Commentary On The Run

A tale of two halves... and a 10 x 10

2010-10-03T23:27:00.001-07:00

There wasn’t much unusual about the Marg Chennai GiveLife Half. For the uninitiated, GiveLife is double entendre. This time it almost was not. As usual there was no support in the last 7Km – no water / no people support aid stations. And surprise – the police were cheering us. May be the intent was to windup early. And we got a medal and a certificate + a magnetic coaster.

Whilst my training for a marathon, somewhere sometime this season, was suffering big time, one Mr. Srinath from Chennai Runners came up with the idea of 10 x 10 x 10. 10k each day for 10 days in a chain of runners so that 100 days are covered including overlaps. Ram picked up the idea and started reeling set after set of 10x10.

I wasn’t very enthused with the idea until suddenly my running buddy had to shift out of town. And lo, we started our tryst with the challenge. Running late into the nights after work et al. And finished in style, though without her. Shame.

The challenge isn’t with the distance itself daily but the discipline that it brings to you. Your mind has to be tuned to the challenge finding that 1 /1.5 hours of time to squeeze in to get it done. After my half on the 9^th day, Tiger asked if it helped. Not sure, honestly. But definitely makes you satisfied at the end of it. What more to top it with a finish in ECR 12 run and a medal to go with it. I want to post my set with the Garmin Connect links shortly.

Also, there was this switch from evening to morning that I wanted to make. I wanted to do this in the middle of the set so I could coast to safety as I approached the ECR run which ofcourse was in the morning. I didn’t want to run a half after a night 10K run. So I grabbed the chance of doing the half in the evening before in ECR, a foolish and dangerous proposition with the mad traffic, rash drivers and high beams glaring at you with a dark road when there were no vehicles. I managed to get over that, vowing never to repeat this again. Shahid, the race director gave the medal at the finish with the organizing team and their families cheering me. Worth every pain and risk.

I am glad my shoes, Adidas Supernova 17 is doing fine so far at 450K mark. Time to buy my next however :D I think this is ever so slightly showing signs of starting to breakdown.

My bro finished his first ECR as a Chennai Runner – his second half in an event and his third half finish. I am thrilled to bits to have another runner.

And a bonus – My boss and friend Ganesan Sekar ran a 5k for the first time and was elated with the arrangements. He has been a big supporter of mine. More to come from him I hope!

Eat what you grow...

2010-06-26T03:44:00.000-07:00

Well, not exactly. And not just yet....

But I am hooked. I have just put in 4 seeds of okra in an unused pot. And that is it. Don't laugh. I am starting small. :P you will find more updates interlaced with my musings from now on...

On the running front, It's been a good week followed by a bad week and then a good week... sort of a cycle. I am not able to build on the previous week and the slump is not helping me the next week

The good news is, I am now with a plan and will start next week. As earnestly as possible. The target is a 2 hour half. Hope the training plan keeps me steady.

The plan starts with and easy 3 miler in the first week. There are two parts to it. It says it should be easy, catch is - in 29mts.That aint easy...!!!!!! Not at my current fitness level... However as a test, I did try and managed to pull it through. Nearly. I agree that I am not ready enough for this experiment fitness wise... but I will give it a try. If I end up with a good time, I will take it...

I am not targeting any specific event but the run will be 12 weeks from now.

I will post the plan, week by week and how I have done... as diligently as possible....

Tail Note: KK's place where the idea was germinated for the sub 2 half is amazing. We are partners in crime now - missing all of my runs last week. As well, it was fun drawing plans with Tiger, Hari who is still recuperating, Venkat - who will skip this year's Singapore Marathon with me as a protest against the organizers and VPS... and the special guest who "Kalakki"fied us...

The warmup...

2010-06-15T05:52:00.001-07:00

I was running through Jim2’s page on warm-ups…

There are few in the CR group who do not warm up. I don’t! I used to stretch a lot before running, a lot of them do. I always found stretching after a run more beneficial and effective than before. So much to say, it hurt a lot and I didn’t like them! I sometime felt I ended up with mild niggles that make me uncomfortable to run! I think the body runs best when unstretched – methinks more economical because of the stiffness or restricted range of motion.

And then there is this stretching after a warm up and then continue on with an LSD that I started after my first Auroville. Worked well for my long runs! But didn’t make sense otherwise – for short runs and training runs. Just start slow and then do your training.

Of late, I had done two 10Ks and invariably I took breaks at the half way mark and stretched. I felt comfortable running back both times!

It’s been quite a while since I have done more than 10K, I am excited that training days are be back! KK and I are planning to prepare a plan (yes – it’s that complicated!) for an “under 2 half”. I am not particularly excited about the end result but the training and ofcourse, the planning for the training.

It’s going to be demanding since he is a faster runner!

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Resuming running after a hiatus...

2010-05-11T10:14:00.000-07:00

It has been absolutely impossible to run these days - morning or night. It is easy to blame the heat and the humidity. And a long drive to the office and back. You can add family commitments and work - you can get away with it.

Actually, in the contrary, it has taken a toll on body and mind and is making attending to chores even harder. The toll is such that my back aches, I have gotten heavy so my leg hurts. And more than anything else, not running is getting to my nerves.

I have braved all odds and tried to run whenever possible in the last week. Nothing much. But short ones. Whenever I can squeeze in. My target is to beat the last year's May total of 80K this May.

Looks like my odds of Bangalore Sunfeast run are diminishing. That would have been a good motivation. Well, there are a few things in life you have to accept.

Hills all the way...

2010-04-08T02:47:00.000-07:00

It has been hills last week, two sessions of 5K approx each. The run was in Raheja Estate, Powai in Bombay. It’s got a huge incline, a huge decline and two flats. A 1.5K course. It was challenging. More so, I was wondering if my heartbeats and breathing were going haywire on the climb.

All of this week has been very exhausting, the seething heat and hectic work didn’t help a bit. But I have vowed to start small and then do a couple of 10Ks by next week.

Read a book called “Yayati – A Classic Tale of Lust” by V S Khandekar. If you are the type, you will like it. Very good and philosophical.

Come Summer...

2010-03-23T22:23:00.001-07:00

Come summer cometh the need for motivation!!!

What can motivate best is good reads, people… and the best of them all, new shoes :D

I moved out of Nike with some pain… I like Moto a lot when it was good, that is… once it wears out, which happens soon enough, it hits your ITB real bad.

I am now in a pair of Adidas Response Cushion 18. No second shoes until I can get hold of a pair of Asics that I can try and wear… I had to give away my pair of Asics Gel 2140, size 10 (my Nike is Size 10 as well) because it was half a size smaller and hitting my middle toe even before the word go. May be I should alternatively have tried 2E toe boxes, but I still feel, there is no substitute to trying before buying…

Ashok, my brother has hit 100K under a month since starting to run seriously… Good part is that he is running short distances almost daily… I have particularly asked to not get tempted and go too long too early. Hope fair rationale prevails. What more, he has got a big group running with him, by the sounds of it, thicker than the Alwarpet group, for which we are to be blamed. He aims to run seriously for the Sunfeast World 10K in Bangalore.

I took a serious look at my old pairs – photos will follow. I feel I am striking with my heels as I lose form (I presume) and hence the wear in the heels which are deep. A quick research shows I may be overstriding. I have consciously made my stride shorter and furtive and when I intend to pick up speed, I just increase the cadence instead of stride. It feels funny, I have run twice with the new shoes in this fashion. I am not sure I am doing the right thing. But I think I might eventually get used to it. And I have to admit, it is not making an impact just yet.

Running year long...

2010-02-09T01:48:00.000-08:00

Read somewhere for a yearlong training (I badly want to give credit to this one, but copy pasted and stored this is a jiffy, donno where I did from!)

Stick to It

These four principles should be part of your training plan throughout the year. Tailor them according to your goals, interests, and needs.

GET MOVING You don't need to run every day, but be sure to run more days than you don't.

GO HARD At least once a week inject speed into your routine. For example, perform four- to five-mile tempo runs or long intervals at 5-K race pace. Mix up repeats by running 4 x 1 mile one week, 5 x 1200 meters another, and 3 x 2000 meters another.

EASE BACK Follow hard workouts with at least one easy day and don't worry about how fast you're going. Let your energy level be your guide.

RUN LONG Once a week, run 1.5 times longer than your normal run.

Mine has been more 3 runs a week with two training runs and one easy mostly. The last two months have been 100+ Kms, slowly bringing some sort of consistency. I am planning to keep it at 25miles/ 40Kms per week and up the ante when needed. I should have been here 6 months ago.

The challenge would be to keep the same mileage in the summer and with no events after the first week of March till may be about August.

Core of the matter...

2010-02-02T22:49:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, instead of the customary hills or the intervals, I decided to run a longish slow to medium paced run (I really don’t know how to describe it, tempo, at best).

SLMP, Ramesh and I started out planning a 9-10K run to the beach and back. There was the dollop of stretching a little at the half way point. I frequently read in SLMP’s mails that he always wanted to take short breaks or took short breaks when he ran with faster paced runners. So I was kind of relaxing a bit mentally,

As we started our run, the speed which we were running at was not very comfortable for me as against 2-3 weeks back where I was feeling very peppy on the runs. Weather was good, mildly chill. We were doing a mere 6.45 min klicks! Somehow as we finished our second flyover, about 2-2.5K from start, I was getting steady and on rhythm. I was conversing, so it was kind of okay, I didn’t check the Garmin. By the time we reached the beach I was super confident that I would do good at the same pace back, so much that I urged SLMP to not stretch much and that we should run a bit slowly a very short detour and pace up back again on the return.

So turns, we were running almost the same pace and after about a Kilometer, I started huffing and puffing. As we turned into the last 1.5K I was out of gas, I could hardly talk. I was wondering that inspite of steady runs in the last 2-3 weeks, finishing comfortably 10+ Kms, what had happened. And lo, suddenly SLMP upped the pace or so I felt. I was determined to keep up and thought I would give the customary last flourish a pass, which I did. My mid section was so loose that I felt I was gyrating instead of running.

While all this was happening, the ever so consistent SLMP didn’t even seem to break a sweat! We clocked 9.15K in 1hr sharp. On an other day, I wouldn’t have been smug.

So off to some serious core watch, abs and planks, here I come!

As well, I am planning to restart my ashtanga sessions this month and hope that will improve my upper body strength a bit and would help keep form in the long run(s)!

RE: [ChennaiRunners:15238] Finished the MM,M in 4:15:07

2010-02-01T01:34:00.001-08:00

Dude,

I have read this report twice now - I am thrilled to bits... you are awesome! A great inspiration, as I had said earlier on my mail cc'ed to ECR Siva - I am in tatters now, not much running coming as planned, 10K+ runs here and there. Your mail comes as a breath of fresh air to help me focus. I am better this month (I have an RP who helps keep it as non-regular as it can get, but only till Auroville) and hope to get in form this year. I will read your mail many more times, I will remind myself of how you were toiling alone whilst I was squandering good company. Great to know now you have company and in good hands :D

'Great run' reads always get me emotional how many ever times I read, you did one great write up. Thanks buddy.

Okay - keep'em coming dude... I am really proud of you...

-----Original Message-----
From: chennairunners@googlegroups.com [mailto:chennairunners@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Navin Sadarangani
Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 2:20 PM
To: chennairunners@googlegroups.com
Subject: [ChennaiRunners:15238] Finished the MM,M in 4:15:07

Hey guys,

This morning (Sunday Jan 31st) i attempted my second marathon.

The weather was great (mid 60's to 70's with moderate humidity) and
with most of the course being flat (with the exception of three
bridges), i was hoping to attain my goal of doing a sub 4:30 this
time.

The determination was high, especially after the struggle i went
through in my first marathon back in August 2009 when i ended up with
a timing of 5:42 in Hyderabad. I told myself after completing it back
then that i need to be more fit and be able to run stronger post 30km,
which is when i hit 'The Wall' back then. I learnt that to conquer
this, i had to increase my running efficiency by strengthening my core
overall and building more endurance into my heart and legs.

What followed then was a 4 months investment in a decent amount of
training (and conditioning) including a moderate 18 weeks training
plan, practicing Yoga regularly, making sure to get enough sleep and
sticking to a good nutritious diet (being a vegetarian - eggetarian
actually - certainly made it easier). While there were times when i
missed a run now and then, binged into a few things i could not resist
(the sweet temptations!) and skipped my asanas, by far i think i did
go by what i had laid out in the beginning. You really can't reach
100% of the desired level of training after all, at least that's been
my experience until now!

Like everything that contains planning, nothing really goes the way
you chalk it out. I did meet a few roadblocks - left hip pain (around
the femur bone region), mediocre pain suggesting introductory symptoms
of plantar flexion, not getting into a proper strengthening program
since i didn't have a gym to join during the beginning stages and no
real cross training program to take care of the rest days to keep my
heart rate going. The last two were something i came around with and
got a start to it in the middle of my stint. But the first two, like
everything related to the body, was slow-paced in recovery and i had
to constantly keep giving it attention so that it doesn't flair up to
a level of requiring a complete break from my running, and more
importantly training schedule and me reaching a higher level of
fitness.

One of the crucial roadblocks, once again, was (what i think was) a
muscle cramp i got hit by on Monday (a week back) during the last week
of the taper period, just 6 days before Miami. Thanks a ton to Arun
Krishnan who once again reminded me of the tips he shared earlier on
healing the muscles in my left calf and that indeed helped me.

Around October 2009, i met some folks of the 'Bahamas Roadmasters' and
just like the 'Chennai Runners' group that i love being affiliated
with,they too had a bunch of interesting folks that ran regularly in
the streets of Nassau, Bahamas. I started with joining them on the
long runs and within 4-5 weeks i was a regular (i'd like to call
myself that by now!) participating in at least 3 of their 4 weekly
runs. People who have the pasion to Run have a common (universal)
behavioural pattern. They're all addicted to getting out there almost
every day, dedicating time in promoting the cause of running in the
local community, helping one another in running methods, sharing
proper techniques, pushing the limit of one-self & thereby their
co-runners, and taking everybody into new territories in aspects of
their stamina, endurance, strength and passion. That was something i
witnessed back at home with the 'Chennai Runners' and i wasn't
surprised in seeing that in some great friends i made in the 'Bahamas
Roadmasters' running group. With a coach who just completed his 35th
marathon, we had enough of expertise, mentorship and assistance to
learn from. There were also a few speed runners (2-3 of whom have
qualified for Boston), and some great men & women i found company in
to share this passion with and have been instrumental in showing me
the improvement i've been noticing in the recent past.

Otherwise i would think that the long runs helped quite a bit. More
than the physical part (which does not need much of detail on), the
mental confidence one gains is immense. I did 3 long runs of 20+ miles
(6 above 25 kms) and that gives you a great deal of confidence into
what to expect and at the same time helps you test different paces
giving you a better understanding of how to plan out the entire
distance. After my last long run of 24 miles, i was looking positive
for a 4:24-4:26 finish 3 weeks later.

Marathon weekend got me to Miami on Saturday morning and a great
breakfast at IHOP was a perfect way to get some carbo loading with
some delicious yet nutritious content breakfast. Expo was decent and
the highlight was Ryan Hall on some tips he was letting out, this time
he focussed on the rookie marathoners. The most vital tip, which is
commonly heard and almost anyone can tell you, from him was that "The
marathon starts at Mile 20!". Many of the pro-runners keep making the
mistake of pushing too hard and hence lose their edge in the final,
but all important, 6 miles. I kept that in my mind and let it ring me
time and again for it to become a natural recaller so that i don't
jump on the pace and keep some of the conserved energy for the latter
part of the run.

With some good chinese dinner at P.F. Changs (topped with some
chocolate cake), numerous light moments to keep us laughing and
forgetting any anxiety that was building up in the group, we managed
to get a 6 hour nap. I wasn't very worried by the amount of sleep
since i've read somewhere (and Ryan Hall reiterated it too) that the
night before the marathon one does not manage to get much sleep
anyways due to the anxiety and hence what really matters is the sleep
/ rest one gets in the weeks building up to the finale. Another
testimony to the fact that there is 'no shortcut' after all!

I woke up, did the usual routine (with some extra bit for the muscle
cramp), consumed a moderate amount of carbohydrates two hours prior to
the start time and met the rest of the group (12 of us in all) at the
hotel lobby at 5 a.m. for us to get started on a 0.5 mile walk to the
start line. We had 2 other runners staying at another hotel and in all
were 14 - 9 for the full and 5 doing the half. But before we left the
hotel, even though i had planned to stretch only after the walk using
it as a warm-up, a little stretch brought back that sensation of the
muscle cramp and that got me worried, all over again. I hoped that the
walk would better things, but it didn't vanish totally and felt like
it's on the upper surface hovering around the calf muscles. Got our
gear checked in and entered our corrals.

While waiting for the kick off i couldn't help thinking of the one
person that who has been my confidante, supporter, bouncing pad all
along; especially during the roadblocks. I said my prayers before our
gates opened and dedicated this run to my Mom because i'm sure it was
because of her that i got here. And minutes later than i had did this,
Shavaughn tells another of our friend that when you dedicate a run to
somebody, you end up doing your best (and maybe a PR). I smiled of the
coincident of thoughts and words from two different people at the same
time. She was dedicating it to another runner who was attempting her
first marathon just a day after being diagnosed for cancer. I wasn't
honestly very worried for the recipient of her dedication because i
knew that if she ran today, knowing the strong personality that she
is, she would complete it 'come what may'. And so she did! Having said
that, i'm sure she'll now go on to use her own fighter spirit to
eradicate the cancer in her and get back to 'life as usual' soon.

The plan i had was to take it easy for the first 1-2 miles (10:30 - 11
min / mile pace) and get a proper warm-up to start with. Based on my
calf, try and stick as much as i can to a sub 9:45 pace until the half
way mark and then take it from there. At times my calf would get a bit
stiff and after some hydration, it would feel better. At a point,
around mile 9, i felt it getting stiff and didn't think twice to stop
and take a 20 second break and stretch it good to continue back on.
Half way mark and i was feeling good. The calf muscle was a bit stiff
than my right leg and the sensation continued to remain all
throughout. I decided to not let it affect me and ignored it till it
eventually became a habit of forgetfulness that i liked being in, and
it finally remained insufficient of ruining my run.

The course is neat. Takes you through the Miami beach, the ports where
all the cruise lines are docked, a few great areas around downtown,
over many of the islands in Miami, many drives where the best
hang-outs (clubs, restaurants, etc.) in the city are located in, a few
uptown residential avenues, et al. Many residents were out on the
roads cheering the 18,000 participants, one of the ones i remember
being 'Run feeling lighter since you stole something'. This came up a
couple of times and brought a smile to almost everyone reading it. The
arrangements - aid station, medical assistance, traffic control, etc.
- were very good and i didn't experience any inconvenience at all r
did i notice any hiccups of any kind around.

