Of the joys of running and of the joys of minting money

I guess I am qualified to call myself a runner now having run at 4:00 AM,just to show off. Now that we have established me as expert in this area, let the rant begin.

I always make it a point to run the KTM and Bangalore Ultra (atleast one). It is always a good practice run an build up for the Mumbai Marathon. Both these races can be undoubtedly classified under the tough races category. 

People run for fun. Very few run to prove a point to others while mostly prove a point to themselves. I do not know where to begin with on the topic of joys of running. 

Making money is also fun. If you are the best at that job you sure can demand a premium. But when the same job is done by others in a equally good (if not better) way for less,you would look for the cheaper one. Now comes my point. I feel running is getting expensive. Already with the costly shoes, GPS', family time lost etc etc, you shouldn't be charging too much for facilitating a run. I am not taking away anything from the organisers here. I love them, I love their races, I loveir punctuality, organisation, shirts and what not. I always knew their races were expensive. But this time they have crossed a line.

Yours truly,
a runner paying through his nose

Among other things..

This 20th I reached one of my long time dreams of crossing the finish line at the Mumbai Marathon. Crossing the finish line meant so much to me for many reasons. One of them being scary.  This race has a deadline of six hours. What it means is you need to complete the run by 11:40AM. All support is taken off and traffic starts on these roads. I was scared that I would have to run between the vehicles and also not knowing the roads in Mumbai did not help ease the fear.

Luckily for me, this did not happen. I finished with an healthy hour to spare. I started off the run at 5:40 AM. I had aimed to finish in 5:30Hrs considering I took 6:15Hrs at KTM. My plan was to run 8 Kms every one hour. I clocked about 9.8 Km in the first hour. Every extra kilometer I cover now would come in handy at the end when I would not be able to walk. So I did not slow down and continued at the same pace. By the end of 2 hours I had 18.3km. I did the half marathon in 2:17. a bit slower than my last half marathon, but i was not dis heartened as I knew that I run the last KM faster. At the end of 3Hrs I had 27.1km and 34.6 at the end on 4Hrs. This is when I secretly started hoping to finish in 5Hrs.

Still at a pace of 8.75 to 9 KM per hour I had the luxury to watch around south Bombay where we were running. More than any thing else it was the spirit of the supporters who poured onto the streets of Mumbai which was heart warming. Kids had taken over the water booths from the appointed volunteers. Some residents had bought 5-stars and Cadbury bars for the runners. I was well nourished all through the runs. I distinctly remember a lady handing out almonds, cashew nuts among other things. An old lady was offering bananas. Some people were also handing out GU Gels. These gels are very expensive in India and very scarcely available. All these things reminded me what makes a great city. Having run some city marathons earlier, Mumbai marathon easily tops the list.

Every thing was well organised. Water and energy drink booths at regular intervals, well stocked aid stations, young girls and boys enthusiastically applying ice bags to bruised muscles of runners, those huge fans and air coolers in those 'cool zones' made the run enjoyable. Every thing was in place and I cannot think of any thing that was amiss. Crowd control was at its best. Kudos to the Mumbai Police and Traffic police. There was security to runners as well.

Coming to the show offs. I was awestruck by a lot of things all along the way. The show rooms of Rolls-Royce, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Ducati among others stood out. Houses along Peddar road, the elder Ambani's house, a couple of houses of bussiness families, the sealink, running along Nariman point, race course and Worli sea-face were also high points.

Having said all this, I could not have finished the race on 5:00:41 if not for the people cheering above their voices, volunteers and organizers. All in all a run  you should do atleast once.

Stats pasted below: Photos coming up shortly.

Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2013 - Marathon 5:40 Start            Back
Bib Number	2518
Name	MANJUNATH BHAT
Gender	MALE
Category	OPEN
Overall Rank	1091
Category Rank	773
Gender Rank	1013
Split@3 Km	00:18:24 at an Avg Speed of 9.78 Kmph
Split@15 Km	01:36:35 at an Avg Speed of 9.32 Kmph
Split@20 Km	02:13:39 at an Avg Speed of 8.98 Kmph
Split@27 Km	03:01:56 at an Avg Speed of 8.9 Kmph
Split@28 Km	03:10:45 at an Avg Speed of 8.81 Kmph
Split@29.25 Km	03:20:10 at an Avg Speed of 8.77 Kmph
Net Time	05:00:41 at an Avg Speed of 8.42 Kmph
Gross Time	05:06:33

Average performance of the race
10 8 5 3 @3 @15 @20 @27 @28 @29.25 @21K  Speed   9.78     9.32     8.98     8.9     8.81     8.77     8.42

Overall Runners Statistics
1,000 750 500 250 3 3 - 4 4 - 5 5 - 6 >6 Total  Runners   6     216     858     928     108     2,116

Overall MALE Runners Statistics
1,000 750 500 250 <3 3 - 4 4 - 5 5 - 6 >6 Total  Runners   6     207     791     857     99     1,960

Overall OPEN Runners Statistics
800 600 400 200 <3 3 - 4 4 - 5 5 - 6 >6 Total  Runners   5     164     648     699     86     1,602

I wish

I wish to run 12 marathon sin 12 months the coming year.
Maybe this is a bit too early to write, but if I write it as anew years resolution, I am bound to break it.

