“I Am a Powerhouse.”
Those were the words written on the back of the medal given to participants in the recent Powerhouse 6K event. The words perfectly capture the message behind the Powerhouse brand created by Omesh Persaud.
Omesh, a 29-year-old runner from Debe, who is more commonly known as “the guy who is always running”, is often seen at races with a camera in his hand, recording the experience and encouraging others along the way.
But behind the videos is a young man who began running for a very simple reason – he wanted to improve his health.
Omesh suffers from chronic sinus problems, and running began as an attempt to feel better. As he often jokes, he still has the sinus problems, but at least he is much faster now.
What started as exercise gradually became an important part of his life. Running gave him a sense of freedom, helped to clear his mind and brought him peace. It also taught him discipline, patience, resilience and consistency.
Each time he put on his running shoes, he questioned whether he was willing to take one more step. One step became another, one kilometre led to the next, and eventually he began taking on challenges he once considered impossible.
He has completed a 50-kilometre solo run from San Fernando to Point Fortin and also ran 21 kilometres from Port-of-Spain to Maracas. During the Midnight Half Marathon in Chaguaramas, he sprained his ankle halfway through the race and had to decide whether to stop or continue. He kept going, completed the full 42 kilometres and placed tenth overall.
These achievements say a great deal about his determination, but Omesh does not measure every victory by a medal or finishing position.
He said, “Sometimes victory is keeping a promise to yourself when nobody is watching. Sometimes it is completing a distance you once thought was impossible. Sometimes it is simply getting up and starting.”
That way of thinking eventually became the foundation of the Powerhouse brand, an initiative of Endura Sports Limited.
Omesh did not set out with a detailed plan to create a brand. He simply wanted to make running videos, share his experiences and encourage ordinary people to become active, believe in themselves and take that first step.
As more people began following his journey and other brands started working with him, Powerhouse grew naturally.
To Omesh, a Powerhouse is not necessarily the fastest or strongest person. It is the person who shows up and keeps going when things become difficult.
The brand has now grown beyond social media into community events and charitable initiatives. The Endura Events platform is also designed to help organisers host sporting events while making it easier for athletes to discover and register for them.
One of the proudest moments of his journey was organising the inaugural Powerhouse 6K Road Run/Walk, which sold out quickly. The event brought together more than 500 participants and raised funds for Rahul’s Clubhouse, an autism centre managed by Support Autism T&T and the Autism Siblings and Friends Network.
Interestingly, Omesh has become a role model because he does not present running as easy.
Through his videos, people see the early mornings, difficult runs and the self-doubt. They also see what can happen when someone keeps going.
People connect with that honesty because many of them have convinced themselves that they are too old, slow, overweight or inexperienced to begin.
Through his content, events and community work, he has encouraged people of different ages, sizes and fitness levels to walk, run and become more active.
Omesh’s dream is to help create a culture in which physical activity becomes a normal part of life and communities are brought together through sport.
His message to anyone thinking about starting is simple: “Do not wait until you feel ready because that feeling may never come. You don’t have to be fast or fit before you begin, and you should not compare the beginning of your journey with someone who has been running for years.
“Every experienced runner was once the person wondering whether they could make it to the next street. Every one of us has the ability to become a Powerhouse.”
