"Break" in the wall

To describe the agony of a marathon to someone who has never run it is like trying to explain color to someone who was born blind. - Jerome Drayton

The piercing “beep” of the alarm clock going off at 5am was meant to rouse me but I was lying awake, since 3am: staring in the dark with thoughts racing thru’ my mind. Dan, are you going to break free from the 4hrs+ chicken-shit times that you’ve been clocking over the last couple-a-years or what! I stood in the shower, took a deep breath and hissed, Sir, yes sir!! Ablutions – coffee – a banana – and now the check-list;

Ø Vest + race bib – check! Shoes + Timing chip – check!
Ø Stop watch + shades – check! Water bottle + dry fruits – check!

A prayer and then I step out the door. At the Mumbai Marathon race venue I meet up with Gokhale and several marathoners and pump hands wishing everyone luck. I look out for Debashish who is doing the Sporting Challenge relay, from “Colgate” but can’t find him. The marathon starts on the dot. The first few kms seem sluggish but a glance at my stop-watch tells me I’m “on pace”. At the 10K mark I’m “cruising” but am surprised to see Rupesh and Yadav (Aarey runners) breeze past me. Good-luck guys, see you at the wall! At the 23K turn-around point at Bandra reclamation, I notice this Finnish veteran (Fin-Vet) who has been with me a while. On the return path, I give a thums-up to Saurabh, Naveed and Bhasker who shouts, “Looking good Dan”.

The next 10K, “Fin-Vet” alternates between slowing down and racing ahead of me. I am now determined to put an end to his antics. I reach the 32K mark (20 miles) and I don’t feel the wall (a point at which the ones that raced too hard deplete their energy stores). Most marathoners would say that about mile 20 they pray for any help they can get. - "Saint Ralph"

At the 34K mark, I overtake Rupesh, who now has his head bowed in exhaustion. The pain has set in and I am bracing myself. “Fin-Vet” is still 25 yards ahead of me. “Heart-break hill” (Pedder road climb) coming up, brother! “Fin-Vet” is reduced to a shuffle on the steep climb and I pass by whispering “Khattum!” I crest the hill and call out to Aalok who is awaiting his turn in the corporate relay. I am dehydrated now and he can see it. He shouts “Can I get you water?” and I wave him off cause he too has a race to run.

I have 6.5K to go and a bone dry throat! Sorry Pal, but the watering stations are kept alive only for the elite! “Pox” on the organizers, I fumed. At the 38K mark I pass by Yadav who is walking! He gets pepped up on seeing me and breaks into a “canter”. I see my bro-in-law, Joe, who is pleasantly surprised to see me come in early. I am slowing down now as my blood is thickening fast. I see no km markers and agonize thru’ my pain, How much longer? Then I see it – 500m to the finish – there is this new found zip in my stride. I see my family (Monsoon & Bryan), against the barricaded corridor. I glance at my watch – 3:56 something! I race ahead ‘for I have promises to keep!’ Mayhem – dizziness - faltering step - Sambrani (from office) helps me to the medical tent - shouts for IV as my blood pressure reading is too low – I wave-off the docs concerns. Ice and Electral have me standing in 20 mins. Why do you think they serve beer after the Berlin Marathon? – so they don’t have to cope with such emergencies :-) Monsoon brings me my certificate and medal. It reads 3:57:13 (and a 5th place in the veterans category). You made it Dan!
Some medals aren't really made of gold. They're made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts. - Dan Gable