I bet none of us remember when we first ran. It was so natural, just like you do not remember when we first walked, when we first ate, when we first spoke. But, one major difference is once we grow we start to believe running is childish and we start to avoid running. Even, when you want to catch the bus, you do not want to run, worrying that some people around you may see you immature, is it not?
I believe imitating your childhood habits at any age brings you joy and Running is no different.
My first memory of running is in our line houses. There were about 14 houses in a compound and all of them are rented. People of my age (around 5 to 8 years) used to have competition starting from first house to the last house. That was the cheapest game just that the damages it cause might be significant. We run over the matchboxes kept for drying and get scolded by the elders. We never stopped running for that and they also never stopped scolding us. Each running will have different winner, because your location of run, obstacles, pushing down, etc and that makes the competition even more interesting.
When I was old enough, my life was pretty much in the grounds for most of the time. We did not train running, but all our games required intense running. Be it, hockey, football, cricket, volleyball, tennis, ball badminton it all need running. If you wonder, how we got gears for all these games, secret is polymorphism. One single ball can be used for hockey, cricket and even for football, badminton racquet used for tennis, curved woods used as hockey sticks, if there is a real hockey stick use it as cricket bat also, if there is a cricket bat use it as hockey stick. It was so much fun and there was so much of gamesmanship. A bit of diverting topic, In kovilpatti, we have yearly national hockey match conducted for GK Naidu cup. Players from all places of India would come and play. I found those sports persons are great and humble human beings. Even with out knowing tamil, EME Jalandar (from punjab) team players had lot of stories to speak to us.
In the GK Naidu stadium score board, there is a sentence which defined my life
"When a great scorer comes to write about you, he marks how you have played the game. He marks not whether you have won or not"
I am a sincere believer in that and I play my sports and life very hard and fair. Play is to enjoy. A game where even I have lost, I would not be worried, If I know I had given my 100%.
Coming back to running, though there were so many games we had played, never trained myself on running. First, I started to run is for the warm ups for hockey coaching. Our school PT teacher Mr. Varadharajan used to coach the hockey team. Every day morning at 6 am, once we are at school, he would ask us to run 2 rounds of the ground. it is definitely not more than 200 meters and 2 rounds will be 400 meters. But, we felt very tired after the 2 rounds. Once you start to play the game, you hardly worried by the tiredness.
Just before our Interschool matches (at zonal level), PT teacher had to go on leave for emergency purposes and we were left with our seniors to train. I was in junior team. Senior team captain is responsible for warm up and he ordered us to run 10 rounds of the ground. some of the team members fainted. I really was not sure why they fainted though. He did that to improve our stamina, he claimed. Problem is our junior zonal match is 15 minutes each half with 5 minutes interval. Not sure how much of stamina we needed. It is a different story that junior team (our team) had won the cup and senior team had lost the first match itself.
During my 11th standard, we had a marathon race at kovilpatti. To run from kovilpatti VOC school all the way to Ettayapuram and come back (It was about 26 kms, If I remember correctly). Me and some of my friends participated. People who were fainting for 2 km 2 years back wanted to run 26 kms. We had kept the cycle in 500 meters distance from the starting point and made running race as cycle race. That too, each cycle had two persons and you can double pedal.
Once I entered college in Virudhunagar, I did not participate in any of the sports. Two reasons, I was not as skilled as the people who played there and I did not want to stay in college hostel during weekends for practicing. I played department sports, that too limited to cricket (do not ask me what I scored). My games in KVP continued though. One habit, we (myself and singh) started in VNR is a long walk every evening. Every day, we walk about 3 to 4 kms to burma shop for a tea/milk and bhajji. Of course, on our way we get to see some pretty school girls too.
Once I moved to Bharathiar university, our sports activity had become very limited. We played cricket, football occassionally. I continued by long walks. Another interesting aspect in bharathiar university is trekking. Whenever we liked, we went to marudhamalai for trekking. Walking was never an issue as every time we go for second show movies, we had to walk back to university (from 6km to 15km).
My first long (??) distance running was in our department sports. It was close to 4 km. Started off well, but had cramped by leg in the first 500 meters. Limped and completed though. My classmates were disappointed. On the second year, I managed it well and finished off as 3rd. It was my first medal.
