Today the Colpal team went to National Park for a "long run". Aalok and Saurabh did 18K and finished "piece-a-cake" style. The star was Madhumita who did a 12.5K which was 50% more than her normal long run. She actually surprised me cause I was apprehensive about her making it. Deepak probably did a 14K and did well for himself considering that he had a foot pain and was advised rest by his physician. They were all thrilled (I think so) with their achievement of doing a long run amidst the sights and sounds of a real forest ie birds chirping, a cock crowing in the distance, earthy odours, green vegetation, long and winding paths and a lovely sunrise.
My dear friends, Pravin and Hirva were the second thrill for all. They hosted "post-run snacks" which comprised idlis with sambhar and chutney, biscuits, bananas, tang and chai. Everyone in their "Glycogen depleted" state, gratefully gorged on them. It was a perfect saturday for a runner; a successful long run in a beautiful forest and a meet-up with fellow runners for snacks. I felt at peace for giving my friends a hobby (hopefully they will make it one) that will carry them thru' the rest of their lives with "ease". All thats required to consummate the current "high" is a beer, which I shall fetch shortly.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
A run against odds
I took leave from work on saturday because I wanted to teach math to Bryan. I went to the CP runners venue on saturday morning to find that Aalok and Madhu were diligently doing their long runs. The CP runners group is losing members as some are getting transfered and one of them is leaving the company.
I woke up on sunday morning feeling exhausted. How are you going to do your long run today? I dragged myself out of bed and decided that I'd find out for myself. I went to the run venue without an "plan" for the day, which is very unusual for me. I usually zip out on my RX 100 to a point about 1/2 km from my house because "foxie", Big show" and "Johnny" (street dogs ouside our society gate) ensure that I don't leave without get a large dose of their affection and I need to avoid this at 6:00am :-).
I meet the usual walkers and greet them. I also meet Sunil who has his head shaved because of the burial ritual for his father. I hug him and advise him to draw strength to tide over his mental state. He asks me for some used vests as the heat is troubling him nowadays. I am filled with emotion and reassure him that I will buy him 2 vests.
I am still running and the walkers have all left by now. It is 8:30 and I ask myself, "Dan, can you do another 8K?. Are you crazy?". I stare into the distance and tell myself that such an effort will provide "deliverance". I do 4K and am bent over due to heat exhaustion. I enter a buffalo shed and am greeted by the workers there who find me a familiar sight since years. They refer to me as "Fauji Bhaiya" as they think I am an army guy:-) I use their 2" hose that they use to cool down the buffaloes and turn it on myself - pure heaven!! I then step out on to the road looking like a "crow in a thunder storm". The return leg is a piece-a-cake. I am thru' now with a well achieved looooong run.
At 11am I go out to buy myself some beers and biscuits for the dogs. I give Dojo his bath with the newly gifted shampoo (on Easter) and then retire on a sofa with a well-deserved beer. I am at peace - at least for the moment.
I woke up on sunday morning feeling exhausted. How are you going to do your long run today? I dragged myself out of bed and decided that I'd find out for myself. I went to the run venue without an "plan" for the day, which is very unusual for me. I usually zip out on my RX 100 to a point about 1/2 km from my house because "foxie", Big show" and "Johnny" (street dogs ouside our society gate) ensure that I don't leave without get a large dose of their affection and I need to avoid this at 6:00am :-).
I meet the usual walkers and greet them. I also meet Sunil who has his head shaved because of the burial ritual for his father. I hug him and advise him to draw strength to tide over his mental state. He asks me for some used vests as the heat is troubling him nowadays. I am filled with emotion and reassure him that I will buy him 2 vests.
I am still running and the walkers have all left by now. It is 8:30 and I ask myself, "Dan, can you do another 8K?. Are you crazy?". I stare into the distance and tell myself that such an effort will provide "deliverance". I do 4K and am bent over due to heat exhaustion. I enter a buffalo shed and am greeted by the workers there who find me a familiar sight since years. They refer to me as "Fauji Bhaiya" as they think I am an army guy:-) I use their 2" hose that they use to cool down the buffaloes and turn it on myself - pure heaven!! I then step out on to the road looking like a "crow in a thunder storm". The return leg is a piece-a-cake. I am thru' now with a well achieved looooong run.
