How running has changed for you: a confession of a Runnaholic

I remember the days

When I ran wild and free

Running was just running to me

There was nothing to correct

Nothing to do

Just find a path and away you'd go

No cares for the world

Or where your arms were

Or what your foot strike were

It was all about running

The road, the freedom and you

You ran when you were happy

You ran when you were sad

You ran from situations 

That often got you mad

Over fields and meadows

Across grounds and streams

You went where the road lead you

With absolute glee 

There were no markers to tell you

How far you had been

It was just you and your senses

Trying to judge where you had been

There were no watches to tell you

What pace you did take

Just breeze of the air

As it brushed your face

No phones and earplugs

No apps or music to listen to

Just the sound which nature provided you

The rustling of the breeze

The chirping of the birds in the trees

The joyful yelps of pet

And cheers of your friend

There were no races to be won

No podium to stand on

No medals to bite on 

Once you were done

Just cheers and howls

of your friends who were around

Even though you ran out breath

But it's the joy that you felt

Breathing in nature

Telling you that you're alive

The years have gone by

What was fun now a passion

Complexing what you once knew

Your run is all about mileage

And maintaining a form and pace

Where your hand is 

How your arms swing

How you lean forward

And where your foot meets the ground

You run on a track 

Or on an empty road

But it's Your race that dictates 

where you train 

On a flat route or a slope

Up inclines and down declines

But holding on to the form

Keeping your hands 

where they should be

Ensuring you're taking breaths 

To coordinate with your strides

You race at a pace 

As fast as you can 

To achieve your best 

Then post about it 

And share it with all

Then preen and pose

For selfies and pics

And if it ain't your best

Blame the weather and your health 

A niggling injury that flared up

Even a mismanaged race

Everything that can be blamed

Is sure to be blamed

Though running now is competitive 

The passion burns bright

But that spirit that you ran with

Still lingers with you

Trying to burst out

Making you long to run with

No cares of the world

No form no technique

No pace to keep

Just you and the path you run on

All wild and free

Up and up: The Hyderabad Marathon Experience

Up and up...where the hell are the downs...  shouldn't what goes up also come down... these were few of the thoughts that I thought would cross my mind running the Hyderabad Marathon... ok ok... Half Marathon. To an extent these thoughts did cross my mind but I have begun to realise that when a route challenges you, you rise to the challenge.

The Hyderabad Marathon is billed as a marathon with one of the toughest route and it sure does live up to the expectations that it sets. For a good extent of the run you going up flyovers that are over a kilometre long and unrelenting inclines with very few declines.

A couple of runners advised that you don't challenge the route cause if you do it will bite right back. You've got to give it its due respect and you will reap the benefit of it. 

Now that I have run it, I can say that all this is true. There are continuous inclines and flyovers, and roads without much shade. But that said, the route teaches you to be strong and tests your endurance and holds a mirror upto you and shows you your strong self. The inclines of Peddar Road seems just like a fraction of the inclines here.

Yes there are inclines and flyovers, but don't let this daunt you. You give the route it due respect but don't let it overwhelm you. I learnt that a route that challenges you is the best route you'll ever run. This is one dynamic route, nothing here is boring. The route always has an aspect to keep you active and make you feel alive. The route is alive and interesting, always something to challenge you at every corner. Love it and it will love you back. To add to it, you're blessed with an awesome weather conducive to running. Never would the sight of an overcast skies be more welcomed.

The route had hydration stations at regular intervals with each of these stations adequately stocked (with Fast and Up making me feel like home) and the volunteers on their feet and ready to help. An aspect that I liked was that the Volunteers themselves were holding the garbage bag to collect the garbage and not other help.

One aspect that I didn't find much was crowd support. Ok I am a spoilt mumbaikar who has been spoilt by the crowd support. Yes there were school kids but again as for the Vasai Virar Marathon, most of the cheer group seemed to be forced. School children in uniform does not seem like voluntary. That's where I missed Mumbai the most.

But that being said, this was the only grouse I had. Everything else was well managed and well organised, the hydration station, the medal distribution, the hot breakfast. 

So now I can proudly say that I managed to tame my fear of slopes and with it Hyderabad.

Round and Round We Go: Experience of a Runnaholic

Going round and round in a circle is not my ideal race to run. That being said, last year witnessing the 12 hour team relay really made me want to participate, be a part of a team. It also left me feeling a bit sad that no team thought of asking me. Not that I am a bad runner, and I know I would be an asset to any team, so was kind of surprised at not being asked. But then what was done was done.

This year, I eagerly waited for some team to ask me. When the moment presented itself I eagerly jumped at the opportunity. Irrespective who asked, I knew I wanted to give it my best. But then due to a goof up and a really foolish situation, I was left with this annoyed and sad feeling.