Back to the race, i dediced to keep hydrating myself more than i would
so that my muscles get all the fluids they'd want and this was showing
results as time passed. Finished my half in 2:11 and i was feeling
alright. I then picked up pace and tried to stay in the 9:20 - 9:35
minute / mile because i was feeling good but didn't wanna get lost in
the moment, pick up too much speed and then crash & burn later on. So
i kept at it one step at a time. The backdrop of this up-tempo being
that about 10 weeks before the marathon, i told myself that i could
try to hit a sub 4:20 if i could pace my run progressively if
everything goes well. With overcast conditions for most of the race,
1-2 very light phases of light rain, i was managing to stay cool and
motivated to slowly pick up pace looking at my next big mile stone.
Mile 18 and i was maintaining the increased tempo pace. I then started
gradually picking up another gear and tried to remain in the sub 9:20
region. This was when i felt my best part. Mile 18 to 23. I was
feeling joy, i just wanted to be locked-into this roll and liked the
pain, pleasure and ecstacy that i was feeling all along. Call it the
'Runners High' or anything else for that matter, i really don't know.
All i know is that i was enjoyed being in it. Mile 24 was a bit
painful since i started realizing a few spots which were starting to
make me feel un-comfortable but not yet un-bearful. I took it a bit
easier for a little over that mile and then stepped up the last 2
miles. After crossing the last bridge which takes you into the final
385 yards, i gave it my all. With friends in the bleaches cheering on,
i picked up pace, cheered / shouted loud and finished this fulfilling
experience in 4:15:07.

Loaded myself with cookies, bagels, fruits for the next 30 minutes
while stretching out and just sinking into the moment. A heavy medal
around your neck, you don't mind that after the enduring journey you
have gone through to earn it. The moment i reached my phone after
heading back to the hotel i called my folks and told my mom that i
finished the MMM (i had to break it down for her too 'Miami Marathon,
Mom'). She smiled!

Love and Regards,
Navin Sadarangani

Anna University run, Speed interval today!

2010-01-19T23:21:00.001-08:00

I decided to do loops in Anna University as planned instead of sleeping in as my RP had called in sick. I was very eagerly looking for known faces, suddenly I realized that I had not run alone in a long time. I think it is time to get used to since my RP plans to take a break for a year after the Auroville run this February.

I was really shocked if I had landed at the right place, I thought I was in the IIT. Here is why.

1. Three deers, I don’t know of any deers in Guindy college, only dogs! I have run in IIT once and I have run with deers. Okay – I didn’t run as fast, but give my ego some relief!

2. No dogs today – Zero. This definitely isn’t Anna University! (I don’t know about the real scene in IIT)

3. The smell of pot. I have not heard AU famous for pot, IIT is – no?

I did 2 1200m repeats, 3 800m repeats. Zero stretching, warm up, cool down as usual.

Another thing that surprised me was that I had to run in pitch dark, no lights. They were on till about 5.30am and then switched off. It looks like PWD ministry though is with Karunanidhi, Arcot Veerasamy as the Power minister still has some say. One should know that the sunrise is after 6am in the months of December, January and a little into February.

By the way, does one know of potties in AU that visitors / outsiders can use. Just in case :P

From an anticipatory bail to liberation!

2009-12-14T03:28:00.001-08:00

I don’t know the last time I accelerated towards the end in a race. If doing that means good, I have ended a bad year good.

I had a thousand reasons churning out of my mind to get an anticipatory bail (that was how KPS called it) for a poor finishing time. The moment I saw him, I ranted a huge list of why I would have a poor finish. Poor finish time, I did. Poor finish – no! I bolted in the last kilometer, ran the last 2-2.5 non-stop. Good enough for me. I will be hoping to do better in Auroville though. I am not in a position to gear up for the either Mumbai full or Auroville Full for that matter. Anticipatory bails!

Drove to Bangalore on Friday night and had some real confusion getting into the hotel, we reached midnight. Bangalore is a maze! After a late wakeup and some lazing around, we headed to Whitefield-wards at 7.30 pm. I had a heavy breakfast at 9am and a heavy lunch @2pm but no dinner. Realized that Ashok’s IT run was at 9pm, we had been presuming that all races start at midnight.

Poor thing had to scurry to the join the run as we managed to reach only at 8.45pm. Ashok did a steady and slow run to finish his quota in 30 odd minutes. Given that he had not been running for ages, he was quite content with it.

My run started sharp at 12. Met some oldies, really glad to have met up with them. There were two Swedes who flew all the way from Delhi for the run. Should have been around 200 numbers half and full included. And there were some elites.

The course was supposed to be a ~2.5K out and back course rolling. But due to constraints, it turned out that the loop was shortened to ~2K. It was the perfect rolling course with a hill to climb (to) and get down (fro) – in each loop.

Normally, one would brand the route a drab if there were loops. But, this one happened to be good. Atleast for me. For one, I was used to loops and there were too many people I could distract myself with, (decent, are we?) to keep the loop entertaining and I could see people coming on the opposite side all the time. I had a good time.

Weather was cold, so much that from comfort of the car, when I got out to dress I literally froze. But I got used to it. The race atmosphere took over. Infact it was near perfect chillness one would enjoy.

Awesome running by Shumit and Puru, they ran so relentless that the miles seemed to melt under their feet (borrowed from Ashok’s mail!).

I ran with KP who wanted to finish the distance in 2.30, so I stuck along only for the first repeat and a half. He introduced me to all the famed names from RFL, so inspiring it was to see them run. And then the elites! Then I decided to take it fast on the up and slow downhill because downhill seemed to be hurting my knees and quads and my ITB was going stiff. I decided to take one break on the up and one on the return, a 100mt walk, worked perfect for me. I raced up and jogged down. Just like I did in the flyovers in Alwarpet.

There were four water stops and sufficient for a 2K long course. I didn’t use them much as I carried and drank out of one ½ litre bottle and later an orange juice.

I was really happy as I finished the last leg nonstop downhill and even managed to dash the last 1~1.5K. 2.26.39. I am not sure if it was a tougher course than Hyderabad but I have definitely taken a liking to the loops! And running in the night.

May be I should target Sundown Marathon – Singapore next year and ofcourse Midnight Bangalore again.

Experiences of night runs...

2009-12-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

Well, the title does look ceremonious but not a significant effort to pull my collar up. This is the first run in the night, read after 9pm. A short run yesterday 6k, 40mts there abouts. Some quick learnings.

1. Chill weather and breathing through the mouth - top of the lungs heart early. It was an easy pace but I was breathing hard.
2. Running in the night would mean proper planning of what goes in as food. You have to plan what you eat in the afternoon, evening, ofcourse apart from hydration.
3. A sense of tiredness at the start due to being on feet all day, you start at the 10K mark. Race days might be different, you might not go to work on race day. But training days are different and one needs to get used to it and consciously not strain in the day.

Overwhelmed in the morning...

2009-12-01T21:03:00.001-08:00

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/running-a-marathon-again-and-again/

As rain came beating down in the morning, sitting in the comfort of the A/C and a quilt, I read this to be overwhelmed! Now – what do I want to be and this is it, a streaker! So I can look forward to the next event or year; yeah, I am kind of bored now with no excitements as such.

But then, guess what, I waited till 5.30 and slept in. I am spiked though, wait for an update in my log!

Getting back on track...

2009-12-01T00:25:00.001-08:00

After a lot of swinging answers and doubtful questions of “Should I?” “Can I?” and a lot of ifs and buts, I am planning to give it a go for a full in Auroville.

The race is on Feb 14^th and I have been there in the previous two editions safely resorting to halves. The route has gotten better, it would be interesting to run in the dark! And amazing organization.

I have been doing a few halves here and there, ECR 11, Hyderabad and now the Midnight. I want to keep the training simple. If I can find the feet and ramp up in 4 weeks to 30, I am in. Mumbai hence is out of question. I have registered for full and am not mentally prepared for it.

I would want to do a half or more every week from now to the first week of February and attempt to do three 30Ks one of which will be 34K+ gradually ramping up every week and cutting back every third. With two more training runs in a week plus an easy run if possible. And a two or three yoga sessions that I might use as cross training / stretching.

From now on to Midnight, which is just two weeks away, all my runs would be in the night mostly. I think long runs will get an exemption. For a change, there is a dietary regimen as well. No fried stuff till Feb 14^th! That should easy my weight when I get to my long runs where weight shows on my legs.

My wife philosophically said that it would be better to do what one would want to and stay at peace with one self than not to. So here I am, taking the plunge. Atleast, if I am not able to ramp up as desired, I will live to die another day and stay at peace till then!

ECR 11 and some thoughts...

2009-11-16T04:18:00.001-08:00

Thanks a lot to the team behind the race, you guys were great! It was an awesome feeling I intend to pay back to these people when they run, may be during the next ECR… It was total pampering at the water stations and the finish… And what grandiose…!!! It was like one professionally organized race…

After so much of rains, I was very worried that the turn out might be a bit on the lesser side, what with so much of a marathon effort put in by the organizing team. Akhila and I did 20K and Arun did 10K, not much incidental. It was a personal milestone for Akhila, a toast to her! Hope she completes a half before she takes a break…

Well, maybe this was a run and not a race for many! For some, who run at the back of the pack and alone it definitely is not, many tend to think. But it is a race unto yourself. I see the satisfaction in the faces of those who had started running just now and have finished 5/10K and I see my good old days (well, not too much into the past to forget, just 3 years). I am sure runners who have run enough would have seen finishes with nobody around and finishes you get a cheer from may be just one soul. That you have one person at the finish giving you a nod of acknowledgement, it is such a warming heartening thing, if only for a brief moment. One can easily relate to it when you have had a really bad day and you had been on the road for long. Some days, the going is tough and you feel that you have run a marathon doing just a 5K! So, a marathon does not need to be an event and need not have big arches or cheer! Every run is a race and for you to have put the effort, to have done something you are overwhelmed or satisfied with, for having defied a cozy sleep.

Talking of which, ‘Marathon’ is a word I used to be harping about so much when I was training for my first. I used to pounce on anyone who would use it with the slightest variation of what my interpretation was. As I matured (not necessarily with the only marathon under my belt so far!), I realized that if you had done enough and more for the day, it is marathon enough. I hope everyone of you had put a marathon effort irrespective of the distance… I realized that as I was directed to wiki by one kind soul’s call as I wrote about a corporate run in my office blog, that the distance had no conjunction with 42.195 and that distance was made out for some pompous a** to watch people toiling and finishing a long run so he and his bunch could enjoy it from a grand stand… and that the rascal Pheidippides ran much less than what we do now-a-days!

So we respect two things. One, as a runner, respect the distance. And two, for all of us, respect the runner’s effort. So what if it is a misnomer? I have learnt and am matured enough to look through this mistake, if at all it is one.

Update on Hyderabad half, ...

2009-09-09T10:12:00.001-07:00

Its almost two weeks since Hyderabad. I finished in 2.31.18. Not very enviable. But the route was amazing! Decent amusement and a non-boring route unlike ECR. It kept climbing all the time, I had a tough time with the decents and the last gradual climb. I ran walked after 15. Ran with Chandresh Patel, the Aurovillian famous in the running circuit for giving the Auroville Marathon to the running community in Chennai!

I am in the verge of finishing my plan for Standard Chart Mumbai Full. It is great fun making one. Almost as exciting as filling the log book when you finish a run.

I am planning to reduce some weight. I am going on diet for the first time in my life. For a week, I would do the GM diet!! And I have got company. My running buddy has volunteered to go through this, she has done this once before.

Eve of Hyderabad half...

2009-08-29T07:04:00.000-07:00

And here I am in Secunderabad having a super hot cup of coffee and chilling! Somehow I get very edgy as I get nearer and nearer the race, I just want to stand in the start line and good and ready to go!!!

I ran hills on Tuesday and relaxed on Wednesday with a short run. I wanted to run Thursday but didn't materialize due to work. I have been repeating to myself that this is a part of my training for Mumbai Full in Jan, for which I am yet to make a plan but I am on a base building routine. So I will keep the race at that and chill.

Couldn't pick up my bib because I had to take my kid to Snow World, may be I should have taken him out elsewhere, seems a not to good decision as I am knackered now. But that is okay, very rarely do I take them out. So did not collect the bib, bib collection from Tiger at the start line :-)

Looking for a decent and uneventful run tomorrow.

Random thoughts about a run!

2009-08-20T23:11:00.000-07:00

I ran a nice and easy 12 odd Kms with SLMP with a negative split in the last 2K. Finished in 1.30hrs but that is digestable. Weather was okay, neither good nor bad.

A few things I noted from the run.

1. He set a 6 min Km speed at the starting 2Km and since I hadnt stretched I struggled. I tried to keep my form and run relaxed striding longer but not faster. Later I would give him some gyaan about form!

2. I am not sure my running economy is good. Relatively experienced runners are faster than me so I invariably run alone or people who dont correct my form. I have read too much literature on this and tried it on my runs, first on shorter and then longer ones that I think I have kind of settled down. I handled the variations in pace rather good.

3. Keeping consistency shows. Though SLMP struggled between the 1/2 and 2/3 part of the run, he did manage well in the last 2Kms. He surprised me by keeping up with me. This might be because of not applying himself in the middle part of the run but he did grind it down and finished off well enough! So the idea is to put rubber to road as much as possible. I could see that in SLMP

4. As you get tired form is very important to carry you through to the finish line. Unconsiously I have learned this during my SCSM training.

5. A goal is a big motivator. When you wake up at 4am in the morning and that is what prevents to from getting back into the bed again! But a goal should not be broadbased. As in, right now, my goal is to do 2 more long runs before Hyderabad to get there and get it over with. It should be something you really want to go for, like when you want it badly for the first marathon finish. I am not very motivated to go for a long run unless there is a training attached to it. However, when I am on, I love all that come along with that, the trance after you have hit the rhythm.

6. Stretching and gym are very important. You feel that the next day when you have problems getting up in the morning for a recovery run and eventually skip it. There is nothing like the recovery run where you can laze around and mentally purr in satisfaction that you have put in a good effort the day before.

Hyderabad Update: Training has been pretty on and off, but I am squeezing in a good training run whenever I go on a guilt trip. Surprising, these days had been good days excluding the one I ran with KK on a hot humid thursday in boat club two weeks ago. I am overtly concerned, not about the finish but finishing strong. Time has become immaterial yet again! But as Juma Ikaanga puts it - "The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare." So I will tamely accept whatever comes my way. But have my word, I look upon Hyderabad as another training run. I will have a target for Chennai half depending on this. But I will have a target nevertheless.

3 runs in 3 days....

2009-08-14T21:48:00.000-07:00

I had missed my Tuesday hills. Missed the Wednesday easy run 5.45 so started late and did 3 loops in boat club. Again missed the Thursday MSD. So I came back with a vengeance doing an 8k in grueling heat and humidity on Thursday night, following it with hills on Friday morning.

Two things, one is about the last minute preparation for the Hyderabad Half and two is guilt. Two good drivers to get you to the starting line on a training day!

Base building...

2009-08-08T06:52:00.000-07:00

I have been getting in 2/3 runs a week, all of them easy to moderate ones thirty minutes or over an hour, 4 loops of boat club or 6 loops. It is rather boring and sometimes really humid and hot in boat club thanks to the trees.

I am playing way too much shuttle badminton, my ITB is hurting and I have a constant cracking noise in all joints below my hips. I bought a new pair of shoes with Arun, team mate at shuttle (I always play doubles) replacing my old Mizunos with Yonexs. This one is a little longer than the one I had, going straight from US 9 to US 10.5 because that was what was on offer. They fit me fairly near my ankles but it is a littler longer near my toes. A weird fit at that. But that said, we are making fair progress from being untouchables to doing betters.

The routine is affected a fair bit because of the games (we put in 6-9 games) so the runs are hard to come in the morning. Priya's on the second shift, it is difficult to shut my eyes before 12! But that was July.

I am hoping to do better and a little more organized. Some changes - Priya getting back to the first shift and my office getting further away (12 more kms ~ an hour more of travel) should force some structure into my life. Discipline is much needed with the season looming ahead and I am planning to do 2 fulls.

I have registered for the full in Mumbai which I am targeting to run with a target in mind. Plus Auroville. And all others would be halves. This month end we have the the Hyderabad and this would be only a part of my base building! Forcing myself to run the half would get me back into Vaseline filled runs (long ones). I am hoping to put in 1.30 to 2 hr runs, atleast 3-4 before I can. Then that would be followed by Chennai half. That should set the tempo for the season.

My gastroenteritis has relapsed, my plantar faciitis is still not healed, but I hope to get over these by the time I get to Chennai half around September. With the weather helping a bit, I hope things should do fine.

Two shockers: 1. I have a running buddy, Akhila, who is okay to run my speed and do halves. Atleast Chennai. 2. Venkat of Chennai Runners invited me for a Sunday run which is a shocker. Hopefully I can keep pace with the bunch (Venkat, KK, Tiger, VPS) and do more than an hour which is the target. I presume they would end up doing a 12-12 in little more than an hour.

A theme for a marathon?

2009-07-15T23:46:00.000-07:00

The theme has been nostalgia for some reason. The whole of this July! A month is a long time to get over the cloud of the past, almost all of what is happening kind of gives me a sense of dejavu or I transports me back a few years. I don't know if this is the July gloom and the raw humidity that is pushing me into this feeling of standing inside a mushy cloud. It is giving me a mixed feeling and I am lost in the 'now' quite frequently.

I had been rummaging through old mails quite often due to this. And sometimes for no particular reason. I sometimes feel if all the correspondences were in paper, it would be a totally different feeling. May be a little weird!

I found this from Mohan (below) and decided to adopt this as the theme for my next Marathon.

On 9/12/07, Mohan <mohank_2002@hotmail.com> wrote:
Found this from a running blog. Good points from a small write-up.
"Secret to good marathon times is not running fast - it is not slowing down."
"No goal. Approach this race completely unfettered. Picture yourself at thestarting line relaxed and excited among a throng of people all worriedabout that first mile split. You, on the other hand, will run easily and naturally according to how you feel.

Miles 1 - 5: smooth and steady
Miles 6 - 10: smooth and steady
Miles 11- 15: smooth and steady
Miles 16 - 20: smooth and manageable
Miles 20 - finish: smooth and work

In the beginning run with less effort than you are capable of. Once'warmed up' you can settle into the endurance pace - perhaps one likeyou ran your 20 miler at recently. No hard numbers, just miles rolling smoothly under the feet. At the low spot approaching 20 miles (whenthe race seems a little long), a little more work is involved inkeeping a steady pace. Try to keep the pace and you may find a secondwind on the other side of a mile or two that will give you a few more miles of steady pace (with work). By this time, the horses can smellthe barn and putting in the extreme effort to not slow down is moreeasily managed because the mind knows it's not for long.
I think approaching the race in this manner you will discover the secret to good marathon times is not running fast - it is not slowingdown. And that is why a smooth pace and low heart rate is required forthe first 15 miles or so. Once you enter the "work" phase (focusing on maintaining pace) you should be up near 20 miles (if not beyond) andthe heart rate will probably get up to "tempo" range."

Losing stride...

2009-07-14T18:25:00.000-07:00

I seem to be worsening my left Plantar Fascia. I am playing Badminton every other day and that is high impact inspite of the wooden court. It is an addiction, I always want to go the gym but can't resist playing Badminton at the club.

So, that accidentally becomes my cross training. But not as if the running is coming. I have run twice last week, an easy 5K and an 8er. I should be doing more short runs to keep the stride going and not lose touch with the road. I shudder the day I might stand a complete stranger on the road / to the road.

On the 8K run last week, my running mate introduced me to a flasher, ofcourse we didn't meet! And in boat club. Yes! Believe me, boat club of all places! There is a walker's association and they wouldn't do anything about it. Mostly women I guess. I wouldn't want to confront the guy myself, 'so much for chivalry' she notes. Why in the world would I want to drool on nuts, how ever legal that might be these days?