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

Calling a fatty a fatty

Just a reality check to see if I am on track for a full marathon this year. I feel I am not yet ready. This is mainly because my legs give up around 20-23K range. I have a half marathon next Sunday at Mangalore. As part of training I am doing 10K almost 4 times a week.

A group of enthusiasts got together this wednesday and having nothing else to do talked about running to work. i thought this was due to recession/slowing markets :0. Soon they turned serious and today we ran our first half marathon to office. I did a decent 21K in 2.15hr. this is almost an improvement by 1hr considering my timing from the Bangalore ultra. We started at 5:45 this morning and had to reach office by 8:00AM because our dress code is enforced after 8:00AM. We would end up paying a 200Rs if we miss this deadline. I realised that not having any stops in the run helps a lot. I did the 21k non-stop. The 1K from wipro gate 16 to my office in 15mins, walking. I carried 1/2lt of water mixed with lemon+salt+sugar. Having small sips throught out the run helped me run non-stop.

After the run we met at the food court to restore our carbos :). Thats when I asked the professional runner in our group what should I do this remaining 1 week to train for the 1/2 marathon in Mangalore. He suggested a few techniques for muscle strengthening. This was when he told me dont run a downward slope. You are a little bit over weight and might end up hurthing your knees. if that happens you cannot run the 1/2 marathon you are planning. Finally somebody told me I am over-weight. Comments section might be automatically disabled for any further comments stressing the point that I am a fatty.

Run

The other day I was thinking about how I got to running. One day I was walking along Rose garden road/Lakshman Rao park road in Jayanagar. I saw a friend of mine run and i thought of accompaniying him to beat the boredom. That week the 'Runners for Life' organised a 5K run in office to select our corporate team for their annual 'Urban Stampede' They invited anyone interested to run. this is where I ran my first marathon with timing+bib. I also found the idea of being served water or electrolyte or oranges and bananas on the run interesting. I found myself running easily after these. Thus began my tyrst with running.

Now I run because I want to train myself to run a full marathon (42K). I also find that I am stress free after a run. My mind frees up of any stress I have and I also get some thinking time alone, if required. Running just gets better with time. I ran my first 10K in Bangalore Sunfeast 10K at about 77mins on tarred roads across the central Business district. My next 10k was at Mysore along the trail of the river Kaveri. This was a trail and needless to say untarred. This was tough considering the many ups and downs on the trail and the weather in Mysore was not helping. My time was again close to 77 minutes. This was an improvement considering it was a trail run. or that was what I told myself. Then came the regular 10ks at office on Wednesdays. Since this was again on tarred surface I saw that I finally made my sub 1Hr 10K for the first time last week.

I decided to 'up the ante' by registering for the Bangalore ultra under the 25k category. This was needed as I wanted to run a full marathon in the next 1 year. A saying by a great runner motivated me. never stop if you are tired. Thats a way the brain feeds you false information and says go home. If you are exhausted, stop. Go home. thats when you are actually done. I took about 3 and a half hours to cover the 25k trail. This was tougher than the Mysore KTM run as this was an even more undulating trail and Bangalore decided to be hotter that day. But surprisingly I was not tired when I completed 12.5K (50%) of the run. I was surprised that I covered more than my usual distance of 10K without being tired. I used to stop at 10K earlier thinking that was my limit. Turns out I can do more. I was also surprised that I was not exhausted after 25K but dog tired. A couple of half marathons and I am on track on completing a full marathon in 2012 or latest by the Mumbai marathon in Jan-2013.

I learnt a couple of things this last 2 runs. Staying dry through out the run helps a lot. I bought myself a dry-fit Tee and shorts for the 25K. It is nothing but a cloth made of spandex, polyster, nylon and a small amount of cotton. Staying wet (hydrated) through out the run helps. Drink a lot of water the day before. Keep drinking water in small quantities through out the run. Do not drink a lot of water as it makes you feel filled up and you cannot run. This was the mistake I made last time. Also, empty your bladders before the run. Get yourself some bare minimum running shoe.

Do let me know if you need any info regarding running. I don't know most of it. But I know some professional runners from whom i get you the info. To lookup running events in your country please visit: http://aimsworldrunning.com/Calendar.htm

Update: I did my first full marathon in Non 2012 in Mysore and the second on in Jan 2013 in Mumbai. Finally I keep my word to myself.