How this run club in Visakhapatnam is inspiring women to take up running and strength training
It is almost 5.30am on a Sunday morning. The air is cool, the park is quiet and small groups of women begin trickling into VMRDA
It is almost 5.30am on a Sunday morning. The air is cool, the park is quiet and small groups of women begin trickling into VMRDA Park (VUDA Park). There are women in their twenties warming up alongside those in their fifties. Some tighten their shoelaces before setting off on a run, others prepare for a brisk walk, while a few are attempting their very first jog. For the next couple of hours, the park becomes their shared fitness space. Each woman sets her own pace; every finish is celebrated. This is the Strong Sisters Run Club, a growing women-only fitness community started by Visakhapatnam-based fitness coach Monalisa Dayanand. Meeting every Sunday morning, the club is creating what its founder describes as a “safe space” where women can begin their fitness journey without fear of judgement. “We want to remove the fear around running,” says Monalisa. “The aim is to help women gradually become comfortable signing up for 5K and eventually even 10K events, whether they choose to walk, jog or run. Participation matters far more than pace.” Progressive training The club follows a progressive training structure. Participants begin with manageable distances — about 1.5 km in the first week, increasing gradually by about 500 metres every week until they comfortably complete five kilometres. Women are grouped according to their fitness levels, with separate leaders for runners, joggers and walkers.
For Monalisa, the idea grew from a deeply personal journey. During her Intermediate education years, the demanding schedule of IIT entrance coaching left little room for physical activity. The stress took its toll and by the time she completed school, she weighed nearly 100 kilograms. “When I moved to Bengaluru for engineering, I was body-shamed repeatedly,” she recalls. “I tried everything — crash diets and endless cardio — but it only left me physically exhausted and emotionally drained. At one point, I was even hospitalised. I realised I wasn’t becoming healthier; I was only becoming weaker.” That turning point led her to strength training. “It completely changed my understanding of fitness. Instead of chasing weight loss, I started building strength.” Over the next four years, she gradually lost 40 kilograms. Although she later worked in the IT sector, her growing passion for fitness prompted a career shift. In 2015, she became a personal trainer after completing certifications in precision nutrition, women’s physiology and fitness coaching and neuroscience-based coaching focused on emotional health. Yet, something troubled her. “Most gyms were dominated by men and very few women came in for training. Many were intimidated by the environment or believed running and strength training weren’t meant for them.” The positive changes she witnessed among the women she coached convinced her that community — not just coaching — could transform lives.
The BriefWire