Even though this post might sounds cribby I wanted to record my journey through both the marathons and how it improved me as a person.
I have always hated running as a Physical Exercise from the time of PT periods in school. I sorta wanted to overcome the fear/hatred toward running. Well I always loved walking. I can walk many kms and can avoid public transport. So trade off just walk a marathon. What better place than Mumbai Marathon which Aleem Bhayya and Sujith, who used to practice regularly and better, the enthusiasm they used to exude. Coincidence has it that many folks from my office were also registering in bulk. Itne saare log daud rahe hain toh mein kyun nahi. I somehow had a blind faith that i would complete it walking if not running and definitely within evening 6pm.
So after running the marathon, the confidence just shot up. I even jogged and ran a bit. But after 8 kms there were blisters that actually put me to test. I wouldn't have been able to walk had it been any other day, but that day it was different. I guess that what they call as "Adrenaline took me over". Even I finshed. But trust me i didnt want to torture my body ever again. Fate had its way, I got brainwashed by Amey and Shail to reach Delhi for marathon. Trust me I was sorta sure I would ditch them but i didnt ( awww!!!)
I personally knew Delhi Marathon was not as established as Mumbai one. Mumbai would be hosting its 10th Marathon and for Delhi it was just 5th. Hence was not expecting a show to equate the size and stature of Mumbai Marathon. Still there were basic amenities that we were pampered to in the Mumbai. For Example, however slow a participant is they would still get the Gatorade, water bottles, sponges, eatables like oranges, banana, parle g biscuits etc. Can you believe we got a 35 buck worth Dairy Milk. If not the organizers the locals had come to cheers us up and also gave us stuff on the way to ensure we complete the marathon. Somehow i found this spirit missing. I am not sure if i can expect the same from Delhi.
For striking thing about Delhi Marathon was invariably everyone was wearing a Nike, Addidas, ASICS, etc. It was like there was a show of various products of high end sports brand. #DilliKiShowOff. Camel Pouch and knee guards, I didnt even knew the utility of many such items. For a moment we got scared OMG these guys are too prepared for the marathon. But once the race started, It was evident. But last year even I was more prepared in these aspects than just concentrating on running.
Even 1 Km mark was not over, when we saw a huge queue for toilet. It was funny, it lifted our spirits. I always had a scare for Ameya and Shail as they were regular at treadmill. I tried to hide saveguard under the fact that Shail has not run the marathon earlier. :) Anyways I felt the pressure mounting on me jogging with Shail, had hinted at him to go ahead and not wait up for me, which he eventually did. But it took 6 - 7 kms for him to realize it. :P One relief was all the petite girls and guys I was able to over take. So my mission in the whole 21.098 kms was to overtake the person who was just in front. Simple target and great motivation.
After Shail overtook me, I was able to see Ameya behind me. We thought he had overtook us while we were busy yapping. :P Ameya is always slow in the beginning and then maintains the pace. I was doing the same as I was able to maintain the distance. But then there was this reporter who came right in my way to make me stop for an interview - I ll not hide that i was happy but then Ameya overtook me and till the end i was not able to catch up. I hate him for that :P
One thing not against the organizers of the marathon was fact I relied on Radio for music. I didnt want to carry my blackberry but took my chotu motorolla so that i can listen to radio. I am sure Delhi would have loud beats that would pump up my energy levels and also help adrenaline kick in. On the contrary all were lovey dovey songs that were being played, even by the radio station that partnered with the marathon. Ditch the Hindi stations let me check the English ones... and it was supposed to some top 40 but i failed to hear the part where they announced it was top 40 breakup songs. I patiently listened to 6 songs ( i was surprised at the level patience) Hard to say I am sorry.. Ok may be the next one is fast paced song. You cant even say sorry. Will you say sorry. "SERIOUSLY???" there are songs even like this and so many???!!! I am sorry. I had enough I just shifted to my memory card which was filled with bhakti bhajans but somehow i felt better. May be god would bless me to complete the marathon. #VishwaVinayaka
There are about few things I really had trouble overcoming in Delhi. Probably only thing good abt this was it was flat land and having done a marathon earlier it was easy to complete.
