Ncpa.

9k race.

The Wettest day of July 2013.

I didn’t run today.

I found a 100 excuses as I looked out of my window at 5.15 am.

As the day went on I spoke to all the fanatics who DID run.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime run.

A YOLO run, as Sanjana put it.

So I missed it.

Its gone. All I can do now is regret. And that is of no use.

The success of a sportsman rests on his capacity “To Suffer”, even to Enjoy Suffering.

E N J O Y   S U F F E R I N G

It means learning to accept that if you have to run 21km, you have to run, be it 2 hours 15 mins or 2 hours 45 mins. You just do it. It demonstrates endurance.

E N D U R A N C E

An important word for marathoners.

It expresses a Spartan philosophy of life which is uncommon in today’s time, where the Principle of Pleasure reigns supreme.

On days when the body rebels, and the pain seems too much, you’ve got 2 roads:

Tell yourself you’ve had enough and leave

Or

Be prepared to suffer and keep going.

The choice is between enduring and giving up.

This is what separates the champions from the mere runners.

Things that you achieve with your effort, you value a lot.

The greater the effort, the greater the value.

No excuses. No whining.

Just grin and bear it.

21 km Bandra- Ncpa

2.12 hours

non stop, steady pace of 6.18 min/km

One of my best training runs ever! After a couple of initial muggy kilometres, we breezed the whole way, literally and figuratively.

For a change we ran one way with the Bandra runners,and what a welcome change it was! Comrades runners in our midst, and so many other familiar faces! Running with this group, even for a little bit was inspirational, as the talks of the Comrades Run flew around! They talked of running the five mountains, which I can not imagine running even one!

Sandeep, Rahul and me. We ran together. We ran as a pack. We realised from the start that our pace was fast. Faster than usual, but sustainable. We went along, talking about many things including god and the Magic of Faith.

We crossed Haji Ali and approached Peddar Road. By then, a girl called Simta (whom i had run with in Thane) had joined our little coterie. We went like a tight close knit bundle up Peddar Road at the same pace. I felt I was being carried along by an extremely powerful magnetic force, created by this huddle! It was an effortless climb. We went on to finish the run with the last 4 km at an intense sub -6 pace.

I had faced my reality. Realised my potential. Seen what I was capable of.

We all have our shortcomings.

Things that are holding us back.

I am fighting the perceptions of my mind. I will overcome it, step by step.

I have broken through the first layer, will I continue to test my self? I need to  walk the conceptual path which is thought to lead to the true nature of reality. Infinitesimally deep and complex, venturing too far down is probably not that great of an idea….or is it?

Wednesday

300m.

Lace up my shoes and go, albeit a little late.

12 rounds

At a fast, and not-so-fast pace,

Topped with 2 -100 m sprints,

With surprising winners.

Droplets

A feeling of disbelief

Is it really rain

A reward for being regular?

The group disperses

But the drizzle continues

Porus, Rajesh and me

Take an extra round

Feel the cool breeze

With the smell of the first rain

The rain stops

The sun comes out

I take a sip of water from my bottle

And lo behold

A sense of wonder fills us

It’s a frozen moment in time

As we assimilate the perfectness of the moment

Blue sky

White clouds

Warm rain and sun

Green grass

Happy smiles

A rainbow and some fun

“Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it.”

The best feeling in the world!!!!

We chatted through the distance….finding others along the way to keep us company for a bit…but Chaya and I stayed together for a long time.

 

Suvir, Savio and Sukhpreet were all waiting for me in the last 200 m. That is a moment I’ll never forget ! The whole scene was surreal!

“We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves. The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, ‘You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.’ The human spirit is indomitable.”

– Sir Roger Bannister, first man to break the four minute mile

This sylvan surrounding has always been there………and been prettier in the flowering season. But I found running in 2km loops at the race course a task, as was hill training and of course the long distances.
Now I’ve become a regular at the race course and the loops don’t mean much- its about the distance now.

As I run with experienced runners and manage to hold my own with them.

The distance is getting longer, but surprisingly, not harder!
I have now officially become a part of the group of “those crazy runners”.
Over all these years of running I had developed several notions. This year a lot of them
are out the window.
Can’t run in the sun! Can’t run without music! Can’t run at racecourse! Can’t run long!
can’t run on Friday!

All gone……

I’m in a new mode!
All will happen……..slowly and steadily. I am thriving in the discipline for food and
sleep. That’s giving me the courage to push myself.

“Unless you’re not pushing yourself, you’re not living to the fullest. You can’t be afraid to fail, but unless you fail, you haven’t pushed hard enough.”

