The Monk who sold his Ferrari

Robin Sharma asks in his book, titled as above, What is it that you are searching for? Do you want to be a better father and live a more balanced, rewarding life? Is it adventure and fun that you feel you are lacking? He postulates that if doing the above will make you happy then direct all of your energy doing it. Once you are concentrating your mind power and energy on a pursuit that you love, abundance flows into your life. You will wake up every morning with a limitless reservoir of energy and enthusiasm (Gee, this is a dream!!! However, I must mention here that my dear childhood friend, Bamoo often told me that in his job the salary is a bonus!! - He is a journalist BTW). The person the author talks to says, Would'nt it be risky for me to leave my job to start searching for my overriding passion? I mean, I have a family and real obligations! Robin Sharma answers, You will have to start taking risks, shake up your life a bit. Take the road less travelled. Come out of your comfort zone!
Hmmmm, nice philosophy and worth dwelling on if things don't work out for you in your job. I love my job as operational head of an SBU but its the "nit-picking" that gets to me!!

(Abs)olute endurance!!!!

I met Rajesh while I was finishing one of my "lung searing" work outs. He was doing push-ups with his legs raised on a park bench after running approx. 4K. I went up to him and made intermittent conversation while trying to catch my breath. When I enquired about the condition of his knee (which he had severely injured in one of his Judo sparing bouts), he claimed that it was fine and fully recovered. Then, he told me something that amazed me. He claimed that his abdominal muscles (Abs) had developed enough that he could now do 500 crunches!!!!!!! Also, his aim was to reach 1000 crunches (he didn't say in what time period)!!!!!!!! Well...well...well, that, my dear friends is true muscle endurance. I expressed my amazement and congratulated him. I was getting late for work and so I bade him "Good Day". As I jogged home, I wondered about the crunches I was able to do which, with effort, would reach a mere 100 :-(

Bryan (Kuku Boy) grows up

On Sunday, Monsoon, Bryan and I set out for Linking Road. Mission? To buy Bryan his first pair of jeans (long pants). He told me on Saturday that the boys tease him cause he continues to wear shorts and that he wants a pair of Jeans. I explained to him that he looks good in a pair of shorts because he has good legs and that the guys probably envy him. He has well-developed well-formed hamstrings and calves (a result of playing football) and - "honest to God" - a pair of jeans shorts make his legs look enviable. However, I realized that he had grown up without my knowing it and wanted to look like a big boy.

We were at the "Pepe Jeans" store and I got him his first pair of jeans which did make him look rather nice. I was filled with a strange sense of emotion as I realized that he was now growing into a big boy and very soon he would be as tall as me. Although it was not on the plan, he found a "cool" looking shirt and was longingly holding it at arms length, appraising it. I asked him to try it on and - well - it would go well on his jeans so we ended up buying it. The glee in his eyes and the hug he gave me saying, "thank you da-da" (thats dad and not big brother as in Bengali) made everything worthwhile.

When I returned home, I mused about this and remembered "Fiddler on the roof", a movie that moved me 3 decades back. I can only today identify, with just how the father felt when he stood on the train station, seeing his daughter off as she planned to marry a russian peasant. He sang this melancholy song which matched the even more poignant whistle of a train in the far off distance as it puffed towards the station to take his daughter away;

Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little girl at play?
I don't remember growing older,
when did they?

When did she get to be a beauty?
when did she grow to be so tall?
wasn't it yesterday when they were small?

Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset
quickly go the days,
seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
blossoming even as we gaze.

Dilip Kamtikar

I have known Dilip since the last 3 years or so. We began talking when he stopped me once in mid-run and asked me as to what makes me "tick" :-) He was refering to my running at Aarey. Soon thereafter, he made me his "guru" and showered compliments whenever he achieved fitness milestones. In Jan 2007 he did his first 1/2 marathon. In jan 2008, he completed his first full marathon.

We usually only greet each other aloud as we pass by as we do not like to stop & disturb each other when running. Yesterday (sunday), I was stretching and Dilip came by. He pumped my hand beaming and told me that on 24th March he completed 50 years of age and that he had voluntarily resigned from the Directorship of 12 companies in the Goenka Group (one of them being "Le Meridien" Hotel). When I queried as to what he planned to do, he replied, "I have'nt decided yet". I envy him cause I would just love to do what he did. He told me that he has enough money, well settled children, an understanding wife and sound health. One of the things he surely plans to do (and I envy him for this too) is to do a trip of the Antarctica this December!. He informed me that he would have liked that I "condition" him for the physical demands of such an excursion. I would have loved to but I just don't have the time. He is hoping that I can join him and keeps reminding me that "its happening" and that preparations and plans are afoot!!

I bade him good-day and returned home jogging, deep in thought as to whether good fortune such as this would ever come my way.

National Park

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.

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.

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.