You win some... and the you learn some... you never ever loose.
Flashback to third Sunday of January, Peddar Road, struggling with cramps and tightened muscles, unable to run up that slope, I muttered to myself, never ever would I attempt the full marathon at Mumbai again.
Flash forward to sometime in August, convinced by a friend and fellow Runner, once again signed up for the full at Mumbai. Come December, had managed around only two 30 plus kilometres. Finally in January finished my third 30 plus kilometres run.
Two days before D-day, greedily gobbled a couple of five stars that a friend/colleague had got on the pretext of carb loading (to hide my weakness for chocolates). What followed was just an outcome of the gobbling.
A day before race day tried to keep myself light and not eat much, but then what was done was done, no matter how much you try to keep yourself light you will always be too light (after sometime I felt like a gas balloon).
The nocturnal visits to the loo should have been good indications I needed to sit this one and join my friends at the cheerzone, but then you have your Male bravado that makes you think that you can do it and it would be a great achievement. So decided to go ahead and run (much to the charging of my mum... on hindsight... Mother knows best).
The morning was nice and cool and started off strong, thanks to my buddy Dylan. At the back of my head there was a voice whispering in ears (don’t really hear voices... or do I... i solemnly swear I am not crazy) that I had this one the bag and who knows even a personal best could be (talk about wishful thinking).
So thanks to Dylan, went pretty strong till the 16th km. But after there was a something not quite right. Felt something weird and lightheaded, so began to walk, asking Dylan to move on. Walking made me feel like a man returning home after a night of debauchery, a badly hung man (chocolate hangover is what you could call it).
So groggily walked till I managed to find an aide station with a doctor. On the way had many runners, some known friends, some unknown friends, asking me if I am ok or need any assistance, and walk to the side of the road so as to avoid having runners running into me (who said runners have only their PBs on their mind).
So at the Aid station, was attended by this pretty Doctor (yes Sam she was pretty) who gave me so much ORSL and water to drink (enough for me to never want to consume it again... advantage Enerzal and Fast and Up) to help to get my pulse rate back to normal and rehydrate myself.
So lay there, drinking ORSL and water and seeing the volunteers and physios struggle to tend the runners as they suffered strains, aches and pains, trying to be as patient as they possibly could be. So after a good 20 minutes (or was it, I was too light headed to notice) she gave discharge (if I can say so) and warned me to walk to the finish line and not to run.
Setting out I realised I had a good 27 kms more to go and the sun was out and the weather was getting warmer. So with a heavy heart and light head, decided to call it a day (cause it was just not my day). Called my friends for help (cause this wise man didn’t carry any cash with him) who came to my rescue and dropped me off at Mahalaxmi, from where I made my way back to the Holding Area to get my bag with a bruised ego and a broken heart but no way with my legs between my tail, or is it tail between my legs, so confused, blame it on the light headedness.
Seeing all the runners with their medals made feel a stab of guilt if i just gave up without giving it my all. It made me want to go on a social media detox, to go and live under a rock for the next couple of days. But then I told myself discretion is better part of valour, I will always bounce back, come back stronger, there will always be a next time (and all the things you tell yourself to pacify your ego).
The day thought me a very important lesson, eating 5 Stars is not form of a carb loading and I have a bad weakness for chocolates (as if someone needed to tell me this), and no matter how well you train, what you eat a day before can... pure kiye karye pe pani dal sakta hain (not bad for a non-Hindi speaker).
P.S.: Got to thank my friends and fellow runners who stopped by to check on me while I groggily made my way, and even called and messaged after the race.
To the pretty Doctor (yes sam I am thanking her) who tended to me and got me back in my feet, and the entire volunteering team.
Lastly, definitely not the least, the two angelic friends who came to my rescue, Dee and Jenn, thank you so much, you guys know you’re the best.
Finally, the race gave two medals, one for you and the other for the person who inspires you. As I didn’t complete my run, I didn’t deserve my medal, so I didn’t collect either medals. But Sharad Chaturvedi the inspiration medal was for you, cause you have and will always inspire me.
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