Failed workouts & good deeds

I have encountered my worst week of workouts. There is the speed workout that went south because I could not hold the target pace and had to cut it short. Then, on Sunday, I had made an elaborate plan for doing marathon pace in my long run and was excited about it. I had 3 of the Colpal runners for company and everything seemed to go according to plan except that I woke up with a queasy stomach. I have to hurl expletives at Bamoo because it was his idea to go to "Martin' Hotel" on Saturday afternoon and gorge on everything under the Goan sun. The end result is that the Prawn Pullao probably did me in.

I started my run and found it increasingly difficult to hold my pace. After 4K I realised that I would need to visit a porta potty:-) Heck! there is no porta potty in that jungle and I had to hang on for dear life until I had completed 9K before I could rush into the Aarey bushes with a bottle of water, gratefully taken from the nearby pump house. I realised after this, that my long run would have to be "canned". I did another circuit and ended up walk-running the last 2K. I threw my towel in, in disgust. I can ill afford to have failed long runs considering that I have a marathon to run in less than a month!

During the week I had handed over 5000 rupees to an animal lover that rescues strays. She was indeed vocal in her gratitude and I had to remind her that I was the one, only giving money; whereas, she was actually picking up helpless animals from the streets and taking them to the hospital. Three days ago, she found an abandoned Persian kitten that would have certainly died, had it not been for her kind heart. The event was reported on the front page of the DNA after which she was deluged with calls, from people wanting to adopt the dear little thing. Finally she acceded to the request of a relative of an Aarey walker who promised that they would care for the kitten. God will certainly bless her.

"Colpal runners, unite!"

Everything seemed to be in place. I had provided sufficient motivation for the Colgate-Palmolive runners' group to get together for a long run that was a long time coming. I had designed some customised workouts to fit the course at National Park and everyone had their distances laid out and target times set. The appointed hour was 6:15am on Sunday and the venue, National Park gates. I hurried over, having got held up at the parking lot for my "Bullet", only to find that 3 runners had dropped out. I was not surprised but I was certainly dejected.

We did not allow this killjoy to affect our enthusiasm and got our run underway forthwith. I was to pace Aalok and we had 2 loops scheduled with a tempo burst thrown in to prepare him for a fast finish in his next race. I found much to my disappointment that Aalok was running a pace faster than I'd set for him. Much as I subtly tried to coax him to a slower pace, he seemed to speed up even more. I somehow felt that he thought, it was I that was tiring:-). As soon as we got to the tempo segment of the work out, Aalok seemed to find some unnatural groove and I barely kept pace. My subsequent entreaties to slow down as a 2nd loop is coming up, fell on deaf years. Predictably, Aalok ended up walking the last 4 kms.

Madhu, Roshni and Manisha succeeded with their individual work outs, except that Manisha had a sudden injury to her knee at the 9K mark. I returned home to a well-deserved beer and some brunch comprising ham, eggs, cheese and croissants that I'd got from "Hyper-City". We had a large and typical Sunday lunch at home with all the meats one can think of and a nice snooze after that veritable banquet:-) Evening involved taking Dojo and Monsoon for a drive thru' Aarey Colony where Dojo decided to find a nice spot to answer natures call and Monsoon struggled up some slopes with a walk that she felt was much needed after the Sunday lunch:-)

Hard Lessons & the Novena

Last night, as I set my wrist watch alarm for 5:30am, my mind was spinning with the many things I had to do after waking up. I had to wake up Bryan and make coffee for myself and a protein shake for him, help Bryan get a "rick" to go for football practice, do a speed workout, cool down and wash up, and rush off to catch the 8:30am Novena at Mahim Church.

I had an ambitious (nay audacious) plan for doing a speed workout; little realizing that it would come to a grinding halt! It is rather distressing to realize that despite running 13 marathons and knowing that a thumb-rule exists, that for each mile run, one needs a day of recovery and that makes 26 days for 26 miles run, to reach full recovery. Why in God' name, Dan, do you behave like a dolt when you know this as fact?? It is exactly 10 days since my marathon and you zip off at VO2max pace! The short story is that the lactate buildup in my blood as well as the pain from partially healed micro-trauma from the 42K, caused me to have a stupid grin on my face upon finding my time was way off:-)) What were you thinking Dan? Don't emulate Emil Zatopek, when you are not exactly in his league. Thanks for trying though!

The quiet ambience at Mahim Church reminded me of how we need to humbly bow down to a supreme power that we cannot comprehend but acknowledge. I bowed my head in silent prayer, placing my petition in God' hands, as I mumbled, "....that never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I cry to thee....". I felt a deep peace descend upon me as I rode to work in the car.

Restive recovery

Post marathon I had to go on business tour to Salem and Coimbatore. The tiring road journey from Coimbatore to Salem and back, each way requiring 4 hrs, was too much for my body to handle. It compounded the latent exhaustion of the full marathon and my mental state of torment due to flagging revenues made sure that the endocrinal system was in sufficient turmoil. I ended up with high fever on the night I returned to Coimbatore. I did try to ward off the intense shivers by taking a tot of "Old Cask" which is again a rather foolhardy measure as an antidote. But then, how does one convince a seemingly intelligent guy but is otherwise a "country bumpkin" and who believes that rum is an elixir for most ailments.

