Sunday Literature
My first Marathon !!!
On 31st Jan 2016, I participated in a Marathon event for the first time in life. It was a 10k Run organized by Jain University, Bangalore under the tag “My Country Run”.
Couple of months back, when my cousin came to Bangalore to take part in Bengaluru Marathon, I got to know more about the event and the excitement of running a Marathon. Never did I have a thought in the worst stretch of my imagination to participate in a Marathon event. But the thought sprouted within me and soon I started practicing as well.
Getting up early in the morning at 4:40am and stepping into the penetrating cold weather was not such a big deal for me. And that too, if we want to do something we have the hunger for. I installed a mobile app to assess the distance, time and pace of my run. With my timer ON, I started with running 2k. Twice did I do the same and moved to 3k. Running 2-3k was found very much easy for me and so, I set my next target as 5k. In the beginning, finishing 5k was found so hard that I felt it's nowhere near to my reach. Many times after 3-4k, I suffered big blow and felt full of my energy drained out to go out of breathe. At times, I thought of quitting too, at 4k. In a couple of my 5k runs, I realized that the problem lies with my control of pace as I was running in the same pace as I was running for 2-3k. Upon realizing the importance of pace control for a long run, I started not to sprint in the beginning but to conserve energy for the whole lap of running to meet the target. So every time when I run, I started relaxedly to hold the energy level for later. And this worked out good.
Willpower is an essential factor in any long running races that helps us overcome the negative grumblings of the mind such as “long way to go, man”, “you can't make it”, “it's quite not possible for you”, “better to stop, now”, and so. Like muscles, our willpower increases when we exercise it. My practice runs made me well equipped to face the “hit the wall” phenomenon, to hold on and stay back in the track, without giving up. Soon, I started working at a target well above than what I actually require and at shortened timelines. The strategy worked out very well. I practiced to run 6k when my actual target was 5k. Doing so, I felt the heat from 4k to stretch out to make it 6k, but 5k took no notice of.
5k Run was my first milestone achievement. And I became very much conversant with the same, acquiring good control in my pace and better timing. My best time was achieved in 21:42 min and the average timing been to 27 min. Soon I felt consistent at one level, I advanced to the next level raising the bar by 1km. Consistency check was done at each level before proceeding to the next. Gradually, I increased the intensity of my training and made my running task progressively more and more difficult with shortened timelines. Soon or so, I progressed my run to 6k, 7k, 8k and so, practicing thrice a week.
Bit by bit, running became part of my daily routine. I stopped going for late night movies !! I put a full stop to my late night sleeps !! I started doing good with my diets !! I started drinking plenty of fluids !! As a result or effect, my day to day routine as well as my stress level got improved to a great extent. After completing a hard run, I sit for ten minutes to get back the breathe level to normal. The relaxation and the rejuvenation and so the pleasure of running can be better felt, only then, which drove the days for me. My feeling of accomplishment after completing a run compensate for the tiredness and the exhaustion while running. Going to office after a run made me more energetic and enthusiastic. I will be too fresh to spend time with my family and perform office tasks as well.
I came to know about “My Country Run” through a radio advertisement, during one of my office to home commutes. “My Country Run” was available in three categories - Cool 5k, Open 10k, and Elite 10k. Of which Elite 10k was the only category,which had a definite target timeline, where one needs to finish the run in sixty minutes. Intentionally I did my selection on the same since I believed that adding time constraint can help me become quick and focus more on the run. I was not sure whether I will be able to complete the run in sixty minutes but I was sure that I will make my best, seeing a target timeline in front than not, and thus accepted the challenge. I was practicing at 8k then, and that too was just upgraded from achieving a consistent 7k. And it was hardly a week left for the event to happen. The gradual progression in my practice run was lost when I planned to take up practicing 10k, skipping the Level - 9k. Surprisingly, I finished my 10k trial run comfortably in 54 min - 6 min short of my target timeline. With a successful attempt handy, I was in no doubt, but to register for Elite 10k.