I dug up a strength training manual that KK had sent way back in 2006 to the group when I started out with the Chennai Runners. Then I was regular to the gym and always thought I would pick up that routine, complete in itself for a runner. But I had a deemed version that I always did. I am getting back to strength training this week. No matter what! And to running :P

ECR 10 is on its way, I am planning to do a steady paced (as against a nice and easy paced) run and then ice up my left foot. I so badly want to do Chennai and Hyderabad halfs. I want to test where I am. I would be happy with a 2.15 for starters in atleast one of the three occasions.

Plantar Faciitis, weight control and recovery

2009-06-12T00:53:00.000-07:00

I (finally) met Dr. Madhu T, an ortho and sports specialist and showed my left foot. To confirm my Plantar Faciitis. I also showed him my strain on the left side of the calf muscle, he confirms that I should drop weight. And suggests orthotics for my flat and under pronating feet.

Plantar Faciitis is a condition where Plantar Fascia is strained and when you get out of the bed, you just cant plant your affected foot, a seething pain in the underside of the heel. Gaawd, I am loving it here... I got one super excuse :P

BTW, so happens that it is mostly because of prolonged weight bearing or sudden changes in weight bearing. Apparently, I have put on a lot of weight of late.

I am soaking my feet in hot water in the morning and quickly kneeding my PF whenever I can. Brings good relief. I have restarted my short runs (today being the first!). I have been recommended to use a heel cushion, but I havent started on that! My aim is to cut down on weight by 5%, a whopping 4kgs. I hope that would help as well. The intention is to break my runs / shuttle and swims to create a schedule of 8 short workouts a week.

Some interesting stuff I didnt know. Shoe makers have acknowledged that the shoes are not designed to work in our hot conditions. So permanently putting them in our room temperature (read +35C) makes the bounce / support / cushion provided in the shoe ineffective. That seems to be the reason for offloading all the shoes in the warehouses beyond two years on sale, as a policy. Them shoes just don't do what they are intended to beyond that point it seems. Next time you hit a sale, bear this in mind!

One for the road...

2009-06-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

Are you going to Scarborough fair
parsley sage rosemary and thyme

I am not sure each one smells... but I can relate...

I was listening to the Scarborough fair of Simon & Garfunkel...

The original is an exchange between a man and a woman...

The woman, demanding as ever, asks the man to impossible tasks before he can ask her hand...

The woman and man exchanges demands... and it goes on ...

Until man's forgiving comes to the forefront..

If she tells me she can't, I'll reply
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Let me know that at least she will try
And then she'll be a true love of mine.

Love imposes impossible tasks
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Though not more than any heart asks
And I must know she's a true love of mine.

Dear, when thou hast finished thy task
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
Come to me, my hand for to ask
For thou then art a true love of mine.

Though Simon and Garfunkel had sung an abridged and slightly modified version of this ... very very sweet rendering... a must listen...

Read this for full lyrics of the song...

Neck sprains and Bangalore 10K

2009-05-26T23:34:00.000-07:00

I had been down with neck sprain, twice in three weeks. The first time it popped up was when I drove with my friend Arun to Bangalore one evening and turned around as we touched Bangalore. The day after the drive I dont know if I slept in an awkward position, I had a stiff neck one moment and the next, I had sprained it.
The next was the weekend after that weekend (weekend before last!) I drove to Vaideeshwaran Kovil on a spiritual trip and I was back with the neck sprain. It is on and off but the neck continues ot be stiff. That said, I have to write about the Chidambaram visit, may be on my next post.
You know where I am getting at - this has taken its toll on my mileage. I had decided to run only sub halfs till I get my heel checked. The 10Ks and the 5-8Ks are keeping me going but not frequent enough to be satiated with.
My preparations for the upcoming Bangalore Sunfeast blah blah 10K is going okay. Two hill sessions and a couple of 10Ks is all I have managed, I dont have time in mind. So I guess it is okay. I have planned to run along with Arun and Akhila and may be Madhan. We four are starting Saturday. I am out there to have some fun. That's it.

Copkku Aappu...

2009-05-06T22:58:00.000-07:00

Today was a particularly difficult day to run, did my 10K in 1.25. Could have done better, but these days there are lots less runners, I planned to stick to Akhila and Arun (strict alphabetical order) who thankfully accompanied me on my 10K run. They are getting their training back on track, if there was one, for the Bangalore 10K.

I was riding my way back home, I was waiting at this signal. Some real punk dude with a line of a side burn and beard and colorful scarf tied to his head was raising his bike's accelerator in a rather annoying way and parked 5mts ahead of the line. Our own Kuchi mama (cop) troubled himself to walk to the biker.
Cop: "Orangattu"
Dude: "Saar, college!"
Cop: "Theriyumda", now his hand is already on the key.
Dude: "Saar, - College", I thought he said New College, but am not sure.
Cop: "Vaa vaa! Padikkara mogaraya paaru!"
Dude: "Saar, please sir!"
Cop takes the keys and walks back to the shade of the tree where he came from with a smirk in his face. Our biker was anxiously looking at the signal that just then turns green. The biker starts his bike and took a right, opposite to where the cop was and fled. Is there a lesson to be learned here? At all?
Well, for starters, I have absolutely no clue why Kuchi Mama took on the biker in the first place... Really beats me! And what are keys for?

1. I really want to check out a few bikes parked in colleges now!
2. I believe that that conversation between the cop and biker needs no translation - for Indian readers across the globe :P
3. The :P was for the ahem ahem "across the globe"!

There is a hole in my sole...

2009-04-27T22:09:00.000-07:00

After some ITB issues just before I started my training for the first Auroville Marathon (Half), I moved from New Balance 767 to the Air Moto+ series of Nike.

I bought my Moto 5 on 10/17/2007. I had run about 8oo odd kilometers. And the shoes now is not good enough though on long or even mid distance runs, the cushioning is lost and hence I feel the bang on my inner thighs, knee and sides (strained ITB). This is inspite of the reasonable stretching I had been doing (before the Singapore Marathon). So I decided to go in for the next shoes, an upgrade to Moto 5, so I would break in time for the Singapore Marathon, my first. I was fairly pleased with Moto 5.

Moto 5 had been very nice to me, I felt okay training with it! I sincerely believed Moto 6, the upgrade would be better.

See the wear on this shoe...

But now, I refuse to believe that Moto 6 is an upgrade. The shoes has worn very very fast. Though it was okay for the first 300K, the cushioning is not much there any more and I kind of dont feel stable in them! There have not been change in my routes / surfaces I have been running to demand such a wear. You could reason that I could have changed my stride (so an increase in heel strike?), my speed could have increased. I don't feel like I am doing anything different. My average speed in pace has gone up from 7.15/km (including a mix of long runs, easy runs, intervals, hills et al) to 6.50/Km. Not drastic at all. My route times have not changed much either. This could boil down to my irregularity in running. I am not weighing any different, I have always oscillated between 78 to 82kg.

Moto 6 is not more cushiony or bouncy. It was no different than Moto 5. The only solace is that I had done my first marathon on this and then followed it up with another half. I still run in this shoe, it has developed a puncture sort of thing, a hole in the sole. Now Moto 6 has the same thing albiet not prominent. Not just yet. The hole in Moto 6 seems to go into the air pocket sort of thing that gives cushioning to the heel. See the photos.

The hole is pretty prominent on the outer part of the heel. The wear on Moto 5 is not really that heavy, there is a hole there too but after 830.3 Kms. The hole actually is bang on the air pocket that provides cushioning. Moto 6 has run only 528.9 Kms since I had bought it 29/02/2008. Infact, the hole was visible at 410 Kms and I had been so pissed off that I paid 6200Rs on this, same as my older shoes, that I am desparate to squeeze more mileage out of Moto 6. So I have cut down on my distance runs (my inner thigh/ groin aches, plus I have developed Plantar Facitiis which I squarely blame on Moto 6) and using Moto 6 for the runs.

I have strong feeling that Venkat, a fellow runner is facing the same problems (ankle twists) because of this. He should be moving out of this model, but in all fairness, he says he is the over pronating kind as against the supinating me.

I had almost stopped stretching since my Singapore Marathon but thanks to this development since January (I had shin problems as well then running into the Auroville Half) I have started to stretch well. Enough to recuperate into my next run atleast.

I had bought another Moto 6 immediately after the Singapore Marathon in Singapore since there was a sale there - I ended up paying 4800 INR! Now I regret, I am breaking into the new Moto 6 (23/12/2009). I will post pictures of that and the wear pattern in future. But this is what Nike had done to Moto 5 - ruined it. I am not so sure about the Bowerman series anymore.

The model has been dear to me sentimentally, but I am moving away. May be out of Nike itself! I wanted to try Pegasus before I could move on (less expensive) but reviews aren't good on the new version. Plus, I want value for money this time. Asics, here I come! Or may be Adidas!

PS: I am consistently beating the month on month of last year though runs have not been coming regularly. I am happy that I get to run, I am drawing a plan starting next week. Would post that once it shapes up. There is going to be a short one (4 weeks) for the Bangalore 10K and another big one for the Hyderabad Full in August. So long...

To sleep or not to sleep...

2009-04-14T01:51:00.000-07:00

Recently, Shumit posted a 25 Golden Rules list for Running.
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267--8412-3-1X2X3X5-5,00.html

Below is one rule that is preventing me from running these days:

Sleep one extra minute per night for each mile per week that you train.So if you run 30 miles a week, sleep an extra half hour each night. "Sleep deprivation has a negative impact on training," says David Claman, M.D., director of the University of California-San Francisco Sleep Disorders Center. "The average person needs seven and a half to eight hours of sleep, so increase that amount when you're training."The Exception: The extra sleep may not be necessary for some high-energy folks.

Problem is, I am not running but am not able to put in enough sleep either. Both in terms of quantity and quality. What a 2.5 year old boy can do to you!

Also to blame is a totally different aspect of my running. Negligence of upper body. It had become so weak that my hands look like sticks and there is not enough power to hold posture towards the end of even 10K runs. So I decided to make amends previous Sunday to fix my guilt trip of missing my run. I did 25mts of Ashtanga Vinnyasa. And my upper body, the wings, shoulder, neck and arms, particularly in the armpit region as I move my hands so painful that I could not even imagine getting up from bed, leave alone other problems. So I decided to sleep in and so my body can recuperate. To my surprise, I felt energetic today morning, Hellow everybody, Happy New Year.

I am always amazed at the power of mind that can concoct a reason out of nothing to make you do the impossible and in the same breath not make you make even a feeble attempt at what you can. I hope you understand what I am getting at.

Tomorrow I am planning an easy run and want to finish the week with three runs out of four days. Hope that happens!

On an other note, I heard in the tea shop today as somebody say 'Ambedkar dhaan sattam kandupichaaru' - which should loosely translate to this: Ambedkar invented law / constitution!
Thaangala...

A tub of lard

2009-04-08T00:43:00.000-07:00

The conversation during the last Sunday's run is haunting me. I am having sleepless nights, not because of the conversation itself, but as I lie sleepless in bed in the middle of the night, I have my thoughts turn to the conversation. I am desperately trying to preoccupy my mind with other thoughts, anything from sleaze to spirituality.

V is a not so lean guy, but you would want to describe him as a wiry and a shade paunchy. Fat / obese, not by a distance. Imagine his schedule, from Kalari in the mornings alteranting that with runs, hard and fast and long runs. Plus Yoga before and after to stretch with creative drills to boost his running. I am sure he is pushing his heart, lungs and body to the extreme whenever he is into it and he is a regular. One of the fastest runners in the club, he has a string of half marathons, 30s, full marathons to his belt.

Imagine a full marathon schedule that takes between 10-18 weeks depending on your aerobic / fitness base. You have to be super fit to train with a 10 week schedule for a marathon or you have to get to a decent level by increasing the schedule to 18 weeks. So you can imagine the amount of physical effort that goes into that.

As we started our run on the lazy hot and humid Sunday morning, V turns up at the starting point and runs with me. I am a slow runner. As we run through exit from Anna University, I ask him about that one question that had be niggling me. I never saw him anywhere near the last Singapore Marathon. It has been a regular fixture in his running calendar for the last 3 years and this year is no different, I knew he had come to Singapore after all. His reply is what is haunting me.

He stopped at mile 6! Worse, he said he blacked out. He pulled out of the race. A somebody who would never want to see a DNF against his name, which runner would. In an event. After a long trip to Singapore. His regular race. His love of the finisher's tee he has confessed that he would walk crawl to get the finishers tee if need be!

He comes back home and after a complete checkup, the doctor gives him a rude shock. Though the doctor is not able to pin his black out to anything particular, V is high in cholesterol. He says it is 263 much above the prescribed 200 levels.

That is a ruder shock for me. He is one of the fastest and fittest guy in our running club! How could this possibly happen to him? I should confess at this point though that I dont know his eating and drinking habits but for sure, they aren't bad as mine. He doesn't smoke as far as I know and I had quit smoking in July of 2005.

Has running and all the other fitness activities that goes along with that in his routine done him any good? May be he was in for worse, I don't know. But I shudder each time I put myself in his position. Atleast, the last thing on earth I would do is to eat Oats porridge twice a day as he does.

Look at my daily intake of food.

One pongal which I am sure is made out of some cheap vanaspathi and one Vadai, the less we talk about the oil, the better. Plus two puris, drenched in oil, plus some potato curry. If I am eating outside.

Four / Five idlis and Chilly powder in oil (Molagapodi Ennai) if at home. I indulge in a samosa or two puris outside if I eat at home.

Lunch is 99% carried from home and that is the respite, a rice, a curry or kootu and curd rice with pickles. Sometimes, my wife liberally uses oil in the curry, for whatever reasons. But that is the worst. So the lunch is rather safe. There isn't much variation to this.

At 4pm, a short trip to the nearby coffee shop costs two vadais / bajjis with some coconut chutney. But only two.

If I go the temple after work, it would incur more. A bonda and some chilly bajjis. But this is a rarity.

Dinner is almost a repeat of lunch. There is one more hot vegetable to add to. But rather heavy.

Now I do indulge myself in a drink or two a month. But that is all there is to it. Thankfully, bachelor days are gone. But this would be something most married IT guys can relate to. The food routine is pretty much the same. Are we in for any healthy alternative to any of this near our offices, I am not sure. The will to seek and come out of the rut of oil soaked delights is just not there. Can you imagine a smoking joint in Chennai outside the big glossy glass buildings without a smoking oil pot in front beckoning you to a bite greasy yummy eatling that goes straight to your heart and fills you soul? That you would never want to hold tight lest squeeze it even by accident so the tumbler of oil it oozes out goes only into your watering mouth with the chutney it is served with! I challenge the western mouths that crave for the cheese topped pizza to match this one, you just can't beat us in this. God, how good is it to be Indian and eat Indian! And that is where you are served tea. Who wants the tea in the vending machines that dont give you the break you deserve to stretch your legs from hours of sitting?

Yes, I do run, 2-3 runs a week. Speed doesnt matter, but I do run. But what is with my sleep, with a small kid who is nocturnal as an owl in the night who jumps and cuddles me all night? It is non-existent when he takes ill, if he is sleeping tight, the best I get is a disturbed light sleep. That adds to the woes. All my running routine, weight control, body clock go haywire. I am a zombie in the morning. Atleast if I run, my sleep is better in the night. Thanks to my wifey who manages a lot in the morning before she leaves for her morning shift, life still dangles on the saner side.

I oscillate between 80 and 82 and have a big flab that hinders my running severely if I havent run for a week or two. My thighs grind as I run, thank God for the small mercies, there is vaseline. Now, I dread going to the doctor to find out my cholesterol levels. Let the inevitable happen!

The Running Haiku

2009-04-06T00:55:00.000-07:00

There should be some connection somewhere I think, as I read the Haiku posted for the advent of spring. Haiku is a very popular Japanese poetry form and Japan happens to be a marathon / running crazy country.

The winning entry is from one Emily

Fairweather runners
Emerge like they own the place.
I ran all winter.

For the love of Japanese, there was one special entry...

kutsu de hashiru
kustu ga hoshii
kutsu atarashii

translation:

I run with shoes
I want shoes
new shoes
Posted by: Casey Kennington

I liked this one as well...

The earth awakens
beneath my cold aching feet
warming to their pace

A Runners High-Ku!

Sunfeast Bangalore 10K registration woes

2009-04-05T23:06:00.000-07:00

I am sure the Sunfeast Bangalore 10K site is not seeing unprecedented volumes, the registration page is down with one error or the other most of the time. I got registered without glitches though, a day after it opened. Today it read -

Registration
Sorry, There is a network error. Please try again.

So much for professionalism!

The best runner...

2009-04-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

"Ultimately, the best runners are the ones who are willing to work very hard but who have a little bit of a lazy streak in them."
BENJI DURDEN, Coach

I am missing neither... I have the will and I am lazy... Am I the best?

Grinding the mill...

2009-04-02T00:03:00.000-07:00

I did a 10K run today. Slept in late, around 12.30am. So was very drowsy as I woke at 4.20. and fought a thousand demons to get to the start line. The tough part was over. I kept telling myself that I would cling on to the shortest distance runner and then chill. I was expecting Arun and Akhila on the start line and thought would convince Arun to run short. Both didnt show up. And turned out that all 5 ended up doing around 10K.

Narayan is a changed man - in looks. He looks more aerodynamic (!) and trimmer as he runs faster than I remember him run. I have been mulling about whatelse - weight loss! Sometimes, like today, I feel the bones creek under my weight. Particularly on mid distance / long runs after a hiatus.

Idea is to keep the runs to 3-4 a week and do cross training 1-2 days including core workouts. I have been trying to put together a plan that would be doable on all fronts. Including cost. I will post more on that as it evolves. By the looks of it, it would take another good week.

Cross training might include -

1. Cycling: Have to check price of cycle, viability and losing out to Priya on letting her buy somethingelse in compensation.
2. Swimming: I need to train properly under a trainer. My technique is flawed to say the least, non-existant would sound better.
3. Shuttle / Badminton: Doesnt seem to gel well with running but I love this game like crazy. I generally over do it that I am tired for the next day or two.
4. Gym: I am not particular about any one activity like an elliptical or a rowing machine or static cycling. But this might be a good idea to mix and match and keep the boredom off.
5. Yoga / Pilates et al...

To add to it, some serious core strengthening in particular and full body workouts so my skinny upper body sees some muscles. I read somewhere, in one of the forwards from Sandy one of the Chennai Runners who takes to short distance running more, that, long distance runners lose muscle and look skinny fat. That is what I am now! Fat in the middle and skinny elsewhere...

And by the way, this sunday, 4 of our runners are doing the Paris Marathon. Best of luck to them...

I dont feel bad.., because...

2009-03-25T01:16:00.000-07:00

Bumper Sticker Guy: [running after Forrest] Hey man! Hey listen, I was wondering if you might help me. 'Cause I'm in the bumper sticker business and I've been trying to think of a good slogan, and since you've been such a big inspiration to the people around here I thought you might be able to help me jump into - WOAH! Man, you just ran through a big pile of dog shit!

Forrest Gump: It happens.

Bumper Sticker guy: What, shit?

Forrest Gump: Sometimes.

ECR Edition 9

2009-03-24T12:31:00.000-07:00

Eve: Ran around with Mohan doing some water bottle shifting (we had quite a discussion about gym, injuries and some in general) and check the arrangements at MGM. He seemed a little preoccupied though. And for a change, I was not.

In the night, went out for a walk with Miko and Priya, she as usual announced in the last minute, citing a thousand one reasons that she is not in. Very very disappointed but ate it. She thinks I didnt let her practice enough and that I should have run with her. Something to ponder about.