Honestly, none of these runs I had really practiced and enjoyed. I found running boring and it was not interesting as games/sports and I thought there is nothing heroic or skills based. I was confident that I can run any distance and I believed I had enough stamina and muscle strength.
I was thrown in to IT industry in 1994. Had plenty of energy. Every day it was like 20 hours of work and 4 hours of sleep. Your earning also gives you a bit of dummy. First time in my life, I had developed small tummy in 1998. Moved to Singapore in 1998. After offering job, Gokul also offered shelter (I will write a separate blog about Gokul. Some individuals change your life, very rare individuals helps you to find your life). Was staying with him. With tasty home made food (radha anni helped here) my tummy started growing. I have started walking from office to home in evening (about 6 km). It was funny the way we started run. Gokul smokes at least two packets every day. But, he was not comfortable smoking at home (of course, not allowed) and had to find a reason for smoking in the morning. He used to pull me for running (both chandra and ramesh, friends stayed with me in gokul's house, escaped in this). Once we come down, after about 500 meters, Gokul will stop and start his cigarette. Till he completes, his cigarattes (2 or 3) I need to wait. Instead of waiting, I continued the run.
Now the running is different. It is no longer easy, though it is lesser than 5 kms. You pant, breath heavily, sweat in litres, legs are tired. But, when you return home with your shirts soaked in sweat, you feel really light and satisfied. I have started enjoying the run, though it was with the purpose of losing the tummy.
Once I got married, boss was there in both home and office and you start to forget that you can walk fast or run. What I maintained is long walks through, which happens whenever manju goes to india for holidays. I walk from office to home in the evenings mostly. Once Attu is born, it was even more hectic and my weight started to increase consistently. It had touched 79 kgs. Acidity has become consistent. Back pain was consistent. Got cold frequently. Tried multiple doctors, they kept telling me I am alright and worrying unncessarily. I remember my conversation with Dr. Ajith in Serangoon central. After I visited him frequently, he asked me one day, "what exactly your problem? What exactly is your worry?". I was in early 30s. I told him I am afraid of having heart diseases as I am feeling very heavy always. He took a blood test and said my cholestral was well below danger level and I need not have to worry. But, I was worried still.
Myself and Manju decided to walk every day. The park near my tampines house is about 1 km. We go for 2 or 3 rounds. Did not help in reducing weight or feelight light. After a very long time, I wanted to run. It was tough. Started with 500 meters, slowly moved to 1 km, 2km. That is the time UOB heartbeat run started. It was 7.2 km to celebrate 72 years of UOB. I started practicing for it. I tried up to 5km. My first ever run of more than 5km started with UOB heartbeat. I guess it was in 2005. It was flagged off at UOB riverside and we run in to boat quay, clarke quay and come back via victoria hall. There were some more route, which I can not remember. I started off very well. By the time I reached 2km, I was tired, very heavy breathing, heavy sweating. Saw one of the person in front pour some water in his head, I also poured some water on my head. Did not help. I saw another person drinking water. I also emptied a bottle of water. Soon, had the effect. with in a km, started vomiting all water. I had milk just before the run, which also came out. Some of the volunteers helped me to sit. Did not worry. still went ahead with walk and completed the 7.2 km. I guess the timing was 54 minutes or so.