At 11am I go out to buy myself some beers and biscuits for the dogs. I give Dojo his bath with the newly gifted shampoo (on Easter) and then retire on a sofa with a well-deserved beer. I am at peace - at least for the moment.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Tribulations of my Aarey runner friends
Rajesh practices judo besides marathoning. I have cautioned him before but the worst happened. In a recent competition he took a fall and severed the cartilage in his right knee. The result is rehabilitation for 3 months!! He used to come for walks since but today I saw him jogging!! I was aghast and told him so. Well, runners can never be caged :-)
Mahesh has just returned from his month long tour with a tour operator that he works with. I compelled him to run farther than he had planned and he loved it. While on the run we spoke about his job and how he was apprehensive that he would miss out on running. He shared that after seeing me travel so much and yet adhere to my runs, he felt it was not impossible. He usually tours Himachal and I told him that there would be peripheral benefits for him as he is mostly at high altitudes. This will, over time increase the red blood cell count in his blood and thus make him a better endurance runner. He was thrilled and I told him to " just wait and see":-). He also returned a little of the money I had lent him more than 2 years back, when he wanted to study some course. He could not afford it as he comes from a lower socio-economic background. He has this undying gratitude for all these and always embarasses me by touching my feet when he meets me. He is a super runner blessed with enviable endurance.
Sunil has encountered a tragedy. His father committed suicide. Eternal rest grant unto him O lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul rest in peace. I felt very sorry to hear the news. We all plan to visit him together. Sunil too will need help to find his feet as he too is from a low socio-economic background.
Sohanlal, the nepali, is currently trying for a role in a film. He wants to arrange a fight sequence and has been practicing high karate kicks. I was amused as to whether he too was joining Rajesh:-)
I did a satisfying long run and was acompanied partly by Mahesh.
Mahesh has just returned from his month long tour with a tour operator that he works with. I compelled him to run farther than he had planned and he loved it. While on the run we spoke about his job and how he was apprehensive that he would miss out on running. He shared that after seeing me travel so much and yet adhere to my runs, he felt it was not impossible. He usually tours Himachal and I told him that there would be peripheral benefits for him as he is mostly at high altitudes. This will, over time increase the red blood cell count in his blood and thus make him a better endurance runner. He was thrilled and I told him to " just wait and see":-). He also returned a little of the money I had lent him more than 2 years back, when he wanted to study some course. He could not afford it as he comes from a lower socio-economic background. He has this undying gratitude for all these and always embarasses me by touching my feet when he meets me. He is a super runner blessed with enviable endurance.
Sunil has encountered a tragedy. His father committed suicide. Eternal rest grant unto him O lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul rest in peace. I felt very sorry to hear the news. We all plan to visit him together. Sunil too will need help to find his feet as he too is from a low socio-economic background.
Sohanlal, the nepali, is currently trying for a role in a film. He wants to arrange a fight sequence and has been practicing high karate kicks. I was amused as to whether he too was joining Rajesh:-)
I did a satisfying long run and was acompanied partly by Mahesh.
Friday, March 7, 2008
A mad scramble
Its been hectic these last couple-a-days. Bryan' school has decided to advance the school time by an hour!! This means that I have to drop him off at the bus-stop at 6am! This in turn means that both of us wake up at 5am (this is not too difficult for me).
I proceed to do some multi-tasking ie fix an egg omelette for Bryan' tiffin, prepare my cup of "java", get out my running gear, wash-up etc. This is all while Bryan takes his bath and gets dressed. To add to this, I had to "squeeze in" my run and rush to the airport as I had to leave for Ahmedabad. I reach the airport slightly winded :-) I am looking forward to a relaxed long run on sunday morning. I am also looking forward to meeting the Colpal team as I need to check on their enthusiasm.
