i-Race for my life

It was just a chance encounter between Jyoti (from DHL) and Madhur (ex-IITian) at their local Gym, that translated into an enriching experience for Madhur and me when she introduced us. Madhur being an active IIT alumni member, got me introduced to the crowd on the groups web forum as a "running evangelist":-) Our shared passion for running combined with our travel together to Auroville for the Marathon, snow-balled into an idea on organizing races. Though I could not do the leg work, I shared ideas with Madhur on the logistics of race organizing (having done this once for a Commodore in the IAF when they wanted to celebrate their 75th anniversary) and helped him correct his superbly conceived mathematical model on age, gender and BMI adjusted times.

The i-Race was held on 8th March and surprisingly had not a single glitch considering that it took just 5 weeks to do it. Madhur and the young 'uns at IIT CS department could put Procam to shame. When the race was flagged off, I bolted from the start as a means of ensuring that I was higher than pace so that I could correct it at the first km marker. I felt the blood lactate build up and immediately realized that I must be well above target and slowed down. I saw 3 runners overtake me in the first 800m and decided that I had to let go of them:-)

The 1st 5K loop went off with 3 more runners overtaking me and I decided that I'd beat at least one of them in the last 2K. The next 5K loop felt taxing as I now guessed that blood lactate was accumumlating fast and I would just about have held on for the finish. One of the runners ahead of me "bit the dust" as I saw him halt at a watering station. The other guy happened to be just 16 yrs old and shot back periodic wide-eyed looks of alarm as he watched me closing the gap. We both finished with a 100m sprint as I allowed him to cross just 1 sec ahead of me since he actually cut me off at the finish line. I saw Bryan in this guy and held back to let him win the position.

I was expecting to run below my capacity considering that I had taxed my liver the last 4 nights during my travel to South India:-) I guess I enjoy my tipple and my runs and don't let one decide the other. I enjoyed this run cause it gave me feedback on so many things; effect of sleep, liquor and weight gain. I had gained 3 kgs since the Auroville Marathon - I must have rested my feet a bit too much after my redemption:-) A super Sunday and a nice outing with family and friends - especially the Colpal group.

Of recovery and reunions

I was on earned leave and so it was a pity that I did not have to do a long drawn out speed workout because I had all the time in the world. I went for a gentle recovery jog because that is all my schedule dictated for the day. I then came back and dropped Bryan to school and hung around reading a book outside his class. It gave him a kick to have his dad sitting within a stone' throw from his examnination hall. I always wanted to do this and I ended up actually doing it!

After Bryan' exam and since I had nothing to do, I coincidentally got a call from Vernon who had arrived in Mumbai from Dubai on his quarterly junkets. He wanted to know whether I would join him and Bamoo for lunch at a place (malvan - what else) at Parel. Well, who would want to miss fish and beer on a day of earned leave. I got my driver to drive me to Parel and met up with Vernon and "Hagar":-). Would you believe it?; Bamoo claims that he does not drink during the season of Lent and no matter how much I tried to get his goat up about how God doesn't give a damn about his drinking, I was not able to get him to share a beer with me.

I have to find a way to avenge the fact that these guys made me drink 3 beers in 25 mins just cause they wanted to go to lunch at the restaurant next door and it was getting late. Anyhow, there was "Halwa" fry, squids and yucks - goats intestines - (Bamoo and his predilection for smelly cuisine:-)), chicken and puris. We had a sumptuous lunch and some banter that was as inane as the reasons for Vernon' frequent presence in Mumbai. I reached home sated but still woozy from all the beers. Talk about recovery runs:-))) There is something about meeting up with childhood friends that does not compare with any joy in the world - especially if its over beers wherein one can lecture with slurring speech, about all the follies the others have committed in their lives:-) HA HA HA......

Some Giddyup!

I wasn't ready to stir from my deep slumber but my full bladder played spoil sport. I cursed in the darkness and sauntered to the washroom as I threw in the towel:-) I staggered back and I thought I should try and catch some sleep; but a peek at my watch told me that it in a short while Bryan would have to be dropped at the bus-stop.

I had a spring to my step even as I went about brewing an "Earl Grey" for myself and fixing a peanut butter sandwich. I needed the sandwich as I had planned some "giddyup" to my stride in the speed workout that was to follow shortly. Besides, it was an off-day for me and I could do the work out at leisure.

The air smelled crisp and felt cold as Bryan and I sped on the motorbike. I parked it at my usual spot and jogged to the start point waving out to my 'walker' friends. It has been quite a while since I'd been to Aarey. The ambience always served to shore up my spirits due to its verdant expanse, the 'chirp chirp' of birds and the camaraderie of walkers.