So, learnt some lessons, never drink milk immediately before the run. never gulp water. sip it always. Important one is, never stand in front rows and you would end up running fast with the pros (first prize won by a guy who completed in 28 minutes). Next year, it was 7.3 kms, and this time it was to celebrate 73 years. Practiced consistely 4 or 5 kms, but never tried beyond that. But, now weight had come to 74-75. Just before the day of run, I had heavy cold. Temparature was around 99. Manju said do not go. I acted cool in the morning told manju that I am fine and went to run. This time, I started off slow, because of cold. By the time, I finished the first km, I could feel my heart is rhythmic. All my practice runs are alone and never had any mentor. Obviously, you do not push yourself very hard in your practices. But, with fellow runners running around you, you start to push yourself. when you run slowly, your heart is rhythmic as well, however you do not feel it. When you push yourself and you run in the next level of your capacity consistenly, you start to hear your heart beats and when it is rhythmic, you feel much more confident about your run. I grapped a water bottle after 2 kms, starting sipping. After reaching 3 kms, I have started to over take people. some one was creating same drama what i had done last year. volunteers asked me to continue to run and they said they would take care (may be this is nothing new to them). When I reached 5.5 km, I was fully tired. There was no energy, it was heavy breathing. I also started to have thoughts that we have achieved what we used to run in faster time, so it is better to walk. This is the first time, I pushed myself beyond the boundary of safety. I wanted to see, what would happen, If I run some more. By the time, I reached 6 km, I felt a full warmth generated and spreading in body. once that happened, heartbeat has become normal, breathing was normal. However, legs were tired. Good thing about the last stretch is, I can see the finishing point. Nothing gives you more energy than seeing the finishing line. I believe it is true for all runners. I finished 7.3 kms in 41 minutes.
Now, I know what it means to push myself a bit, I have started to run intense sessions every day. I had come to close to 72-74 kgs.
Moved to Barclays in Changi Business Park. With Manju relocating to chennai, I started running evenings every day. Gokul will take care of the laptop on the way back. So, I can run from office to home. it is about 6 to 7 kms. This is the time, I have started running in the roads. Till such time, it was either in park or in stadium, where your focus is only on running. it is a bit painful as well. Once I moved to run in roads, I started appreciating the other aspects of running. It is the same road where you travel to office or to any other place, in a bus or in a cab. However, when you run, it looks different. You develop a relationship with the route and roads. You get new friends on your way. You get inspirations and You also get to inspire others. This is the time, I had really started enjoying my runs. Now I am running because I enjoy it, it is no longer to lose weight or to gain confidence or to feel light. They are all the results, but not the motivation.
Moved back to chennai in 2009. One thing I really enjoyed in singapore was running. Clean roadpaths, water facilities/outlets along the ways make the run easy. In chennai, finding space to even walk is difficult in the roads, leave alone running. When I was in iNautix, started going for walking around the roads of central polytechnic, MGR film city, etc. However, it was only walk and not running. Tried running in tread mill, did not help. Once you start to run in roads, you would surely not enjoy treadmill. It also started hurting knees. After a year or two, found that there is a new road from velachery MRTS to GST road via thillaiganga nagar subway was in progress. It was pretty wide and with out traffic. I started running there. The max you can run is 5 kms as the stretch is about 2.5 km. Road was not completed after that. I was the odd one out. I start to run around 7:30 am and complete around 8:00 am. Sometimes, it may even go to 8:30 am.
I moved to scope. Work has started to grip my other activities. Stopped running for almost an year and a half during NFS AE/PK (Internet Banking/Mobile Banking) release. Started running again in 2013 end. Now, I can see more people running in that road. It is operational now, but limited traffic. Now, one stretch is 5 kms and the return would be 10 kms. I have slowly increased my runs to 6km, 7km and up to 10 kms. Realised that chennai runners had a group there called vibrant velacherians and got few friends from there. Lovely people they are. I did not join the group as my timings are always erratic. Now, I have grown in confidence. Once I am confident, I do something crazy. I registered for The Wipro Chennai marathon 2014 for half marathon. Believe me, I had never run more than 10 kms, before registering for TWCM half marathon.
My first half marathon - Dec 2014
It was in 2014 July 26th, on my birthday, I started using runkeeper. Somehow, I hooked up to that app. I am a numbers man, whether I believe it or not is different, but I gather. In that way, this app was an instant hit with me. Jeyaram had started running as well, understood kumaran used to run, Ramaya, uma and Manju have started running. so I have started to know more runners. Jeyaram registered for TWCM2014 10k. On my birthday, I completed 10k in 64 minutes.
