Being on the Hunt!!

"You are not defeated when others stop believing in you, but you are, when you stop believing in yourself". This is what marathons have taught me. Not necessarily the ones you run, also the marathons run by others.

When you desire for a thing so much in life, it is a crime to just let it go. The very sight of Yuvi crossing that finish line yesterday brought back the beautiful memories of Mumbai where I ran my first full marathon. 

My decision not to run this year in Jan, which looked wise at that time, came back to haunt me yesterday. Here I am looking at a man, who is definitely uncomfortable, but brimming with pride after finishing his first full marathon. I felt very happy for him but bad for myself that I did not have a fraction of the determination he showed today,which would have brought me home at Mumbai.

Marathons mean very emotional to me and the way it imitates life is beyond one could possibly imagine.

Failing miserably to convince him  in my previous attempts to scale down his distance to a half marathon, I gave one last try as he stood in the starting line. In return, he gave me this smile,which seemed to convey that "its my race,you better shut up."  I uttered a small prayer wishing him a safe and quick return. 

Marathons can be quite humbling. You have to train for them or else it well may be a SUICIDE. It was bit difficult to concentrate on my own run, trying to carry along the thought that someone you know was going to hurt and all you could do was to hope that he persevere to make it through.

Well, he did persevere. As that lean frame of muscles crossed that line, the first of two lines of this blog post hit my mind. It was a great relief..He just inspired me to be on the hunt.

Last few words to Yuvi: Welcome to the club!! Getting into this club is not easy, but once you get in, you are member for life. First marathon is always special. Savour it!! Celebrate it!! Marathon is a beautiful way to express human emotions. Beauty is not only in the run that day, but also in the training that comes before it. Believe in the run.. It gives more than it takes. Believe in yourself.. You are destined for much greater glory. 

Here is the wishing to many more such runs with you and also to those beers!!

Godspeed!!

Bangalore Midnight Marathon 2011




Bharathwaaj and myself before the start

 

This was my second attempt at the Bangalore Midnight Marathon..Its totally a different experience running at that time of the night. This was the last half marathon for the year and very much happy with the result. This half marathon is unique its own way considering the amount of time it took for me to make a decision to run it or not. I was leaving for Europe in next 2 days to attend management meetings and it would not be nice to go limping around in case of any bad luck during the run. I had a spate of injuries leading to this event, so my confidence levels were low.




Vinoth crossing the finish line

 Finally made up my mind to run it and went to the place with my friend RK, his wife and got myself a registration. However, I was firm not to push myself during the run but just to enjoy it.

I expected it to be very cold that night, so had an inner layer of NIKE thermals. But that was not the case and paid the price dearly. It was getting pretty warm during the run and ended up losing too much of salts. That was a learning in one way not to use the thermals unless it is absolutely needed. 

Finished the run in 2.01 hrs which was still a good timing. Bharathwaaj and Vinoth finished the run after some time. It was wonderful to meet Pani Sir at the finishing line where he was cheering on the runners.

Had lots and lots of beer at the land of beer and chocolates (Belgium) which is our traditional way of celebrating a successful run.. Great finish to the year!!

Celebration Mysore Half Marathon 2011

I got featured in "Runners for Life" fortnightly newsletter after my Half marathon in Mysore..

Here is the link

How did you go about training for the Mysore Half?

I didn’t make many changes to my usual routine while preparing for Mysore Half. Running this course for the first time in Mysore, I was not sure of what to expect. So, I stuck to short runs during weekdays and longer ones on weekends. However, I was fairly confident of a strong finish on the race day as I had clocked a sub 2 PB at Kaveri Trail marathon, just 2 weeks ago.

I train with a wonderful bunch of people and we call ourselves as BTP runners. So there was no dearth of support and motivation.

2. Describe the day before the Mysore Half. Did you follow your usual pre-race routine or tried something new?

My pre-race routine before the race day didn’t go as planned. Thinking back now, I don’t have any regrets. I bagged my race kit just before the cutoff and checked into the hotel. It was very late by then. Mysore palace was just around the corner and it was impossible to miss witnessing it at its very best. As I stepped in, I was drawn towards where beautiful music was being played. A ghazal concert was going on. Rendition was impeccable, divine and meditative; I spent the next hour there with only my thoughts for company.

Suddenly, it felt like the rain was applauding too - it was crazy. I had to spend some time under palace-arrest (which again I enjoyed thoroughly).

After the rain and at that time of the night, it became difficult to locate places for a decent pre-race dinner. I knew I was hitting the bed short on carb reserves and hydration. It did hamper my performance next morning. I fell short of my target.

Overall, I had my best pre-race experience at Mysore. I am happy with what I got to experience.

3. On the run at Mysore, how did it feel taking part in the half marathon with the Dasara festivities serving as the backdrop?

Festivals such as Dasara acting as a backdrop, can add only positives to the overall experience. This half marathon made me feel that I was truly a part of entire Dasara celebrations. Palace, elephants, folk dances added a royal touch to the event. Dasara celebrations set the platform for non local runners like me to witness the stature of Mysore.

4. Your overall experience of running the Mysore Half?

Very memorable and would relish it for a long time. I ran my own race and had fun doing so. Kudos to the organizers for a job well done, given the fact it was their first time.

