Getting high on the highway

"This is it. You have put in your hard work. Now, go out there and have fun. When you wake up today, you are a runner. When you go to bed you will be a Marathoner" - This was the statement which my Nike+ coach feature held up as the pep talk for Dec 14.

That was the day of my first full marathon. 42.2 km.

I have been running on and off for the past 6-7 years but never more than 10K. My first attempt at long distance running was Delhi Half Marathon 2011. It literally was my first attempt because I didn't train. I remember trying to train in Ghaziabad. Just packed a sling bag and went jogging. I came back home panting! I remember my Mom laughing at me saying I've put on a lot of weight. Now, when you are an Indian guy and your Mom says you have put on weight then that's a huge red flag! In the eyes of Indian mothers, their sons are always malnourished. I had a plan for the half marathon: I figured I'll just show up on the day of the race and keep running. How bad can it be? Well, I wasn’t totally wrong. It wasn’t bad, it was horrible! I twisted my ankle near the 13 km mark and had to walk the remaining 8.1 km. Took 3:30 for a half marathon! It was a humiliation! Friends were brutal, someone quipped "Another 30 mins and a camera you could have been a tourist in Delhi". I was so embarrassed that I didn't even inform the HR when she came asking if I had run the half marathon. She wanted it for the Corporate Newsletter! No way! So, that’s how I promised myself that I’ll do a respectable timing for the half marathon and will complete a full marathon.

Next scene: Manila. I was working in Manila for about a year and a half. Manila is a great place to run. More than what the place offers, it’s what the people of the place choose to make out to it. Manila has races almost every weekend. Affordable races, treks almost every weekend. I was running on and off, almost every evening. Phil Smithson, who I met during a trek to the rice terraces was my running inspiration then. Elroy Serrao was my trekking buddy. This was about the time when I read – “Born to Run”. This motivated me to keep running. I had signed up for a 10K in Metro Manila. This is an important race since this was my first tryst with runners’ high. I did a personal best of 49 minutes for 10K. Came back home, made a smoothie and sat down to enjoy the high. After a 10 km everything seemed right with the world, I decided that’s why I run. Running is cool, but it can be equally cruel. Just when you think, you are progressing. You are adding mileage. You are running faster. Just when you think you are in the zone, you have a nagging shin pain. Lower back pain. Blisters. Shin splints. Fever. It’s your will power to hit the track, start running again. Juggle work and personal commitments to take time to run. Running is hard work, but doesn’t that apply to anything worth having?

So back in Delhi, 2013 I was cruising along till I got a nagging nerve compression in my left leg. The only fix – rest. I wanted to finish the half marathon under 2 hours but Delhi winter and the injury meant I was able to complete it in 2 hours 5 minutes. The sub-2 hour finish will have to wait. By now, I was confident of completing my full marathon.

I registered for the full-marathon and a half-marathon in 2014. I had two things going for me which I didn’t have the previous years. 1. Nike+ came up with this coach feature. Really helpful running log to help you train for the full marathon. 2. I had a running buddy, Rahul Tom Joseph. I had inspired (he he he) RTJ to sign-up for the half-marathon. The training was the best part of the entire experience. 24 weeks, 1000 km, long runs in Lodhi Garden, waking up at 4:00  AM to go for a run in Delhi! This at least meant I could eat anything I wanted and still not put on any weight! I was running more than 150 km a month. My thoughtful wife got me a Garmin Forerunner GPS watch for my birthday. I was pretty kicked. Half-marathon came up. This time I was sure I can complete it under 2 hours, since during the training runs I was on target. During the half-marathon my left leg started acting up after 11km mark, but I was not going to give up – I limped, then ran slowly towards the finish line. I completed in 2 hours 1 minute! The sub-2 hour finish will have to wait, yet again. The full marathon was on Dec 14^th, 3 weeks away. This was just another training run.