After registering for HM, I wanted to complete with in 2:30 hours (that was the last option given in HM category registration, I believe). I thought I need to break the timing of 1 hour for 10 kms. How I achieved was funny. Whenever I ran 10km, till 8km, i was quite good with in the required timing, it was about 47 or 48 minutes. But, you get tired after that and end up finishing the last two kms in 15 minutes, which makes it 62 or 63 minutes. On that day, by the time I reached 8 kms, I was tired and believed it is yet another day of 63 minutes. Just when I started to slow down, there was a black dog approached me from the side of the road. It was looking at me while barking and it was as if it wanted to taste my flesh. (My proximity to dog is well known. Even in Manju's house in bangalore for the pomeranian dog, I used to sit with my legs folded in sofa so that it would not touch my feet). Now, I had started running really. it is not about what speed you run, it is about whether you are able to run faster than the dog and I managed to win the race. Dogs have the habit of chasing you for a distance and then go back to its usual work. When I realised it had stopped, I had almost completed another km in 5 minutes. So, it is close to 53 minutes I completed my 9 kms. I have close to 6 to 7 minutes for my last km. But, now, I am dead tired. At 9 km, I might have fought with the dog, if it chased. My heads are hung looking at the ground, sweats inside my eyes causing irritation, almost breathless. I thought, I can slow down and complete at 61 minutes and it was better timing anyway. That is the time, I heard a voice from behind, "Young man, do not stop. you are almost there.Look up and see the destination". I turned around and saw a grey haired person. He understands what I am going through and wanted to give me that pep. I looked up now, I can see the destination and there you get the energy. I completed my first 10k in sub 60 minutes. Today, I can confidently say, I can complete 10k in sub 1 hour. But, my first finish is still fresh in memory. I learnt another important lesson, always look up (straight). He was Mr. Anil sharma and he is been the inspirations for many runners in Velachery. He was the first one to encourage me for HM).
I had another run with Ganesh in Marina for a charity. He is young and energetic and ran very well for the 5kms. I wanted to continue another 5 kms and went for another round.
Once, I have completed 10k, started practicing with 12k, 15k. Problem is you have to do multiple rounds in the road for more than 10k. I decided to run further in GST road, instead. I always wanted to keep the run as a single loop, and even today I do that, this makes your running fresh. After reaching GST road, I proceeded to run towards Airport. Before the actual HM, I managed to run 21 kms in 2:40 minutes. I could not run after 15 kms, so alternated walk and run.
This is the time, started experiencing problems of long distance runners. I started getting sore nibbles after long runs. Initially, I thought something is wrong with my run which caused the bleeding. But, I was not sure what caused it. Was really worried. When Looked at the net, found that it was quite common for the runners, as the shirt you wear becomes a salt paper over a period of time and rubs your body creating these problems, and you can apply vaseline before the run. I always wear shoes which fits like gloves. But, it has started causing skin peeling at toes (due to shoe rubbing). I thought it is part and parcel of run and started to live with that. This is the time, I have started to get dehydrated. Now, I had to carry water. Bought two belts for it but could not use them properly. I do not play music when i run. Hence, love keeping my mobile in my hand. Due to the sweat one of the phone got damaged. Hence had to use phone holder strapped in the hand. All in all, one by one the gears have started to join my run.
Collected the BIB number, runner's kit a week before the TWCM 2014. It was an experience itself. You get to see lot of enthusiastic people accompanied by family (who normally come to see who are all the other similiar crazy folks). Jeyaram and Ramya came home from Bangalore before the Marathon day. In 2014 TWCM, HM started at 5 am and the reporting time was 4:30 am. Could not sleep properly. Woke up at 3:30 am. Scrambled for all the things and managed to take out as much as I can think of. Took the bike and started riding to the starting point.
Starting point of any marathon is quite crucial, energy is always awesome and that helps to remove the butterfiles in your tummy. TWCM organisers did everything they could to cheer up the runners. It was all new to me. Waking up at 3:30 am, riding bike at 4 am, leaving bags at baggage collection point, warming up (I never used to warm up for more than 2 minutes before any run, during TWCM stretches itself took about 15 mintes), nervously pinning the bib to the tshirt (I had to be extra careful that i do not pin in to my body), waiting in the huge crowd which was cheering, chill morning, it was one great experience.