1. Near IndiaGate the heat :( Dilli ki Sardi ke baare mein baat karna chodo and talk about dilli ki garmi :P ) No cover and I really thought I would get a stroke. When I reached the shadow the India Gate casted I really wanted to just stay there. But then Shail was 2 kms ahead and I needed to complete the marathon before my body gets a chance to give up.
2. Around 2nd Km I got a muscle pull in the thigh but was managing with stretches every km. After finishing half the distance you really dont want to be held back from finishing the race. Wanted Volini spray very badly to relax the muscle. Finally I see a medical camp but i was shocked to know they dont have sprays or ointments but only ice. Well the ice did help me cool me down :P ( from temper as well as dilli ki garmi)
3. Sponges - these are very important to feel hydrated esp as u cant drink too much of water. These are not something that are consumed but can be recycled. They were garbaged everywhere but not given out.
4. Traffic started plying the roads, I have heard a lot about the local buses and the maniac drivers who drive them.
6. Worst last 2 kms I had to find my way through the pool of Dream Run Participants. Even though it is for a cause, I found many taking out morcha, eating panipuri ( seriously???) and posing for pics. I have to zigzag my way thro grps of 20 - 50 odd people in grps. It was very difficult to cut thro the grp and needed the energy to say excuse me or push them and move ahead.
7. After completion the exhaustion just kicks in and would really need supplements - both liquid and solid. I got the medal and then there was announcement that the refreshments are over and only water is available. Trust me I was happy that I atleast got water. Ameya and Shail had or were about to have blackouts. Thank god for the Gatarode packet which i was too lazy to pour into a bottle and utilize.
Not exactly a compliant but more of a "good to have", we had to make our own gatorade. I survived of Gu gel, which i missed in Mumbai Marathon and on water.
Well a pat on my back - I resolved not to sit anywhere but to keep walking. I did stop to do stretches after every km but overall I am all smiles.
I have always hated running as a Physical Exercise from the time of PT periods in school. I sorta wanted to overcome the fear/hatred toward running. Well I always loved walking. I can walk many kms and can avoid public transport. So trade off just walk a marathon. What better place than Mumbai Marathon which Aleem Bhayya and Sujith, who used to practice regularly and better, the enthusiasm they used to exude. Coincidence has it that many folks from my office were also registering in bulk. Itne saare log daud rahe hain toh mein kyun nahi. I somehow had a blind faith that i would complete it walking if not running and definitely within evening 6pm.
So after running the marathon, the confidence just shot up. I even jogged and ran a bit. But after 8 kms there were blisters that actually put me to test. I wouldn't have been able to walk had it been any other day, but that day it was different. I guess that what they call as "Adrenaline took me over". Even I finshed. But trust me i didnt want to torture my body ever again. Fate had its way, I got brainwashed by Amey and Shail to reach Delhi for marathon. Trust me I was sorta sure I would ditch them but i didnt ( awww!!!)
I personally knew Delhi Marathon was not as established as Mumbai one. Mumbai would be hosting its 10th Marathon and for Delhi it was just 5th. Hence was not expecting a show to equate the size and stature of Mumbai Marathon. Still there were basic amenities that we were pampered to in the Mumbai. For Example, however slow a participant is they would still get the Gatorade, water bottles, sponges, eatables like oranges, banana, parle g biscuits etc. Can you believe we got a 35 buck worth Dairy Milk. If not the organizers the locals had come to cheers us up and also gave us stuff on the way to ensure we complete the marathon. Somehow i found this spirit missing. I am not sure if i can expect the same from Delhi.
For striking thing about Delhi Marathon was invariably everyone was wearing a Nike, Addidas, ASICS, etc. It was like there was a show of various products of high end sports brand. #DilliKiShowOff. Camel Pouch and knee guards, I didnt even knew the utility of many such items. For a moment we got scared OMG these guys are too prepared for the marathon. But once the race started, It was evident. But last year even I was more prepared in these aspects than just concentrating on running.
