AquaGrit 5K—a pioneering endurance event curated by IITD Hiking Club

On a chilly October morning at the crack of dawn, IIT Delhi Hiking Club launched  “AquaGrit-5K”- a pioneering endurance event that brought the spirit of adventure, stamina and camaraderie to the heart of the campus.  Like all IITD Hiking Club activities, it represented teamwork at all levels.  The event was created by students Lt. Vivek Ashish (PGDIIT, Naval Unit) and Rugved Kidile (B.Des, Department of Design) who were meticulous in their attention to detail for the seamless execution of the event, and ably supported by the Faculty In-charges,  Professors Jay Dhariwal (also a participant) and Cdr Subir Singh (who did the initial reconnaissance and training).  A team of volunteers was also present to help with hydration, motivating participants, keeping time and handing out bananas to finishing participants (re-fuelling!).  Associate Dean, Prof. Pradyumna and the former Faculty In-charge of the IITD Hiking Club, Prof Suma Athreye supported the event throughout and graciously distributed prizes at the very early hour of 7.30 AM.

Event Highlights

Participants embarked on a multi-stage challenge, kicking off with an invigorating swim in the campus pool, followed by a series of high-intensity exercises including burpee walks, shuttle runs, push-ups, sit-ups, and planks. The final run across IITD’s tracks demanded every ounce of perseverance left. The event attracted 34 members of the IITD community (including student, faculty and staff) - among them 5 women- who joined in with infectious enthusiasm, and determination.

And the winners are (time taken in parentheses)

In the men’s category:

• 1st Place: Sub Lt. Sagar Singh (31:24)
• 2nd Place: Lt. Ghulam Kalim Azad (35:00)
• 3rd Place: Sub Lt. Nikhil Sumbriya (36:20)

In the women’s category:

• 1st Place: Chhavi Bhandari (30:21)

• 2nd Place: Vidhi Singh (32:07)
• 3rd Place: Poorvi Gupta (40:08)

All participants also received a lovely memento designed and made by Rugved. 

Reflections and Impact

AquaGrit-5K set a pioneering new benchmark for campus fitness initiatives, blending adventure with wellness and camaraderie. In time, the Hiking Club hopes that AquaGrit 5K will become as much a part of the student calendar as Rendezvous and Tryst.  Three cheers to every participant and supporter for making the event unforgettable- proving that together, limits mean little and the possibilities for growth and fun are endless.