Summer Holiday 2010

Monsoon, Bryan and I embarked on our vacation to Germany and France, with the first stop being Wurzburg where we were to run races ie Bryan and I. The flight itself was smooth because we were flying Luthhansa straight to Franfurt, a relief from changing flights at airports with long stop-overs. Visa formalities were a breeze as we all had travelled several times to Europe already. We took a train to Wurzburg, armed with our Eurail passes. The journey lasted just 80 mins and we were soon welcomed in one of the small family owned hotels. Our room was spacious with mother and son plonking themselves on the bed and directing father to the cot that was placed on the side as "additional bed for child":-) Well, I'm known not to be too particular about these luxuries, so I just plonk the lugguage and settle down with a can of "Guiness"; an insult to the Germans:-).

Wurzburg is a small town in Germany (so much like what John LeCarre described when I read the book as a teenager). It had those narrow cobble-stoned streets with sidewalk cafes and a serene river front. We strolled around in the town square and ate German sausages with hot chocolate, cafe mocha and of course "Wurzburger Hofbrau" beer. The marathon itself was an exciting event replete with German revelry and tradition. The race that we ran has already been described in the blog earlier.

Our next stop was Heidelberg, which was very breath-taking with its ancient castle and church spires and typical German homes with chimneys, sprawled all over the town. We took a boat cruise and enjoyed German cuisine, actually Monsoon and Bryan did, while I sipped on fresh German beer off a tap. The castle grounds reminded us of raging wars in Europe in the 15th century with knights in armour and tales of gallantry. I again brooded on all this while surreptitiously sipping "Kirsch" (a German schnapps) from a hip flask, which I'm sure was not allowed on the castle grounds. Our evenings were spent eating at a Vietnamese restaurant which was a big boon considering that the three of us cannot survive without rice for more than 3 - 4 days:-)

Our sojourn continued on the high-speed TGV (Train a Grand Vitesse)into Paris, from whence we made a panicky dash for the metro as we had a connecting train to Lyon from Paris, Gare de Lyon. We lost valuable time in trying to figure out the ticket vending machines and gave up to settle alongside people standing in a queue to purchase tickets from a woman at a window. We made it in time and settled into our seats as we waited for our heart rate to settle too. The arrival in Lyon whilst initially less interesting than Heidelberg, we were soon to discover the bustling city centre and French Joie de Vivre. Lyon is supposed to be the food capital of the world with its delectable cuisine and choice wines but we rice eaters were not too impressed as we again discovered a Lebanese joint that served us rice with showarma:-) Bryan was particularly thrilled as he states, "I can eat Doner Kebab all year round!" and I of course find wine tastes like piss (yes I actually drank it once:-)). Our visit to the Basilica of Fuviere was very fortuitous because we ran into, what we believe was a God send, a nun who apparently grew up at Takhshila in Andheri(E), a stones throw away from our appartment! She showed us around the Basilica that was built to commemorate our Lady for her miraculous help in saving Lyon from the Plague and two wars. It seems the feast is celebrated on the 8th of Dec and entire Lyon is lit up with tiny lights; a sight I am sure I would like to see once, in the future.

The next stop was the very purpose of our vacation; to visit the shrine at Lourdes. We reached Lourdes late evening at 10:30pm and hurried to the shrine as we were to leave the next day by the train at 11:15am for Paris. We were blessed to hear mass at the grotto of Mother Mary; the place where she appeared to Bernadette. It was serene and peaceful and I felt stress drain out from my body as I prayed in quite contemplation. The next day being Sunday was even better because we were able to attend mass said by an Irish priest, in English, at a chapel on the grounds of the shrine. Our visit was deemed absolutely successful, in that, we were able to collect souvenirs of our lady' medallions, rosaries and water from the "water-way", besides of course the good fortune of two masses.

The journey to Paris was most exhausting because we were hurtling along at 300 kms/hr for 6 hrs in the TGV. Paris was not new to us as the three of us had visited the city in 2003. We had the feeling of deja vu as we visited the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. The highlight was the Thai restaurant that we ate dinner at in the evenings, like starved souls:-) I had my last fill of German and french beers before we said "Au Revoir". A nice holiday in Germany and France. My plan is now to run a marathon in Edinburg, Scotland because I can see the course wind thru' streets where wayside bars are shown serving scotch. According to Bryan, I will abandon course to stop over for a "Single Malt". The young lad really knows his dad:-)

Wurzburg

I am not sure what it is that helped me achieve a great timing. I can only assume it was the strength training I was regular with. The Wurzburg Marathon in Germany was an unforgetable race for the power I felt in every stride, even though I experience the pain that I do in every earlier marathon. It is also a special marathon because Bryan did his first 10K race (actually 10.55K) and finished within a minute of my crossing the finish line. His race started 3 hrs after mine and whereas I took 4 hrs for my full marathon, Bryan took a little over an hr and hence we met each other with 700m to go! It was an emotional experience for me.