Once the count down started, I could hear loud cheer and people started moving. I have started walking till i reach starting point and started running after that. Due to huge crowd, it was difficult to run, it was more of jogging for first 500 meters, after that I had started navigating through the crowd and started running faster, by the time I reached tidel park from starting point (madhya kailash), it was 2 km and crowd has become more like a single line of runners with 5 to 10 meters distance between each. I could see people running with friends, running as group, running with music, etc. After tidel park, we had to return to madhyakailash and continue to adyar. I can see people walking in their first km of run itself. That gave me a comfort, since I was still running. To be honest, I did not have any plan for my first HM. I just wanted to complete. After 5 km+, we had to climb up the adyar flyover, I had slowed down, but managed to run through that as well. Now, I could see lot of photographers taking photos. Even at that time, I Was wondering, whether I would get a copy. I crossed the 10k mark at around 57 minutes. By the time, I crossed 12 kms I was near santhome church and time was only 1 hour 10 minutes (which is pretty good), but I was totally exhausted. Sun has started to come out, which increased the body heat. I slowed down a bit, but continued to push myself.I crossed my 15th km in 1 hour 27 minutes. I was very excited but tired. 6 more kms to go and I sensed, I can finish in 2 hours, if I can complete 5 kms in 33 minutes. I thought it is yet another lull and I can push myself. I had tried to run hard to generate the required thirst for the last 5 kms. By the time I reached another 500 meters, I had gone blank. I realised I can not run anymore. Once I stopped, I realised I am panting. It was nauseating. Feeling a bit giddy,I was not able to balance myself. I was scared, But I did not stop.I Decided to walk slowly and it helped really. Had I not stopped or walked, I am sure my first HM finish would not have been TWCM 2014. As I walked for next 500 meters, I reset my goal. Now the goal was to complete. Till such time, I was running fairly well and lot of people appreciated, but I did not even bother. When I started to walk, almost every one ran past me, pepped me up. They kept saying "you are doing great, continue". Two gentlemen who crossed me, asked me to jog with them and speak with them. I started to jog and told them this is my first time, so finding it difficult. They had been targetting 2 hours, so they were surprised to hear that I am trying first time and came this far. That talk really helped me. They accompanied for 100 meters and said, ensure that you complete and they ran off. Next 4 kms was really like hell. How much ever drink you get, thirst did not go down. you do not feel like eating anything. So, it was walk for 50 meters and run for 50 meters. When I crossed 20 kms, it was 2 hours 6 minutes. But, the last 1 km took me another 11 minutes. When I finished my first HM, i thought i was thoroughly exhausted. Jeyaram completed 10 km in 61 minutes, I believe.
After that first HM, I had done another 5 HMs as race and atleast another 5 HM as part of my training. My second HM was at cool runners and I had my personal best of 2 hours 6 minutes (this means running 21 kms at the pace of 6 minute for each km). Third one was at MEPZ which I completed at 2 hours 30 minutes, fourth one at dream runners at 2 hours 20 minutesand fifth one at Kaveri trial which I took 2 hours 30 minutes. All these runs, consistenly I choked at 15 to 18 kms. my feets used to be hurting.Just when i hae become comfortable that I can run all 21 kms, I did next crazy thing, registering for full marathon for 2015 TWCM.
My full marathon
I had put up a plan for full marathon in Runkeeper. It is suppose to complete the full marathon on 13th december, which is in line with TWCM 2015. It was 4 runs a week plan. It is usually run on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. It had a good mix of slow run, temp run, long runs. We always start everything well, do we not? First 2 to 3 weeks of runs were perfectly fine. Indiscipline started to creep in and backlogs on proposed plan have piled up. Ran for KTM (Kaveri trial marathon) and my foot (thumb nails) got damaged. In that run, my confidence had taken a beating. Though all my shoes had been pretty high priced and fits like glove, I had issues in my feets after long run. Been searching for good shoes. Also, started reading seriously about running postures and stretches. I have started running with correct postures, which helped me to avoid injuries and also increased my speed. Some of them are very small tips, but very effective. We all think, we should not exhaust ourselves by exhaling, rather we should inhale more air. In contrary, we should breath out in tune with your speed and breath in automatically happens. Also, running with leaning forward helps you to gain speed. My strides had been pretty good always and they are automatic, like during good pace, they are long and during slow down and upstreams they are short. I tried to count my steps for a minute, but never managed to count more than 2 minutes. Overall the execution of plan was mixed with excitement and confusions. Just when I managed to pull back to my regular routine, I fell in the road in a day's run. Hurt my knee, with bruises. I thought I can rest for a day and continue the day after. But, it took almost 2 weeks. It showed that I am aging. Losing 2 weeks in crucial month of october was very painful. My plan was to run 30km in Sept, 35km in Oct and 40km in Nov, so I can be ready for Dec 13th. But this injury was really a spoil sport. By the time, I recovered and started running regularly, it was towards end of nov (once the mansoon rain starts in chennai, it plans the day for you). Just when the date for Marathon getting closer, disaster struck chennai. That was one full week, I did not think of my marathon preparation in the 6 months.
