The only run
I ever remembered to have run and won was the spoon and lemon race, during my
early school days. Probably that could have been either due to limited racer or
the mere fact that even though I was slow; I managed to have my lemon balanced
on the spoon to win the race. It was another 5-6 years later that during my
11th class, I ever participated in proper running trials, Only to lose to my
talented batch-mates first on 100 meters race later to other short distance
race. Later when for the sake of participating long distance run (maximum we had was 800 meter). I managed to be on the honors list and also felt strong enough to easily finish
the race.
It was only
during my first year college days, that I came across the fact there are races
for 5000 meter and 10,000 meters. Due to large motivational and
enthusiastic Brindavan batch-mates and our strict Gopi sir did many of us
participated in our first 5000 meter and 10,000 meter race. The biggest
motivation being if declared the top 10 finisher, you could be entitled to receive prize directly from Bhagwan Satya Sai Baba. Training hard and thinking of
only receiving the award from Swamy own hand, I ran all the races for the next
5 years till my end of MSc days in 2004.
It took
another 10 years to have that urge back again to be on the track, probably the
motivation lies in the fact that my waistline started to increase with every
subsequent year. The driving force also laid in the thought, that I wanted to
gift not only myself a healthy body, but to my wife and also my future child.
So thus began my training way back in February 2014, with a determined choice
of finishing my first full marathon by Dec 2014.
Long 7 KM
run on alternate days began a ritual over the next 2 months with increasing the
time duration to 2-3 hours every weekend. Running was inter-dispersed with
occasional cycling and swimming to avoid strain on knees and ankle. I prepared
to complete my first 10 KM race in 10 years last being way
back in 2004. Slowly increased the training regime and duration to finish my
first half marathon 21 KM in August. Motivated to finish the 42 KM full
marathon, I registered for my Singapore SC Marathon for December. Taking advice
from my other colleagues who finished a full marathon, I practiced harder to
try to finish my race successfully in December.
But the nature of my
research job, which takes me to places around the globe, affected my training
and the entire month of October-Nov couldn't practice a single run. Upon return
back to Singapore viral fever and consistent cold almost made it impossible to
participate in the marathon. It was only a 3 days before when collecting my
race kit, I was confused to either participate or skip the marathon. Only on
the race eve, I decided to test my mental fortitude to finish the race. I
ignored the general convention of having enough training prior to finishing a
full marathon race. I believed the test was to be mentally strong during my
entire race, so in morning of the race, I began slowly conserving my energy for
the rest of race, till my 24 KM finish for which I had trained 2 months back, I
felt strong and good. But after which blisters opened up on my feet and slowing
me down. Limping painfully and deciding against the body decision to quit, the
only factor that kept me running till the end was that even elders aged 60 and
more were competing strong, and I felt ashamed to quit amidst them. Finally
enduring the pain due to blisters and lack of sufficient training, but only
strong determination backing me all throughout, I managed to cross the finish
line only to bear the simple truth of life, In the end Endurance alone matter.