The day has come and I asked my wifey too, to accompany me to the stadium. We reached very early in the stadium at 1:30 pm where the event was scheduled at 3:30 pm. Slight set back I felt when I came to know that I would be running directly under the Sun, as the event was scheduled to kickoff at 3:30 pm, and I run mostly in the early hours of the day, well before the Sun rise. Though, I felt it would be manageable. I looked around to see my running partners - the Elite 10k runners, but couldn't spot one. Towards the start of the run, the professional runners came to the track and started doing their warm ups. Those include many foreign runners - athletes from Africa and Europe as well. At 3:20 pm, an announcement came that everyone for Elite 10k shall assemble at the start point. I set my mobile app running, to show pop ups at 5 min regular intervals for distance, time and pace. At 3:30 pm, the gun was fired, the theme flag was raised and the race was set in action.
Runners have calculations and I do have mine. Some use a constant energy level throughout the run. They start slow and keep moving in the same pace till the finish line. Some will conserve energy for the second half. These guys will run fast in the beginning and cover half the distance in quick time to gain confidence to run the balance leg. My strategy was somewhat different. I used to take my energy level up for the first quarter spell of the run and get hold of my run before I slow down in the mid spell, conserving energy for the last lap where I burn out the spare energy, to finish the run. The same plan was in my mind when I started running for this race as well.
Every athletes stayed cool at the start line. Soon the race was set in action and the gun was fired, the guys in the front row, flew their way ahead. My eyeballs were grabbed by the athletes who were accelerating past me. Some feeling from my inner self conquered me, whispering all the nasty shit in my ears that I am not at par with others. That was a real setback when I increased my pace beyond my control. A runner, for the first thing what he needs, is to have control over his pace - when to slow down, when to accelerate and when to hold on. It's not just running against the clock at the cost of one's own energy level makes us win the game. The mistake was depicted in the first 1 km lap itself, when I started showing dizziness and the body fatigue had grown enormously high that I started feeling hellish with dehydration. Dehydration came along with a burning sensation in my lungs which made me felt that I should not continue my run but reach the nearest aid station to stop the run. And that too happened even before reaching 1 km, collapsed me on a high end. The Sun scorched the place which added more fuel to inflame my already deterring condition and I ran out of coins to keep the ball in play. My hope for a great first Marathon Run, ended up in 1 km. All the negative states marched towards me with an elephantine army. Literally “I was done”. I lost hope.
But I was not ready to give up. Conceding an inch means losing a feet. Some where I had seen the reflection of a light which assured me that I can make this out. And I didn't want to have my first Marathon Run, end up in a failure. It was the time to rise up and shake off the illusion of negative States. Deliberately, I pushed myself over the odds and moved the cursor towards right. I stopped thinking of the target. I stopped thinking of the speed. I stopped thinking of the time.
I took a deep breathe and told myself
Relax... Relax... Relax…
I had a look into my running app. The dial showed,
5 min : 1.1 km : 4:45 min/km
This came as a surprise to me that even in my practice runs, I hardly score that. Seeing that, I became delightful and felt positive, which drove me for the second stretch,
10 min : 2.08 km : 4.91 min/km
I was sure that I was meeting my calculation. But the depleted energy level and the difficulty in breathing was a matter of concern. Moving on to the third stretch, I was finding the pace of my run, dipping into a still lower side.
15 min : 2.71 km : 5.45 min/km
20 min is a stretch where I was supposed to finish 4 km. But it ended up at 3.45 km with an energy level at Absolute Zero.
20 min : 3.45 km : 5.82 min/km
A sparrow in the fist is always better than a pigeon on the roof. The best thing which I could do at the moment was to finish the race in my best time than racing against the clock to end up quitting in mid way. Projecting the current status, I was sure that I wouldn't be able to finish the race in 60 min. Working on a Plan B was a cerebral approach and I did the same. Needless to say, it was a clever move, which I felt later.