Flood did give me more time for the preparation. Had a good two weeks preparation in Dec. Marathon was moved to January 31st. Thought I Can do a 40km in the first week of Jan. My first working day of 2016 started with continuous vommitting. Doctor said food poisoning, I thought it is due to dehydration. Sleepless nights for 3 days and I thought frequent travelling caused it. I was fully drained.It took almost a week for me to get some energy to train again, also pongal was approaching. Decided not to try 40km any more. On the 17th Jan, I ran 26km. It was a pretty decent run and I could feel some energy left still. I had switched to a shoe which was half a size bigger than what I normally wear.I got this tip when Bala (ultra marathon runer) was giving speech in Reliance foot wear. Jeyaram bought the shoes from US and it was perfect. Even after 26km, feets were pretty good.
As I approached the week of Marathon, I was very careful and pretty excited. I ran about 6km or 5km for two days. Had to go to Kovilpatti on the 28th for Mother's anniversary. Had to eat carefully and fully avoided eating out. Had a light 15 minutes run on the 30th January. Jeyaram came in the 30th afternoon. Wanted to have more potatoes, so had poori masala in the morning. Had a nice meal, home cooked, at home. Night, had 4 chappatis with gravy. Run starts at 4 am, so i had to be there at 3:30 am. Decided to wake up at 3 am. Before 8 pm, kept all the gears, bags, vaseline, banana, raisins, everything in order. Went to bed at 8 pm. But, the excitement was so great, could not sleep. By the time, it was 12, i was half sleep. But, kept waking up every 15 minutes. The last thing, I wanted to happen is to oversleep. Finally decided to get up at 2:45. Finished morning rituals, had a banana, Booked a taxi. Could not get OLA, could not get Uber, could not get anything. Jeyaram was also ready. His run was at 4:30. He also wanted to come. So, we decided to take our car.
It was not a big crowd. There were lot of familiar faces. Did a round of warm ups, stretches. I had planned my run (yes, some times I do plan). Wanted to finish the first 18 km in 2 hours. Next 17 km in next 2 hours. and last 7 km in 1 hour. Whenever, I am not able to do it,I wanted to walk and run. So, worst case would be 6 hours. Decided to drink a cup of water every 20 minutes and alternate that with gatrode. To eat one banana and few orange slices every one hour. two biscuits every 2 hour.