Even 1 Km mark was not over, when we saw a huge queue for toilet. It was funny, it lifted our spirits. I always had a scare for Ameya and Shail as they were regular at treadmill. I tried to hide saveguard under the fact that Shail has not run the marathon earlier. :) Anyways I felt the pressure mounting on me jogging with Shail, had hinted at him to go ahead and not wait up for me, which he eventually did. But it took 6 - 7 kms for him to realize it. :P One relief was all the petite girls and guys I was able to over take. So my mission in the whole 21.098 kms was to overtake the person who was just in front. Simple target and great motivation.
After Shail overtook me, I was able to see Ameya behind me. We thought he had overtook us while we were busy yapping. :P Ameya is always slow in the beginning and then maintains the pace. I was doing the same as I was able to maintain the distance. But then there was this reporter who came right in my way to make me stop for an interview - I ll not hide that i was happy but then Ameya overtook me and till the end i was not able to catch up. I hate him for that :P
One thing not against the organizers of the marathon was fact I relied on Radio for music. I didnt want to carry my blackberry but took my chotu motorolla so that i can listen to radio. I am sure Delhi would have loud beats that would pump up my energy levels and also help adrenaline kick in. On the contrary all were lovey dovey songs that were being played, even by the radio station that partnered with the marathon. Ditch the Hindi stations let me check the English ones... and it was supposed to some top 40 but i failed to hear the part where they announced it was top 40 breakup songs. I patiently listened to 6 songs ( i was surprised at the level patience) Hard to say I am sorry.. Ok may be the next one is fast paced song. You cant even say sorry. Will you say sorry. "SERIOUSLY???" there are songs even like this and so many???!!! I am sorry. I had enough I just shifted to my memory card which was filled with bhakti bhajans but somehow i felt better. May be god would bless me to complete the marathon. #VishwaVinayaka
There are about few things I really had trouble overcoming in Delhi. Probably only thing good abt this was it was flat land and having done a marathon earlier it was easy to complete.
1. Near IndiaGate the heat :( Dilli ki Sardi ke baare mein baat karna chodo and talk about dilli ki garmi :P ) No cover and I really thought I would get a stroke. When I reached the shadow the India Gate casted I really wanted to just stay there. But then Shail was 2 kms ahead and I needed to complete the marathon before my body gets a chance to give up.
2. Around 2nd Km I got a muscle pull in the thigh but was managing with stretches every km. After finishing half the distance you really dont want to be held back from finishing the race. Wanted Volini spray very badly to relax the muscle. Finally I see a medical camp but i was shocked to know they dont have sprays or ointments but only ice. Well the ice did help me cool me down :P ( from temper as well as dilli ki garmi)
3. Sponges - these are very important to feel hydrated esp as u cant drink too much of water. These are not something that are consumed but can be recycled. They were garbaged everywhere but not given out.
4. Traffic started plying the roads, I have heard a lot about the local buses and the maniac drivers who drive them.
6. Worst last 2 kms I had to find my way through the pool of Dream Run Participants. Even though it is for a cause, I found many taking out morcha, eating panipuri ( seriously???) and posing for pics. I have to zigzag my way thro grps of 20 - 50 odd people in grps. It was very difficult to cut thro the grp and needed the energy to say excuse me or push them and move ahead.
7. After completion the exhaustion just kicks in and would really need supplements - both liquid and solid. I got the medal and then there was announcement that the refreshments are over and only water is available. Trust me I was happy that I atleast got water. Ameya and Shail had or were about to have blackouts. Thank god for the Gatarode packet which i was too lazy to pour into a bottle and utilize.
Not exactly a compliant but more of a "good to have", we had to make our own gatorade. I survived of Gu gel, which i missed in Mumbai Marathon and on water.
Well a pat on my back - I resolved not to sit anywhere but to keep walking. I did stop to do stretches after every km but overall I am all smiles.