I threw caution to the winds and quaffed some beers, unable to abstain from relishing the bitter-sweet after taste of the local ambrosia, the colour of sunset. The marathon expo itself was an exciting event with a percussion band in full Brazilian regalia, thumping a beat that got you to tap your feet.

I collected my bib and looked out for a race for Bryan but there was just the 3K for 8 – 12 year olds and the 10.55K for those above 16. Bryan was not yet 15 and I had to approach the organizers for special permission and after much deliberation they consented provided I sign a special disclaimer. This got Monsoon worried as Bryan had never done a 10.55K race. I counselled Bryan on pacing and an article in the “Distance Runner” copy that was handed with my goodie bag, almost played spoilsport; it warned of “Sudden Death”, a phenomenon well known in distance running. This enhanced the anxiety of father, mother and much to the chagrin of Bryan, the son.

I went to the race start and squatted on the floor in the enclosure that held the runner’ bags. I brooded about my race plan; I had none. I had only checked on the net as to what pace I would have to run for a 3:59. I had put in none of the statutory 20 milers in the last 7 weeks before this event. In fact, most of my long runs of 22 – 26K were finished in a wasted condition. I visited the washroom for a final leak and went to my coral. It said, “Full Marathon 3:30 – 4:00”. I looked at the man carrying a balloon with 3:59 written on it and placed myself about 10m in front of him.

The count down started with a “zen, neun, acht………drie, zwei und” and the Samba went “Bhuppa Bhuppa bhup…….”. The runners were now dancing in place to this contagious rhythm and I was off with “show time Dan!” after crossing myself. I went thru the 5K mark in 28:23 and watched my RPE for signs of distress; there were none. I crossed 10K in 56:28 and wished Ashok well for his 10K race in Bangalore, next Sunday. I then didn’t bother to look at my watch until the first half marathon. As I crossed the 18K mark I was thrilled to note that a wayside band was playing “Proud Mary” – I grew up on this tune and could have stopped to do a jiggle step I crossed the first half marathon in 1:58: 35.

I was on pace now and suddenly found that almost 60% of the 6000 runners had turned in for the half marathon finish. I was now following just three runners, with my attention focussed on “Anne”, who looked lean and reminded me of Ann Trason. I felt that if I followed her, she would lead me to a 3:59; it was a good decision. I realized at the 25K mark that fatigue was setting in. You can tell this if you have been listening to your body in races. At the 27K mark I saw a guy lean against a tree and thought he was stretching his calves but then he turned around, placed his back against its trunk and sank to the ground. He had thrown in the towel.

I now was focussed on just reaching the 30s where I had to come face to face with my fate. I cruised threw 30K in 2:49: 43 and focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Anne was now 100m in the lead  I reached 32K in 3:01:07 and knew a sub 4 was just about possible – but would my reserves last? I felt the pain setting in as always as also the raspy breath that indicates the going will be tough I bit my lips and kept my foot strikes even for what I felt was my target pace. I dare not look at my watch now. The pain was now unbearable and I kept asking myself as to why I always insist on “racing” a marathon. There was no time to answer the question. I had felt a sense of elation at 35K as I realized that “3:59 balloonwalla” had not yet overtaken me. This meant I was still on pace. I had now reeled in “Anne” by the 39K mark and left her behind.

At the 40K mark, I found the pain and my breath was causing a roar in my ears. Then I heard the same band and this time they must be bloody joking; they were playing “Ballad of John and Yoko” How very apt!!
Christ you know it ain’t easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going
They’re gonna crucify me

As luck would have it, the balloonwala overtook me at the 41st km. I realized that if I did not keep pace with him my sub 4 would evaporate. I tried but my legs would not respond. I met Bryan at the 41.5K mark and felt emotion overtake me. He had made it in this race and his performance was more commendable then mine. He was underage for this distance and he had done it! I cruised through the finish in 4:00:43. I tried hard but the sub 4 was elusive. But then I had run the race of my life; there was nothing more for me to give. I was completely exhausted. Bryan came thru’ about a minute after me and we embraced even as we saw smiles from families around, nodding understanding. Aufweidersehen Wurzburg!