Run Day: Picked up Arun and Akhila, Mohan went with Ramani to the venue. Had a coffee - bad idea. We decided to bunk and sleep in the car taking turns whilst Akhila ran. But in the last minute, the atmosphere and all those runners and pep pulled me in. Decided to do a 20K until I reached the 2.5K mark. I wanted to do the pooh badly, thanks to the coffee. If it was a pee break, I would have done that inside one of them casuarina groves but for Akhila was running with me. She was running full bladder as well she told.

I decided to cut my distance to 15K and keep up with Akhila, whenever we increased pace I would promptly take stock and cut down. As I strided a little faster, I would be on the verge, would ask her to slow down till I was okay. But we kept a minimum pace going I think.

At 14K we decided to quit since Arun was to catch a flight and we had to get back quickly. Reasons. Found KK around that point and we decided to run it to the 15K point thanks to him.
We took a bus avoiding an exhorbitant auto, one Shankar joined us.

I rushed to the tatti land and relieved myself, decent breakfast. Well organized run, thanks to Mohan and his team on the road. Would have run better, longer or faster on another day. But overall a decent effort, the longest since Auroville!

Arun did his 10K in 1.03 odd. We did in 1.50 thereabouts. Two others I was expecting didnt turn up.

Shuttle as cross training?

2009-03-17T00:41:00.000-07:00

After a reasonable last week (2 runs) I decided to play shuttle for cross training. On Saturday. Evening. I should not have done that with the long run on Sunday morning. Me and Arun intended to keep it to two games but it is such that once you are in, you end up playing 4-5 games atleast. We both were very rusty playing after a long time, no decent games / rallies. I was frustrated.
Sunday morning some known and unknown parts of my body ached plus there were guests who decided to come in suddenly. So found that as an excuse not to run. I infact woke up but thought that I should be back 7am so would not be able to make it. Arun called up and told he and Akhila are skipping the run and I stood up Madhan who then went all the way back from Anna University to Nanganalloor island and ran there (around the lake.) One quick thought about Nangalnalloor. Madhan used to call it downtown and turns out that it is so down that if a dog pisses it gets flooded there.

I felt guilty all day and decided to run in the evening and amidst a lots of show of dissent and gruntles I did make it the boat club and ran a 7er. The plan was to do 9. I had to drop some folks at the station so had to quickly get back. The run was a sorry story. My leg muscles cried, pulled me back amidst my tries at some dynamic stretching. My abdomen muscles were feeling funny and my stomach / belly felt like a giant half boiled egg with two stiff bread sticks poking at it. Very weird it was but I did not care about speed and ran 7 in 45mts I suppose. Thanks to the badminton previous evening.

Monday morning I felt I would run again (to somehow compensate for the mileage lost on Sunday) so ran with Akhila and Arun, an easy 8K from their place to River View Road and back. Felt much smoother and better. We did 3-4 surges during the run particularly targetting the uphill parts of the run. It was so good (despite not carrying water, it was humid and we very parched midway) that we decided to crank up the mileage this week. Ended up without a run on tuesday. Planning to compensate it with a flyover run tomorrow starting at Dimensions.

Planning to continue shuttle on Friday mornings to recover in time for the Sunday long run!

I was wondering whether Shumit would land up for the ECR as a surprise and was checking the runners list that Mohan sent - disappointed!

Of no runs and frustrations...

2009-03-09T21:28:00.000-07:00

No runs in the past 4 days. I am frustrated, I missed one run because of laziness but all three were not in my control. I guess it is as much difficult for father runners with small kids to miss runs just as mother runners. Only that our society is biased in portraying it sympathetically for mother runners. Unfair treatment!

All I want to do is run! Even if it means at night. But I am just not able to.

Last time I ran was with Madhan and a super breakfast though it irritated me to the hilt that it came after 25mts of waiting at Hot Chips, Madhya kailash. Can you imagine a hotel not ready with breakfast till 7.30 (well, Pongal was ready but Vadai was not, net net, you can enjoy pongal right?). It was a nice and easy 7K through Kottur Gardens and Boat Club and back starting and ending at Anna University. Running with Madhan is a little scary because he throws up some "breaking free" kind of actions / antics scaring others on the road and as well running on the center of the road oblivious of vehicles behind him. He wears a music player on his ears making matters even worse. It was safe at Boat Club where there arent many vehicles but on Kotturpuram road it IS not. We managed a sprint to finish. Met Arun Krishnan and his running cronies at Anna University. Want to run with those guys once... Those guys are fitness freaks!

I think Anna University will emerge as the new starting point for Chennai Runners. Infact, I am planning to do track workouts once a week if possible at AU.

Running, Arun and Sanjay...

2009-03-03T04:20:00.000-08:00

I ran on Sunday 5K as decided. 5.4 to be precise. And followed it yesterday with a 6 odd. I was not wearing my Garmin but I started from Arun's place and went till Malar (plus a small detour) and back. I am doing okay though the stomach feels funnily heavy causing the breathing to be a little laboured.

Arun has improved a lot. In terms of speed. No wonder he is complaining of all kinds of pain. Not that it is bad, I am impressed. He is not feeling it in his groin so he is not pounding that hard just yet. Last run, I tried to catch up with him but just couldn't. He has no movement in his body other than his legs. Looks a bit funny from behind but effective. The pack structure has changed. Except for me. Akhila now runs behind and Arun leads, me somewhere in between. Its gone upside down in 2 months straight. We three finished the run strong. Missed Rajiv though.

I attempted running with Chennai Runners today but unfortunately the Air Con worked after two days of some problem. I overslept. Planning to do the hills tomorrow - Alwarpet flyovers.

I was reading somebody's blog today during lunch http://ramsabode.wordpress.com/ and suddenly stumbled upon (do I have to put a TM here?) Sanjay Subramanian's blog. Didnt know he was so trend savvy if I can use that! So why is this in my running blog? I always wanted to hear Sanjay's songs on the run. But thanks to my ears that won't hold earphones in place, I am not able to. I try 'Satru Vilakeedum Pillai' and 'Arivaar yaar unnai' mentally when I am bored on the run...! He is one man who sings a lot of Tamil songs (as against a lot of them Telugu song singers) and so I like, no grouse, I dont feel the emotion in a Telugu song because of my language ignorance (not intolerance, again).

Update: I just forwarded the blog to Ram and heard from him that he is a runner as well. So that is that!

One step ahead two steps back...

2009-02-25T20:08:00.000-08:00

The after the Auroville Marathon I decided that once I get to running after "the eye" thing is over, I shall do another half in good time. It could have been anything, no targets per say, I wanted to do the 17-21 part strong and fast. That is still the weakest link.

Last Sunday we had an unofficial Auroville party, thanks to VP Senthil. I had fever the day and the next and then I had a stomach bug on Wednesday. I am recovering now, the Gastro, works best for me, has advised me not to run till Saturday even though I might look good on Thursday itself. Reasons -dehydration and fatigue over two days will take time to recover he said. "You are sick, no running for three days!". I am already sulking on the Idly/Kanji diet.

Today, while I was on the way to pick up Arun to the office in my bike near Wontons, a good lady opened the door on the kerb side even as her car was coming to a halt and hit my bike handle bar. Me and bike went for a dramatic spin. For once I believed that I had a turtle fall. I have my middle finger rammed on the door of the car waiting to be scanned. No pain but bulging. My knee hit the tarmac (or was it the bike, I am not sure now!) and is definitely bruised. I have assessed that yet but the pain inside the scapulla is making me fear worse.

Ladies out there, there are runners on bikes on the kerb side of your car door, please pay attention.

A special thanks to all those who were so so kind on the road as I fell down and offering me help and advising me to check and rest before I start. In fact the lady was kind enough to offer water and pay for the damages to my bike (there is no hood now and the front wheel is misaligned.)

With ECR on the horizon (March 22nd) I was planning with a few Chennai Runners to target on speed and focus on a faster half - relatively by building up on the Auroville Half. But I am now having to work 3/4 weeks to get back to whatever minimalist fitness level that I had built a week back.

A bad week for sure, but could have been worse. I am planning to do a 5K on Sunday commemortating this week's survival as a way of thanking God. Three more days to go.

The Pondy Story...

2009-02-17T00:13:00.000-08:00

As I write, I am one eyed, the other just underwent a procedure to remove one of the two Chalezions caused due to gland blockage, thanks to Chennai pollution. I would have to wear coolers when I move out in the open in Chennai.

I was so excited today when I filled my log at logyourrun.com. The first time I repeat a race. And got to compare it. I had postponed my eye operation just for this. The doctor said that the antibiotics and anti inflammatory drugs might cause me gastritis and I would get a chest pain if I run.

Ahh... how we all loved the pristine morning air in the trail of Auroville.

Pasta Party: Was impersonal. Very toned down menu :P when compared to the first.Missed my favourite herbed Pasta. Food was gentle, tamed and sumptuous. Met Chennai Runners and Hyderabad Runners and Shumit and co. Everyone wanted to check out how Satyam was doing!

Start: We came in a bunch, 5 of us. Arun, Akhila, Rajiv doing the quarter, Madhan doing the joining run 5K and me the half. The place we stayed wasnt comfy, thanks to some goof up on my part. That meant we had to start much early to reach the starting point. We all started together, whilst others slept in the car except Rajiv who came to see the proceedings.

It was dark, but I could see that there would be no problem footing wrong because of visibility. Would be down to sheer misjudgement if at all I sprained my ankle or whatever.

7K: That was what I did the first one hour. The road was sloping down and I striding a little longer than normal and my shin started to pain. Over the past few weeks, I had studied that it subsides past 4-5K mark. Met Anu who was pacing nice and easy.

I cut back on speed about 5-10mts after I passed here and thought it would have been best to have shared pace with her. Decided to just let it unwind as it would come because in all probability I would have to slow down further if things went bad.

Around the 5.5K point I was feeling my rhythm come back to me as I listened to the distant beat of the drummers who were doing a fast paced beat. I could see Ranga running and thought would catch up with him. I tried as much as I could but only to see that the distance was not narrowing at all. When I did after about 10mts or so, which seemed an eternity, he asked me to check the time. I had not worried about the time till then and we both were in for a shocker to find that we had done only about 7K in 56mts. Ranga told me he not slept well the previous night and was taking the toll. We decided to marginally increase speed and keep the pace there until the 16K mark.

8-16K: Since only one of us could run on the hard part of the dirt road and we did not want to run on the soft sand for fear of resistance we kept following each other taking turns. I realized around 7.10 I could still see the moon fading and it was cool under the trees. A margazhi chill still in the air ensured that we were not tiring. The road kept climbing on and on. There were a couple of guys with us on and off from Mind Tree (mRunners) and a couple of RFLers.

I think we both set a blistering pace (how super it feels to say that!) in this period, because the road slowed me down from 16-18 because of some re-laying going on and it was absolutely difficult to run. I lost Ranga around the 14K mark, I was thinking that he was following me because I heard foot steps. I realized it was somebodyelse much later. I was so concentrated for the 20mt period I just didn't know.

The sun was out around the 16K mark and coincided with the trail getting worse momentarily. Kartik was toiling - walking in the sun. I wondered if I had to have my coolers along. Two caucasian women were going nice and strong and I could see Venkat walking after the 16K mark at the end of the road, I thought as much because of the bandana. We both ran slowly the rest of the race to the finish, where he sprint to finish while I just cruised in.

My Garmin read just short of 21, 20.9. No complaints :)

I was really happy to have egged Venkat and Amit from Mangalore (his first 21) to run to the finish than walk to the finish. We saw some mongooses and some squirrels and some dogs in the trail. He wanted me to keep a conversation going but I was so worried that I might have to walk to the finish that I rarely spoke.

This happens to be my first non-stop half (KK and I had discussed this before that we always had to walk albeit briefly around the 16K that we have never once in a race done a walkless half. The next target would be walkless full!)

Finished fairly strong. And had enough energy in the tank to run another strong 5K after the stretch! I didnt want to have a massage, the foot bath (rock salt chilled water sound like a cocktail!) took all the soreness out of them muscles, I felt so good.

I sat tight the whole of the day before - imagine being in Pondy and all... Thanks to that, I did a very decent one by my standards as well for all the non-training.

Also a PB for me, though I have done halves in lesser time, this is the fastest in an event.

Hyderabad 21K 2007 - 2.24.20
Auroville 2009 - 2.23.42
Auroville 2008 - 2.40 something

No marked improvement. Target for the next half is a 2hr finish.

A limited breakfast was not what I was looking forward to, though it was so kind of the organizers to have arranged it. Two idlys and One dosa and a Masal vada (it becomes difficult to chew on this, a Medu Vada would have been better choice organizers!). Could have gobbled a couple more dosas and idlis :P

Superb meals at Surguru a nap is all I needed to recharge batteries.

I would be out of action for the week, I am on antibiotics. But I have the trail to savour till then.

The route this time around was not through buildings or a trip around Auroville, but a perfect trail in woods. So only a short glimpse of Matri Mandir and I dont remember seeing anymore after that - may be Auro shilpam, that was that. But I loved it.

Given that there are so many troupes performing (Reggae the previous night!) more bands playing the route would have been fun. But then, it would also mean that the silence - the only sound being your footsteps and laboured breathing as you work through the woods might have to be compromised. So ideal thing - after the 18K mark when you are down and in the road wide open, bring on the music.

I can't compliment and thank the organizers enough for the water stops and the eagerness of the volunteers to help out was unmatched. I took my fuel belts only because I need a sip every 1.5 - 2K and ended up with half of my two bottles spent - just as planned.

More...

Extremely pleased to see Akhila and VT finish comfortably and very proud of that. Rajiv finishing is no surprise to me. On road he would have done 10K under a hour. Madhan finished his 5K comfortably as well.

I would want to train for the next half with Rajiv so I can do it a lot faster - I am sure he will push me to do so.

Turns out, my next training is for a full marty at Hyderabad on August 30.

Some photos from Kartik

Adidas sale in Chennai and the lost miles....

2009-02-11T00:32:00.000-08:00

Me and Arun bought a new pair of adidas shorts (variation of the same that I bought before) at a whopping 40% off at Chettiar hall where they had set up temporary shop. I am sure they end up with a lot of profit on this. But it forces you think how much these guys should be making at MRP!

I am really under prepared for Auroville, no running coming in the last two days. I did a 13K on Friday and a 6K on Monday. All in the evening cool. Not very ideal preparation. I am planning to jackup the miles a little bit today and tomorrow and one last run on friday morning. Without pushing myself on the speed part.

Change of plans for Auroville half. Just have fun (like last time!)

Of old shoes and getting back into the groove and my 'may be' running partner...

2009-02-05T00:06:00.001-08:00

I ignored a few advices of not using the Moto 6 that hurts. And started slowly moving up the long distance runs but only gradually and at a much slower pace. I have not run one speed session or hill session these 4 weeks. All have done was tempo runs, long runs and recovery runs.

Cutting back on speed has payed back big time. I am confident of tackling the 21K monster now. I was so uber-confident that I used to tell people (boast :P) that I could just wake up any day and run a half. This injury has taught me different lessons! I have my feet on the ground now.

I did my first CR classic (16K) last week and am all set for another one this weekend. The weekend before Auroville. I just want to finish this sunday strong, a wee bit better than last week. Hell, I did not walk at all last time around!!!

By the way, its uber-cool to add 'uber' in front of anything to make it sound uber-cool. Wiki is now my second pet search engine after Google and wikied it! Good read that was...

My wifey is now big time into running (somehow concides with her mom's visit or her vist to her mom's). Hmmm...

The last time she got into running was when we visited Mumbai and she had run two weeks before that. And she would talk endlessly to her mom about her runs as if it were two years! And she would also want to check on me once a while if she was on track to reducing her weight. :)

We did 2 runs each week for the last week. She was a great walker and so it doesnt take her much to get to the 5K distance. She has graduated to her first 5K in 2 weeks flat!

I know what you are thinking. Two weeks is biggg time... I only hope it continues.

I ohhh so happy about her hitting the road though it puts my running plans into a spot. I am more than happy to work around her running schedule (though there isnt one as such). She is a very home person, I am happy she is out there and doing 'the' thing! She would announce the night before that she wants to run in the morning. And off we go!

Sundays are the only exceptions.

I secretly think that I would have a running partnet in her if she only continued for a year or so (or least, it becomes a habit). I am not working on the odds on this now anyways...

Running in Palakkad

2009-02-04T23:57:00.000-08:00

Not that I ran there, happened to be in my home village for some personal emergency. So happens, it is really cool in the morning and evening. And a lot lot cleaner air as compared to Chennai. But safer? Naaaah... You are sure to be hit by a speeding vehicle 90/100 times. I didn't even bother to take my shoes with me for the trip. No of non-running days I could attribute to this: 2.

Runs for the year...

2009-01-28T05:01:00.000-08:00

I was running through Tanvir's blog and thanks to his 2009 race calendar update, I have some dates with me to work on.

I have Singapore at the end of the year (with a nod from my better half ofcourse :P since it falls around my wedding anniversary and she is not very happy to travel with me because the trip would then revolve around my running!)

Also, I want to try the ultra. There is a yawning gap between Auroville and Hyderabad Marty where I want to do a full. I will run the Sunfeast for fun. So my schedule is short of two half events. Two halves and two fulls is the target for this year. I presume there will be the last minute Chennai marathons and all to fill up.

Aug

30th

Hyderabad Marathon

42K, 21k

Nov

15th

Bangalore Ultra Marathon

75K, 50K, 25K

Feb

15th

Auroville Marathon

42K, 21K, 10.5K, 5K

May

17th

Sunfeast World 10K Run

10K

First double digit run of the year!

2009-01-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

Came on the republic day evening. The first 2K were uneasy, but then, I just did it! Time 1.08. That is the time I take to run the first 10K when I do a 30+. But I will take it...

Running and eating, and more on shoes

2009-01-24T03:34:00.000-08:00

Perturbed with the developments with my Nike Air Moto 6 shoes, I decided to do a run in the sand, atleast I thought I could avoid the shin pain. On two counts - one I would have to run slow anyways as Anu pointed out, two I could run on a softer surface though uneven. Did Anna Samadhi and back with Arun and Akhila. The run was easy. I couldnt have run on the road because of all the Republic day celebrations going on. I didnt stop to enjoy it either.

I am glad that the short runs are coming nice and easy offlate. But the driving factor seems to be food post run! I am somehow getting out of the bed ogling on a superb breakfast or coffee these days. A 'little' something at Sangeethas after the friday run (OK, I met Hari briefly in boat club but started and ended alone!) and a Murugan Idly Shop breakfast at Eliots beach last sunday and a Saravana Bhavan cofffee today seems to have been the motivator. I am happy I get out of bed and hit the road though. Runs have been short but comfy.

I read about 'selecting shoes' in the Complete Book of Running. Amby Burfoot suggests the wet test and go for shoes. Never works I guess. But that is one of them pointers when you hit the shop. And he suggests hitting a speciality store. I am in Chennai and the book seems to be for Americans! No such thing here. An experienced sales person would suggest that a particular colored sneaker sells best because it goes well with most colors of dresses. The other part is about the feel, which seems to be a sane advice. You have to feel right from the word go. So never take the sales guy's 'will fit after a little bit of use' thing. There are 5 questions the sales guy in a speciality store would ask it seems - in Chennai, there is only one question. What's your budget. And lastly, your running shoes is for running only. Point.

Nike Moto 6 is not good

2009-01-21T03:53:00.000-08:00

I ran with the old Nike Moto 6 (call it blue for reference) which is just 340K old today and the shin pain flared up. And it is the one that is causing shin problems I guess.

