Been a really long time and a much overdue post. But as they say... Better Late than never.
I hoped to be consistent with my running when I started training for the TCS 10K in May'11. 4-weeks prior to TCS 10K, I dusted my running shoes and clothes. Started with a few short runs of 2-2.5 Km and took it up to 6Km in the week preceding the event. Overall I put in about 10 short runs in preparation for the event.
I could not sleep the night before. Just too many conversations in my mind about whether I would be able to complete the 10Km. I was so sure that I would fade out around the 7.5-8Km mark. Do remember that my last serious run was on 13th July'10 in Mumbai (8.5Km in about 45 mins) along the Marine Drive. After that maybe 2-3 short 2.5Km runs. Yup that was it. So I was under no false pretense that I was capable of running the 10Km non-stop. Run for about 7Km, walk a couple n try n run the last Km. Well that was the plan.
I was just not in the right frame of mind to run. I almost decided to pull out of the event in the morning. But I dug real deep and reached the venue. It was such joy meeting my running buddies from Nike Run Club and RunnersforLife, after a year. And all of them were wondering where I had disappeared to. Well, actually I was lost in my head. That was it!
Did a bit of pre-run warm-up with the Nike Run Club. Took it nice n easy. Didn't want to unnecessarily expend my energy even before the race began. Shortly thereafter, we were asked to proceed to the stadium. I called it the 'cage', because it felt like one. A couple of thousand of us were literally caged like animals, peeping through the fence to catch the main event, cheering the professional athletes on. And when the women athletes came out, the catcalls began. What's with these Indian men?!
Anyway. We were then asked to proceed to the starting line. And then my shivering began. I was nervous as hell. My heart beating faster. Bumped into a few more guys and they wished me luck and said that I would definitely finish. That made me feel a bit better.
Took a few deep breaths to focus, and took the long walk to the start, thoughts racing through my head. Will I make it to the end? Or will I disappoint myself by quitting midway. But a few minutes later I let go of it all. Just took in the electrifying energy. Everyone was pumped up. Whipped out my iPhone and decided that I would take pics and tweet live from the race.
I really dug deep and surprised myself. The run to the half-way mark (5Km) was a breeze. And then, on the return leg I almost gave up. From 5 to 8Km it was an uphill climb on the course. Feeling breathless, muscles in my thighs were burning. How I so wanted to stop and walk. But no. I was determined, come what may, I would not walk. Enroute I bumped into a running buddy. Slowed my already slow pace and ran with her. It was great catching up with her after so long and amused her with my live tweets and pic updates. And then to my surprise I saw my daughter, wife and mother standing on the footpath, cheering me on. Made a quick stop, kissed my daughter and was off again. We talked and ran all the way to the 9Km mark. And that really helped me get my mind of all the aches and pains and all the conversations going on in my head.
I was amazed that I got so far without a stop, barring the quick sips at the water posts. Suddenly I was filled with a new burst of energy. 1Km to go. And I felt like I had sprouted wings. I took leave of my buddy and made a quick dash to the finish line. I sprinted the last 100 metres. And threw both my hands up in the air as I crossed the line. I felt on top of the world. I felt like a winner. I had overcome my hurdles and conquered my mind. I was ecstatic! I was on a high!
Well it was no where close to my personal best of 54:30. I ran the same timing as my first ever 10Km run - 1:08:05. That was an achievement in itself. Before the race I was so sure that I would walk the last 2-3 Km and complete with a disappointing time of 1:20:00. But I did it... I beat the voice in my head that I call THE BITCH!
I hoped to be consistent with my running when I started training for the TCS 10K in May'11. 4-weeks prior to TCS 10K, I dusted my running shoes and clothes. Started with a few short runs of 2-2.5 Km and took it up to 6Km in the week preceding the event. Overall I put in about 10 short runs in preparation for the event.
I could not sleep the night before. Just too many conversations in my mind about whether I would be able to complete the 10Km. I was so sure that I would fade out around the 7.5-8Km mark. Do remember that my last serious run was on 13th July'10 in Mumbai (8.5Km in about 45 mins) along the Marine Drive. After that maybe 2-3 short 2.5Km runs. Yup that was it. So I was under no false pretense that I was capable of running the 10Km non-stop. Run for about 7Km, walk a couple n try n run the last Km. Well that was the plan.
I was just not in the right frame of mind to run. I almost decided to pull out of the event in the morning. But I dug real deep and reached the venue. It was such joy meeting my running buddies from Nike Run Club and RunnersforLife, after a year. And all of them were wondering where I had disappeared to. Well, actually I was lost in my head. That was it!
Did a bit of pre-run warm-up with the Nike Run Club. Took it nice n easy. Didn't want to unnecessarily expend my energy even before the race began. Shortly thereafter, we were asked to proceed to the stadium. I called it the 'cage', because it felt like one. A couple of thousand of us were literally caged like animals, peeping through the fence to catch the main event, cheering the professional athletes on. And when the women athletes came out, the catcalls began. What's with these Indian men?!
Anyway. We were then asked to proceed to the starting line. And then my shivering began. I was nervous as hell. My heart beating faster. Bumped into a few more guys and they wished me luck and said that I would definitely finish. That made me feel a bit better.
Took a few deep breaths to focus, and took the long walk to the start, thoughts racing through my head. Will I make it to the end? Or will I disappoint myself by quitting midway. But a few minutes later I let go of it all. Just took in the electrifying energy. Everyone was pumped up. Whipped out my iPhone and decided that I would take pics and tweet live from the race.
I really dug deep and surprised myself. The run to the half-way mark (5Km) was a breeze. And then, on the return leg I almost gave up. From 5 to 8Km it was an uphill climb on the course. Feeling breathless, muscles in my thighs were burning. How I so wanted to stop and walk. But no. I was determined, come what may, I would not walk. Enroute I bumped into a running buddy. Slowed my already slow pace and ran with her. It was great catching up with her after so long and amused her with my live tweets and pic updates. And then to my surprise I saw my daughter, wife and mother standing on the footpath, cheering me on. Made a quick stop, kissed my daughter and was off again. We talked and ran all the way to the 9Km mark. And that really helped me get my mind of all the aches and pains and all the conversations going on in my head.
I was amazed that I got so far without a stop, barring the quick sips at the water posts. Suddenly I was filled with a new burst of energy. 1Km to go. And I felt like I had sprouted wings. I took leave of my buddy and made a quick dash to the finish line. I sprinted the last 100 metres. And threw both my hands up in the air as I crossed the line. I felt on top of the world. I felt like a winner. I had overcome my hurdles and conquered my mind. I was ecstatic! I was on a high!
Well it was no where close to my personal best of 54:30. I ran the same timing as my first ever 10Km run - 1:08:05. That was an achievement in itself. Before the race I was so sure that I would walk the last 2-3 Km and complete with a disappointing time of 1:20:00. But I did it... I beat the voice in my head that I call THE BITCH!
Some pics from the event
 |
| Pre-run relaxation at the Nike hall |
 |
| My super fast buddy - Nitin |
 |
| Warming-up |
 |
| Nitin and Pani. That's the last I saw of them till I completed. |
 |
| Caged Animals at Kanteerva Stadium |
 |
| Jostling for space to run at the start |
 |
| Half-way mark. Ulsoor Road |
 |
| Not a sweat :-) |
 |
| And the climb begins |
 |
| Some entertainment |
 |
| Entering Cubbon Park. Weather held up. No sun n no rain :-) |
 |
| 1Km to go :-) |
 |
| I did it!!! |
 |
| Passed out while getting a massage |