Started running at 4 am, it was a bit cold. By the time, I crossed 500 meters, crowd disappeared and it was mere a line. When I crossed 2 km, it was pretty much individual runners. When I reached Elliots Beach, it was almost 5 am, I was running at good pace. It was my time to have a banana and orange. I saw people taking u-turn at the end. Thought I will take it when I U turn. But, after the turn, it went all the way to the Alcott school and then to blue cross road. it was pitch dark. street lights were off. runners were more worried about falling and injuring themselves. it has added another 2 km in the route. So, when I came back to besant nagar elliots beach again, i had run almost for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Had a banana and few biscuits. By now, I have started feeling acidity coming up from stomach to chest. It was burning. Decided against oranges. Slowed down a bit. Once I reached adyar aavin booth, I can see the half marathon runners and now it is a big crowd. I was quite stable and when I reached marina beach, it was 6 am, I have completed around 19km. When I completed my 21km, it was 2 hours and 15 minutes. I was going at a very decent pace and decided to relax a bit. Walked for 5 minutes, then started running, could see a big crown waiting at napier bridge for the 10km. we were diverted to super speciality government hospital (the one which was supposed to be our new assembly) road. I could see the 5 hours bus still behind me, which means at my current pace, I could complete before 5 hours. But, now stomach is making all sort of noises as I could not eat anything at the 21km mark. At 25km, I was at 2 hours 45 minutes, and nauseatic feeling has started. Now, I could sense that, If I continue in the same way for another 15 minutes, I would start vomitting. Started walking now. I was breathing heavily. Now, drank a cup of water and a cup of gatrode. Did not help.The more I walked, the more nauseatic it was. When I reached 28km at Reserve bank of India, I was completely drained and did not have any energy to walk or run. It was almost 3 hours and 10 minutes. If you look at it, by right, another 14 km, I should have completed in another 2 hours atleast. But, I took another 2 hours 42 minutes to complete the 14km. Now, the sun was out.It is pretty hot. Traffic flows.Most of the runners around me were walking. so, it had become tougher and tougher. Decided to continue to walk and run. Every 50 meters run and 50 meters walk. It really helped. I had started following the 6 hours bus. At one moment, it also disappeared. It was disheartening and not sure whether I can complete within 6 hours. Mr. Anil sharma was helping the runners to pass through the traffic. His good words really helped at that time. When I reached adyar at 40km mark, I had a steady group of 10 people doing exactly what I was doing from 30km. After 41km, I wanted to finish strong, hence started my run again. Somehow, I found my energy and the moment I saw more runners and 10km runners returning with their medals, started to run. There were lot of cheers and I realised it is for a gentle man in his 60s running beside me. Kumaran called me to check where I am and told him another 10 minutes. Just when I saw the finish line, I was pumbed up and the clock is still at 5 hours 52 minutes. Gathered all my energy and finished strongly. It was very emotional. Could not describe what it was. Had to find Manju (she had completed 10k and was waiting for me) and slowly walked for few more minutes to relax the muscles. There was no food available and I was also not in the frame of mind to eat. Jeyaram had finished 21k and already showered and brought the car to pick me up. All the fatigue was only till lunch. After lunch and a good sleep, I was fresh in the evening and could drive to Bose's house.
I feel the marathon is a life changing event. Not just what happened on the day, but the preparations and practices what I had gone through for that. This has made running as an integral part of my life. I am not sure about others. But, I run mainly because I feel that is the time I am in my zone. It was absolutely only me. When the heart beat is rhythmic, shirt and shorts are soaked in sweat, and I surge ahead with each and every step with a bit of joyful jump, I know and feel I am happy and I am doing something wonderful. I feel I am limitless and can do whatever I want. I feel positive about people run around me and that makes me positive about the world. Sometimes when I push myself to the limit during the run, I feel like "Am I crazy? What am I going to achieve in this?" But, I enjoy this craziness.
In short
I relate running to life and I have reasons. Both does not have boundary and as long as you can, you can push yourself. Despite a group or a team or couples, you still need to run your own race. You would find lot of people behind you and ahead of you, as you mature more you would realise going ahead is not victory or getting behind is not lost, but what is important is being there and enjoying it. As you go a long way, you start to enjoy it, only when you forget you are running. The mere thinking of "I am running" makes you stressful and life is no different. Some unexpected people will turn around your run/life upside/down and they may not have even realised that and you may not have even gotten an opportunity to thank them for that. The people you inspire will in turn inspire you (jeyaram is a classical example, he got hooked up to run on seeing me, but his consistency always inspired me). You are competing with yourself and you set your own benchmarks. The more adventurous your runs, the interesting they are and life is the same. The more disciplined you are the more sustainable the results are. The longer the roads are, the beautiful the journeys are.
It was on November 20th, 2015 I believe, I wanted to run 12 km. When I had completed 6 km, it has started raining. It was heavy rain. Every one in the road (walkers, runners, bikers) took the shelter. That day, I ran for another hour by soaking myself in the rain. With heavy rain lashing my back and face, and trafficless road, running with soaked shoes, I would call that divine.
People meditate in multiple ways. For me, running is my meditation.