Every Saturday, I woke up at 3:45 AM, got ready, drove to Lodhi Gardens in Delhi. They have an excellent mud trail – 2.2 km loop. I take my refreshments. Run ~30 km. It takes be roughly 3 hours. I’m usually back home for a cold shower and breakfast. Sunday is a rest day. Thursday is for cross training. Every other day is for running. Come Dec 14^th, Winter was setting in Delhi. It had rained the previous day. I was slightly nervous, something I last felt the first day I met my wife. Expectations of completing a full marathon, 42 km! The longest I had ever run before was 35 km. The morning of the run, RTJ had dropped me off at the starting point at 5:30 AM. The running route was slightly off the Gurgaon highway. One loop was 10.55 km. 2 loops to a half marathon. 4 for a full marathon. “It’s simple” I told myself. “Just run 4 rounds”. I was just chatting up with the other participants. There were guys who had registered for an ultra-marathon (63.3 km!! Yikes!). The Full Marathon started at 6, half marathon and 10 km at 7. So, there were only around 30-40 people present. My guardian angel was Jasmeet Arora. He not only offered to keep my jacket in his car but gave me the chewing gel! He had flown-in from Singapore just the previous night. For non-runners the chewing gel is something that is supposed to help you hydrate and fight hunger. It’s a gooey substance which all runners love. I prefer mutton biriyani. So, back to the race, everyone was pumped; Rahul Verghese, the race director, was informing about the race route, water stations and things to watch out for. It was cold, dry and cloudy. It was probably the best weather for running.  For me, the race had 4 milestones– 1^st: 10.5 km milestone. This was a breeze. It felt like I didn’t even land my feet on the ground – two reasons – One, it was the first quarter of the race, but second – it was pitch dark. I almost ran into a meandering cow. Yes, an actual cow! I finished 10.5 km in 1 hour. About the pace I wanted to complete. When you plan for running marathons there are several metrics which you come across. “A marathon is only half done when you cross 32 km.” “When you run a marathon, you lose around 2% of your body weight”. “The wall: where your body just shuts down – 27-30 km mark”. I completed the second milestone: 21 km in 2:11. My target for the race was 4:45. So far so good. My guess was the 3^rd loop: 21 – 31.5 km will be the toughest. I was wrong. The stretch from 31.5 km to 36.75 km was the toughest. After that it was just a matter of staying on the road. That’s the stretch where I had to muster all the determination to keep myself going. “No walking. No stopping.”. It is said that Paula Radcliffe, the current women’s marathon record holder, kept chanting “I love you Isla” during a New York Marathon. Isla is Paula’s daughter, she was less than a year old then. What does a year old infant care about how much her mother runs? No, there’s something about running which connects with humans at more primal level. It is similar to being in love. It was Paula’s love for her daughter, which she was able to tap into to keep motivated. During the run, I realized how much I loved my wife and my brother. I needed that to keep going. The last 100 meters was pure bliss. I could see the finish line. I had energy to spare. I had done it. I have run 42.2 km and can high-five my friend waiting for me at the finish line. I crossed the finish line, thumped my chest and stopped the timer on my Garmin. 4:45 for the first full marathon! It’s just a race, but it’s also life in 42.2 km. I understood a little more about myself.

Wonderful Wayanad

We'll I'm back again.. as usual after a long break.. Too much work kept me away from doing constructive things like watching back to back movies, running, training @ the gym, long phone chats, or even sleeping away to glory.. Okay.. All said and done.. I just wanted to write this blog to keep record of one of the best trips I've had in my life.. My trip to Wyanad with my oldest friends.. I had to delete my previous post cuz of few requests :P.. But I just wanted to document this trip in words so that I could relive the moments sometime later..

For the past few months now, I've been very unfortunate.. Too much work (though it is enjoyable) I was planning for a break.. Then one of my school buddies (Anoop) had returned from a long stint onsite and one more friend, SK had come down to India for his semester break. So we had just planned to go to some nice place.. All my school friends are put up in Chennai and so we wanted to meet up in some place, and I suggested Wyanad. And Wyanad it was..

After getting my leave for two days approved from my PM, I left for Wyanad feeling a little apprehensive as there was still some work left, I had to be in office for a release, but it is not everyday that we get a chance to go to Wyanad with friends.. I boarded the bus to Calicut from B'lore.. I reached there exactly @ 6:00 AM on Saturday morning.. The other four friends (SK, Anoop, Prashanth and Satish) were already there @ the bus stand waiting for me in the car, it was a Chevrolet Tavera. Now, we had to reach our hotel in Wyanad, it was a 80 km drive. And.. on route I got into IIM K (:D :D :D) I even read for sometime there.. (I was just reading a SMS from my Mobile :P) After getting into IIM K.. we continued our way to Wyanad.. It was a wonderful drive.. Kerala.. Truly God's own Country..

On route, Satish had a upset tummy.. we had to stop the car alongside some handpump.. and Out went Satish with a water bottle in his hand.. and he came outta a bush in less than two mins.. I've never even heard of someone doing it so quick.. But then, the relief was evident from the look on his face.. Our next stop was Banasura dam, Though the monsoon, as we were told, wasn't upto the expectation, the view was breath taking. We had to while away time till the boatman arrived.. we played our favourite past time.. 'Beating Anoop'..
Then.. a slow, sleep inducing, boring boating we went to our hotel. We freshened up and then we went to Edakkal caves.. Then SK, Tonu and I went for the 1.5 km trekking up..
I was a splendid view.. This place is very close to the TN Karnataka border, and the view was.. Splendid..

