Its amazing how things just work out.
At least 4 years back in time I was working out in our apartment gym when I met this kid. Recent Colg Grad running on treadmill for good 45 mins + . I was super impressed with his dedication, I went up to him and asked him about his run . Till this year, I was always afraid of running long distance. Somehow had this feeling about pain in my shin bone ( between knee - ankle ) . I guess I was just afraid and never tried to overcome it.
This year however has been a turn around. As I mentioned before couple of my friends took to heart about health and have been acting on it. We had decided to take part in fund raising activities and while doing that work on our health. It all started with a simple 5k run for JPM Chase. It was a simple one and everyone finished pretty conveniently. Later My friend kind of started pushing me for a Newport 10K run !
It was my first try for a long distance, yeah 10K is definitely long distance run for me :)
Facebook link to pictures It was a fun experience and Cant even begin to tell the feeling I got at the finish line. Somewhere deep down it felt like accomplishing something. It was a great time.
Time past and My friend asked me about Half Marathon ! about 13.1 miles: thats about 21 km !
I was like no ways dude , thats way beyond our capacity. For some odd reason that thought was planted in our heads that may be we will give it a shot. We have been playing racket ball for quiet some time now and did build some stamina , however running a half marathon is a different beast in itself !
Time past and its exactly 1.5 weeks before the Run. Couple of us decided to go for a run in the morning. We run for about 5.5 miles and return back home and something just struck.We were not as tired and we had returned just because we ran for 50 mins or so ! Thats it, I came back home and give it a shot to go for the kill. Registered for Newport Half Marathon and bingo :) it was a good decision.
Since we had not trained for it at all, there was always this feeling of hurting your knee/ankle while running this long distance: Runner knee and I was a little afraid of it. So my maths was simple. I am going to go out there and give my best try. Knowing well that we havent trained for it, I am ready to opt out if things dont work out. My friend Manas Phadnis had the same goal, just try to finish the race: even if it takes 2.5 hours to get there.
Race day : we are super excited, get up early in the morning. Had stuffed myself with loads of carbs the previous night. Drank a whole lot of water and we set sail for the race.
Race Preparation :
- Buying nice headphones
- Running shoes
- energy drinks/bars
- carb sources
- uploading songs on the phone
- and of course the RunKeeper to track race day progress.
We begin the race and its so much fun already. Hundreds of people all excited. Colorful outfits,glaring music, some tensed, some relaxed, it was a sight in itself. For the first couple of miles I was confused and did not know what speed to maintain, yeah guess what had never ran more than 10k before and wasnt even sure if I will ever be able to maintain stamina for that long.In that confused state, I kept running, good songs helped here :)
1 mile Mark : Manas and I just gave each other a high5 for participating in this run :)
3 mile Mark : All that water I had in the morning was now starting to show :) haha, had to literally get off the track and find a gas station to take a restroom break !!! Now that I think of it it sounds funny but at that time every little detail was making a difference. I was scared about the run was too mindful of every little feeling.
6 mile Mark (10k ish) : I am thinking to myself, this is the most I have ever run. Beyond this is all new territory. I become even more cautious and slow down a bit.We are still maintaining 6 mile an hour.
8 mile Mark : Remember I was maintaining a medium speed in the first half of the run due to my fear of completion or not ! Guess what as a result I was in the pack of people who run at 10 miles an hour....The real runners were way ahead. I took a quick break and messaged Vandita about my approx finish time. We are at Liberty state park, Lush green outfield, morning sunlight by the river, Statue of Liberty in the backdrop and everyone panting..photographers/cheerleaders/spectators/ and the runners..it was serene. Glaring Music and this particular song plays {http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSsSM2IR2LY}
Sudden burst of energy ! Songs have that effect no us I guess !
- Paint it red
- Ik junoon !
- Deewangi !
- Sab janjeere tod k
and just to get into that mode, I am playing this very song while I am writing this :) can already feel that rush from the race day !
Thats it ! I shed all my inhibitions and up the ante ! Put the song on repeat and upped the volume ....Things just took a U turn and suddenly I am on 100 m race mode...Sudden rush of emotions/energy...thank god for that song/view :) I finished that last energy bar I had and suit up !!! Suddenly I am overtaking people. What a feeling and it just keept building. I am not sure if I have ever experienced that rush before !
Suddenly I was running
12 Mile mark : Interestingly enough this race is happening right around where we stay. The last mile of the race goes right around our house.The last part was the most fun and as we saw the "FINISH" line approaching, that particular feeling made all the effort totally worth it.By this time I was dead tired but its amazing how a group of people keep inspiring you. If it was not for all the people in the race I could have hardly made it. All these participants are so full of energy and the whole atmosphere is super charged, you just have to do your bit and it all works out ...
FINISH line: ohh yeah we all made it ! Instead of finishing in 2 hours 30 mins....I clocked 2 hours 4 mins. Took a picture of the finish line timer while running and couldnt believe it ! Finally we were there...Everyone made it ! no injuries....no major pain. It was an accomplishment. Ek junnon ek deewangi , song was still playing.
