I have been planning to develop this app for a while. I know the App Store has millions of apps and I know my app would be a drop in the bucket. After researching the App Store and online, I decided to proceed with developing the app.

I am thrilled to announce that Runner’s Weather is now officially available on the App Store! 🎉

Whether you’re an early bird hitting the pavement or a night runner chasing quiet streets, Runner’s Weather is designed to help you make smarter, safer decisions about when and how to run. It analyses Dew Point, real-feel temperature, and precipitation in real-time to deliver personalised running recommendations — all at a glance.

What makes Runner’s Weather different?

• Smart weather insights tailored for runners
• Clean, intuitive UI with real-feel gradients
• Real-time dew point, humidity, and wind info
• Personalised suggestions for your comfort and safety
• Hourly forecasts in a scrollable, runner-friendly format

Whether you’re going for a run, a running race, training for a marathon or just trying to stay consistent, Runner’s Weather is the running sidekick you didn’t know you needed.

This app was developed for runners. But it can also be used by non-runners who want to know what the weather is, whether they are going out for a walk or planning their day.

Runners Weather - Your Personal Running Forecast

Your Personal Running Forecast

Introduction.

Running is an excellent way to improve physical and mental health and enjoy the outdoors. It's also a good way of exercising without fancy equipment or being at a specific place, and you just put on your shoes and get out. While people feel daunted to start running, it is not, and all you need is a little planning and a will to start running. Before jumping into how to start, let's cover some basics.

Choosing the right gear.

Shoes: Invest in a pair of decent shoes. Visit a speciality running store where you can try different shoes. The shoes must feel comfortable and provide cushioning for support. Some stores have Gait measuring equipment which helps get the correct shoes depending on your foot type and running style.

Clothing: Choose breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics over cotton fabrics. The weather also plays a significant factor in the clothing you choose, and remember to dress in layers if you are running in cold weather.

Electronics: Invest in a decent running watch, which helps keep track of your runs and provides other metrics. Or use one of many available running apps on your phone to keep track of your activity.

Accessories: A waist pouch to store phone, car keys, wallet, Credit card, cash etc., if you plan to run in a park, on trails or somewhere far from your home. Also, having a handheld water bottle would be nice if you feel dehydrated.

The Training

Now that the basics are covered, let's jump into the training.

Start with a run for 20 mins. Run at a comfortable pace. The pace should be at a level where you can fully converse with another runner beside you. If you feel out of breath, you are running faster. Another strategy to start is a run/walk method where you run for a certain amount of time and walk for the same. For example, you can run for 2 mins and walk for 2 minutes. As you feel comfortable, you increase the time you run and decrease the time you walk. Eventually, you are running for the whole time at a relaxed pace. Start with a 20 min run for 3-4 days a week. Add 10 minutes every week or two to the run as you feel comfortable. Be careful not to increase the time too much, as it takes time for your body to adjust to the increased load on your body.

Be consistent with your training. Try to stick to your schedule. Eventually, aiming to run for an hour without trouble would be best. Running based on time helps you control your run. You train your body to run based on effort. Running based on miles will make you feel compelled to complete mileage. That might make you run fast to complete the run, and you will be exhausted. Remember that your body only understands the time, not the miles you run.

Warm-up and cool-down play an essential part in your training. Before running, take a few minutes to warm up your muscles by walking or jumping jacks. After your run, cool down by doing light stretching, and yoga helps too.

Running with a friend or joining a running club will motivate you and will also be an excellent support option. Running will take a toll on your body, and it is essential to listen to your body. If you feel pain or discomfort, slow down or stop the run. If you feel tired or sore, do not hesitate to rest. Do not push yourself hard. It takes some time for your body to adjust to the stress and load of running. Remember, you are running to be healthy, build fitness and be a runner. Not to get injured.

It's a good habit to keep track of your runs. Investing in a good running watch or using running apps will help you monitor the distance, pace time, calories burned and other metrics. In the long run, this will build a good activity record and get feedback on your progress.

Conclusion

Running can be fun and challenging to start but worth the effort. Running will help build strength and is an excellent physical and mental exercise. Running can be a lifelong journey if one wishes to make it.

If you are looking for custom beginner plans feel free to reach out to me at coaching@sureshpenumatsa.com

It is my first blog post, and what is a better topic than writing about my experience running the Boston Marathon on April 18, 2022?