Thats the pic-->
I'm altophobic.. that probably tells why I'm short :P .. I wasn't prepared for this
trekking by any means.. I was in my jeans and I was wearing sandals.. But the trekking was very very good.. Though we were around 50 M away from conquering the summit, due to lack of time, lack of inspiration (We weren't expecting any hot Mallu chick to make it up there. :P) and slight drizzling, we returned came back to meet Anoop and Satish who missed the fun. SK and I decided to come early next morning and conquer the Summit :P.. but it never materialized.. We then went to the Sanctuary.. There was a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge 35 yr old tusker @ the entrance.. Apart from that tusker.. and a few more elephants and few spotted deers, the 22km safari didn't have much wildlife to offer (Though Anoop and our Truck driver claimed that they saw a Tiger running across the road) .. I didn't even see a pussy cat (:evil).. We then returned to our hotel.. and I forgot to mention.. roadside eateries.. awesome fish.. and lots of chicken and little beef constituted my diet.. I always feel.. that people who aren't accustomed to eating meat are missing something in life.. but my beliefs apart, the food was delicious.. (perhaps cuz we were lucky to end up in hotels not using coconut oil for cooking)..

Then.. Lots of card games well into the night.. and some boating.. some more jungle exploration.. and a half naked full body massage.. and more fish.. and chips and chicken and parotta and dasavatharam songs and then the ultimate finish..

Tusharagiri falls..

I have no words to describe.. It was tooo goood.. I'll upload the photos once I get them..

Then.. We had a royal lunch @ Calicut AKA Kozhikode.. and I was just amazed to see that

Scomberomorus commerson fry (Vanjiram fish fry :D) was only 17 bucks a piece.. and it was real good.. right from the Calicut fisheries I suppose...

I then had to get the train back to Chennai to attend my younger brother's engg. Counselling @ my Alma mater.. Anna University.

After lotsa drama.. He managed to get into CEG ECE.. Thanks to my DAD..

My bro getting into AU.. meant one more travel for me.. It was Tirupathi.. I'll catch you all on that one in some time ;)


Well.. I wrote this blog only to keep to myself as a token of rememberance.. If you have read through the whole thing.. Then Thanks a lot!! Comments welcome.

Yours,
RK

A special innings

Hi.. I'm back after a long long time.. I was here.. but just didn't get the drive to write anything.. At times when I did get the drive.. there wasn't anything to write about :(.. Does that mean.. I got something to write about now?? Yes.. Infact lots.. I stay with a very competitive bunch of roomies.. and they do get things to write about.. I.. on the other hand.. didn't think there was anything worthy.. but I just wanted to write about something I enjoyed very much this weekend..

Saturday Morning.. I was playing for my Corporate Cricket Team.. had a tough time acting as a wicket keeper.. Wicket Keeping sure is a dog's job.. The pads, gloves, cheers and the uncountable number of sit-ups.. But I enjoyed it thoroughly.. and it was even more sweet because we actually won the game.. It was Oracle Vs. Alcatel and we did win hands down.. It was just a 20-20 match.. but I was exhausted after the match..

Come sunday Morning.. Ind Vs Aus first final at the SCG, and I was looking out for this one, because, my all-time favourite hero, Sachin Tendulkar had actually mentioned "We would get the Aussies this time.."

And he did..

I watched the entire innings without missing a single delivery (an achievement in itself. LOL).. It was by far one of the best innings I had ever watched.. and I've been watching cricket from the time I started watching TV.. The batting was just superb.. just a 20-20 exhausts me so much.. and I'm in my, what they would call, 'Youth'.. How can person possibly play close to 20 years of international cricket and still want more and still keep improving?? It is just unbelievable.. For me one thing this Man, a mere 5' 7", has always been is - a source of inspiration. Not just for those booming drives or cheeky clicks or the pulls or the cuts or the clicks or the flicks..

As I read somewhere : "He started his career in the early 90s.. A time when we, Indians, woke up from a deep economic slumber. This young lad showed us, through his game, that we could definitely take on the world." Very true.

Yes, there were so many greats before him, and there sure will be many after him, but Sachin Tendulkar is surely a class apart.


There are millions and millions of articles and accolades for Sachin.. this means nothing to him.. but means a lot to me.. that's why we blog right? its not for the others.. it is for the 'I'.

Hello, World!

Hi ppl.. this is my first attempt at this so called blogging... I was reading the so called BLOG blogged by a friend of mine and it asked for a comment and I felt like giving one too.. The site also asked me to register, which I dutifully did. Then, I felt.. why not try writing one myself.. In the process this site asked for a name for my BLOGS, now, I gotta be different, shouldn't I?? So when I was thinking how to differently name this blog when I have a so very common "karthik" as my name, This idea popped up.. Why not name it the way people know me as - RK(Short for Regunathan Karthik).. I dunno who gave me that name, but, I identify myself with "RK" than any other name.. So that's how I named this BLOGSPOT..

For ppl who have taken the pains to read my so called blog and still can't figure it out>>
"arc-a" is nothing but RK.