The new Nike Moto 6 (call it red for reference) that I used for the last 3 runs is not causing the shin pain. Is the old blue Nike 6 (not so old actually) causing problems? Has it worn off so early. My shoe before this, a Nike Moto 5 worked well till about 600 odd Kms.

Question: Has my old shoe conked? Or is it my shin?

I need an answer fast, I was struggling to do a 6K (today!) and I have a half looking down at me on Feb 15th.

A double digit run looks like a marathon to me now.

Runner's World Complete Book of Running

2009-01-20T00:02:00.000-08:00

It 's been a good read so far. I have read only some intro stuff and beginner's stuff and some motivational stuff (Oprah's Marathon).

One thing I liked about the book is that it says something like you don't have to be a marathoner to be a runner. Be what you are and just enjoy running! You are still a runner. How true!

A double whammy...

2009-01-18T21:27:00.000-08:00

A double whammy, I read, is a back to back run with a 12 hour gap or less than the usual 24.

This is my first double and what a way to end the draught. I am planning to run the whole week leaving Monday to pile up some miles for Auroville Half.

I ran a 5+K on Saturday evening after a really tiresome morning. I had to wait in a queue to get my son an admission form for his Pre KG admission. From 3am till 9.30am. And guess what, I was 122 when I reached there at 3! My wife gave me a 45 mt break when she reached at 7.15, but I was in the line at 8am because I wanted ensure that I get the form and not waste so much of time in the queue for nothing. The run was actually much relaxing for my sore legs.

Ran with Arun and Akhila on Sunday morning, a 6+ run from his house to Elliot's beach starting at 6.20am instead of the usual 5.15 start with Chennai Runners from Dimensions. Finished it off with big breakfast at Murugan Idly Kadai.

It is always nice to have somebody to chat at the end of the run though I am not much of a talker on the run and a lone runner because of my pace. Arun Akhila and I had a good chat about Satyam fiasco and also vowed to do some strength training. Arun Akhila are doing a 10K at Auroville. Next week, hopefully, Rajiv, another friend of mine and a very strong runner, will join us for the run, he is in for a 10K too.

Run draught...

2009-01-15T23:33:00.000-08:00

I don't even remember my last run! I check back my log (NOT blog) and turns out it was on 5th night. I can go endlessly for reasons. But the bottom line is that I am really missing something. I wow to run today or tomorrow to end this draught. Even if it means just 2-3Kms.

A smooth 5K on Monday and some rough ride...

2009-01-08T09:19:00.001-08:00

Since I had some travel on the cards on Tuesday and Wednesday and that I had not run on Sunday, I ran a 3 miler on the treadmill on Monday after a warm up mile. The first I ran at 9Kmph and second at 9.5 and the third at 10. Without much casualty.

Wednesday was a nightmare day at work with some really bad news. I was in so bad a mood that I couldn't get myself up to run.

Hoping to do an easy one tomorrow.

On the road to recovery...

2009-01-04T21:31:00.000-08:00

Recovery is already painful. I went to Dimensions on friday, late in the evening. I decided to do a lower body circuit and decided on a crazy idea. Of warming up with a 2-3 on road.

I hit boat club and even before I could finish one inner loop, I was walking. I should have been on my knees if I had decided to run. The pain in now just in the shins. It started slowly creeping up my leg millimeter by millimeter. I walked all the way thinking what could have gone this wrong in so short a period. Here I was finished my marathon barely 5 weeks back and now, I am not able to run a 3K at an easy pace, leave alone a fast one.

I remember this starting on the day I ran my 5K race on tread mill. I mentioned this to Ram who was there.

I hit the gym and did a determined 45mts of lower body with 3 sets of shin strengthening and in lot of pain. It's nearly 9 weeks (3 weeks of tapering off with no gym) since I have visited the 3rd floor of Dimensions where the weights are.

I wanted to test myself on Sunday but didn't want to strain myself waking up at 4am in morning and going all the way to Dimensions, seeing others run half and more.

This said, I should have tried a lone run sometime. Not doing made me more grumpy. I was very disturbed and was getting irritated and complaining at anything and everything whole of this weekend. No doubt, I am getting odd looks from my family.

More work to be done in 2009...

2009-01-02T01:23:00.000-08:00

This new year didnt dawn too well. I dont see this as a bad start. I am putting up an optimistic face to it and saying that I will need to put in more than what I think to get on track.

Thanks to Esthelle, Adayar, I was up as promised for the half marty startup at Dimensions. I wasn't least surprised. We decided we were too old to party. Four old timers. Since we had had a few beers last year at Esthelle, we thought we would get there and have a few rounds and get home by 1opm!

We reached at 6.10pm (sharp), when normal rates were still on. And since the waiter was kind enough to inform us that the rates are going to be jacked up for new year at 6.30pm. Special rates meant a large of rum would cost Rs250 than the usual Rs160. We ordered 3 large pegs each. The guy comes up at 6.35pm and says that the special rates are on and just because we had ordered much before he could only give us one peg each! Turns out, the pegs are all adultered and after 5 rounds we felt we had only too much coke and were left feeling bloated with no intoxication. And thankfully, their kitchen was closed so we had to do with boiled peanuts and crisps.

Anyways, as I woke up at 4am, I was fresh. I landed up at the Dimensions at 4.45 and there was nobody. I had run a few meters for warmup before Ram the next person to turnup at 5 and was not feeling okay about my left inner thigh. By the time we had huddled and decided on which bunch runs what, I had downgraded my run to a 15K Chennai runners Classic from Half.

I started running, I was doing okay in the first kilometer. A sharp pain in the left foot, starting from just after the big toe along the arch and over to the ankle flared up out of nowhere. I slowed down. Still not feeling well, I stretched and then started over again. Each step was painful. I had to abort the run and walk back with some intermittent 10-20mts jog to see if the pain had gone. No luck.

I reached Dimensions and stretched. I feel a stiff inner thigh paining as I stretch and a knock with a small hammer in the side of my knee (like when the orthos knock your knee sadistically to check if it is fine!) and then the pain in the inner part of the ankle running through my foot to the big toe.

I presume it is to do with
1. no stretching
2. no regular running and no active recovery after these runs
3. no strength training.

Particular after the Singapore Marathon.

I am planning to do this.

1. Downgrade my Auroville to half from full (thankfully I have not registered yet!)
2. Concentrate on getting to the starting line fit. Means more stretching, more mileage over the week through shorter runs. More strength training. Watch what I eat. And drink.
3. May be try a PR. My fastest to date in an event is 2.25 only!

This is going to be the toughest part - "Watch what I eat."

It was so disappointing to end the run on the new year day this way. But I don't regret it for all that I did before and after the marathon.

Its time to get back on track and put the head down and labour away. Things are pretty much similar at the work front. Welcome to 2009!

Yelagiri running...

2008-12-29T00:33:00.001-08:00

Running was what was in my mind when my bro proposed Yelagiri for a day's trip in the four day long Christmas weekend - honestly. My brother and his bro in law were happy to join me for a 5K run-walk to enjoy the crisp morning air (adjective tapaoed from some other runner's blog).

A quick run through of what I liked and thought.

Running from the bottom to top would be around (14-28K) depending on where you want to start. I thought it would be a good try. But after I ran-walk the 5K, I understood that the altitude makes it tough to go even on flat surfaces after a steep climb. And the buses are in a rush all the time for what so ever reason. Drivers - People are here for holidaying. What is the hurry?
It would be difficult to have water / fuel arrangements and other logistics in the middle of the climb if we were to organize a run here. May be, inputs from runners who have had previous experiences here would be a lot of help. Not much shops and they don't open early. Eightish is early, right!
You have to be really brave to do it alone from bottom to top without support!
Climbs are steep, I thought it would be as easy as our Chennai's very own flyovers. And continue on once you are at the top. Not quite. And hey! It is not going to stop for 14K!
Superb scenery.
Unpolluted air, even with the buses, there are not many. You have to breath this to know how pristine air could be! Very less people, but you get that "what are these guys upto?" look. Only for a moment. And then life continues.
We ran the climbs and walked the descents. Started at 7.05am and finished 7.58am - 5.3K. From our resort/hotel towards the trekking area and back. Stopped for some superb scenary and photo shoots. No water. Nose goes dry. Lungs scream after a climb at a fairly decent pace for 5-7mins.
Guess St.Thomas Mount would be a good starting point to train.

A 'First Race' report...

2008-12-23T07:06:00.000-08:00

I didn't in the least expect to write / report somebodyelse's (other than me) race story here.
Last saturday was my son's first intro to the world of racing or was it? When his teacher told me that he would need an umbrella for the the sports day, I didn't think he would be running his first running race with an umbrella in hand. Apparently, everybody had to run with one thing or the other, my kid's group ended up with the umbrella. And the one I had gotten him turned out to be the biggest of them all. Whilst I was sulking at my decision, turns out he didnt bother one bit... Read the story in pics below...

Pic 1: With Mommy, enjoying the races before his. Priya wearing an anxious look!

Pic 2: All set in the starting line up... bring the umbrellas on... Race is called 'Pitter Patter'

Pic 3: Some last minute issues at the line up - some kids / racers starting to cry and pulling out (not in pic!)...

Pic 4: Here we go, umbrellas are in, still looking at the last minute pull-outs.

Pic 5: Mommy issues last minute instructions, mostly something like Just do it!

Pic 6: Hmm...! Kewl race, we enjoyed did we. Soaking the atmosphere and taking it slow, nice and easy.

Pic 7: Post race rumination? You did well to participate my son! We are all proud of you.

A 'not so good' week...

2008-12-22T00:06:00.000-08:00

Too much of commitments at the home front including grocery shopping and some other miscellenous purchases over the weekend for a friend's kid + other errands like playing driver for my kid's hair cut and wifey's facial + one party of my said friend's kid's b'day + a half a day of the sports day of my kid killed me this weekend. I didn't do much in any of the above chores but only thing I did do was play driver. Somehow I didnt find the energy to recoup and get up in the Sunday morning for the run! Well, I had to find a reason and you found a big list above.

It's a shame really since I had done so well in the week except for may be the aerobics on friday that I skipped (well I did that to compensate the aerobics session I attended last !). If I had put in atleast a 10K I would have felt good.

Good news is that VT and his wife ran a super 5K from Dimensions to Eliots beach (5K) on sunday and liked the route. And when he called me to check if I did do my run I felt a pang of guilt hit me.

I am doing aerobics today - turns out this is the last for the year. I am also planning to bid adieu to this year with a few runs. It is one to remember! I will ruminate on how good and bad it has been over my runs... I have some fond memories of this year training for my first full marathon. Something to keep me occupied...

First feel of the road after SG... And one laid back week...

2008-12-17T20:47:00.000-08:00

I ran a 13 odd kms today. I felt good till 6, may be 7. Then I decided to take a walk and then on it went till I reached the Adayar bridge. I would never want to walk there so I started running, felt good and finished it the last 3.5K at a good clip.

Today as Nishchal (a running buddy of Shumit's from Bangalore) ran with us, she had been counting the number of female runners and counted only one. She was concerned asked questions about women running in Chennai et al.

Well, I had never bothered counting but there were definitely more. And if I did, I could have counted more than her with ease.

Here is my take -

1. Apparently, women in Chennai are not comfortable running with running apparels, mostly the married lot (health scares?). I am not getting to how fitness conscious they are. I am not counting walkers. If more come out and run, you tend to get used to it.

2. People are okay with comfy dressed women in other parts of the world, but it definitely turns heads here. Rarity - I surmise. Men here are not used to women in running apparels either. Is there anything wrong in men staring? Guess it is a gene thing. Nishchal said "Men are programmed, doesn't matter whether they are married or not!" How true!

I don't vouch for people (men) who put you (women) off rhythm though - no lewd remarks, no swallowing stares. C'ommon people... we are called Gentlemen, Ladies - no gentle ladies!

And I honestly don't know if women stare - I am curious! Well, if they did, I would call it a woman thing!

I read Anu's on Monday - but didn't not quite mull into it until after this discussion, the gravity of the thing did not sink in then. :-)

Back to my Auroville schedule. Nishchal suggested that I put in a lot more short runs regularly (daily!) until I recover fully and before I can push myself. Sounds nice. Great. I was just looking for an excuse go light this week and got just that. I am downgrading the 18K run to 15K and mentally planned to walk the Kotturpuram stretch this sunday ;-) Some active recovery!

A short run tomorrow in Marina beach (5-7K) is the plan. Lets see if I am able to!

The Auroville Plan unveiled... No Dwitheeya vignam...

2008-12-17T00:09:00.000-08:00

Normally, the second day of starting a training (any undertaking), people skip after a tiresome first day. So working on it the second day is a must. The mental block on the second day (that you think you have started on the first day) is called 'dwitheeya vignam'.

I beat that yesterday, with an hour of grilling hill session in a non a/c gym. Dimensions A/c had conked (what a way to welcome me back after a month!). The normally fluid session whilst I was training for Singapore was too tough yesterday. Guess it would take 2-3 weeks to get back in shape.

My plan for Auroville is in place.

Legend:

1. The orange ones on tuesdays are hills (7) or intervals (10).

2. Green easy runs - this is what I tend to skip (and 1. too!)

3. Violet ones are the MSDs. I normally do this - thursdays

4. Aerobics on fridays (I have slowly started getting used to these gruelling ones)

5. Yellow ones - LSDs on sundays

6. Blue ones are rest days.

Some quick rules I used:

I have seen to that the average is around 50K a week. That is the best I can do (stats from SG).
Four days - Tuesdays / Thursdays / Fridays / Sundays. That is what is crucial to the plan.
During the peak 8 weeks of my SG plan I did 346/483K, thats 72%. And almost all runs came from thursdays and sundays! This time around it is 403K (with a week of tapering - race week). Lets see how it goes.
I intend to do atleast one day a week on the gym (the aerobics class is going to concentrate on lower body until end of Jan, I am told).

I am approaching this with an open mind but the thumb rule of training is pretty much the same as SG. There is nothing innovative in my approach, atleast.

Aerobics, back to routine (!) and more breakfast...

2008-12-15T20:53:00.000-08:00

I did Aerobics with Arun at Illdyko's yesterday to kick off my training for Auroville. I ran about 2K in the TTK building - all concrete. My right heel hurts for some reason. May be it is because I was wearing the worn out Moto 5+! Anyways, I hadn't hydrated much and my head pounded like hell later.

Today morning I had a slight headache for some reason, I was feeling stiff as well. So I skipped my morning run. So I am back - skipping the shorter runs. I was supposed to do hills! If you dont see me at the Dimensions today, then I am back to Singapore Marathon training days!

I had a load of breakfast today - just so it that makes it three in Shumit style.

Its food binging now...

2008-12-14T21:46:00.000-08:00

I am eating like my stomach is a bottomless pit. I have not checked my weight thus far but I am sure I have gained what I lost in the Marathon and more...

Look at today's breakfast for example.
2 Idlis (for the lack of choice) with Sambhar Chutney
2 Puris with masala
2 Dosais (smaller in size like we make at home but this is not set dosa!) again with Sambhar and chutney
2 Vadas

Very very huge even by my standards!

I think my body has gone into some kind of starvation mode. Thankfully I am eating at a Kai-endhi bhavan so it did not hurt me much monitorily! Cost me only 34Rs.

Planning for Auroville

2008-12-13T01:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I sat with a friend of mine and made a 10K plan for Auroville. We worked/ reworked till he was satisfied that it would suit him. I honestly thought he could push himself a little, but this being his first running event and though he had been running on and off for a while, we would take it it easy.

I am yet to make my plan, will have to get ready with it before end of day monday! My training has to start tuesday, I have got only 8 weeks and though I am just of my Singapore marathon, I have put on so much of weight in the past 6 days I am feeling like a pig!

With holiday season approaching - well, though not exactly that for me, I am in binging mood and I am looking at some more kilos on my body. So, sooner I hit the road, the better. Things are not looking good at the home front, the commitments are weighing me down on getting to road as well. There are a few things I have to accept in life but then atleast I have my sunday run(s) to look forward to.

Its always about hope and so tomorrow might be the day!

The marathon story...

2008-12-10T00:19:00.000-08:00

Pasta Party:
After a little bit of shopping (my friend Francis' shoes went kaput the day before NB 772 - he was doing 10K) I headed straight to the pasta party and found that none of the Chennai Runners where there. I had the blandest food on earth, spaghetti and some veggies and followed it with some fruits. The colored rice was bad. Met Shahid on the way back to the MRT - he told me that
none of the CR guys had planned to come to the Pasta Party. I was the lone first timer in the tent that evening!

The night before:

I had quit on all medications I had been taking for the cough and cold (panadol, cough lozenges, cough syrup) and kept to the kashayam made out of pepper and ginger. Felt a little sleepy at 10, I was so surprised went straight to bed and lied down. Two hours later, I was still awake texting my wife on how things were. It was our wedding anniversay the next day - the D Day...

Had a huge banana at 1.30 and a slice of bread with nutella. That was to be my breakfast. One sleepless night.

Race Day Morning:
I had my alarm set to 2.50am, I just didnt need that! Had no problems getting out - I had everything in order and ready. The night before lying awake, I had mentally rehearsed this a thousand times I guess.

Two things new - no fuel belt, new singlet. Both of this didnt affect my race, thanks to the organizers.

I reached Tampines Stadium parking lot in a taxi. The bus to started at 4am sharp and reached at 4.35am. My seat was near the driver and he was shouting on his wireless at the top of his voice. People around me were continously eating. I started to feel a bit hungry but that subsided soon. Got down in North Bridge road and walked straight to War memorial to put in my bag. It was very slushy and muddy so walking in and out was not easy. Thankfully it was early and I got my baggage deposited pretty fast.

Race Start:
Saw Ram, Tiger, Narayan, Ashwin, Balaji, Senthil at the start. We stretched a bit, I was feeling good in this electrifying atmosphere. I was excited. Tiger, Narayan, Ashwin, Senthil and I slowly kept chatting and moved up to the pens reading "5.30"! And then to 5.15. The idea was that if we are slowing down, we can fall back on the 5.30 bunch to keep pace with. Narayan and I started moving a little more and decided that we will stick to the 5.15 pacers.

The dignitaries arrived at 5.20 to flag off!

Me and Narayan started off at 6m50s pace and kept going smoothly. He told me that the crowd would not wane through the race and I would never have to worry about running alone. It was humid and hot and the heat retained by the concrete and steel in those huge buildings lining the road were making us sweat profusely and there was no respite to it. As we touched the 4k mark we took our first glass of water and then at 7K. We had moved out the CBD and passed the ERP when we were hit by a gush of air - ah, what relief!