Post the disastrous Sunday run, on a cool Tuesday morning I find myself walking tentatively towards Cubbon Park, Bangalore, a verdant oasis in the heart of the city of traffic. I started along one of the radial roads alongside the local runners. Within a few minutes I discovered a path off the tar road. On this paved surface I picked up pace under the green canopy.

After a few minutes, I observed a dirt trail which seemed to lead towards the heart of the urban forest. As I meandered all over the park, I ran with my heart. At several points it narrowed down to a one foot clearing. As I wove around the 100 year old trees, I was reminded of my trail run in Pondicherry.

The path was uneven and the trees were dense. I ran footloose and fancy free. I only saw where the trail led once I rounded the corner. There was a surprise at every junction as a new vista awaited me at every turn.
I ran on a whim and a song little realising the distance or the time. Awaking from my reverie I found myself lost. I had to run 10 minutes in the pollution and full traffic to reach the hotel. I was happy with my hour well spent.

As we approached the long weekend Nimisha and I decided to finish the long Sunday run on Friday. We started early and ran at a steady pace. The weather was pleasant with a bit of rain. I had a strong finish. After the 18k we were rewarded with a brief shower as we stretched!
What a roller coaster of a week it has been. I learnt there a good days and bad days. The only way to deal with the bad days is to run through them (which I suppose is common sense).

“If you want to see a rainbow, you need to put up with the Rain!“

And lo, behold!

Almost everyone was there in this incessant rain. Not that it was a drizzle and showed any signs of letting up! Oh no! It was serious rain!

Under the cover of the dark clouds we all trooped out in batches, most of attempting the longest runs of the season. 3-4 km into the run, the rain got heavier. It fell in large drops and we couldn’t keep our eyes open in the deluge. The rhythm of our feet continued as usual, as it ignored the fact that we were drenched to the bone!

The advantage of doing the long run in the rain was simple- we didn’t feel hot! And we didn’t need water. On the contrary when the wind blew, we were actually cold. We went along, over Peddar Road and the sight at Haji Ali was beautiful. The hazy morning light falling on the sea, which was far back because of the low tide. The tops of the new skyscrapers in Bombay were covered with clouds…….all was misty!

We ran along and passed by enough runners who all realized what a treat it was to be out, running today. On Worli sea face, the waves caressed the sea, playfully. We ran past a smorgasbord of people…..and there was one common thread linking them. The look of incredulity on their faces when they saw us- said it all! Are you crazy!!!!!!! The instantaneous reply to this was- YES!

Ditch the umbrella and cleanse your soul- I wanted to tell all of them all!

We finished with huge smiles as we completed our distance of a half marathon with ease. What had been my goal last year is but a stepping stone today. At this mid way point I would like to say, I think I am very happy to be where I am. I guess, it gets uphill from here and, I am ready for it!

As we stretched post run, the wind was deadly.

On my drive home I was reminded of a t-shirt slogan I had read on my trail run in Pondicherry:
I run therefore I am……..Nuts!

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.”

-John Ruskin

We ran through the sweltering summer heat awaiting the rain. Come June. In anticipation of the monsoon we pushed the mileage up. After a teaser on the first weekend, the rain completely disappeared. As cloudy days passed we sweated it out with each kilometer. Still no rain.

Then came my trial by fire. Exams for both my kids! I was out of the main action for 10 days.

On a dark and cloudy Friday morning I hit the road. It startrd drizzling as I started. What a glorious feeling it was. So refreshing. To run with raindrops fallin’ on my head! From then on………lovely music played in me. And I smiled. At all and none. Was just happy to be out there amidst the changing urban landscape in the rain. Past the buildings, the greens and beach. I reached marine drive. . The rain continued with varying intensity and the distance melted into sheer pleasure. My feet flew over the wet road, as I sprinted to finish with the wind blowing, into the greyness. I met the rest of the gang returning from their 10-12k runs. The run was a breeze. It was unanimously decided that it was one of the best runs we’ve had in a long time.

Come sunday. Time for a long run.
Our target of 19km was easily achieved as we got light sporadic rain. Post run chit chat was on and there came a shower. All of us were drenched. It was an exhilarating feeling to have the raindrops beating down on us. The massage was brief but the downpour was heavy and accompanied by gusty winds. We felt a chill which created a surreal feel. The bleak urban landscape ….the adrenaline rush……the satisfied smile………

A quote I once read, “Runner’s don’t get rained out, they get rained on.”