Monday, February 18, 2008

My Marathon 101 !!

It all started 8 months ago....and it all went well....not juss well but fantastic....health wise everything worked out perfectly.....otherwise, with some difficulties like nagging knee pains, ankle pains, lack of sleeping late on saturday mornings, missing out late nites on friday evenings, everything was alright....till the Friday before the D-Day....

Do you know what Bad luck is? Let me explain....as I happen to be the receiver of Bad lunck since forever.....when you desperately want something....it is almost in front of you and you raise your hand to grab it....and Puff....its gone....juss like tat by magic....reasons can be anything from Harry Potter doing some magic tricks to you cutting your hand by throwing it on a knife....Bad luck has always happened....sometimes i hate to desire....coz my sub-conscious keeps telling me that it wont happen for me.... :(

Something similar happened with my Marathon....Friday before the Sunday morning Marathon, I started feeling it.....my Bad Luck creeping on me....started with a mild throat irritation and body ache....and by night fall I was down with 101.5 fever.....my sub-conscious was saying "Told you so..."....I couldnt beleive it....after all the pains and all the energy I had put in....this was happening to me....first instinct was to throw a fit and just shout....I did that for a little while....then it came to me....I have always succumbed to by Bad Luck....and I have never even thaught about standing up to it or at least trying....this time....I decided....no matter what....I am not going to fall for my sucky luck....I am running the Marathon.....no matter how I do..... :) ....Saturday went by....we were watching the Ironman 2007 on CNN....it was a most inspiring and appropriate show for me in tat condition.....One person who has both prosthetic legs swam for 2.4 miles, cycled for 112 miles and ran for 26.2 miles to become an Ironman....watching tat wat amazing.....I kept telling my self.....if he can overcome such a huge difficulty.....101 is nothing....nothing at all.....

Sunday morning....was a little better.....fever was down to 98.3 as opposed to 101.7 on saturday nite....so was a little happy about it.... :) ....we started the Half Marathon around 7:00 am on Sunday morning....the start line was the only time I smiled.....it was a struggle and very very difficult....the consolation was Gautam on my side.....I walked most of the 13.1....holding Gautam's hand....I dont think I was in any condition to even walk a mile....but I did it....and Gautam pulled me through it..... :)

On the way, we met a 60 year old Stroke survivor.....he was like "If I can do it, u sure can do it"....some one commented...."hey hey, No making out on the course"..... :) .....I wont say it was a fun Run for me.....but it had its Perks.....As we were nearing the end....again all our near and dear supporters were there to cheer us.....I did it....I achieved the unthinkable and unachievable for me....I even sprinted the last block to finish my 13.1....My Marathon 101 !!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Runner's Runner !!

I am not a Runner, so I keep wondering “Why am I running the Marathon?” The first Half Marathon I ran was the 3M Half Marathon and Relay. While running someone commented “We are doing this coz we love PAIN”. Oh well…Not me…Heck No….I hate PAIN. I am someone who doesn’t like to get hurt or pain at all…well…no one really likes it….but I have absolutely Zero tolerance for pain. I love my Hair…and running means I have ‘Bad Hair Day’ almost 3 to 4 days a week….how about that? I am sweaty and smelly and cold after all my workouts and long runs. With all these inconveniences and pains…again…”Why am I doing this?”

I keep asking myself “Why?” and I get different answers. It all started with, I wanted to find out my Physical strength…my stamina. I wanted to check if I am capable of such patience and endurance. I knew I can never do something like this all by myself…so I convinced my Husband, Gautam to do it with me….he wasn’t very sure….but he took it up for me….he started it coz he wanted me to succeed in my goal. I love him for that.

Initially I hated it all. I remember my first long run on a Saturday morning….we reached the Runtex center where it starts and there were all these people and smiles and enthusiasm…I just fell in love with it all….just the feeling that I am part of it all made me Ecstatic. I think that is one of the main reasons I didn’t give up. I love it when people are encouraging you, running with you, motivating you. There is no competition; we all are in this together. We are in this for each other. It is simply amazing.

My first Half Marathon started with energy and enthusiasm. The crowd flowed together and everyone was happy to just be there and be a part of it all. First few miles just passed….there were people on the streets motivating us….children Hi-Fi’ing…..it was great. After around 11 miles, I was dead tired and didn’t feel like I could continue….and then it happened….I saw few of my friends waiting at the 11 Mile marker with tissues…..isn’t that amazing? Just when I needed it….they were there to cheer us up and pull us through it all….they were there to run with us and support us at our most difficult Final Mile….I drew energy and strength from them….their presence pulled me through…..We started our last mile with all our heart and strength…..then came few more friends and family to cheer us….our Coach, Holly was there too…..it all made it worth it….it all was amazing….. :)

I run for all the people, who are there to cheer for me. I run for all the Runners, who are in this with me. I run for my Gautam, who is running for me. I run for my Family, who is proud of me. I also wanted to give this all more meaning by associating this with a good cause. So, I am also running for AID now. I want to do my share by raising some money for this foundation that works for the underprivileged. I am running the “AT & T Half Marathon” on 17th Feb 2008, please support my cause.

http://www.runforindia.org/runners/sumita