At the 11K mark we stopped to apply a deep rub that I absolutely did not need. But Narayan told me that it would help me later in the race and we decided to stretch for a mo. I took a leak break and we were back running in the same pace we started off at. At 13 and a little, as we touched ECP we saw the lead runners coming in the opposite direction. There was no water point for a very long time or so it looked. We had run 3.5K now and were sweating. My mouth was going dry slowly, more so because my nose started blocking at tis point. As we touched the 17K mark and had hydrated, Narayan started to walk! He urged me to run on. I ran in the same pace till I could see 18th. And then it happened. My mouth now dry tasted metallic and I felt this bout of nausea hit me. I was belching from the 13K mark, I remember. I slowly grind to a stop. I just hold the tree near by and am wondering if I would puke any moment. Nothing of that sort happens. I slowly start walking for the fear of stopping and then I belch again. I am relatively okay now. Questions rear in my head - did I drink too much water. Nope not that. Is that all the medicines I had taken in the last 3 days? May be. Is it all the alcohol I had binged on the first 4 days after landing? May be. But it does not matter now. I have to finish - I tell my self, may be past the half way mark or may be after the turn back in ECP, I might just do okay! It will come back to me - I hope. I have done 16 weeks of training, I had the will to prepare. I repeat Juma Ikaanga and start running. 100 odd metres. Then I stop again. This is not going good! I start slowly taking deep breaths. Narayan mentioned to me about repeating Gayathri mantra at the 13K mark. That come back to my mind. I want to give it a try and repeat with deep breaths. I walk till the 20K mark. This 1.5K is too harrowing I dont even remember how long this took. My fastest 10K has always been the 10-20K in my long runs. What a shame! The turn around point is no where in sight and there is a huge line of runners now in the opposite direction and it doesnt seem anywhere like ending! There is a clump of trees and a few buildings separating the two sides, for a moment I am tempted to walk to the other side of the ECP near the beach. It is so scenic to see and the weather looks good enough, not very taxing. But I am not doing alright inside me. There are ships in the tens lazily enjoying the race. I think of the total calories that each person might spend the total that would be expended by runners in this race. I am trying to keep my focus and distract my mind from getting back to the nausea. I hit the turn around point somewhere close to 21K. My Garmin already reads 21 so I mentally decide to remind myself to see how much it reads as I cross 21. It reads 21.33K.

I decide to take it slowly, I have enough energy to run the next 21K but just don't have to screw it up. You never know what happens past 35K! Slowly I increase my running distance as I feel alright, I am liberal with my walking as well. Loads of people are walking now and going past me inspite of my run walk scheme.

I get see Gu gel distribution point at a little past 26K. I decide to take it take one lemon and one orange. It tastes bad but reading that it has sodium gives me a new strength. I wash it down with water. It tastes and smells strange and the smell of it in my mouth coninued till the end of the race and much after. I decide take the other one an hour later. But I forgot all about that!

I catch up with Shahid at 28K who had overtaken me at 24K. He's hit by the humidity too, he has cramps in his glutes and he is not able to strike his heel. We decide to run walk and finish under 6. Soon Narayan catches up with us, he is walking briskly though he is now talking of exiting the race. He just wants to keep walking until he can find a cab which is nowhere in sight due to blocked roads. Runners dont want to aggravate an injury to avoid any long term injuries and permanant damages. But what will overwhelm them is the race and the determination to not carry a DNF (Do Not Finish) tag on them. Me and Shahid run walk and Narayan is playing catch up with us very easily. I cramp up at 29K mark but stretch myself and I feel a little okay. We definitely are not walking Narayan's pace we decide. Shahid wants to tell his wife that this would be his worst finish, he had promised her he would finish under 5. Same had happened to him in Turin. Inspite of all the problems we were carrying, there is a comaraderie and a good mood around. We try deep heat rubs that are not working anymore, sprays that our pains have become immune to. The weather now is cloudy but very humid and hot at the same time.

We hit the 31K mark and then Shahid says we will definitely finish under 6 if we keep the pace and push a little. We have 1h 27m to go for 6 and 11K. Very doable we think. At a little past 32K, Shahid says we won't be, not at this pace. Narayan is sure is going to quit. I dont feel alright now, I have energy in my tank, this is my first race. I want to finish it and under 6 if possible. If I go slow, I fear I might end up not finishing. I decide to run in the slopes alone and if I am doing okay in the flats and walk in the uphills. I leave Shahid and Narayan and speed it up a bit.

At 35K I have done about 2.2K in 16mts. I am just where I want to be. I stop at all the water points and walk in and out. I am running the slopes but it is way too crowded. I am having to dodge as I run. I hit 37K in another 15mts. I presume that this should be fastest leg of my run in the second half of the run. I am nudging myself to keep this pace and I have only 5K to go with 40mts. At 37K I start to cramp up slowly. But I stretch and walk the next 1K to keep myself going, If things improve I can notch it up a groove I think. We hit the last leg of the race and it is a subway. I decide to run to the bottom and I guess I had put a lot of pressure running downhills on my hams. My right hamstring, right inner thigh, the outer knees in both legs are now strained and I am literally not able to move. I stretch myself and decide to walk to 39K and then carry on. I take a long break and try to relieve the cramps but it just won't work. I slowly walk and now a lot of people are run walking and in a hurry to get over with the race. I can remember a lot of them I had overtaken in the last 3-4K overtaking me back again. I am still able to walk freely but not run.
I hit the 40K mark, I just want to finish now, I am not bother about the timing. I see the clock and its already 6hours and a minute. We go past a drinking point in a huge open space completely tarmaced. I stop for water and some 100plus and that is it. I am not able to walk, I try to lift and place my right leg in a very funny way to move ahead. Its a little past the 40K mark so even if it means crawling, I have to finish it. I see a few cars lined up, convertibles and race cars. I dont even bother what brand it is. I see Ashwin walking ahead of me now and he offers help. I tell him I am doing okay and can finish on my own. I slowly limp the whole esplanade walkaway, I dont remember seeing the 41K mark but the watch reads 41.6K. I don't have a clue how far this is going to take. One agonizing step after the other. We cross the Shenton way bridge from under! I can hear the roar at the finish. Runners start getting a little feverish and decide to run to the finish. I see supporters hollering "just 400 to go"... "go go all the way"! I am still limping, God, I just wish I can walk to speed up. Suddenly somebody pukes beside me. The old man falls down after two more steps. He looks Japanese. I try to bend down am not able to. I clutch the rails on the side and take a deep breath. All the other runners are just running into the last stretch where they obviously are seeing the finish point. A caucasian bends down and nurses the guy. I stretch there for the fear of falling down. I slowly walk to the finish. I see Senthil and Tiger walking to the finish and slowly breaking out into a jog. Trying to run is proving to be a disaster, I am trying one too many to do just that. I resign and decide to walk it off. With 10 paces to the finish I decide to run it, all of them were finishing running. I wince in pain and run into the finish. A caucasian photographer, a lady is weilding the camera and squatting, she is the first of the photographers. She puts her camera down and gives me a blank look. I think, God isnt she supposed to be clicking away? (Later I find no photos of my finish with just me in run pix!)

And then the magic moment happened. I am in the verge of crying. I infact forgot to stop my watch! I see somebody proposing to his fiance / girl friend and she accepts it. From nowhere, there is huge gush of heart shaped red baloons and a white one that reads Will you marry me! There are a lot of shrieks but I am not interested anymore. I need to stretch a bit. I sit down with Senthil and Ashwin and Tiger and remove the championchip. For the first time since I had gotten out of bus at 4.30 - a whopping 8 hours! Only briefly. We head to the tent where they were distributing the medal and finisher's Tshirt. We exchange stories briefly, learn about Tiger's tales of swooning at 30K mark and all that. I see Narayan but not Shahid. I gather he finished as well. I am relieved.

I head to the baggage collection point on the other side, the escalator on the other end is not working. I curse everybody that came to my mind and get to the other side. Its way to muddy and slushy to walk in the baggage tent. I walk back to near Swissotel and drop down waiting for Francis and Mano. I try reaching home to tell my wife my mom and dad that I had finished. Nobody picks up the phone for about 15mts. I am a little disappointed. Me and Francis walk to Komalas for lunch. Francis carries my bags. I eat half way, I feel like puking so I stop.

Recovery
We take a cab home and I decide not to take a bath instead hit the sack. I am not able to sleep in one posture and everytime I move a little I cramp. Everywhere. I see Francis is disturbed because of my shouts in pain. I decide to stay up a bit and sit in a sofa with legs up for sometime. I drink 100plus and some water. And doze of a little. I dont remember when I went back and slept again, I woke up at 10pm. Ate the dinner Francis brought for me.

Watch Futurama with legs up and hit the sack again at 1am. I was able to walk slowly without much limping in the morning.

I am a marathoner...

2008-12-09T20:16:00.000-08:00

Officially at last... story to come... watch this space...
Yours truly finished in a pedestrian 6hrs 18mts.
I have oft read this quote in the first timers stories... “When you cross that finish line, no matter how slow, no matter how fast, it will change your life forever.”
Well - I am not so sure. I am disappointed alright. And learnt a few lessons...! I am following this up with another one in 2 months (yes, you heard me!) in Auroville Marathon Pondicherry, Feb 15th 2009!
So long...
Btw, this is the whole 42.195K!

Seven and a half hours to go...

2008-12-06T06:12:00.000-08:00

I am clearly not able to sleep and am sipping ginger and pepper kashayam, thanks to Francis' mother. The cough seems okay but I am squeeking like a mouse.

I am have set everything I need for the race in order... the only thing I am not able to do is sleep.

I went to the Padang at 6.30pm and had dinner at the Pasta party. Some troops were arranged to sing and entertain... Looks like I was the lone first timer, when the compere asked the crowd, I was the only guy to put my hands up... The elites were all there and there was a charged and tense air about them...

Tomorrow is my 3rd wedding anniversary! I will get to the finish line no matter what... its special, its for Priya and me...

It's saturday morning...

2008-12-05T19:31:00.000-08:00

And I am trying to nurse my cold. Looks like it is at its peak, but after some doctoring it is okay. My voice is coarse and am braying like a donkey as I speak. I have gargled twice since morning. One tall hot cup of watery coffee like I like it. I am yet to stuff myself so once I am done, I will take pills for the last time I guess. After this, I feel it would not be okay to race. Just my gut feel. Presuming that it is at the height of suffrance or whatever, I am consoling myself that it can only get better.

I have not run in the last 48hrs but want to do a 2K in the evening. Very slow. My breathing is better, so I presume I should not have trouble doing a light jog.

I am toying between the Climacool 365 new Tee I got with the race pack and the tee I had trained with. Thing is, the Climacool is a singlet, the one I trained with is a proper Tee but guess it does wick off sweat. But I vaguely remember getting cold after I am fully sweaty and it begins to dry off a little. I will surely go with the one I trained with all long, but its just a freakish fickle thought.

Friday late night update...

2008-12-05T09:34:00.000-08:00

I collected my race pack today at 2.15pm. The crowd was not much. But I was told that there would be a big rush in tomorrow what with yesterday and today working day.

It's friday night or rather 1.35am in the morning of Saturday. I am trying to get some sleep, listening to Nancy Sinatra and similar artists on the radio on the web as I write this. The music is cool.

All the runners were there at the (except those that dropped off!) Expo at 4.30! There was some objection from man carrying a wireless to take pictures with the Chennai Runners banner...! We had a good laugh about we flash advertising!

I have tried every trick in my bag to get the cold to subside. But nothing happened. I am still talking in a strange tone and the irritation in my throat is not letting me sleep. I have taken 4 panadols, two scoops of a sleep inducing cough syrup and two lozenges since morning. Nothing seems to work. I am barking like a dog whenever the bout of cough hits me...

I did some super carbo loading at Mano's. 5 idles, two normal dosas and one egg dosa. His wifey was very kind to give me hot water with some herbs (guess it was chitharathai / jeera not sure) in it. It had a temporary soothing effect. Nandan his new born is kewl and we discuss a little about how his first son Kavin's affectionate overtures are proving to be a big problem for them - Elder bro's African love!

I had finished Balzac and the Chinese Seamstress first thing in the morning. Starting over with 'A Book Of Five Rings' - The classic guide to Strategy by Miyamoto Musashi. I missed Borders sale today at the Expo. But there will be other chances. And I have enough books up my sleeve for now.

Race week- Thursday...

2008-12-03T19:11:00.000-08:00

Now I am convinced that I shouldnt drink anymore till the race. A peg of brandy / rum today with hotwater as medication may be. I am down with a running nose. I have blocked nose, sore throat.

We went to Brewerkz, Clarke Quay in the evening (afternoon actually - 4pm) so we can enjoy some happy hours. The cost rises from S$6 to S$10. We quickly downed beer till it was about 6. And slowed down a bit after that. Tried 5 out of their 12 brews and took a liking to their best, Kolsch. After 6 pints of superb tasting non-fizzy lager, we headed for some spicy curry food. And back home dozing off all the way in the cab.

Today morning, I realized my nose is getting blocked and I have been breathing through my mouth all night. I was feeling a bit groggy due to that (not the beer at all!).

Francis and had agreed to run in the morning so at 9.10 we started off in a slow jog and kept it at that to finish 4.5K in 34mts.

Planning to do a social visit and then may be find time to go to the Expo today itself to get the race pack. But lets see how it works!

Wednesday midnoon update...

2008-12-02T21:16:00.001-08:00

I slept tight for about 10 hours straight. I woke up around 11.30am and lazily did my morning rituals. I feel a bit stiff so I plan to do a the suryanamaskarams of ashtanga yoga and some stretch. I go about that just as lazily. I can see at my upper body has gone for a toss. There is absolutely no strength there to hold my postures but the lower body is thanking me for what I did.

I finish my breakfast of four slices of whole wheat bread with Nutella and a tall glass of orange juice. I watch Floyd and the ever lovely Nigella cook as I eat my breakfast. I just remember that its ages since I watched cookery shows on tele. God I enjoy these shows just for the liveliness that they infuse into you. Infact, whenever I enter the kitchen I feel like one of them, I am not sure if I cook as good. Nevertheless, I enjoy cooking and eating. That is what matters.

It showered for a while and then it drizzled for a while and then stopped. Its cloudy. Weather in bbc reads 27C. Would be a good weather to run in, I hope this continues till Sunday.

I recollect now that on the run yesterday, the heat rising out of the rain (though I think it rained for more than nhour) from the road was permeating into my shoes and I could feel the feel of the air was hot and humid. May be because of the sun that beat down the whole day. Today might be okay, but I don't know if I will make it today.

Francis is planning to put in atleast one or may be a couple of runs. I hope I join him on that. And take it light and easy!

I decide to spend the afternoon with 'Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress' of Dai Sijie. It's good so far. I finished Haruki's What I think when think about running. I will write my views on that later.

Till then...

More beer, some Malibu and Sing food...

2008-12-02T08:50:00.000-08:00

I missed my monday run. And I eat a lot of crap today. But was okay with me as long as that counted as meals...

I have been pretty tensed up about my run today since I was feeling edgy because of the rains today. I am very anxious to get on the road and concerned that my body should do okay...

It rained / lashed heavily in the afternoon... but after more beer yesterday night a sleep at 3am in the morning, I could not get my run in.. The rain got me worried. I thought I might miss today as well to see how I am holding up. But fortunately, this is super cool country and the water received inspite of the heavy downpour for about one and a half hours. I was worried that I might get my shoes wet. Boy, if it would have been Chennai, there would be absolutely no way I could have run without my shoes soaked in the puddles and potholes. It felt so nice to cruise in this kind of roads that looked wiped with a clean wet towel.

I am panting in the speed in which I ran, but not really struggling. My paunch has grown and I can feel the weight. Bad news. It is not just the beer but the fried and greasy side dishes that come along here in Singapore I have to thank for this. On top of that, I just thought I would have a sip of the Malibu bottle from the duty free and ended up having a really big glass! Guess, once I get started, there is no stopping. As if there is no tomorrow.

I guess I did a decent 4.5/5K (my garmin is yet to be charged so I am not sure about the distance) . 30mts. I wore my other watch. Most importantly, there is no damage from not running all these days. I am feeling a little relieved now.

Stretched well post run. I am trying another 5K tomorrow and one on Thursday. So is the plan.

Of diminishing confidence just when you badly need it...

2008-11-30T20:16:00.000-08:00

It's Monday of the marathon week, 6 days to go!

It's been a while now since I felt the road...! Too strange to say this for the following reasons... I had been training for the Marathon for the past 17 weeks. This is the last week fo the Marathon and understandably my confidence levels after training for these weeks should be sky high...

Reasons are 1. I am yet to stop my drinking binge that I started on saturday night. Its more than 9 hours since I last drank but I still feel full of alcohol... 2. I have not run on the road for the past 14 days straight...! My last run on the road was on November 16th... My last run on tread mill which came immediately after that was on November 19th, an eight mile effort in the treadmill... 3. I cramped for no specific reason on saturday, day before yesterday!

What is happening to me here? I am losing focus! Yes - I should be having a good time and relaxing in the last week, putting my feet up. But that is not happening by a distance. Worse still, I am not able to no-no my friends here in Singapore and they said the plan all along was to enjoy till thursday and then get back to the hermit's life friday and saturday, to be ready for the marty! Well - looked initially very good to me... but now I am not so sure....

I am now planning to clock 5Ks each day till thursday, that would be 20K in all. And on saturday run a 2-3K. Full stop.

I hope this will give me the confidence I need, would have felt hte road and see how the right leg is holding up. I am definitely trying to hold my urge to run more but will do the 5K I need, very very badly!

Tapering, Rains and ToI Interview

2008-11-27T00:15:00.000-08:00

I am feeling a little guilty now for not running last sunday, atleast a classic would have helped. I feel like I am gloating after loads of food and am not even able to do a short run alternate days, thanks to the rains.

If would have been a drizzle or something it would have been okay, but it is raining cats and dogs, even worse elephants and frogs and gorillas and hippos. There is too much water on the road, I wont have dry pair of shoes to carry to Singapore. In the meanwhile, weather in Singapore is rather hot and humid. I will need some acclimatization I guess ;-)

I had a call this morning (I have literally wound up today morning and wrapped on all the pending work yesterday) so I did take a marathon (?!) 31 mt call! The ToI reporter, an erstwhile Chennairunner fielded loads of questions.

A runner intends to be asked a lot of questions technically (because there is too much theory into it and loads of effort go into planning and executing). Plans, injuries, mileage, what went into prepartion in terms of types of runs, etc. Not for once does it cross your mind that readers are not interested into the nittygritty of that but want to know the big picture. Like, for example, expenses (whilst people do think that this is a less expensive sport, it can get as expensive as any other!), running in a group and stuff. You dont intend to read a newspaper with that kind of information I have in mind, but questions that a non-endurance runner might want to know. It is rather surprising that there are so many other stuff that you could be questioned around running, like lifestyle clashes. Yes, we are worried all the time about adjusting our schedule to fit into our social commitments and work. Believe me - ALL THE TIME. But that is too mundane a part of our planning. Afterall, this is no Runnersworld, I am no Amby Burfoot. Well, a reader's question would have been, where the ... do these guys get time out to run and recover (to get back to work again, it doesnt stop with the run, does it?!). Which an endurance runner has accepted as a part of his schedule.

Well, the questions were genuine and I answered the best I could with as much information as possible (hopefully not bored her in the process.) Eagerly awaiting the ToI article :) But I think I would have left for Singapore by then.
--
In hindsight, they are doing a service to the running community by making it popular. And they know what exactly to feed the public to do that. I am not an expert or a super athelete myself, a "waddler" as John Bingham the penguin calls it. And I am a big zero in what they do, ofcourse.
--
PS: I sincerely apologize to the interviewer if it had hurt about what I wrote. I have expressed my feelings about the interview in different words to be interpretted better. Whilst I enjoyed the questions to the hilt, which sufficiently should explain me being on the call for that length, I did, in that period of time expect very different questions. That is all there was to it. Now I am quite convinced I am wrong.

Tapering starts...

2008-11-19T00:57:00.000-08:00

Its been a good and long 16 weeks of training so far for the Singapore Marathon, all the missed runs, the good runs, the bad runs and the ugly runs... some strength and cross training...

I have covered a little 500K in these 16 weeks, I should have been around 680, a deficit of around 27%. I have missed my weekly runs a lot and hence falling short on the total mileage. But the last 7-8 sundays, I have never missed my long run and I am happy with it. I have four 30+ runs under my belt, I hope it helps!