I proceed to do some multi-tasking ie fix an egg omelette for Bryan' tiffin, prepare my cup of "java", get out my running gear, wash-up etc. This is all while Bryan takes his bath and gets dressed. To add to this, I had to "squeeze in" my run and rush to the airport as I had to leave for Ahmedabad. I reach the airport slightly winded :-) I am looking forward to a relaxed long run on sunday morning. I am also looking forward to meeting the Colpal team as I need to check on their enthusiasm.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Cleaning the cobwebs
I've returned from an exausting tour to Andhra Pradesh after 4 days. I had not run in this period as I had a dawn to dusk routine. I decided to lace up and go for a run at 11:30am. I needed to clean up the cobwebs in my mind and my body. I did not realize that the winter had gone by and summer was already on us. The heat was quite discomforting and I finished 11K with a dry mouth and a body that was feeling the first traces of "heat exhaustion".
I must remember to warn and advise all running pals to beware of going out for a late morning run. Nevertheless, I am now at home with Bryan (who is playing a video football game; England v/s Sweden:-)) and Dojo (who is curled up after his mad-hatter runs to welcome me) and of course a well-deserved beer in my hand:-)
I was tense before the run and feel much better now.
I must remember to warn and advise all running pals to beware of going out for a late morning run. Nevertheless, I am now at home with Bryan (who is playing a video football game; England v/s Sweden:-)) and Dojo (who is curled up after his mad-hatter runs to welcome me) and of course a well-deserved beer in my hand:-)
I was tense before the run and feel much better now.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Aarey Walkers salute me
On Sunday, I attended the Annual Aarey Walking Race prize distribution ceremony. I was pleasantly surprised and well - embarassed that they felicitated me as an exemplary runner whose motivation was contagious enough that this year 21 runners from Aarey took part in the Standard Chartered Full and Half Marathon - up from 3 runners about 4 years back!
They had to further embarass me by asking me to "say a few words" - I was not prepared for this. Well I gave them a short discourse on how fitness can change their lives. They had taken part in a "walking race" and I asked them as to what prevents them from making at least one day in a week as a "race day". Why do they have to wait a year to increase their walking pace? I suggested that if they incorporate 1 min of gentle jogging in 5 mins of walking in their total 45 mins walk, they would see how it changes their lives. Maybe at the end of a year they may jog the entire 45 mins - applause.
Today, I realized that I had made an impact cause I saw a 56 yr old woman that had won first prize in her category 55 - 65 yrs and a man in his early 50s, doing the 1 min jog. They waved and told me so.
They had to further embarass me by asking me to "say a few words" - I was not prepared for this. Well I gave them a short discourse on how fitness can change their lives. They had taken part in a "walking race" and I asked them as to what prevents them from making at least one day in a week as a "race day". Why do they have to wait a year to increase their walking pace? I suggested that if they incorporate 1 min of gentle jogging in 5 mins of walking in their total 45 mins walk, they would see how it changes their lives. Maybe at the end of a year they may jog the entire 45 mins - applause.
Today, I realized that I had made an impact cause I saw a 56 yr old woman that had won first prize in her category 55 - 65 yrs and a man in his early 50s, doing the 1 min jog. They waved and told me so.
Holy name cathedral
My office has recently shifted to Colaba and right next door is the Holy Name Cathedral. Such a beautiful work of art with stained glass windows and oak panelling everywhere. I love the blissful silence wherein you can hear an echo of a foot fall. They have a mass everyday at 1:15pm and I go there in my lunch break to seek solace from the problems I am facing. I feel relaxed after my visit and return to my office with Norman Vincent Peale' thought that "if God be for us who can be against us".
I often muse about finding a way to chuck my job and take up something that will allow me to give more time to Bryan. I have spent a lot of time with him and know that I did not miss out, so far, on seeing him grow. I love mathematics and have sometimes felt that I could have taken up a professor' job in a univ. Too late Dan. I'm sure you will think of something in one of your "long runs".
I often muse about finding a way to chuck my job and take up something that will allow me to give more time to Bryan. I have spent a lot of time with him and know that I did not miss out, so far, on seeing him grow. I love mathematics and have sometimes felt that I could have taken up a professor' job in a univ. Too late Dan. I'm sure you will think of something in one of your "long runs".
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