When I looked at some form of exercise to keep fit around July last year, there were many things that came to my mind. Having played tennis in past, it was one of my first choices. Also thought of soccer and cricket but somehow these were not fitting into the scheme of things since my work would have me travel about 8-10 days a month and whenever I would be in Pune I would have to leave home around 8 am for work and return only around 730 pm everyday.
Having taken to running 10 years ago, I thought it is not a bad idea to restart. I used to run along with playing tennis in early 2000s. But change of jobs and locations + lethargy had its effects and I eventually was having a very sedentary lifestyle for nearly 8 years !! Thats the reason when I actually decided enough is enough in July last year, I was badly out of shape. This was another reason I had to be careful to take up a sport, since it requires lot of conditioning before you play any game at any level, even if it is recreational.
Hence I then decided that let me do something to start with. So I started walking and jogging as a combination, starting with 2-3 km per day average. I did this relentlessly. Occasionally I would do a long 6-7 km during the week. After 3-4 months I gathered the courage and even did a 10 km on a Sunday just to check on my endurance. I found this activity very refreshing and it was quite easy to follow even if I was on tour. So I would have my shoes packed in my travel kit everytime I travelled. This ensured I did the morning 30-45 minutes of workout in every place I went. The 6 months of 2014 (July to Dec) I managed to run/walk close to 600 km. My experience was growing and I was training for better things. It had a good result on my overall health and I managed to shed quite a few pounds and at start of 2015 was in shape to run at least 5-6 km at a stretch. Was also putting in a lot of 10 km by then. Slowly and steadily my pace was increasing too from a modest 7 to 7:30 min/km, I was at 6:30 min/ km at start of 2015. To improve my endurance, I took up a 100 day challenge from May 1st 2015 to Aug 8th 2015 where I ran every day without a single day break. In this I covered 550 km in 100 days at an avg pace of 6:29 min/km. By end of Aug 2015, have crossed 1260 km which is showing that I am on track to achieve 1800 km in 2015, an aim I set for myself on Jan 1st 2015. Now is the time to take this to the next level I thought. But somehow had this apprehension whether I really can do it ?
I have done numerous 10 km runs by now. At least have been doing 3 on an average per month since Jan 2015. The longest I have run is 12 km in 82 minutes. Best time for a 10 km was 61 minutes. The first event I decided to participate was scheduled for 20th Sept 2015, the HAPPY HEARTS HM, where I entered myself in 10 km category. But this got postponed to 25th Oct 2015. I had already started training for 20th Sept event for past month, plus I do admit that the 100 day challenge has a resounding effect on my entire way of thinking and lookout towards running. I have reached a territory in running where I feel a day is incomplete without a run, specially in the morning. It is the 6 am run that I really enjoy and it is like oxygen supply for the rest of the day for me !!
Looking at the turn of events, 20th Sept 2015 became a date that I then thought, “event or no event, let me test my endurance one more time”. But the difference, not the regular 10 km, that I had also done on 17th Sept 2015 just for fun and did it in 62:30 min. Let me go for a HALF MARATHON. I was all geared up on 20th Sept, got up at 530 am and had a quick bite as they say you should have a nutritious meal before a long run. Also need to be hydrated enough throughout the run + a night before. I was confident, and here I was on the road at 603 am. Started on the track on Sus Road towards Sus Gaon and on to the Symbiosis International University. This is a track I have done in past, on 6th March 2015, 12 km in 82 minutes. But the difference today was that I was going to run much longer. I reached 5 km mark in a decent 6:15 min/km, quite ok I would say. By the time I got to the Symbiosis gate it was 7.5 km done at 6.30 min/km. Did the 10 km subsequently in 66:40 min. The half way mark of 21.1 km was done in 73 minutes, I looked on course for a decent time, maybe sub 2 hour !!! But this is where endurance is important, this is where the real deal is. After 12th km found myself slowing down in pace, was getting cramps in my lower foot and calves. It was not easy the next 8-9 km. I was struggling to keep pace and took a water break to hydrate myself. Though I was constantly having water through the run, somehow the cramps had started and I was wondering at this point – should I throw in the towel ? Yet there was an inner voice – if you have done 10 km so many times, another 10 is just a walk in the park!!! This is the mind that was talking, always playing games with us as they say, the wicked and naughty mind !!! I decided lets go for it, run if you can, walk if you cannot run, crawl if you cannot walk but JUST DO IT !!! Somehow I reached the 15 km mark, by which time I was on the return path past Sus Gaon and reaching Sus Road. Was slowing down though and walking briskly to keep the pace up as running was getting difficult due to the cramps. I occasionally ran and built up some pace but it was really too much to handle. The last 5 km was there once I reached Sus Road hill top. This was a downward slope so was able to get better although the cramps were hurting now. Reached the 20 km mark at 2:30 hrs, and the last km was there. Somehow managed to turn back on the home run from link road and back towards my home, managed to do the last km or so and there I was 2:39:05 the final time. Oh man !! The feeling is just great – have done the HALF MARATHON, 21.1 km FOR THE FIRST TIME !! It was a god sent gift that Priya was there with me for that last km or so where I needed someone to pep me up, the mere presence was sufficient. I cannot forget this day, memorable for sure and an out of this world achievement for me. I would not have imagined this feat a year ago when I was contemplating what form of workout I should take up to improve my fitness, lose weight and improve wellbeing.
Now I am confident of doing the half marathon a few more times till I can get into the full marathon !! Asking for too much ?? Well There has to be an aim, a motivation, else where will you push yourself out of the comfort zone. Till 20th Sept 2015, comfort zone was 10 km. I stepped beyond that and did the 21.1 km. This is now to be repeated over and over again to build confidence, improve the time, get the timing around 2 hours !! Such are the type of benchmarks that need to be set so that one trains towards that and achieves it. It will take time, i know for sure. When I did my first 10 km in Sept 2014, the timing was well past 82 minutes and today I do a 10 km in around 61-62 minutes (best time). This comes with training, practice, regular workout and focused effort. Now I feel very good and confident. Just need to continue at the same intensity and hope for support from god to help me achieve better results.