Hoping this would be first of many

I was tempted by the prospect of running a full marathon in 2012 when I read about KTM having a 42.2KM run. I also wanted to have a check on my preparations for the Mumbai Marathon (SCMM). With a run you get to check your heart, lungs and legs. More than anything it is your mind which gives up before any of these. It is an in built safety mechanism wher the mind says you to stop even before you reached your stopping point.

As it turns out I was given some body else's running number and timing chip. I got these things changed and reached the venue by 5:30AM. my run was to begin at 6:15AM. I had some time for my pre-run stretch and checks. I told my self I could do it even though without much preparations the previous month as I moved to a new location.

We were flagged off at 6:15 sharp. I was fine till I reached 9.5K. The next one Km was steep uphill run. I did this with a bit of effort and all was well until 21.1K. The half marathon finish point. There were people standing here cheering any one and everyone. I was filled with some enthusiasm after this and ran again till the next uphill of 30K. Along the way I asked a few people who had given up to run with me. It's because of this I could run a few kilometers at thsi point. Then came the worst part. I hit the dreaded 'WALL' This is a condition where you have exhausted all your energy reserves and the mind has given up. Luckily I had to go back to the starting point even if I wanted to go home, thereby completing my full marathon distance. I walked for about 6 KMs. Stopping every 2 KMs for water and ice. At about 2 KM to finish the organizing committee came on a bike asked me if I could complete the run or I needed any help. They would pick me and drop me at the end, but I would not complete the marathon. I would be in the 'DNF' part of the results sheet. I wanted to finish no matter what time I took. This gave a rush of blood to my head an I ran my way to the finish line.

I went in with no target, so no disappointments on my finish time. Lets just say that I need some improvement if I should make it to the finishers list of SCMM. learnt a lot from a lot of mistakes. Let's see if I put them to good use.

However there's always a smile on my face when I have to limp to walk or run now. Treating injuries is also a fun part of a run as it brings back the pleasant memories of the run.I was in too much pain and cribbing about going back all the way to Bangalore  But if asked now whether I would do this whole episode again, I would definitely do it.

I have much much more to write but looks like I have hit the writers block now (akin to the runners wall).

Here is yours truly enjoying the run with some nice songs. This pic might have been taken between KM 23-27

Benifits of sex a change :0

Recently we had a nice corporate marathon. We sported 4 teams. One of our teams won.
That's not the interesting part. Each runner is also given a ranking in the run. The fastest runner in the winning team got a 18th individual position. In one of our other teams, the fastest runner ran a bit slower than our fastest runner. Surprisingly he was given a category rank of 6. Every one of us started congratulating him but he was not all that enthusiastic.

Finally we saw the blunder commited. They had registered him under the female category. He was the 6th fastest female runner that day.

The simplest sex change operation ever

The "Spirit" of cooking.

After watching countless episodes of a cooking reality show the missus declares that she needs an oven. Having no other choice but to watch the same show when it is running, in the name of spending quality family time, I too watch these shows. Having an insatiable sweet tooth, I enjoy the desserts section a lot. I especially enjoy those dishes cooked with wine or desserts with brandy.

Being the awakened consumers that we are, we decide to do some research on the types of ovens available in the market. As a first step we scorch the net for models, makes and feedbacks. Finally we short list one of them and decide to go for it that weekend. I was all excited about making 'that' dessert. So I convince the wife and finally get a bootle of fine wine, just in case.

The next weekend we search for our model in a couple of shops but to no avail. We decide to order it online in one of those famous 'You can get anything shipped' online stores. We reach home dog tired and she goes to sleep. I decide to surf the net for the famous  'You can get anything shipped' online store. I bump into a desserts website. Since I was tired I decide to 'taste' some wine and get a good night's sleep.

Next morning we forgot all about our oven search and went about our weekday chores of appearing busy. Busy days lead to good night's sleep after sneeking into the kitchen cabinet for a round of wine tasting. By that Friday we decide we will get the oven that Saturday. Another fruitless search over the weekend and we decide not to buy the oven.

That day my wife decides to clean the kitchen closet and finds the empty bottle, which yours truly helped empty. We were again at square one, no oven, no wine. But the "spirit" of good cooking was not lost. It was decided that I stop watching cooking shows.

In my defence, what's the use of keeping the wine when we decide to not buy the oven anymore. Also wines don't ferment while in the bottle.

Disclaimer: The above story may or may not be true, but mostly true. It might or might not have happened to me. I might or might not have tasted the wine. All this may or may not be my imagination. All in all you should or should not believe anything written here over a period of time. 

Marriages made in Heaven???

They say 'marriages are made in heaven'. I dont know how fun they are. But I guess Coorgi marriages are more fun than that. Each step in the wedding is fun for all. The bride, the groom, the family, the guests, everyone has their own share of fun in the wedding. i had the privilage of attending one such wedding yesterday. And needless to say had a very good time at the wedding.

We took the 21:10 BNG MCR bus to Mercara on 22nd night. As not expected we reached madikeri much before 5. We reached our designated accomodation as arranged by our host. Caught up some sleep (not lost sleep, were ready for the wedding and went to 'Cauvery hall' for the ceremony. believe me every thing here is named after Cauvery/Coorg. We saw atleast 10 shops with those names on them. We were briefed by the bride about the various customs. But still were very much fascinated to see those in execution.

I dont know how, but as soon as we entered the premises of the hall, we get a call from the bride to come to her room to see her 'decorated'. She was looking very beautiful, dressed in the traditional Coorgi attire. Traditional Coorgi Attire for women includes wearing a sari ina distinctive fashion with pleats at the back. Traditional attire for men includes wering a wraparound called 'Kupya'.

Many specialities to be noted about the wedding. They dont accept any priests to perform their weedings. it is always the elders who get together to do the wedding. Usage of slokas and vedic chants is also not present. we actually missed when the wedding happened as it happens as soon as the bride and groom enter the wedding mantap. Soon the crowd gathers to wish the couple. Followed by a fight between the girls maternal uncles son fighting with her father in law that I want to marry this girl. i wont let U take her away. This is a part enjoyed by the entire family fighting with the father in-law. A bargain is to be stuck between these 2 before the father in law can actually take the girl. Even we enjoyed this part thoughh we could not understand kodava.

Now is the time for lunch. After lunch is the part where the bride has to go to the wedding mantap from the entrance to the wedding hall from the road with a pot on top of another, a distance of 25 meters. This is the part enjoyed by everyone as they dont allow the girl to reach the wedding mantap by dancing in front of her as she carries 2 pots on her head with water. People of all age enjoy this. Boys, girls, adoloscents both male and female, old people and family and friends every one dances in front of her preventing her from joining her husband on the stage. She took 3.5hrs to complete the distance. this is where liquor flows, unlimited. Everyone is drunk in the first one hour of this dance. This is accompanied by music from the local band set. At one point one of her relatives had taken over the drums.

Overall fun filled day at the wedding. kodavas enjoy their weddings a lot. They dont do it with much pomp, but do with with a lot of glory. Everyone enjoyes it. Wedding starts at 10 in the morning and goes on till 9 in the night, each moment filled with fun. It is one of the fun to be weddings I remember. Actually the best fun filled wedding. Thats why I said Marriages may be made in heaven, but they will be fun if made in Kodagu.

Some photos will follow as a fotoblog.