Marathoner's Archives

It was end of 2004 when I saw the Mumbai Marathon which sparked in me a desire to become a marathoner. This inspiration was partly to evaluate my stamina, to see if I really could run those 42 kms!
It was a year after I had finished my Engineering and had joined a software company. I consider Software Engineers physically the most weak among professionals which partly can be blamed on the software work culture and also due to todays life style. I believe Marathon is not just physical but a mental challenge too.
You lose and yet you win! This is what I have to say about marathons!
I have till now participated in 3 full marathons and a half marathon and its still a dream to finish one...
I had started running some distance before the D-Day. My longest run which I feel was one great practice session was a run to my Office in Basavanagudi. I started at 5 am in the morning and was back home at around 7:30. Distance covered was 16 kms.
My first marathon was the first international marathon in Bangalore. I was very over confident. That tells it all... 5 hours of running and i gave up with another 9 kms remaining. at the 32nd km milestone ie..
My second run was a half marathon - 21 kms. This one i am glad to say I finished to perfectly. This accomplishment was very satisfying :) I didn't stop from start to finish. It was a great feeling.
This run now boosted my confidence to try once more and be a true marathoner!
To people who are new to marathon: Marathon is not just about physical strength but also a test to your mind. Can you withstand the pain, can you be in peace with your mind.
Now it was time for the Mumbai Marathon, it was the end of 2005. This time I wasn't alone. I had my dear uncle with me :) and truly he was the man who showed what the true spirit of marathon was... This run an episode for me, I will elaborate about my marathon experiences in a different blog whenever I find some more time... For the time being, all I can say is if it wasn't for my uncle I would have stopped at 26 kms... But I went on for another 12 kms, after which I lost my way... I didn't know the way back as I was not familiar with the Mumbai traffic and moreover it was 7 hours of running... So the organizers had left and I didn't have any idea which way to go... so had to abandon my run :( It was so near and yet so far... At 38 kms it was end of the greatest runs of my life :)
Later in the year 2006 I participated in the Bangalore full marathon event without enough practice... This time too I failed to complete, doing just 32 kms similar to my first full marathon attempt.
All in all I still enjoy running and I hope to fulfill my dream to do the full marathon some day.
A word of precaution: Please don't attempt the full marathon without proper practice. Prior to the actual event you should have atleast done a 30 kms "comfortably" to be sure of completing a full marathon.
End of it all I have to praise the way the Mumbai Marthon was conducted. In Bangalore the run isn't really appreciated by the public nor do the organizers hold on for the slow runners who can't make it within 4 hours.
Running is good and I believe it is a simple indicator to our city's health and its sportive spirit.
Next time I run, I will be running on veg power :) It is end of August now... Starting Oct, for the next 2 months I will be working out in the gym and then I hit the roads :) another 3 months of running before I attempt my final run. That will be end of one of the many quest's I have chosen to quench! One quest ends and the other starts :)