My first full Marathon:)

“Pain is temporary but pride lasts forever”, this is something I experienced on Sunday 19^th Oct when I ran my first full marathon at Bengaluru Marathon! The pain of running 42.195km vanished in one day but the achievement still remains:).

I wanted to run my full Marathon last year itself but didn’t do it. However, sometime in August I read about Bangalore Marathon and took the first step of registering for the run. Things started to happen the moment registration was done. Started reading about what it takes to run full marathon. And step by step increased the distance during the practice run on Sundays. The yoga classes helped to improve breathing and bring stability and calm during the runs. Increasing the distance on practice sessions on Sundays was also not easy. 10km, 15km, 20km, 25km and finally 32km 2 weeks before the run. Sometimes as early as 530AM in morning. During one such practice I started my run at 5:30AM, when I reached Cubbon park there were few volunteers standing in the pitch dark and not allowing vehicles to enter few roads. That morning there was a traffic awareness drive at the park. The function started by around 8 and completed by 9. They also finished removing all the shamiyana’s and I kept running!:)

During this time also ran my first official half Marathon along the banks of Kaveri river at Kaveri Trial Marathon in Srirangapatna in September. We left Bangalore at 2AM in morning with 2 other colleagues from Bosch, completed the run and returned back by 2PM. I completed the run in 2hr 6m.

I was also very impressed with the Bengaluru Marathon team. They organised practice runs at different places in Bangalore, one week we ran behind the Art Of Living campus on Kanakpura road. And one day we had an Addidas Adreline run at the Kanteerava Stadium. It was a 5km run with push ups, hurdles, ramp running and finally a 200m sprint to end the race. Kudos to the team for the way they build up the momentum and kept all of us engaged in running.

Finally, the D day arrived on Sunday 19^th Oct. Race started at 5AM. We were very lucky to have such a pleasant weather on the race day. Right throughout the race sun never came out. Route was also very nice. Cubbon park to Ulsoor lake -> old Airport road, Inidiranagar to Kormanagala on inner ring road, in front of Bosch office in Kormangala till Adugodi and then u turn all the way back till Kanteerava stadium. Best part of the run was at 22-24km while going and 31-33km on return at the inner ring road Kormanagala. There was a 2km long line of Army Jawans standing on the either side of the road and cheering us:). Wow! Some of them also called out names and cheered (names were written on the Bib), “Sunil sir badeya running!”, “Sunil sir thoda aur josh”, “Keep running”. I guess this was the best part of the race for all the 2000 odd full Marathoners. I kept smiling, thanking them and saluting our real heroes!

Everything was fine till this point. Completed the first 30km in 3hours and 3min. However, soon all the positive thoughts vanished. At 37km mark, I kept screaming in my head “Somebody please stop this torture, I don’t want to run anymore!”. To make things worse traffic was opened and had to manage running with traffic (only bad thing about the otherwise extraordinary event). Somehow dragged the body and reached the stadium. Finally, I did it! Felt so satisfied. All the practice runs had paid off!

Had the most wanted breakfast from Adigas and limped back home with the medal around the neck. Timing wasn’t impressive enough. Took 4hr 43m and 2s to complete the race. Looking to improve in the next attempt either at Chennai Marathon or Bangalore mid night marathon in December this year. 

My 8th 10Km run!

I first started running in 2010. Started with the intention of being fit and healthy but soon I started enjoying the run and setting goals. Kept practicing almost every day morning at Cubbon park. And keeping a track of every day run (distance and time to run). Slowly I started participating in 10km runs (TCS10k run, IISC 10k run and one at Christ college).

Made new friends and found people with same interest. We started practicing together and participating in the runs. At one time me and my cousin use to cycle till Lal Bagh, run in Lal Bagh with Bosch colleagues and then cycle back home. Shared my experience with many friends and colleagues to encourage running.

My best performance so far was completing 10km in 45minutes, during 10km run in IISC campus sometime in Apr 2010. Also, won two times finisher t shirts in Sufeast 10k run and TC10k run (finished in first 500). All this was some time back!

Over last 2 years the practice sessions reduced, put on weight and could not catch up my old speed. Had my own reasons for not running. Always wanted to wake up early and run but used to give up in those few minutes in morning when the alarm rang.

However, I never stopped dreaming of running long distances. Was inspired whenever I read articles of people who had similar passion and what they were achieving. One such article that I recently came across was of CEO& MD of TCS N Chandrasekaran (attached below).

 With new determination I once again started practicing 2 times in a week and preparing for TCS10k run. Last Sunday on 18^th May I ran my 8^th official 10km run. The energy level during the run was just wow! People cheering along the route, shouting names, drums being played. Completed the run in 55.5min (3min faster than last year). A huge satisfaction of completing the run!

Needless to say the advantage of running are huge. For me running is now about how I can consistently chase my dreams. Just like N Chandrasekaran I also plan to run half marathons and full marathons in different cities and countries in coming years (there is so much, so much to learn and improve).

Also, attached is the photo with my baby after the TCS10k run, pulling the medalJ