Miles have been coming at a slower pace particularly towards the end of the training though I had a couple of good runs in between. I am targetting a finish, if it comes within 5.30 I would be happy.

Time to start streching and relaxing a bit and may be one or two short fast ones if I am feeling good on the day, that is what I am planning to do in these last two weeks.

I guess having a training partner with a similar target would have helped, but then I need to improve a bit to get a partner with a target I guess. I will work on that next year...

Awaiting the big day on December 7th.

Improvement...

2008-11-12T23:46:00.000-08:00

"It is amazing how much you can progress week after week, month after month, year after year if you allow for gradual training increases."
BOB GLOVER, The Runner's Handbook
I think this applies to most of things and to most people...!
No wonder, Oprah Winfrey said "Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it." ---
I am not improving in terms of speed. But I have made on big advancement from my previous defeat in long distance. I have crossed a landmark 35K in a run. One big milestone when you are training for your first marathon. I had to walk all the way from the 32K mark to the 36.2K mark but that is hardly a less satisfying thing against not finishing.

I presume if I run the same distance next week, it will be my first but not the only longest long run in my training for the first marathon. I am missing my weekly runs, a viral fever that has me down (and shivering) for the first two days of training this week, no runs on tuesday and wednesday!

In my next training for the next marathon, I will make sure I adhere better to my training plan!

The weirdest pair of shoes I have seen...

2008-09-17T02:32:00.000-07:00

I saw this pair of shoes at RunnersWorld. Looked very very weird to me. Is weird = funky?

Anyways, the guy who tries is being shouted at as "Lizard man". If you think it is yuck, I think it is being lenient.

The barefoot movement is kind of creepy. Hey! if we were born runners with the rubber bothering our feet, then how about no dress? Our bodies / skin would have adapted with more hair for sure.

Are you okay to pay 80$ for a feel of not wearing shoes while running?

I have tried Nike's Free 5.0 and it got torn in 3 months, I had used it as directed. May be that was just one off and it was my bad luck, but the sheet of material just came off the sole when I was putting it on one day. Too delicate for me I guess. I took all pains to walk and practise in that first and then run baby steps, short runs before my long runs in my regular shoes, what all did I not do?

Did that improve my running - well, I am poorer by 150 SGD for sure. I later thought it was more psychological getting stronger feet than anything else! What's your opinion?

A long hangover

2008-09-04T00:02:00.000-07:00

Its four days since I ran last, the Chennai Half. It disgusts me to read the name "Chennai Marathon" since it is only a half anyway and a long way away from being called that. I recovered the same day and was good to go the next day for some active recovery. But as laziness would dictate, I have not put on my shoes just yet. I do keep my alarm going at 4.20am and then again at 5.20am in the hope that I would just go for a shorter relaxed run. Work catches up in the evening so it has been a no-no since monday. Well, its just two days with Wednesday was off. But turns out, home commitments are much more gruelling (for the sheer presence of it) with guests turning up at the wrongest moments. I hope I can do a short one today evening and another one tomorrow morning. But I might just have a call today at the wrongest time again. Praying for the best.
In the meanwhile, you can go to http://www5.marathon-photos.com/scripts/event_entry.py?job=Sports%2FCPUK%2F2008%20Sports%2FChennai%20Marathon and type 2619 my bib number and check out my photos... or... hit this straight if it works... http://www5.marathon-photos.com/scripts/event_entry.py?job=Sports%2FCPUK%2F2008+Sports%2FChennai+Marathon&match=2619

Chennai Marathon - Race Diary

2008-09-02T01:25:00.000-07:00

Pre-race:
The week before the race, I trying to hit Adidas showroom trying desperately to get my feet scanned because I was fearing PFPS (Patello femoral Pain syndrome, I know this sounds more like Orient fan advert) and visit Dr Kannan Pugazhendhi, the only sports physician in town! Unfortunately this wasn't working.
I missed the previous week's Sunday run, I decided to compensate it off with a long run on Monday - lumbered a slow 15k in 2 hours (I knew finishing a 21K was not going to be a problem). I decided to hit the gym and do some knee strengthening. I skipped my lower body strengthening and did a core strengthening routine as I do once a week on monday and followed it up with a 5K interval in the tread mill on wednesday and a core and knee and calf strengthening + squats. My knee seemed to hold good after that but my calves started to feel a pull from the hams. It was like an ice pick running into a calf from just above the back of the knee. Now I was not sure if I could run on Sunday or not. So I rested on thursday and friday and on Saturday I was desperate to know if I can run or not.
Ramesh (Tigerswami as he is called) called me on Friday for a gym visit but I obviously refused. I was trying to tell him that my 20+ runs for the full marathon starts that week so I was hoping to do this run, not for the sake the race! He suggested that I go for an anti-inflamation pill (Etrobax - he never told me how much - I took one 60mg, the smallest dose)and do a short run the next day which I was anyway planning to, only I had planned 7K.
Rajiv had agreed to run with me the next day. We did a 5.4K in 36mts not bad by my standards. He runs much faster than me so it should have been very nice and easy for him. I did struggle only in the last 500mts when I thought I should pick up pace, so I understood that if I strided long I am hurting myself.
The Strategy: Was to run the first 10 K in a little less than 1hr 10mts (6.45/6.50 pace) and then keep at it at a little more than 7 for the next 8K and then go all out if my body permitted. Actually, I was just hoping to finish it, the timing never mattered.
The Race:
It was a fiasco waiting to happen. I woke up at 4.00am, got ready around 5.00am (biggest mistake of missing my fuel belt, which I had planned already to drop hoping that the race would have water spots at every 2K as informed by one of the organizers to Chennai Runners). Took my bike and went to Dimensions gym where we had agreed on car pooling. I decided against taking my car since I cramp a lot while driving back after a long run. After all what are friends for.
Ashwin, Bhargav, Balaji and me started at 5.15am and reached there fairly easily and the parking lot was very convenient. Walked to start which was another 2K from the parking lot.
At the Secreteriat, there was a huge crowd, much bigger than I had anticipated. The announcer was shouting at the microphone pleading the participants to take it easy since we had a long way to run and not squeeze to the front of the line. Caught with the other runners, Mohan was our best prospect for a prize with Hari (another friend of mine) missing from the lineup due to injuries. After a short photo op, we were eagerly glancing at the watch to see if the run can start on time as announced. As expected, M S Gill, the sports minister / ex-election commissioner turned up late and the race was flagged off at 6.50, 20 mts later than scheduled.
First 5K: It had drizzled in the night, at 6am it was already very humid and around 7am I could feel the heat on the road. The drizzle had made the road slippery near the War Memorial, not to mention, a lot of runners were discarding their water bottles et al on the road. There was a heavy crowd and runners cris-crosssing all the way. I was expecting this in the first 5K. I mentally decided to change the strategy a bit and concentrate on just finishing the race with running in shades (I first thought it was a very shaded route, turned out, in the loop back the shades were all on the other side!). I knew the first water stop would be crowded so I picked up a bottle Ranga was planning to discard and kept it with me.
When we hit the beach, the sun had decided beat us down with all his might and I need water at around the 3K mark which came as a surprise. I dont drink until after 5K, but thought I would make an exception and just keep myself hydrated from early on. No problems until we crossed Santome Church, checked the Garmin, I was going at smooth 6.45 mt/km. As planned.
10K: All those who were running criss cross had stopped and the crowd was weaning to a runnable stream. There were a loads of them still running in fits and starts. I was surprised to see Mahesh, whom I normally can't pace with was running beside me - slowly. After a while near the Iyappan temple he should have slowed down further, I checked my watch - same pace so I thought I was doing good. Now the lead runners started to appear on the return and boy, what speed! The water stops were an absolute mess, so I thanked myself for picking up the bottle. Along the Adyar bridge, birthday boy KK was running determined (I later realized he wasnt wearning anything Deepam - I so wanted to wear something like a banner, the least I could do, but I forgot!) with fever. I tagged along with Ramani, our veteran runner who was having a whale of a time encouraging lead runners coming in the opposite direction. Our Chennai Runners lead runners were appearing one by one at the Besant Avenue. I got my first bottle of water, Hurray!
Velankanni Church / Besant Nagar Beach: The sun was beating down the neck and I suddenly felt dehydrated inspite of almost 1 litre of water in the first 10K! My body went from drenched to dry in no time. I decide to take the first walk break after I touched the turn around point, picked up another bottle of water and walked for a good 5mts. And then ran walked all the way to Rajaji Bhavan. Time at turn around point was 7.55am, almost an hour and 5mts. I was doing good. A little further I could see the 12Km marker, the first mile marker of the race! How thoughtful! I had forgotten until then that they could even think of mile markers.
15K: At 13K, there were three water points, one of them not by the organizers. I had discarded my bottle at somewhere just past Rajaji Bhavan so I could concentrate on pacing better without the bottle in hand. There were only volunteers sitting in their chairs unmoved, soon I found out there were no water bottles. The runners were furious and demanding water and trying to explain the helpless volunteers how much of run is still left and that they were dehydrating. And cursing organizers.
I knew it was a waste of time and as I ran ahead saw a runner with a full bottle of water, walking. I requested him for a swig, he readily gave it to me. I continued on and reached Malar hospital. I checked my Garmin, it read 7.15 mts/hr. Okay, I thought. There was an Empee distilleries lorry from which some of them were throwing water bottles at runners many wasted. I picked up one and reached Adyar bridge. It was hot like a furnace to say the least. I realized how cozily in the shade of the Besant Avenue I had been running! I decided to run walk the stretch. At about the end, I saw one of the middle aged women runners slowly but very steadily pacing herself in that heat. I felt very ashamed and started running. I saw the NDTV crew interviewing a runner, an ex-army man who was trying to explain how poor the race was organized and all that promise of electrolytes and glucose for long distance runners was all a bluff. I smiled to myself and thought atleast if I had my fuel belt, I wouldnt be suffering like this atleast. I reached the Iyyappan temple looked at my watch. I knew Iyyappan temple to Velankanni Church and back was 10K and I had finished it in exactly 1.10. I am keeping to my plan roughly there abouts I thought.
As I ran, I saw a few faces I recognized and all were walking slowly in the heat. The stretch was lined with trees on one side and the other side it was hot. There were a few racers walking on the shady side towards Elliots beach, I presumed racers returning didnt want to look like trying to cut short their the race.
The last stretch: No mile markers after 13K, but my Garmin showed 15 near Adyar bridge. Just after foreshore estate junction, I walked a stretch, no water in hand. I thought it would be best to get into the Santome junction as fast as possible and I would be able to see the finish line so I could make it with that in sight. Saw Hari cheering at the Santome Juntion and a little past I could see upto the end of Marina Beach. I was puzzled. No "End" in sight, the road looked like there was some kind of a mela. I kept running and thought I would do a final flourish but at the light house nothing visible. I am perturbed now. I am tired and dehydrated. Even desalinated may be! I walked again and decided I would reach Gandhi statue no matter what and did the best pace I could muster. As I reached the statue, there was a big crowd and but where is the "Finish". My timer reads 9.11am I asked around a few people they had no idea either. My watch read 20.60Km still a good half kilometer to go. I remembered one of Father Gasper Raj, the organizer's mail promising an exclusive finish. Damn, this is turning out to be an elusive finish. My clock reads 9.15, one of the cop suggests that he didnt see any half marathoner running past the Gandhi statue so this should be it. I stop my timer. Wow, what an end to the race. Speakers blaring "Give Life Marathon"... God, they didnt take mine I think! I see Hariharan one of the Veterans finished ahead of me. I see a few of them who would have beaten me hands down on another day finishing beside me. I see a colleague of mine finishing a little after. I wished to talk to these people but am not. There is no water, no post race assistance. Just the sun showing of his fury. I check if there is any post race certs, refreshments, water. None. I plead a few for water, some give. I walk slowly past a shamiana where they had seated the winners on the road. NO organizers/ volunteers anywhere whatsoever. I see a lot of kids with bunches of certificates of the Great Chennai run and trying to see whatelse they could get out this place. Only cops and traffic police. Nobody else.
I am in awe about Mr.Hariharan finish, well ahead of me I reckon. But in the same breath, I finshed ahead of Mahesh and Shahul, a big surprise. And even Venkat who is much faster than me though he started running much later than me. He showed tremendous spirit in finishing the race after a fall. Well he said that it nudged him to finish the race! Something is definitely wrong with this day. These are strong finishers as I have seen them in ECR, this definitely should rank as one of the worst for them! We sit in the shade of the Gandhi statue for a while hoping for the shuttle buses to come. None in sight. Another long 3.5 Km wakl in the sun along the beach to the Madras University where we had parked our cars awaited. Me Balaji and Ashwin cursing the organization and our decision to run the race and how the race organized by politicos is doomed to fail pull our bodies along without water to reach the parking lot in another 45mts.
Post Race Recovery: Two servings of curd rice + two servings of Semia Upma + 2 litres of electral water + three hours of siesta. I was back. Two biscuits for breakfast before the run and water - I felt hungry at the turn around point. No blisters thanks to Vaseline.
Lessons: Carry money on you always. If you are running a city race in India not organized by runners, carry your fuel belt and anything that you might need in the middle of the race.
My Garmin read 2:33:03 when I stopped it, whatever the distance was!!!
Post Note: It was sad that one of the runners died due to whatever reasons. May his soul rest in peace. It is sad that the media are making a big hype out of it even after the race and that no one really has the guts to bring the true story out in the open. Thanks to the organizers, it could have been anybody!

Chennai beckons...

2008-08-20T02:16:00.000-07:00

I registered for the Give Life Chennai Marathon. So it happens, this should be my first big serious run to kick start my plan for the Singapore marathon. I read somewhere that is about to be the largest ever city run (surpassing Boston given the current trend) and the costliest ever beating Delhi Half Marathon.

Unfortunately, it looks like I have to re-register because the confirmation mail is now lost between of the mail quarantine and my inbox. It doesnt matter if I have to re-register, I will consider the previous one as charity! And 100rs for charity is something okay with me.

The rules and regulations are undergoing some changes off late, thanks to various inputs from runners. It might be a little amateurish for all the International standards talk that the organizers give, but one such running event in India and particularly Chennai is a maiden attempt and all these niggle naggles can be tolerared. And most importantly, someone out there is listening!

It is important that endurance running should be a runner's event and NOT a publicity stunt and rare celebrities who are long distance runners would be the those that would understand most.

Bangalore Ultra announced...

2008-08-20T02:10:00.000-07:00

Bangalore Ultra marathon is announced and the registration starts August 25th...
It's a shame it is not a week or two early since I would be tapering off starting November 16th (that week). Or may be if I really feel like it, I might do a 26K! My plans are finalizing this week, so lets see how it goes...!

I am registered... For my first full marathon...

2008-07-24T02:17:00.000-07:00

Registration Confirmation
RACE ID:01924-IND-FMM-OLC
RACE:Full Marathon 42.195 km (Race starts 5.30 am)

Thank you for registering for the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2008!
A RACE ID (above) has been given to you for identification purposes. A copy of this Race Confirmation Slip has been emailed to you.
Sponsors’ Promotions*
adidas is offering a one-time discount of 30% on its miadidas customised shoes for all registered participants during the Early Bird period, on top of the 20% discount on its running products (i.e. running apparel, running footwear and running accessories) for all registered participants. Present your confirmation slip to enjoy the discounts.

FuelBelt is offering cash rebate of up to $15 for all Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon runners on the purchase of FuelBelt regular priced items.

Official hotel, Pan Pacific offers special privileges to all participants of the race. Produce this confirmation slip at Hai Tien Lo, Keyaki, Global Kitchen, Brunch, The Atrium or The Atrium Deli and enjoy up to 20% off all food bills.
*Terms and Conditions apply. Click here for more details.
Pledge to Run for a Cause
Support the charity runners in their efforts to raise funds for their chosen cause! Visit their online profile pages to know them better and discover other bits of info about them. All donations pledged in support of the runners will go towards the cause that they have personally chosen. Every step counts!
Race Entry Pack Collection (REPC)
Please remember to bring this Race Confirmation Slip, together with your Identity Card/Photo ID, to collect your Race Entry Pack at the Singapore Expo Convention and Exhibition Centre. If you are unable to attend the race entry pack collection on the 4, 5 and 6 of December 2008, the following arrangements are available:
You may appoint your relatives, friends or representatives in Singapore to collect your race entry pack on your behalf. Authorisation forms will be made available closer to the event date. More information will be available on our website prior to the collection date.
(NO late collection will be entertained)
Details of the Race Entry Pack Collection are as follows:
Date: 4, 5 and 6 Dec 2008
Time: 12pm to 8pm (4 – 5 Dec 2008), 10am to 5pm (6 Dec 2008)
Venue: Singapore Expo Convention and Exhibition Centre
Note: Participants who do not have their Race Bibs and ChampionChips will not be allowed to race on the Event Day.
Payment AcknowledgementTransaction No: 1863903910
Description:Full Marathon 42.195 kmDate:21/07/2008
Amount:SGD $80.00 (VISA)
Pasta Party:1

Registration Details
Full Name:RAJESH SUBRAMANIAN
IC/Passport Number:XXXXXXXX:Male
Nationality:IndianBirth Date:

Estimated Finishing:05:30

7th ECR Run (My fourth) - Short Report

2008-07-24T01:09:00.000-07:00

This run had some PBs for the Chennai Runners!
Largest turnout, people from more cities participated... the list goes on... So much that the start had to be staggered 5 mts each for each category...
Details here... http://www.chennairunners.com/2008/07/ecr-run-no-7-update-6.html
Photos here... http://photos.chennairunners.com

Weather: Very humid... An experienced runner who had run in lot of terrain reckons it would be 90% and above... Ideal preparation for the Chennai Give Life Marathon if you really want to see that in positive light. And no air - it was still all through. Got me drenched in Kilometer 2.

The Run: Ran at a steady pace with Shiva and veteran Shiva, 7mts/Km for the first 10K and reached the turn around mark around 1.12 hrs. I had anticipated smaller 500ml bottles but the cups were difficult to drink with. I had brought a bottle fuel belt, at the 10K mark picked up a half filled bottle and kept running and kept the pace at 7mts/Km. Realized that I am not doing okay at 15K mark and started run walking (no particular rhythm... just small targets to get over with it), I was drained. At 17.5K mark water point, I got a glass of 100 Plus and after a short break decided to go all out from 18. Finished 20 @2.29

Overall a good run for me since I had been running 15K for the past two weeks... I had targeted only 15K but then decided to do 20 at the last moment. Given the humidity and the windless weather, I did okay I guess...

KK said he would run with me but he ended doing 10K because he wanted help out the volunteers to handle the big turnout. Shiva finished at 2.23, he picked up pace at the 7.5K mark and then on I ran alone. Running alone is just fine with me, thats what I like about running! A lot of them were having fun taking pictures and stopping for a chat and all that... There were two kids from YMCA, they were awesome...

Green coconut was as good enough as MGM, but we just wanted to try that...

Had a beer and some nice chat at the CoffeePub@Park Sheraton (after some running around because we were not dressed enough for Westminster!) with Hari and Venkat. A nice siesta and I was recovered :)

More investments and some chit chats...

