TCS World 10K Bengaluru Announces All-Women Pacer Team Ahead Of International Women's Day

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Procam International announced an all-women pacer team for the 18th TCS World 10K Bengaluru. The World Athletics Gold Label Race is set for Sunday, April 26. Organisers said the pacers will guide runners across set finish targets. The announcement came ahead of International Women’s Day.

Female turnout at the TCS World 10K Bengaluru has risen across editions. The event had nearly 4,000 women runners in 2008. The latest edition recorded over 9,000 women participants. Organisers said women made up close to one third of runners. Open 10K registrations also sold out in six days.

As in earlier years, 14 women pacers will support runners during the 10K. Organisers said pacers help runners hold a steady pace and stay on time. The team also offers on-course motivation, especially late in the race. Each pacer is assigned a target finish time for participants to follow.

Jahnnavi Gowda, a 42-year-old banker, is among this year’s pacers. Gowda linked rising women’s participation with family health outcomes. "The number of women taking up running and fitness is growing every day. I truly believe that if a woman is fit, the entire family becomes fit," said Gowda.

Gowda also described the demands of pacing and the trust involved. "Pacing is not an easy job. It is a huge responsibility because runners trust you to help them achieve their target time. I love cheering runners who are struggling in the last stretch and pushing them to reach their goal. It is both a responsibility and a lovely job to do."

Dr Lakshmi Roopesh said running is a simple entry point for women. "Running is one of the most accessible ways for women to begin a fitness journey. You just need a pair of running shoes and the willingness to start," said the 43-year-old.

Dr Roopesh also spoke about the personal value found in regular training. "Running is like moving meditation for me. When I run, there are almost no thoughts in my mind. It is a kind of stillness I do not experience anywhere else."

Dr Roopesh then compared racing with pacing for others. "When you race, you run for yourself. But when you pace, you run for others. Helping someone achieve their goal gives a kind of satisfaction that no personal best can match."

Corporate executive Narmada Jayaram said running began as a gift and became routine. "Running was actually a birthday gift from my husband almost eight years ago. I had never even run 100 metres before that, but today running has become a part of my lifestyle," she said.

Jayaram said the sport helped across work and home demands. "It helps me balance my physical health, mental well-being and professional life. Even with the demands of work and family, I feel more active, focused and able to handle everything much better."

Jayaram also pointed to social support within running groups. "It is really the camaraderie that pulls you in. Once you have been at it for a year or so, it becomes part of your life. And if you miss a session, someone will always call and say, 'What happened? Come on, get back.’"

TCS World 10K Bengaluru organisers on women runners

Vivek Singh, Joint MD at Procam International, said pacers are central to race-day experiences. "The all-women pacer team has become a special tradition at the TCS World 10K Bengaluru. These pacers do more than guide runners through their target times. They support and inspire thousands of participants on race day. It is a reflection of the remarkable rise in women taking up running and fitness across India, which continues to shape the spirit of the TCS World 10K Bengaluru each year."

The pacers cover a wide range of expected finish times for the Open 10K field. Organisers listed each pacer with a planned bus time and home city. The group includes runners from Bengaluru and other centres. The set timings run from 50 minutes through to 85 minutes.

Procam International said the all-women pacer team will again operate across multiple pace groups on April 26. The organisers also pointed to the rising number of women runners, from 2008 to the latest edition. With Open 10K entries filled within six days, the race is set for another large turnout.