This morning, the streets of Colombo weren’t just our running track—they were our playground.

The journey actually started back on January 4th, when the Landmark Challenge was first announced in our CCR WhatsApp group. Almost immediately, the chat exploded with people frantically looking for partners. The banter was top-tier, with some runners joking that it would actually be easier to find a date in Colombo than to find a running partner for a 90-minute scramble!

As I was reading the chatter, I reached out to my running buddy, Nirosha, to see if she was up for it. Luckily, she was all in! It was only as I sat down to write this post that I realized January is clearly my month for successful “proposals.” Exactly ten years ago, on January 9th, I proposed to my wife—so I’m taking this partnership as a very good omen.

Before we could register, we needed the perfect team name. Since Nirosha is an English Lit teacher and I enjoy writing, we wanted something witty. I pitched a few puns: “Worst Pace Scenario,” “Game of Soles,” “Between a Walk and a Hard Pace,” and “Agony of De-Feet.” We were both immediately drawn to the same two, which was the first sign we’d be a great team. In the end, we went with “Agony of De-Feet”!

Fast forward to this morning, January 18th. There was a refreshing chill in the air as we rendezvoused at our usual Sunday haunt—Independence Square. Even though we’d already studied the rules via the document shared on WhatsApp, the excitement was palpable as 6:15 AM drew near. At 6:05, Tharindu—the architect of the challenge and a pillar of the local running community—gave us a final briefing. Then, at the stroke of 6:15, the list of landmarks hit our phones, and the hunt was officially on!

The Mission

The rules were simple but the execution was a whirlwind:

• The Goal: Visit as many designated Colombo landmarks as possible within 90 minutes.
• The Points: Each landmark carried a point value. The further or more obscure the location, the higher the reward.
• The Proof: No selfie, no points! We had to document every stop with a photo and back it up with our Strava or Garmin data to prove we covered the distance on foot.
• The Catch: Every minute back late to the Start/Finish line meant a penalty. Precision was just as important as pace.

Strategy vs. Speed

When the clock started, it wasn’t just about who was the fastest runner; it was about who had the best navigation skills. The furthers landmarks had the highest points, and it was a question was how do we get there and be back on time, while hitting as many other landmarks on the way.

Our Approach

At first glance, the list included a few landmarks that looked like a “decoy” route. While the furthest point on that path offered the highest reward, we decided then and there to play it smart and skip them. Instead, Nirosha and I set our sights toward Port City.

Our first stop was the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) headquarters at the Sinhalese Sports Club—good for 2 points! Originally founded in 1975 as the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, the body was renamed in 2003 and remains the heart of the sport in our country. Snapping that first selfie felt like a great start to our scorecard!

From there, we made our way to the Colombo National Museum, a stop that netted us a solid 3 points. As the largest museum in the country, it’s a stunning landmark that has stood since 1877. Running past its grand white architecture, you can’t help but feel the history it holds—from the ancient regalia of the Kandyan monarchs to exhibits that tell the story of our island’s rich cultural and natural heritage.

Next up: Viharamahadevi Park for a selfie with the statue of the Queen herself. This landmark carries one of the most dramatic stories in Sri Lankan history. Legend says that as a young princess, she was set adrift in a decorated boat to appease the gods and stop a Great Flood caused by her father’s misdeeds. The sacrifice worked, the seas receded, and she eventually became the Queen consort of King Kavantissa. It was a quick 2-point stop for “Agony of De-Feet,” but a great reminder of the history etched into every corner of Colombo!

We shifted gears to find the “Metal Masterpieces”—the Tusker and Kandyan Drummer (5 points). Built from scrap metal and discarded mechanical parts, these sculptures are a collaboration between Gangaramaya’s vocational students and the Sri Lankan military. The tusker honors the memory of the famous “Navam Raja.” Finding these hidden gems was a reminder of why the Landmark Challenge is so fun—it forces you to stop and appreciate the unique art scattered across Colombo.