A week to the run, and I resigned myself to the fact that once again I was relegated to the role of cheering. But a chance  call brought the hope back again and not wanting to miss the opportunity, I immediately agreed to it. 

So here I was, all set to run the last slot for my team. A little nervous, a little wary knowing that the temperature could get hot and humid during the slot, nevertheless excited. Didn't think I needed to prepare cause had run for two hours and above. Hence felt there was nothing to be worried.

The day arrived and I decided to reach the venue well in advance so that I could cheer my friends and at the same time avoid the railway mega block. The first thing i noted when I reached the stadium was that it was one humid cauldron. As I made my way to the stands to greet my friends and fellow runners I told myself I was prepared for this. 

So as the slot kept going and runners ran, felt the tinge of nervousness building. Admired the various running forms and runners and picking some valuable running tips. It rained for an entire slot bringing some respite, but then it stopped and the temperature returned to being humid. As it drew closer to 3 pm the nervousness was pretty palpable. I quickly changed into my running gear and started my stretching.

As we waited at the line up, met my good friend and running Diva. We decided to keep pace together as we did not want to push. We were then joined another really good runner who decided we all will pace together, at least for the first half. So when we started off the three of us joined together, running steadily down the track, passing photographers and other runners and being passed by other runners. There was a slight breeze which disappeared after a while. Sipping water and passing it on and supporting each other and our runner friends. 

After a while, going round and round and the weather seemed to get to me. Wanted to just stop and walk. But didn't want to as I would seem like a wuss. So kept going. So when we were over an hour mark, we decided to break away and run at our individual pace. Briefly walking brought some respite. Then it was back to running steadily. Played with the idea of doing something I have never done before. I removed my running vest and handed it over to my friend and ran bare chested. Felt nice and light and cool. 

As I kept passing the clock just waiting for it to hit the two hour mark. By this time I decided to walk to the water station at every round, drink water and pour it on myself to keep my body from overheating. And it seemed to work, was able to up the pace. It is always a morale booster when you heard your friend cheering and egging you on, offering you water and fruits, teasing you by asking if they could pace you. 

So we finally entered the last stretch and I decided time to sprint, assuming this was the last lap. Alas there was time for one more. Here I felt like a spent force, I decided to go on one more lap, Ans walked for a while to catch my breath. Then as I reached the last bend seen people trying to pace their friend, decided to give it my all and began my sprint to the finish. When I finally finished, pumped my fist knowing I did what I set out to do. Covered well over 21 kms in those two hours in the hot and humid weather. 

As I received the medal from my friend, who was eager to put it on my neck and posed for pics, I knew it was now an experience to treasure. All I wanted to do is find something to drink and fall flat and rest.

All in all an it was an experience to savour. Although it left me feeling a hell lot drained, couldn't asked for it any other way of trying push the limits to see how far you can go. So left the venue with a sense of pride at what was achieved, individually and most importantly for the team. 

Confession of a Runnaholic

What's your running story?

Why do you run?

How did you start running?

How can you wake up at such ungodly hours just to run a couple of miles?

How can you run so much?

How can you pay so much just to run a race for a silly medal and some snacks?

These are few but familiar questions that a runner constantly faces. Truth be told, we really don't know the answers to most of them, and on this Global Running Day, we don't think we would be able to answer them. How do you explain to a non-runner the passion behind this mad addiction? Very often we don't remember why we started in the first place. It seems like eons ago that we started running, and now it has become part of our being, the life we live.

We run because we can, because we were born to run. We have been built for running. For our ancestors running was a way of living, a way of surviving, to avoid starvation or being the next meal. But over the years, thanks to progress, we have forgotten to run. Not anymore cause running is back with a bang. We are the running addicts, the runnaholics, who cannot do without running a few miles or kms.

Running knows no age. A true runner doesn't bother about pace or distance, give them a road and they will be content to run for a lifetime. There's no particular age to start running. 

There are many inspirational stories of runner, just waiting to be told, to inspire, to be heard. All you need to just scroll down to read their stories in their own words. Meet runner and listen patiently.

Running is not just a form of exercise, it's a way of life. It would not be an exaggeration to say that for a runner, it is as important as breathing. In running it as important to give back as you receive. To cheer and support as much as you receive, sometimes even more. For a non-runner, this would be difficult to understand and we don't think they ever will. But we are runners and will always run.

The road of life goes on and on

Out from my doorstep 

Into the great beyond

Where it will lead us 

No one knows

But down that road 

I shall go

With a spring in my step

And a smile on my face

The road of life goes on and on