What I enjoyed very much was the course itself. Course took us through some of the beautiful places in Mysore like Kukkarahalli Lake and Mysore University campus. Aid stations were properly planned and manned.

One let down was the delayed start because of chief guest’s late arrival over which organizers had very little control. So no complaints there. Overall a fine experience and a Sunday morning well spent. 

5. When you crossed the finish line, how did you feel?

Feeling was euphoric. During the race, I had my moments of doubt about a strong finish but they were all put to rest, once I crossed that finish line.

6. Will you be back for the 2012 edition?

Absolutely yes and also for the ones to follow it..

Very happy that I am getting recognised for my efforts..

Celebrate Life!!

What more can be a fitting gift for a marathoner than a PB on his birthday. For that reason, this birth day would always remain as a special one.

Two years ago, I was one of those weird guys who hated birth days.

As you celebrate a birthday, a year had gone in your time sheet and you question yourself whether the year gone by was eventful or was it as expected?. Two years ago, it would have been a big 'NO' from me. Good enough reason for me to hate birth days.

Now it has changed. I love birth days. My perception towards birth days have changed after I started running. I have come to believe that its an opportunity that has been presented once again for you to become who you wanted to be.

I ran this race exactly on my 25th birth day. I gave it all I had. I was rewarded with this beautiful PB which I would cherish for a long time. Running is my way of celebrating beautiful things in life.

Hyderbad Marathon - Battle Well Fought!!

Running a marathon, I believe, is the best way to realize the true potential of a human spirit. Every step you take towards that finish line has so much to teach than you can possibly imagine. It is a fierce battle in which you fight against yourself, trying so hard to suppress the voice of your limitations. This is one battle you would be proud for having taken part no matter what the outcome was.

I did fight the battle against myself at Hyderabad. It was more of me soliciting it rather than forced upon. It would have been a real easy thing to blame it on the field as unfair and be loose on the target I set for myself on that day. But that is not what I am trained for. I am a marathoner. I had to fight it out whatsoever.

When I crossed that finish line, I knew I had lost the battle. Strangely, I wasn’t sad at all. I was happy. Knowingly I gave away every single drop of energy I had to lose the battle. It was a good battle to lose.

Sometimes it is good to lose battles to win a war. I know these battles will make me win the war I am going to wage against myself.

Auroville Marathon!!

Auroville always has a special place in my heart. I love running, I love Marathons only because of the emotional bearing it has.

What better place could be there than Auroville to realize that.

Preparation for Auroville Marathon was not ideal as it should have been. I headed to Auroville with just a Half Marathon (21.1 Km) in mind, though I had registered for a 42.195 Km Full Marathon.

Running is a mental exercise rather than a physical one. You train your mind more than your body. You train your mind for anything adverse that may come and also you train your mind to overcome it. Thats the spirit of a marathon.

Just when i wanted to stop at the half way mark, encouragement came from fellow runners to go for the full. Lot of them have seen me during the weekend runs or other events. Though they might not know me personally, they had the confidence in me which I didnt have in myself. I knew I cannot stop, I have do it for them. I went for the full. I knew it was not going to be as comfortable as the first half, yet I went. Woods looked beautiful. It was a whole different world. Body wanted to give up. Mind asked me to find comfort in pain. Mind won the game as I dragged myself to the finish line.

Emotions I went through were indescribable. It was such an upheaval.

Strides of Hope 2011!!

Running is joyful and even more fun when you do it for a cause.

For me running is the best way of expressing human emotions. I run hard when I am happy, I run even harder when I am unhappy.

When things look gloomy, all you can behold is the hope that it would be fine soon. Hope is the only hope that can take us past the despondence. Human spirit is wonderful, its fantastic. Its ability to rebound from testing times has been the very reason for the existence of human kind.

I ran that night counting my blessings which many people were not bestowed with. I ran that night for people who suffer. I ran with a hope that world would become a better place..

I run for hope!!

I am a Marathoner!!

That was a euphoric feeling. Body going thorough involuntary convulsions. Tears flowing down my cheeks.. This all happened when I crossed that finishing line. That was just not an ordinary line. It was a gateway to a new life. A life that can overcome adversity.

I am a Marathoner now!! I run marathons.. I am proud of it. This marathon taught me humility, made me understand how fragile human life is.

Its just a start.. I will be there soon.. It was all because of you..

Why I Run!!

Every marathon runner would have a story to tell..

Its the story of victory over adversity
Its the story of hope over despair
Its the story of existence of human race
Its the story of unparalleled human ability

Its the story of a father who can't ask for a better son
Its the story of a son who can't ask for a more inspiring father
Its the story of a boy who runs for his love

Its the story of abundance in poor
Its the story of void in rich

Its the story that inspires millions.
Its the story.......................................
Its the story.......................................

I too have a story to tell !! Hence I Run!!

Into the Wild!!

The movie "Into the Wild" appealed so much to me mainly for two reasons.

1. Chris's passion for running which he considered as a spiritual exercise

2. My fondness for wilderness. My best night out would be a solitary stay in wilderness as only company.

Gautam suggested this movie and I was left with a lump in my throat towards the end.

Strongly suggest this movie to all