A few stretches, lunges, butt kicks and I was ready. The 1st rep resulted in my running at mile pace and it showed too:-) Even as I felt my chest heaving during my 'active recovery' back to the start, I cautioned myself that if I cared about finishing this workout, I had better ease up on the accelerator. The next few reps were a breeze and I braced myself for the inevitable 'lead calves' feeling but it did not show up. I cranked out 12 reps; all at target pace and returned to my motorbike at a jog realizing that my RPE was just 6!! Good God! something must have gone right today. Then it dawned on me that I had slept well the last 3 nights and my endurance, after my run at national park, was spiked up. So much for the my thesis on the "ingredients to a super speed workout".

I returned home to a nice long and warm bath, eggs and cheese breakfast and Dojo watching me adoringly while I shared my "laughing cow" cheese with him. Bryan would have "bhagaoed" him if he had seen me sharing cheese. There are somethings that bring a tinge of jealousy to Bryan: da-da sharing cheese with Dojo:-) So what have you planned for today Dan? "Nothing!" I answered to myself as I rested my legs on pillows and surfed channels on the television.

Farewell my friend

When I learnt the tragic news of the sudden death of my friend in the USA, from Russell, I was filled with a strange sadness. We had the time of our lives when I was in Xaviers and IIT. It is coincidental and prescient that I was humming a tune to myself on the day before the news; a song that I used to play on the Guitar and my hostel mates (especially Percy my roomie) revelled in the words, lost in their future.

Once upon a time there was a tavern
where we used to raise a glass or two
remember how we passed away the hours
sharing all the things we used to do

Thooossse were the days my friend
we thought they'd never end
we'd sing and dance forever and a day
we'd live the life we choose
we'd fight we'd never lose
for we were young and sure to have our way.....La la la la la la.....
Farewell my friend and eternal rest grant unto you; may your soul rest in peace.

Unfinished business!

People begin running for any number of motives, but we stick to it for one basic reason-to find out who we really are - Dr. George Sheehan

When Ryan replied saying, “You have unfinished business Pal!” upon reading about my debacle in SCMM 09, the words felt like a skewer going thru’ the inner recesses of my mind. It was these nagging thoughts that prompted me to consider the Auroville (forest trail) Marathon as an opportunity for redemption. It became a foregone conclusion when fellow marathoner and friend, Bhasker S offered to share his room at the Auroville Guest House where accommodation is scarce, combined with the cheering prospect of traveling together with ex-IITian runners; Bhasker D, Madhur and Rajat.

The journey to Chennai and on to Auroville was uneventful baring the humorous but futile attempts by Bhasker D to flirt with the airline ground staff and air hostesses. The atmosphere during bib collection and pre-race briefing was full of camaraderie considering that this was a marathon for non-elites with a view to encourage runners to experience the sheer pleasure of finishing the grueling distance. The pasta party was nicely arranged with simple but delicious pasta and chocolate chip cake thrown in for good measure. Bhasker S introduced me as a ‘veteran’ (in more ways than oneJ) marathoner, to his friend Naina, who cautioned me about running a ‘trail-marathon’ when she learned of my injury.

Bhasker S and I retired to our rooms and after preparing for a 3:45am wake up, discussed marathon running and our future aspirations. I sank into a much needed deep sleep only to wake up with a jolt to the loud strains of “I like to move it, move it. I like to move it, move it. I like to - MOVE IT!!” Trust a marathoner like Bhasker S to have an appropriate wake up callJ. We went about our ablutions and after munching on bananas, reached the race start point at 4:40am. The race started at 5am without much fanfare.

The first one hour was run in pitch darkness with faint illumination from a mini-torch, thoughtfully provided by the organizers. However, since the trail was mostly soft mud with uneven surfaces, there were muffled curses and apologies as one or the other runner lost his footing or fell forlorn to the ground. This was my first trail run and it brought some surprises as I realized that traction being less than that of a road surface, the pace felt very taxing. I longed for daybreak as my hand ached from focusing the torch light to the ground. Bhasker S kidded me about running at the “back of the pack”. I was running under pace as a precautionary measure, considering my groin injury was still a bit raw. We plodded thru soft soil and aid stations that were strategically provided every 4K with bananas, electrolyte and water. There was an especially bad patch at the 17K / 38K (this was 2 loops of 21K) mark that caused me to wince as I felt my ankles working hard to absorb surface irregularities and shortly reached the half marathon point in 2:08.

