Self-flagellation!

Maharashtra Day is a holiday for me and I surprised myself by waking up at 5am without an alarm. I had nothing to do as Monsoon is in Leh for a company review (some MNCs really do reviews in style!) and Bryan was to go to "Water Kingdom" with his friend Shiva. I decided that I'd just do a long run. The weather was like it was last Saturday; warm and humid. I realized that doing a long run would be a tough call. Nevertheless, I set out at an easy pace. About 2 hours later, I felt sapped and wanted to stop but I trudged on cause I wanted to overcome pain. This kind of punishment was meant to help me cope with my stress! Maybe the logic beats you but its just that I felt better pushing myself physically over the brink. It made me feel that I can handle whatever crap is thrown my way.

I finished the run another 45 mins later completely drained and dehydrated. I went to the Aarey water pumping station and the attendant there seemed to recognize me. Well, I guess that running 10 yrs in this place makes one rather popular:-) I used the hose that was lying around and let loose a "high pressure fountain" on myself. Boy, the cool water felt like heaven. I walked back home shaking my head at the lunacy in my work out today.

I met Rajesh while doing my run and he was wearing a knee brace! I realized that his knee was acting up cause he had not rested it enough after the damage from his Judo fall. He tried to laugh it off but I could tell that he regreted it. The sad part was that he was walking; unable to even jog because of the pain. Well, runners never learn. They throw caution to the winds cause their motivation to run is right up there.

Whew! I made it!

After enduring months of studying in planes, trains and cars, I was delighted to receive intimation from the American Council on Exercise that I am now a Certified Fitness Professional. Well, this certification allows me to design exercise programs for strength and endurance for not only healthy populations but it licences me to deal with special populations such as those suffering from obesity, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, coronary heart diseases, muliplesclerosis and even pregnant populations.

Frankly, I did find the course content tough because it entailed knowing every bone and every major muscle in the body by location, origin, insertion and their latin names. In addition, the chapters on nutrition, injuries and pregnancy placed a substantial load on my ability to memorise - I had long lost this ability after studying to be an Engineer. Well, I could call myself a 30% doctor now - at least the course content made me feel like one:-) I was just joking; if I encounter questions that are the domain of a health care provider, my "code of conduct" requires me to refer the person to one and not "stray" into this area!

The day after

The day after my "junk miles", I set out from home early morning. Somehow, just as I knew on saturday, that I was not in form, I knew this sunday, that I was feeling strong! Well, true feelings never lie and whaddya know; I ran a 10K in 47 mins! I revelled in the comfort, speed and length of my strides:-) Also, since I had so much time on hand before I could head home for a sunday morning breakfast of eggs, chicken sausages and cheese (yes sir, you spoil yourself cause you earn these occasional sinful delights thru' running), I decided to just stroll around and savor the morning sun ( a surya namaskar was in order), acknowledge the smiles of my walker friends (who raised an eyebrow or two on seeing me doing nothing) and I literally stopped to "smell the roses".