Good deeds and race plans

As I walked down to Flora Fountain to pick up some dry-fruits, I saw a Municipal van pulling up at the kerb. All hell broke loose and some hawkers scurried away with their ware; however, I also noticed that the 'seasoned' hawkers were unfazed, probably because they pay "hafta". Then I noticed that the goons pick on an old man in his 60s who was selling bed-sheets off a bicycle. They tried to load the bicycle in the van while the old man begged them not to. With my penchant for intervention in the face of risk and with the bile rising to my throat, I held on to the bicycle and asked the goons to leave the old man alone. There were veiled threats and a cop asked me to "stay out of it!". I dared them to touch the other hawkers instead of picking on the old man. A crowd had gathered by then and seeing me take up cudgels with the goons, they hollered. Soon the cop and the goons realised that they'd have a scene on hand and let the old man go. I walked with a spring in my stride, triumphant with my good deed for the day.

The dry-fruits have been purchased, but I now have to develop a race plan for the Hyderabad Marathon: a race that I have been foolhardy enough to register for, despite my lack of preparation. I will go thru' my log over the last two months to understand the most reasonable pace that I should set. I have to draw a back-up plan for late race problem solving and can only hope that divine benediction will smile upon me in this marathon. All my bags are packed and I'm ready to go......

Glimmer of hope

Anupriya' birthday celebration was held at MIG club in Bandra and the venue suited me well since it was right next to the highway and I could easily avoid 'breathalizers' that are wielded by policemen nowadays:-) It was a small and jocund company, and the banter and tipple lasted till 11pm. By the time we got home and I went to bed, it was midnight. I hoped for the best since I was going to sleep just 5 hours and I had about 3 large shots of whisky for my liver to contend with.

And so I woke up at 5:11am and felt surprisingly spritely after my cup of java. Diluted orange juice and a granola bar and I was put-putting away on my bike. I started hesitantly and with lingering doubts about lasting this long run. About half way thru' I realized that I was going to make it afterall; albeit, with my ventilatory threshold stretched to its limit. The sky was overcast throughout my run and I was wondering when the heavens would open up and mitigate my exhaustion, when suddenly the rain came down in torrents. I smiled as I felt the salt and sweat being washed away and my inflamed limbs got a respite with cold rainwater quenching the burn that had gripped them. I had still some way to go but a sudden extempore spurt by way of a tempo run for one mile gave me a thrill and I decided that I could as well call off the rest of the run. I stopped to ponder, "Am I in shape for the Hyderabad Marathon?". I shook my head and thought aloud, "Only if you look at it as an extended long run". Hmmm....lets see if all other things, personal and professional, are in place.