Bhasker D was at my heels and was attempting his first official marathon. He hung on to me as I reached the 30K mark feeling strong. I passed by a woman who wore a T-shirt that had “I run because I am”, written on it and gave her a thumbs up. Even as I imagined pain dragons spitting fire at the 32K mark, I realized that I had cruised thru’ the wall without feeling any slack in my pace. At the 35K mark Bhasker D smashed into the wall and I had to leave him behind to lick his wounds. At the 37K mark a French man on a bicycle (one of several ‘race-keepers’ tracking runners) called out in a characteristic Gallic accent, “You are in 14th position and you have 5 kms to go. Are you alright?” I could only manage a somber nod as I was now focused on the pain that had set into my calves. (Running is a mental sport...and we're all insane! – Anonymous)

The groin injury was giving me problems since the last 10K but it was not incapacitating this time. I was feeling strong and decided that since I was going to finish way above my normal target time, I would work on trying to catch up with the guy in 13th position. I cruised thru’ the 39K mark and a while later a French woman on a bicycle said, “not much further now”; I smiled even as I thought aloud “You liar!”J Well, she was doing a super job of shoring up the flagging spirits of a runner, possibly in pain and struggling to the marathon finish.

I saw No 13 running now, about 400m ahead, his head bobbing up and down. I was now running at what I estimated to be my tempo pace and whizzed past him shortly. He didn’t bother to look up as I saw, from his shuffle, that he had more serious things to contend with than someone taking his position. The French man caught up with me again and nodded encouragement when he saw that I was now zipping. He flagged down a passing car (near the finish) and waved it to one side to ensure that I had a clear path. I felt like an “elite” going in for the finish as I bounded into the finish enclosure and heard the loudspeaker going, “and here you have bib no 68 finishing in 13th position”. Those words were pure music to my ears because they conjured up fantasies of finishing like a “Kenyan” even though I finished in a time of 4:17:47 and was met by Rajat who high-fived me. Long after the finish time is forgotten, the race is still remembered - Unknown

I must hand it out to the organizers because it was the best organized race that I have run in India and it scored an “A” on all parameters such as safety, aid stations, km / trail markers, race-keepers, pasta party, post run refreshments, certificates and a post run massage! My only disappointment was that, due to my post-run trauma, I did not see that there were French women giving gentle massages to the men (men to the women) under a shamiana, until it was too late. Catch Bhasker D missing on this action; he not only faked some pain in unlikely and inaccessible areas, but also proposed to one of the masseusesJ

I met up with my dear friend Manu (Purnendu Bhikash Dattaroy – thank God for the nickname!) who drove down with his son, Ron, from Chennai just to spend time with me and give me a lift back. We spent time on a leisurely lunch of Pork Roast / Chops, sea food platter and beers in one of the French restaurants that are the signature of Pondicherry. Even as I hobbled around the airport for my departure, I reveled in the aches that seemed to be present all over my body and that reminded me that I had got my redemption after all. Au revoir Auroville!
When people ask me why I run, I tell them, there's not really a reason, it's just the adrenalin when you start, and the feeling when you cross that finish line, and know that you are a winner no matter what place you got - Courtney Parsons

Post Race analysis

I met the colpal group to discuss their race analysis for the SCMM 2009. This was so that they can assess for themselves the difficulties they experienced in the race and the way forward. While they did discuss with me their mid-race problems I am not sure that they understand the true import of this analysis. I do hope they do not take everything that I discussed with a "pinch of salt".

They are an enthusiastic lot but their enthusiasm ends at the point wherein they discuss their problems in the current race but do not seem to express the desire to put in "what ever it takes". I do not see the dedication nor the motivation to improve their times, from most of them. There are the cribs of work pressure and lack of time but there is also the desire to do the "full marathon". I have tried to explain the pitfalls in a race that is as demanding as the marathon but I am not so sure they understand me.

I can only hope that their motivation and interest is genuine enough that they are willing to cross over and step on the "other side of the hedge".

A discovery of "Comrades"!

It was just a chance exchange of mails amongst the Ex as well as current IIT runners in a forum of like name, that got me amazed. There are passionate runners in this crowd! I was in fact, shocked to see that there are really fast veterans and I was thrilled to share experiences. If the pace of these motivational exchanges continues, I will find a renewed vigour in my stride:-)

There is a challenge thrown in the forum to get three of the runners to come in as 1-2-3 in the veteran' category in SCMM 2010. The 3 happens to be yours truly:-). I have already admitted that they are kind to include me in the challenge and that I come no where close to the other two; but then I've thrown my hat into the ring - for whatever its worth! There is talk of getting me to give "Gyan" (as the "janta" likes to call it) on better running mechanics etc etc. They even have a beer binge planned to celebrate their success at SCMM 2009. I am sure going to feel left out in the discussion, though, I've been cordially invited.:-(

I was alarmed about what I was getting into with my limited time and thick work schedules; however, I realized that its probably best for me to be in this group whose passion has been so infectious that its drawn a lot of crowd to the forum. I too need some help with psychological rehab from my debacle and I hope I find succour in this group. I now need for my injury to heal and for....redemption! The lord is my shepherd....and he will show me the way. Amen