2008-07-01T23:38:00.000-07:00

Today I bought a new "Nathan Speed IV" fuel belt from Ram, he brought two from the US.
An interesting story. He went to the store and asked for the fuel belt. There were two pieces of that left without tags. So the saleswoman can't make a call and walks up to the manager to help. And she thinks for a moment on the exact price and offered a price equivalent to a 50% discount. Ram takes both!
I am really happy I got myself a deal. But here is the addendum. Ram says "If the lady would have had an Indian attitude she wouldn't have sold it. She thought - Here's my customer waiting and I have to think quickly on my feet to sell what is in the store. That's American."
I wouldn't so much say this is Indian but more Asian. We all take time to think and come back with a decision. Well, imagine the Japenese.

What is your take on this?

A booster from Mohan...

2008-06-30T20:08:00.000-07:00

I had a post run with Mohan, the diehard runner from Chennai Runners.

He gave a good pointer:

Stick to the Sunday as per your schedule (the long one) as per any marathon plan you pick up. Be it Beginner or Intermediate. You will do okay - they will put you at ease to run 34-36K during the peak.

I am starting my Sunday runs from this Sunday incidentally. I am in the process of building my mileage around 30K a week. And I get over with it from Tuesday to Friday, even if I miss one, I compensate it off with a Saturday run (to cover the week).

The challenge he faced in his first marathon, incidentally the SG marathon is the 32K mark. Where it is mental more than physical. It's cliche, I know. But an inescapable fact.

And the funny thing is: I am neither a beginner nor intermediate. I am somewhere in between these two I guess.

Running with the bottle holder...

2008-06-30T19:50:00.000-07:00

This is the first time I had with a bottle holder / fuel belt in my back.
Some quick observations:

1. It is comfortable to run with the fuel belt only after half a bottle. I ran with a Gatorade bottle filled with water.
2. It keeps your back straight - somehow it is not comfortable with something hitting your back continuously. Good for posture correction I suppose :) Also, I kind of squeeze my hips / abs.
3. It needs practice. So taking it on the LSD wasn't such a good idea. I should be taking it on shorter easy runs even if I don't need water on shorter runs. That should do the trick.
4. It is a big plus to have free hands while running. But I am used to holding a 500ml water bottle like a baton all the time. It felt strange not having it...!
5. I am still not sure if the belt is tight around the hips the bottle is full, got to adjust and see. But it is very easy to remove and put it back and the holder snugly fits the bottle. The best thing - there is a nylon loop that goes around the bottle neck and like a noose. Very thoughtful.

It was bought from runningandliving.com
And thanks to Shahid for getting it over from Gurgaon. Ofcourse - thanks to Rahul Verghese as well! That somebody even thought of making one in India is a big wow...

I will keep you guys (who - nobody is reading!) posted on this...

Getting into routine - Week 2 - Lessons Learned.

2008-06-30T19:49:00.002-07:00

Its just week 2 of my yet to start marathon program (I am starting an 18 week program 3 weeks from now. I picked up from runnersworld.com and modified with feedbacks from fellow runners at chennairunners.com to suit me.). Call it "getting in the grove" program! And I have already learnt an important lesson, I am sure more is on the way.

The lesson: Its all about communication.

The most important aspect of the marathon training is sticking to the schedule. To stick to the schedule, you should communicate your schedule to all the stakeholders. Lest there will be chaos all over. And that came at a cost. I missed my Tuesday Hills session, a very important part of the program to improve strength. Well, I promptly talked to my wife the same day evening and explained her about my schedule and that she adjust. With a light sleeping son and a wife in the morning shift, things arent easy. So I have my mom has volunteered to cover the 5-7 part of the morning as well.

I have had a good first week covering a mileage of 24Km (on target). I am now 19 and counting. I have to compensate for my missed tomorrow, may be I will hit the beach and do a slow 5K on sand. I am currently struggling with my long runs but that is one lesson I have learnt early. "More blood in practice. Less blood in war."

All ye girls out there... Nike calling...

2008-06-30T19:49:00.001-07:00

I saw this link in one of the sites... and just thought I should follow it -

http://insidenikerunning.nike.com/2008/05/28/the-nike-womens-half-marathon-registration-is-open/

Reason: This is the first of a kind I have ever heard!

Normally races have a venue and start time (okay this has one too!) But you decide your venue. Run where you are! In the most familiar route you do. In the place where you decide to train and do your race...!

There are around 50 cities participating. Right now Bangalore is at the heart of Nike's India experiment... More cities would eventually turn into running I hope... the sooner the better...

I hope to see runs where you can run your race on your neighbourhood and just carry your Nike+ (well - that is catch if you dont have one already). Only thing that would be missing would be the race atmosphere, which makes your adrenaline pumped that - an uncomparable experience.

I hope to see more of these virtual runs in future...!

There is one in august 31st for all others: a more pleasing 10K - See the ad: http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/?l=events#human_race

And a good start...

2008-06-30T19:48:00.001-07:00

I was suddenly worried about my plans that I had created in my mind for the four weeks that I have extra for my overall schedule leading upto the D Day...

The idea is to build to a 35 a week in the first four weeks... and keep it around that (may be 40K) for about 6 more weeks (building up to the Chennai Give Life Half Marathon). There would be an overlap for the first two weeks of my SG Marathon training with the last two weeks of Chennai Half but that is okay.

Week 1 would cover 25K... I am already at 24 now and I guess I have called it a week. I am planning to finish it off with two sessions of yoga and a session of aerobics!

I had planned an interval session (7) + one long run (10ish) + one short (5K) run... I didnt do anything on Monday (the official rest day), Tuesday (My fartlek day) and thursday (my LSD day).

I did come out in the morning of wednesday only with a plan of 5K at a very slow pace. But guess what, I suddenly felt good as I finished 4K and did 6 intervals of 1 mt at a 5.2mt/km pace...

On thursday - I did an LSD of 12K (I was feeling sore).

Last sunday I had done 5K that counts as a short run - so there. It's officially 24K.

Sunday - the plan is do a 10-12K at tempo pace to start the next week. That should easily carry it off to 30. But that is the idea. To keep the weekly mileage to not more than 10-15% increase at the most. And stay there so I form an aerobic base around that before I get into increasing the mileage.

I will talk more about the plan in detail soon.

Target setting for the year... is done atlast...

2008-06-06T19:53:00.000-07:00

This week, I have made a very big decision - to run a marathon by year end. I have selected the Singapore Marathon over others but I guess I have my reasons.
1. Support support support - one thing I wouldnt get in any marathon in India for a first timer who expects to run beyond 5hrs. I dont want to die for want of water in an organized race.
2. Singapore is a kind of known territory. I have friends there. Though the trip would be costly than going to Bombay, I can offset some of the costs like boarding by staying in a friends place say. Also, the marathon starts early - so I can expect to windup by 11/12 latest instead of running till 1/2 pm.
3. There is a big bunch of them Chennai runners running in this - so I will have people to train with and see if somebody suits my speed/ target time.

I expect the total cost at 25K. But I guess that is okay.
Running is not a very cheap sport as it is touted to be. Two pairs of shoes a year at between 3-6K each. A flight to Singapore would cost 12K in Tiger airways! And more - if the fuel prices are hiked up any further. Fuel belts, gadgets like say iPod, GPRS watch ++. It is really costly. Though in installments of thousands. You would want all these at some point to get yourself motivated and push yourself further.
But I am okay to pay for all this instead of giving this to the medicos in one shot after a few years in say lakhs. And what with Chinna Ayya at the helm, it is one risky business. You never know who you might end up for a doctor!

Spirit's Will And Body's Way....

2008-01-23T08:39:00.000-08:00

I am doing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga! To complement my run... It's thrice a week and the idea is to

Improve my normal posture, which would have an impact on my running form.
Improve core strength
Improve upper body strength
Reduce weight (apart from running)
Cross training
Improve breathing technique and may be economy.

That is a very very long list that I can think up in a very short while.
But then, there has been some serious thought gone into this!

So there I was, talking to VT (who is a natural!) and his wife Akhila takes me to this "Orion Health Center. No. 8/24, Thirumangadam Street, RK Nagar, Mandaveli, Chennai, Tamil Nadu". She is now drenched into this and does a straight 1.5 hr session! A long way to catch up.

Now that I have been there a few times, I feel really great doing this... more on this to come.

But the sad news is that my feet have lost the flexibility for a simple padmasana and my left ankle (not exactly the sweet spot, thankfully) conks... And I am off the road. I was elated by the 7.5K run the day before and I shouldn't have stretched myself to a back to back run / yoga session so soon... Akhila does that, but then she is almost a pro now!

Recuperation time now... I am so worried about putting in miles before the Auroville half marathon that I have started running 10-20 meters to check if my ankle can hold up.

I could have gone for a session the next day to the yoga class and gotten myself treated as Akhila pointed out, but when I got up, my nose was just not there to breathe. I thought it best stop doing enough damages to the body!

Aiming to get back on road tomorrow morning to see how it goes... Update follows...

Back on road...

2008-01-17T09:28:00.000-08:00

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go" - TS Eliot

Read this somewhere... nice one...

I did some serious run today - a short distance but longer than the normal easy run. In the boat club. Felt good post run, not physically but mentally. Its a very nice feeling to be back on road. I don't prefer running in the Boat Club because of the humidity. In particular, I felt really nice doing the last loop, last leg. I found the energy flowing into me from somewhere. Those who get back on the road after a very long time can relate to this elation.

I have bought the new Garmin, having some problems loading maps and usage. The gadget is straight forward. But I am not getting the time to sit on it and read through the manual. I have all the time in the world, still doing nothing!

Twitter and WAYN...

2008-01-16T10:37:00.000-08:00

The fever is on...

I read about microblogging and about twitter from Kiruba's post on Sunday Express. Expect to see me there... I have heard a lot about twitter, but still to explore.

I am already been invited today on WAYN ("Where Are You Now" for the uninitiated) and I am in...

See some more updates and action on these two sites... The world wants to know what I am doing and where...!!! Well, there might not be much. I am sulking in Chennai.

From group mails to forum to blog...

2008-01-08T09:35:00.000-08:00

Chennai Runners has grown technologically (or is it trendy idea-wise?) over a period.

First was the Google group mail- chennairunners@googlegroups.com (still fondly loved by many including me).

Next followed the forum whose atoms you could subscribe to as rss feeds or mails.
This was not so popular - guess the UI was not very friendly!

Now we have moved on to a blog - http://blog.chennairunners.com/
This is yet to be officially unveiled. Much awaited!

It does help to have a few tech savvy geeks in the group!

Reproduction of another article...

2008-01-07T10:05:00.000-08:00

Arrogant Ponting must be fired

January 8, 2008

The Australian captain's disrespect for his opponents has embarrassed his country, writes Peter Roebuck.

RICKY PONTING must be sacked as captain of the Australian cricket team. If Cricket Australia cares a fig for the tattered reputation of our national team in our national sport, it will not for a moment longer tolerate the sort of arrogant and abrasive conduct seen from the captain and his senior players over the past few days. Beyond comparison it was the ugliest performance put up by an Australian side for 20 years. The only surprising part of it is that the Indians have not packed their bags and gone home. There is no justice for them in this country, nor any manners.

That the senior players in the Australian team are oblivious to the fury they raised among many followers of the game in this country and beyond merely confirms their own narrow and self-obsessed viewpoint. Doubtless they were not exposed to the messages that poured in from distressed enthusiasts aghast to see the scenes of bad sportsmanship and triumphalism presented at the SCG during and after the Test. Pained past players rang to express their disgust. It was a wretched and ill-mannered display and not to be endured from any side, let alone an international outfit representing a proud sporting nation.

Make no mistake, it is not only the reputation of these cricketers that has suffered. Australia itself has been embarrassed. The notion that Ponting can hereafter take the Australian team to India is preposterous. He has shown not the slightest interest in the well-being of the game, not the slightest sign of diplomatic skills, not a single mark of respect for his accomplished and widely admired opponents.

Harbhajan Singh can be an irritating young man but he is head of a family and responsible for raising nine people. And all the Australian elders want to do is to hunt him from the game. Australian fieldsmen fire insults from the corners of their mouths, an intemperate Sikh warrior overreacts and his rudeness is seized upon. It might impress barrack room lawyers.

In the past few days Ponting has presided over a performance that dragged the game into the pits. He turned a group of professional cricketers into a pack of wild dogs. As much can be told from the conduct of his closest allies in the team. As usual, Matthew Hayden crossed himself upon reaching three figures in his commanding second innings, a gesture he does not perform while wearing the colours of his state. Exactly how he combines his faith with throwing his weight around on the field has long bemused opposing sides, whose fondness for him ran out a long time ago. Hayden has much better in him.

Michael Clarke also had a dreadful match but he is a young man and has time to rethink his outlook. That his mind was in disarray could be told from his batting. In the first innings he offered no shot to a straight ball and in the second he remained at the crease after giving an easy catch to slip. On this evidence Clarke cannot be promoted to the vice-captaincy of his country. It is a captain's primary task to rear his younger players and to prepare his successor for the ordeals of office. Nothing need be said about the catch Clarke took in the second innings except that in the prevailing circumstances the umpires were ill-advised to take anyone's word for anything.

The Indians were convinced Ponting grounded a catch he claimed on the final afternoon at the SCG. Throughout those heated hours, the Australian remained hostile, kicking the ground, demanding decisions, pressuring the umpires. So much for the corporate smile that has been produced these last few years.

Probably the worst aspect of the Australians' performance was their conduct at the end. When the last catch was taken they formed into a huddle and started jumping up and down like teenagers at a rave. It was not euphoria. It was ecstasy. They had swallowed a dangerous pill called vengeance. Not one player so much as thought about shaking hands with the defeated and departing. So much for Andrew Flintoff consoling a stricken opponent in his hour of defeat.

Nor could Ponting and Gilchrist stop themselves publicly chiding Tony Greig for daring to criticise the timing of the declaration. They should have been thanking their lucky stars that three wickets had fallen in five balls, one of them in dubious circumstances. Australia had 150 runs and five minutes to spare. It was unfitting conduct from an Australian captain or vice-captain. By all accounts Ponting was later rude towards Indian reporters at his news conference.

Ponting has not provided the leadership expected from an Australian cricket captain and so must be sacked. On this evidence the time has also come to thank Hayden and Gilchrist for their services. None of them are bad fellows. All will look back on this match not as their finest hour but their worst. Obviously a new captain and side is required. But that is a task for another day. It is possible to love a country and not its cricket team.

Links to Peter's articles on the shameful day...

2008-01-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/dodgy-deeds-leave-sour-taste/2008/01/06/1199554486052.html

Shame on cricket.... Second Test, Sydney...

2008-01-07T09:09:00.000-08:00

I have no particular grievance against Australia. But I think a game should be played in the true sportsmanship. When the spirit of the game is lost, then the game gets defeated. This is precisely what happened on the black sunday of 6th Jan. Sorry Harsha, I beg to differ that it was a great game of cricket.

Kumble aptly put it - there was only one team that played the game with the true spirit. Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke are disgraces to the graceful gentleman's game. I just can't understand how a team would feel good about winning a game by such un-sportsmanly way.

Now everybody including the Australian media are wondering why the Indians are staying back in Australia! Peter Roebuck rightly put it ""

The umpiring decisions were horrendous. The umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor looked more frightened by the bunch of hooligans on the ground and were trying to act ostriches. But it was there to see.

I am happy the Australian media were fair in their support to India (or rather they were ashamed of the Australians and felt terribly bad that cricket suffered)! But on the same note, Greg Chappel and Slater were equally wrong calling Ponting an honest man. I guess you that is all you can expect from those two guys.

If this were India, Ponting and Clarke's mothers would have publicly apologized on their behalf.

Bad Idea for boxing day test...

2007-12-31T12:01:00.000-08:00

Take this!

1. Have Gautham Gambhir (I know he is not in the tour) to open...
2. Dravid at No.2.
3. Karthik instead of Dhoni.
4. Yuvi a floater (substitute).

Guys, use brains...

I think Symonds is afraid of Sree. He pees in his pants... and hence his chatter...?

AK-37, the new weapon in the Indian armoury?

2007-12-15T00:03:00.000-08:00

There is a particular hoarding near our Chamiers Road office that says - Our new weapon -AK37!!!
No not guns... Its Anil Kumble, the Jumbo at 37! Talk of comebacks and making it late in life...

Guess he was a very good candidate ever since Azhar was out, he just didn't hit jackpot! Some sickening biases saw Tendulkar taking second and (almost) a third stint at the helm. Ganguly was good but then he too couldnt hold his head straight. That leaves us with Dravid. Both the Karnataka cricketers have a very good image and look sincere and upright. And 'try-hard' guys. It only seemed fair since Kumble's had been written off by many cricket pundits.

And then he strikes back, just as he does with the ball. Boy, doesn't he keep coming at you!!!

Ever heard of a leg spinner captain bowling seam-up and picking up 5 wickets bringing his team to the verge of victory only to be disappointed by light? Here is AK-37...

On other thoughts, I don't want to talk about a batsman trying to save his career by not coming out to field... For once, Ponting might be right!

Seasonal Problem?

2007-12-10T09:51:00.001-08:00

No runs for the last two weeks (once since the Hyderabad race!)...

I have been tucking away to glory, thanks to the season!
Whats in the season (nothing to do with the pre Kutchery season or the Margazhi that is approaching) but the marriages!!!

Most marriages of my colleagues are in the region of October - December. So it not only worries attending marriages and eating sumptuous and yummy dinners/ lunches/ breakfasts but also means that we have a celebration every other week.

My big day was on 7th December! After a whopping lunch at Ente Keralam with my buddies, I followed it up with a humungous dinner at the China Town with my wifey. And the next day I went to dinner with my brother (the original, no 'bro') and co! This time it was the Chettinad at Velachery. Thankfully there was no beer / drinkups to followup elsewhere!

My wifey just changed jobs, new company - same as what I work in. Today!!! Calls for another party this weekend...

I am desparately looking forward to my runs.

Ali G, animals and the tricky question...!

2007-12-09T07:42:00.000-08:00

I was watching an Ali G's discussion on animals. A volley of questions posed to an animal's right runs in the lines of

"Would you eat big mac?"
"What if its the best piece of meat?"
"What if it was free?"
"What if somebody pays you a 100 squid [sic]?"

Pretty easy to ward of innit???

Then comes the toughest one! Something like -

"What if someone says, here is a chicken, eat this or else I will kill one other chicken??"

Father blazes Singapore roads...

2007-12-06T09:21:00.000-08:00

I could have as well clubbed this post with the Chennai Runners posts! But I guess each deserves its due!

My buddy, Father did a 10k, not for the first time but this is the first time he is doing it in mainland Singapore (his others were in Sentosa, where the Real Run is conducted.)

Secondly, he trains alone and that needs a lot of motivation.

And third, he did some charity on the way, the run for charity thing!

He does exchange notes with me on his training. But that is it...!!!

He finished in an hour and 15mts. Kudos Father...

Chennai runners conquer Singapore...

2007-12-06T08:42:00.000-08:00

In hoards!!! Not kidding, we were represented by 12, a very inspiring number!!!

It would be great to prepare in numbers, ofcourse, each runs his own race so it is not a must that we all run together...

Shumit was the fastest to finish in 4:25, a distant dream for the likes of me who guards the rear all the time... Everybody finished within 6hrs... a great feat considering that finishing itself is a feat...

I know everyone of them toiled a lot in training, I know personally of the miles ground by Ram, Shumit, Mohan, Shahid, Shiva (hey, I didnt see his name in the list somehow!!!), Narayanan and last but not the least the one and only Tiger!!! Not seen much of Senthil in LSDs and always heard Vidyut complain of not putting enough miles...

I salute their commitment and effort... Sincerely hope this inspires some of us to do marathon... someday...