I gained power and confidence from my practice runs to break the “hit the wall” phenomenon - a nightmare to every Marathon Runners. And the time had come that I was requisitely necessitated to exhibit the same on the track. I fixed short targets. I concentrated on the rhythm of breathing. I focussed on steady movements. By all the fair means, I did ensure myself that I was not thinking about the target, the distance, the time and the pace. And as a result, I was in no way near to any of the hindering negative states of the mind. All I kept infront of me was the next step. Soon I got there, I figured out next. Slowly and little by little, I moved closer to my target.
The following stretches had happened then
25 min : 4.24 km : 6.00 min/km
30 min : 5.01 km : 6.01 min/km
35 min : 5.70 km : 6.19 min/km
40 min : 6.24 km : 6.45 min/km
45 min : 7.01 km : 6.55 min/km
50 min : 7.51 km : 6.70 min/km
55 min : 8.02 km : 7.00 min/km
It was not as easy as I write it down here.
The loud hooting sound of the siren was overheard in the track when I was running at 8.3 km which was the indication that the cut off time, 60 min had been reached. I took a break from my run, sat on the edge of the track and had an energy drink. Volunteers came to me and gave me the boost not to stop, but to jog or walk for the least, to stay on the track, or else I will be more fatigued. I set my plan to reach 9.3km and started walking. I saw the pace dial of my running app rising above 7.00 min/km, but the need of the moment was to stay on the track than to race against the clock. My intention was to save enough energy to run my last lap of 700m, since no runner would like to finish the final line, walking.
66 min : 9.3 km : 7.41 min/km
By this time, I noticed that the visitor's entry to the running track, which was blocked for the event was resumed. The traffic was getting slowly opened for vehicles. None of my fellow runners were running on the track. No Volunteers to cheer up. No one to guide the running track. The band musicians stopped their music. I realized that the show is over and everyone started leaving the place.
By the time, I was all set at my cool head. I tied my shoe lace up and became ready to run for the final lap. I was the lone runner in the track. Infront of me in 100m, I saw the road crossing before entering the stadium. Traffic was set to normal and the vehicles were moving at its full throttle. A traffic cop was seen controlling the vehicles. Since the event time got over and no fellow runners were on the track, I was wondering how will he be going to stop the vehicles to let me cross the road. Seeing me nearing to the road crossing, the traffic cop was seen with a harsh and angry face towards me. But I won’t blame him. Whoever in his shoes would have shown the same emotions as he did. I am sure that at some corners of his mind, he might have scolded me tight. But I thank him for he stopped the vehicles to give me a way to cross the road and continue my run. He received a fair amount of loud and abusive languages from a good number of commuters, all because of me.
I entered the stadium and started running towards my final destination. My excitement grew as the finish neared. Around 100m behind the Start/Finish line, my thoughts and emotions were overpowered by the overwhelming joy at that moment. Emotions swarm in my head like a hive of puzzled bees. My feelings bubbled like water from an underground spring. To be honest, I don't know exactly how to describe that moment of joy and happiness which had overflown the pain and hardships to accomplish such a big feat - “Yes !!! I did it”.
74:52 min : 10.0 km : 7.49 min/km
I finished as 49th of 52. Having a honest look at my own mirror, I never feel that I am satisfied with something short of what I actually deserve. It was a hard fought accomplishment.
There is no stage in life that we could say that something is impossible, but we need to have the will, determination, longing, hard work and perseverance to meet the goal. All the limits are self imposed. The elephant doesn’t know that it has the strength and power to break the chain which ties it - so are the humans. We may say that talent and intelligence play a big role. But there is more to the story than that. Mastering our mental toughness is where we need to work on. Our ability to do something hard and challenging lies more with our mental toughness than with our physical ability, talent or intelligence. I wish every athletes a grand success in their mission to accomplish the dream of “Full Marathon”
I am happy that I could lay down the first stone towards my dream of a Full Marathon. I am not sure when will I meet the dream but I have already decided the title of one of my Sunday Literatures as “42.195km… My Full Marathon !!!”
Thanks
Asif A A