get bitten. I know what to do when they attack in groups like this without panicking, so we haven’t experienced any problems so far, but of course, something is happening that contradicts our positive mood and motivation this morning. I hope we can completely solve the stray animal problem in the future. This situation doesn’t suit us.
Finally, the weather can sometimes be challenging. It’s not easy to maintain a rhythm and run outside for 1-1.5 hours in extremely rainy or windy weather. Still, we take breaks to complete our runs in such challenging conditions. We usually complete at least 15 K.
Here’s a municipality cabin that was overturned by a recent strong southwesterly wind. We sometimes encounter scenes like this while running. While I’m sharing this challenging situation with you, I’d also like to point out that our runs were mostly enjoyable. Let me give you an example. When a Formula 1 race was being held in Istanbul, a Formula 1 car was on display in Ortaköy for promotion. When we encountered the car in Ortaköy early in the morning, we stopped running and captured the moment:
Why is running on the road healthier?
I can almost hear people asking, “Why do these runners run on the road?” I used to ask myself this question before running in groups in the mornings. This is a health issue. In Istanbul, the sidewalks along the coast are concrete. The road is made of asphalt. Because asphalt is relatively softer than concrete, all runners prefer running on the road for their own health. This is because running is a high-impact sport. You’re hitting your feet and legs with every step, and your legs get heavy towards the end of the run. So, if you run on very hard ground, you can suffer injuries to your knees or leg muscles.
A tartan track is the best. I wish there was a tartan track along the beach, it would be fantastic. We recently visited Emirgan Grove and ran for a long time on the tartan track there. Although it was quite hilly, I felt great after that run. I hope they build a tartan track along the Bosphorus on both sides of Istanbul in the future.
Joining the Istrunbul group has been personally beneficial for me in many ways. First, we get to exercise vigorously in the open air in the mornings and get in shape. Second, I have the opportunity to chat with fellow white-collar workers, all of whom are successful in their professions. Every morning, I learn something new or contribute something of my own. Third, there are wonderful friendships. Some days, after the run, we have coffee or breakfast and continue the conversation. After all these morning activities, you start your day feeling incredibly refreshed. I’d like to thank the founders of Istrunbul, especially Elia and Serhat, and all the runners, my running buddy Ayça, and Coach Emre for incorporating me into the group.
Here’s the breakfast we had as a group at Sütiş in Baltalimanı to celebrate Elia’s birthday.
In a challenging environment with Covid-19, disasters stemming from climate change, and the economic crisis, we’re starting the day on a high note. How do you start yours?
Bonus: I’d like to share the stunning views of Istanbul shared by our running group below.
Tag: memoir
