I’ve run many times before. From problems, responsibilities and life, in general. No, not a coward, but maybe I knew no other way to find myself back without running away from myself. Nike transformed my “Who are you running from?” to “Who are you running for?” and that changed everything.
I run regularly to stay fit, physically and mentally. With a temper like mine, I’d say it helps with emotional fitness too! Running motivates me, releases my stress, and that adrenaline rush makes me want to push myself to do more. Nike helped me do all of this on 10th May, 2025. “Just Do It” came to life. The meaning of “Don’t give up, no matter how hard it gets” came through. It wasn’t just me, it was more than 3400 women who wanted to run to regain their confidence, power, and endurance.
The Nike After Dark Tour is a global race series celebrating women’s running, community, and self-expression. It is designed as a festival where the upbeat atmosphere, a sense of achievement from reaching personal goals, and diverse running styles seamlessly come together, empowering the community of women runners. This milestone event reflects Nike’s ongoing mission to create inclusive spaces where women can connect, compete, and celebrate their journeys on their own terms.
To say it was an empowering experience would be an understatement. It was more than pumping our leg muscles and sweating our bodies out in the peak humid weather of the beautiful city of Mumbai. It was about mental resilience, flexibility, surrender, achievement and self-belief. It was about the stories we never tell, our words that get silenced every day, and our challenges that go unnoticed.
What started on a high note at the Gateway of India came to an emotional and victorious end at NSCI Dome, Worli. Mumbai looked stunning at night, with all the lights, with all its people and with all its flaws, just like us women. The path wasn’t just covered with 3400 women; it was brimming with 3400 stories and 3400 dreams waiting to see the light of day.
Nike’s After Dark Tour is special. It isn’t your regular jog in the morning; it is an antidote to your thoughts at night. I saw women in every shape, size, and age come together as a community, as though collectively charging towards their different goals. That feeling of having strangers relate to you, support you, run with you and for you without having exchanged a single word is inexplicable. Just a nod and a smile are enough.
Somehow, Nike just gets it right. Tarundeep Singh, General Manager, Nike India, nailed it when he said,
“The After Dark Tour in Mumbai was more than just a 10K, it was a movement. At Nike, we believe sport has the power to create change, and this run was proof of that. From the first training session to the final stride at the NSCI Dome, we witnessed stories of resilience, community, and transformation. Seeing the streets of Mumbai come alive with thousands of women reclaiming the night, on their terms, was so powerful. We’re proud to have created a space where women felt seen, supported, and could experience the joy of sport.”
The 10km run through the bustling streets of Marine lines and the vintage appeal of The Royal Opera House to the serenity of Haji Ali and the urban vibe of the NSCI Dome, had me thinking of the different paths I’ve run through in my life. It took me back to all the times I almost gave up; gave up on my passions, gave up on myself. The keyword is “almost”.
I’m still here, running, but this time not away from everything, but towards all life has to offer. I face it, I embrace it, and I refuse to let it tell me “It is what it is”. No, it isn’t. Because deep down, I know, it is what I make of it.