Mahesh (who is a 10K state level runner) called me yesterday and expressed that the 3:30 he did in the mumbai marathon could have been bettered if he had consulted me in the week before the race. Mahesh is blessed; in that he did not get a chance to train much as he has a job with a tour operator. He got some tips from me as to what to do in the month before the marathon. However, in the week before, I was too busy.
Sunil was down and out after doing his first marathon. He finds the distance intimidating. Rupesh (who I named in my report) has vowed never to do a marathon. I have to counsel these guys! I too have a fever since the last few days due to the stress of both the marathon and "other" stresses. I should not have travelled the next day - but work is work!
Rajesh and Pankaj came thru' in 4:59 and 5:01. I need to meet them to inform them (especially Rajesh) the mistakes they made.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Dojo & Destressing
It is exactly a year since we got home our then 40 day old "Daschund" - "DOJO". He is a bundle of lightening! I look forward to reaching home because he shows me "unconditional love" - scurring around the house like a maniac to show me that he is happy. We rub noses and I get a few licks on my face which are sufficient to put at rest the rotten time I am having at work. He then curls up next to me and I fix myself a shot of "Remy Martin VSOP". The bottle is fst receding and I have to make arrangements for replenishment.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
"Team Colgate" makes me smile
I had trained the "Sporting Challenge" relay team for Colgate' entry in the Mumbai Marathon. Based on my own assessment as a coach, of their readiness, I had estimated their finish time for the 42km relay as 4:19 - guess what, they bloody did it in 4:07!!! Holy smoke, it means they actually "raced" with clear determination. The icing is that they placed 3rd!! I'm waiting to "high 5" them but - ahem! - don't you feel I had something to do with their win :-)
"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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)