Finish line pictures
At least 4 years back in time I was working out in our apartment gym when I met this kid. Recent Colg Grad running on treadmill for good 45 mins + . I was super impressed with his dedication, I went up to him and asked him about his run . Till this year, I was always afraid of running long distance. Somehow had this feeling about pain in my shin bone ( between knee - ankle ) . I guess I was just afraid and never tried to overcome it.
This year however has been a turn around. As I mentioned before couple of my friends took to heart about health and have been acting on it. We had decided to take part in fund raising activities and while doing that work on our health. It all started with a simple 5k run for JPM Chase. It was a simple one and everyone finished pretty conveniently. Later My friend kind of started pushing me for a Newport 10K run !
It was my first try for a long distance, yeah 10K is definitely long distance run for me :)
Facebook link to pictures It was a fun experience and Cant even begin to tell the feeling I got at the finish line. Somewhere deep down it felt like accomplishing something. It was a great time.
Time past and My friend asked me about Half Marathon ! about 13.1 miles: thats about 21 km !
I was like no ways dude , thats way beyond our capacity. For some odd reason that thought was planted in our heads that may be we will give it a shot. We have been playing racket ball for quiet some time now and did build some stamina , however running a half marathon is a different beast in itself !
Time past and its exactly 1.5 weeks before the Run. Couple of us decided to go for a run in the morning. We run for about 5.5 miles and return back home and something just struck.We were not as tired and we had returned just because we ran for 50 mins or so ! Thats it, I came back home and give it a shot to go for the kill. Registered for Newport Half Marathon and bingo :) it was a good decision.
Since we had not trained for it at all, there was always this feeling of hurting your knee/ankle while running this long distance: Runner knee and I was a little afraid of it. So my maths was simple. I am going to go out there and give my best try. Knowing well that we havent trained for it, I am ready to opt out if things dont work out. My friend Manas Phadnis had the same goal, just try to finish the race: even if it takes 2.5 hours to get there.
Race day : we are super excited, get up early in the morning. Had stuffed myself with loads of carbs the previous night. Drank a whole lot of water and we set sail for the race.
Race Preparation :
- Buying nice headphones
- Running shoes
- energy drinks/bars
- carb sources
- uploading songs on the phone
- and of course the RunKeeper to track race day progress.
We begin the race and its so much fun already. Hundreds of people all excited. Colorful outfits,glaring music, some tensed, some relaxed, it was a sight in itself. For the first couple of miles I was confused and did not know what speed to maintain, yeah guess what had never ran more than 10k before and wasnt even sure if I will ever be able to maintain stamina for that long.In that confused state, I kept running, good songs helped here :)
1 mile Mark : Manas and I just gave each other a high5 for participating in this run :)
3 mile Mark : All that water I had in the morning was now starting to show :) haha, had to literally get off the track and find a gas station to take a restroom break !!! Now that I think of it it sounds funny but at that time every little detail was making a difference. I was scared about the run was too mindful of every little feeling.
6 mile Mark (10k ish) : I am thinking to myself, this is the most I have ever run. Beyond this is all new territory. I become even more cautious and slow down a bit.We are still maintaining 6 mile an hour.
8 mile Mark : Remember I was maintaining a medium speed in the first half of the run due to my fear of completion or not ! Guess what as a result I was in the pack of people who run at 10 miles an hour....The real runners were way ahead. I took a quick break and messaged Vandita about my approx finish time. We are at Liberty state park, Lush green outfield, morning sunlight by the river, Statue of Liberty in the backdrop and everyone panting..photographers/cheerleaders/spectators/ and the runners..it was serene. Glaring Music and this particular song plays {http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSsSM2IR2LY}
Sudden burst of energy ! Songs have that effect no us I guess !
- Paint it red
- Ik junoon !
- Deewangi !
- Sab janjeere tod k
and just to get into that mode, I am playing this very song while I am writing this :) can already feel that rush from the race day !
Thats it ! I shed all my inhibitions and up the ante ! Put the song on repeat and upped the volume ....Things just took a U turn and suddenly I am on 100 m race mode...Sudden rush of emotions/energy...thank god for that song/view :) I finished that last energy bar I had and suit up !!! Suddenly I am overtaking people. What a feeling and it just keept building. I am not sure if I have ever experienced that rush before !
Suddenly I was running
12 Mile mark : Interestingly enough this race is happening right around where we stay. The last mile of the race goes right around our house.The last part was the most fun and as we saw the "FINISH" line approaching, that particular feeling made all the effort totally worth it.By this time I was dead tired but its amazing how a group of people keep inspiring you. If it was not for all the people in the race I could have hardly made it. All these participants are so full of energy and the whole atmosphere is super charged, you just have to do your bit and it all works out ...
FINISH line: ohh yeah we all made it ! Instead of finishing in 2 hours 30 mins....I clocked 2 hours 4 mins. Took a picture of the finish line timer while running and couldnt believe it ! Finally we were there...Everyone made it ! no injuries....no major pain. It was an accomplishment. Ek junnon ek deewangi , song was still playing.
Finish line pictures