Our running club receives some invitational entries from the B.A.A for the Boston Marathon every year, and I was fortunate enough to be awarded one for the 2022 Boston Marathon.

Since the Boston Marathon is one of the most famous marathons to be held in spring, training is hard and much more challenging in the New England area where I live. Snow, ice, sub-zero temperatures etc., all add to the already hard training that we go through.

Our club organises four training runs on the actual course seven weeks before the Marathon. We ran all of them, including one starting from Hopkinton and running up to the famous heartbreak hill. Due to restrictions placed by the B.A.A., we could not run the last one on the course. Our club devised a course in their area that included hills that helped us get some hill training

On race day, we got on the GLRR bus that the club organised and took us to Hopkinton. The bus was beaming with runners who have done multiple Boston Marathons, some of them for more than 30 consecutive years. They were all part of the Q.C.C. club, an elite club of runners who have done 25 or more consecutive Boston Marathons. We arrived at the Athletes Village in Hopkinton, where the runners get staged before they go to their respective corrals and waves.

Depending on which wave the runners get assigned to, the wait time might be between 1-2 hours. The race starts at 9 am. The wheelchair, professional and para athletic runners go out before the general waves start. We had to walk nearly a mile from the staging area to the start line. The wave that we were in began at 11.30 am. When the gun went off, it was a sea of people. It was fascinating, and we were excited that this was finally happening. We all trained for this day, and the time has finally come. We were all trying to contain our excitement. The first half of the race is net downhill, and it is very easy to get carried away and start going out fast. Runners go out fast at the start as it is downhill, not realising that the hard part of the race is ahead. I was conscious of my pace and made every effort to stick to my planned pace. I was cruising along at a steady pace reminding myself not to follow the crowd but to run at my race pace. The crowd also thins out in certain places as the miles go by, and runners must make every effort to keep themselves motivated. As we were approaching Wellesley college at mile 14, we could hear the boisterous crowd of girls that cheer upon the runners. It is the famous scream tunnel. They are loud and have posters and signs encouraging the runners. Some of them offer to kiss the runners, which sounds funny but is true. They are a massive boost to the runners. I waved to them and continued my run, trying to concentrate on keeping my pace.

At mile 15, I saw the green tent of our club, GLRR, and some members were cheering on me. Seeing the cheering and support was lovely, and I waved as I ran by them. As I approached the I-95 overpass around mile 16, I felt a bit of tightness in my legs, and all the rolling hills and pounding started to take effect. I had to make some effort to run over the overpass. The gradual climb over the overpass takes a toll on the runners and comes at a time when they are tired of running downhill over the last 15 miles.

Although the weather was in the low 60s, the sun was beating on the runners in the open as we approached the Newton Fire Station. I also knew what was coming ahead. As I took the right turn onto Commonwealth Ave, the famous newton hills stared in my face. The crowd was loud, encouraging the runners and making the run easy on those hills. I started to feel heavy in my legs, and I knew all the downhill running was beginning to show up. Running those 4 miles was difficult, and a glance at my watch showed my pace suffering. I anticipated this but kept pushing. The massive banner on the top of heartbreak hill was a relief as  I knew that the hard part of the race was over. It was all downhill, and I also knew I had to push myself. I could see the giant Citgo sign on the horizon, which kept getting bigger as I approached Kenmore sq. When I saw the sign that said 1 mile to go, I realised what was coming. I was approaching Hereford street, and I could hear the roar from the crowd ahead. I turned right into Hereford street and then left onto Boylston street. I cannot forget what I felt as I turned onto Boylston. The crowd on both sides of Boylston street was at least ten rows deep. They were cheering for you. The finish line couldn't be that far, and the crowd was loud and encouraged the exhausted runners to run towards the finish line. I had to control my emotions and push myself for the few yards left. That was the longest run towards the finish line as it kept getting closer and closer.

Crossing the finish line was a truly remarkable experience. I finished the 2022 Boston Marathon and am now a Boston Marathon finisher for life.

The Boston Marathon is the holy grail of Marathons, and what makes it unique is the strict qualifying standards and the pride that comes with it. It is a dream for many young and old runners to run the Boston Marathon, let alone finish it. It's a privilege to run the Boston Marathon and a truly magical experience.