Our next stop was Port City, but this is where my memory failed me! I recalled seeing the “I Love Port City” sign during our heat training session yesterday, but once we entered, I realized it was much deeper into the complex than I thought. With 10 points on the line but time ticking away, we made a strategic “audible” and turned back before we lost too much ground.

Luckily, the pivot paid off. We continued along the coast to the Colombo Lighthouse at Galbokka Point (10 points). Standing 29 meters tall, this lighthouse was built in 1952 to replace the old one that had been obscured by the city’s growth. Opened by D.S. Senanayake, it’s a striking structure with four stone lions guarding its base. Just a bit further down, we hit the Sambodhi Pagoda (5 points). This unique stupa, designed by the legendary engineer A.N.S. Kulasinghe, sits atop two interlocking concrete arches overlooking Marine Drive. It’s a feat of engineering that perfectly captures the spirit of the harbor entrance.

Having reached our furthest point, we turned back toward Independence Square. It was only later that we realized we had run right past the Bandaranaike Memorial (5 points)! Most of us had misinterpreted the list, assuming it referred to the BMICH on the “decoy” route. In reality, it was the statue of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike near Galle Face—a gift from the Soviet Union unveiled in 1976 to honor the Prime Minister who served from 1956 until 1959.

We didn’t miss everything on the coast, though! We made sure to bag the points for the Galle Face Cannons (5 points). Flanking the national flagpole, these cannons are a rugged reminder of the Green’s history as a Dutch firing range. Standing there with the flag catching the wind, it was a great moment to reflect on the city’s military past before our final sprint.

With the clock winding down, it became a pure race against time. We put our heads down and decided to “motor” toward the finish, with only two specific landmarks left on our dynamic to-do list.

As luck would have it, while we were sprinting through Viharamahadevi Park toward Town Hall, we stumbled upon an extra opportunity: the statue of Anagarika Dharmapala (3 points). A towering figure in Sri Lankan history, Dharmapala was a Buddhist revivalist and writer who, alongside pioneers like Henry Steel Olcott, helped transform and share Sinhala Buddhism with the world. Snagging those points on the fly felt like a huge win as we pushed toward the final stretch!

Our penultimate stop was the majestic Town Hall (5 Points). As the headquarters of the Colombo Municipal Council and the office of the Mayor, it is one of the city’s most recognizable icons. The building’s history is as grand as its facade; back in 1922, an international design competition was held to find the perfect blueprint. Out of 32 global entries, the winning design was awarded to S. J. Edwards of Ralph Booty & Co. Running past its “White House” style architecture, we knew we were just minutes away from the end!

We managed to maintain a steady rhythm for most of the morning, averaging around 6:00 min/km. However, as the 90-minute limit loomed, the casual scavenger hunt turned into a flat-out sprint. We pushed our pace through the final few kilometers, finally making it back to Independence Square for one last point: the D.S. Senanayake Statue.

Standing prominently at the entrance of Independence Memorial Hall, this monument honors the “Father of the Nation” and symbolizes Sri Lanka’s hard-won freedom. It was a fitting place to end our own journey. After checking in with the organizers, we uploaded our “sweaty selfies” and Garmin data to make it official. We ultimately finished five minutes past the cutoff, but the thrill of the chase made every extra second worth it!

More Than Just a Run

What makes events like the Landmark Challenge so special isn’t just the competition; it’s the opportunity to see Colombo through a different lens. Running past these iconic monuments—not as commuters, but as athletes—reminds us of the vibrant, historic backyard we get to train in every day.

The atmosphere at the finish line was electric as we swapped stories, laughed over our frantic “sweaty selfies,” and marveled at the creative routes others had taken. In a brilliant twist of irony, the Men’s Category was dominated by two “expats,” Bastien and Marc, who won by a clear margin! Not only were they fast, but they out-strategized all of us, racking up a massive 68 points and putting the locals to shame! Huge congratulations also go out to Savindi and Chaturangi, who took the Women’s title with 50 points, and Adil and Aurelie, the winners of the Mixed Team category.

A huge shoutout to the CCR organizers for putting together such a seamless and fun event. It truly was an amazing Sunday Morning!