I somehow managed to return to Mumbai and home sweet home, and took the Saturday off so that I could entertain Allen' family and Rajni, who were invited for dinner. Rajni made some delectable Biryani and there was roast pork and mutton kheema; all of this a non-vegetarian' delight. While Allen and I sipped on "Signature", we discussed, much to Monsoon' chagrin, existence or otherwise of morbid topics such as death, ghosts and black magic. She finally intervened with a "Can we discuss something more pleasant, please?":-)) The dinner was rounded off with a dessert of Rabri and Roshogollas. I had promptly hidden the "Phirni" that Rajni and made for me because I am possessive of just this sweet dish. Actually she had made enough for all but then any amount is not "enough":-)

Sunday morning, I woke up and looked out the window, stretched, did a calf raise to check whether my achilles tendon would take a short run and then walked out the door for a run. I did a gentle one hour run and met Pankaj who congratulated me on my marathon finish. By then dark clouds had gathered and it rained incessantly causing gushing streams to incapacitate running. I returned on my bullet drenched and in mortal fear of going down with a severe cold. How about a tot of "caju, Dan?:-)))))

Miracle Marathon

If I look at my running log and see the repeated and consecutive failed long runs, I'd think that I was possessed by sheer lunacy when I registered for the Hyderabad Marathon. However, it was a deep-seated desire to see myself thru' this and find out whether I could push the envelope and banish the failures of the past few weeks. Relish the bad training runs. Without them it's difficult to recognize, much less appreciate, the good ones - Pat Teske

I arrived at Hyderabad late evening and was met by an old friend, Kumar, who hovered around wondering whether we would do a few beers. I chuckled and told Kumar that beers are not the best thing for my present condition and that I need to sink into a meditative state for a race that is different compared to the ones I have done before. And so I ate a dinner of fried rice and curd (to help my tummy remain calm) and slept early because the alarm was set for 3:30am. Most of my friends think we, marathoners are a breed that revel in self-flegellation, an opinion that is not entirely ridiculous.

Race venue at 4:45am and I hi-5 Madhu, Roshni and their friend, Hema, much to their surprise. They are here to do the half marathon and have target times that are keeping them on edge. The race begins without much fanfare except for a group warm-up to loud thumping pop music before the start. There is a large contingent of the AP Police and everyone just zips ahead leaving me to wonder whether this race has an unreasonable time limit and whether I am the only plodder. It appears so as I look back and find that I, along with two other runners seem to be bringing up the rear!

We do a 5K loop around KBR Park which has inclines that shock and depress me. We come full circle back to the start point and I am comforted to find scores of runners now, many of them seem to be walking. It is then that I realise that the half marathon has been flagged off a while ago and the walkers are the ambitious lot that registered for the "kick" of saying they are "doing the Hyd Half":-) I wave out to Roshni who is returning from a out and back loop and catch up with Madhu, who I can tell from my watch, is quite on pace. At the 16K mark I hand over my water bottle to a woman that seems out of breath and whose entreaties for water in a UK accent unsettle me. At 23K I catch up with Rajat (IIT-Alumni) who is doing the HM (he is on his 18K mark) and we exchange muted greetings, allowing each to focus on the daunting task ahead.

The full marathoners are now required to take a diversion and do a 5K to reach back on the common route, thus covering 28K. The sun is out with a vengeance and its getting uncomfortably warm. I get a momentary scare when my legs slow down and I panic that I am not going to last. I am not sure whether it was the continuous nutrition I began taking in or whether it was the ample fluids I took at every aid station, thoughfully placed every 2K, that mitigated the exhaustion. I suddenly felt strong and was cruising at 30K when I suddenly realised I had the AP Police motor cycle escort alongside me. We were now at the Gachobowli stadium where the HM runners turn off to go in for the finish while we have to go ahead and do another 12K:-(

I am now apprehensive about the "wall" coming up but because of my strong strides, I am sure it will hit me later than the expected 32K mark. I am now passing by runners that were far ahead of me, hobbling because they have run into the "wall". The motorcycle escort, perhaps because of my strong condition, pull back to take care of the less fortunate runners. I am hi-5'ed by an RFL guy that is astonished that I caught up with him. Its not that I speeded up; its just that he slowed down and was in real pain. I cruised thru' the 36K mark and briefly lost my way but was corrected by a cop. The "wall" hit me now and I felt my breath going raspy and my legs suddenly feeling leaden. By the time I reached the 39K mark there were 4 other runners that I'd shuffled past and I refused to walk.

The next two km markers passed inexorably and after what seemed like an eternity. I was with bowed head now as I felt my gas tank going dry and I had to wrestle with my brain for that wee bit of glycogen that remains in reserve. The pride you gain is worth the pain - Denise Ogilvy. A fellow runner now moves ahead of me and mutters encouragement with "only 1K to go, c'mon". I would like to keep up with him but my legs simply refuse and I see him find his groove for a fast finish. I smile as I turn towards the stadium and know my good friends Madhu & Roshni are waiting. I did not keep them waiting too long, after all, as I turn into the stadium and speed up the last 100m to the finish line and cross myself after seeing my watch stop at 4:23:53. I had taken a risk and it had paid off.
To win without risk is to triumph without glory - Pierre Cornielle

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.