Rolling down the river… I mean by the lake

When a runner chooses a race it’s either to get a podium or routes where you can achieve a PB (that’s Personal Best for my non-running friends). Since both don’t apply to you, you choose to do a race for the  experience.

Let’s face it, I don’t run that fast, so podium is obviously way out of the question, and then I am not that young to be chasing PBs achieved in earlier days (trying hard not to sound like a grandpa here). So when you run, you run more for the experience than anything else. And yes how much you can push yourself and see how well your training is coming along.

So when your burgers and fries suggests the Khadakwasla Ultra, you kind of jump at the chance, but with caution as you have a FM coming up in the immediate week. But when Coach says it ok to take it as a training run, then you go ahead and register for the 25k. And when coach too is joining you then it’s going an interesting road trip.

Races are always a good place to meet so many inspirations, especially race like these that are small and runners are well looked after and are  used by many as their training runs for their ultras. So you meet many runners using this as their last long run before their Border Ultra (one border you are sure going to keep away from).

So after a good night sleep (another first as this crazy soul is always needles and pins the night before), you wake up, dress up, lace up, and raring to go. But not before you do your warm up.

So you join your fellow runners who are doing the 25k (like you) or a 35k (like coach and your burgers and fries) in going through the motion. The 100k, 75k and 53k have already been flagged off (yes that’s what some of the runners were doing).

Once the warm up is done it’s time for the flag off with the 35k being flagged off first and then the 25k.  But runners will be runners  who are more bothered about the pre-race photo-ops than the actual instructions. So you had almost all the 25k runners starting off with the 35k runners. That leaves just you and few other runners (who like good bacchas paid heed to the instructions) who start off few minutes after the 35k runners have taken off.

So you start all your apps and you are off into the unknown, into the darkness, with just the moon for constant company, lighting your way.

You constantly fight the temptation of giving into the initial adrenaline rush and just speeding up, reminding yourself you need to take it easy and keep your pace below 7.

So you run by dark house with its occupants fast asleep, while dogs come barking to the gate. Then there are those who look up from their slumber to see who are these crazy people running at this ungodly hour, but then they are too sleepy do anything, so they return back to their slumber.

There’s a nip in the air, not too chilly that it would make you shiver, just right to have good run. Again you remind yourself that you need to control and take it easy.

The road for most part is good and you are glad you’re not dodging potholes which would have been difficult in the moonlight.

You steadily make your way past runners, letting the ones rushing pass you  go by. You slowly and steadily catch up with coach and your burger and fries, and glad to see them go steadily and surely.

So off you go on your own, along a few of your fellow runner, running by people all huddled up as they make their way to the temple of their morning prayers, while you run in your vest and your shortest shorts, flaunting your sexy legs (as Adi and Ritu call them). Surly you get those looks from people wondering if you don’t feel cold in what you are wearing. 

As you steadily run, trying to control your pace, you find yourself all alone with just a few runners here and there, and of course the moon and the road for company. Both there with you all the time. And you are grateful for their company as you follow them, or is it they following you. So when the road zigs, you zig, and when it zags you zag, while the moon goes from your left to the right and then to the left and back to the  right as the road zig-zags.

The air nice and crisp and the road is dotted with these beautiful orange wildflowers. Every now and then you get a smell of manure (it smell and not stench) as you pass houses with cattle shed.

Around the 8th km the lake finally comes insight, and there’s not much you can see in the darkness. You can make out the water and the dotted lights of the house in the distance.

You take this all in, after all you are here for the experience, and a bit of training. You try not to think too much or too ahead of yourself. You try to put a positive spin that every elevation will be a decline on your way back. You try not to bother about the elevation. After all a rolling route is way better than a flat one cause it keeps the run more interesting. Also for every incline, you can use the momentum to carry up the next one. So not much energy spent.

You try your best to smile for the shutterbugs on the route, after all you don’t want to look all frowny and grumpy in your pics, something you always end up doing.

By the time you reach the turnaround point for the 25k, dawn is gradually breaking with inky blackness slowly residing to a beautiful orange glow.

Now that the sun is up it’s time to put your pretty in pink neon glares on. Not that the sun is harsh, in fact the weather still has that coolness in the air, but then you want to make a style statement. So on comes the glares.

As you make your way back you pass a number of runners on their way. You cheer them on as only you can do cause every runners needs to be cheered on, and who knows your cheer can be the energy boost they need.

You see coach and your burgers and fries on the other side, so you stop to click them, as you said you would. After that it’s off on your way. 

By now you’ve found your rhythm, that comfortable pace that you have been steadily maintaining and building upon. You decide that your legs and body feel strong enough to push it gradually. Most importantly the rolling road doesn’t feel so daunting anymore (in fact it was never daunting). So you up your pace a bit, not trying to overdo it. 

You pass runners who were ahead of you, who are taking walk breaks on slopes. As you don’t feel the need to do the same as you have been handling the inclines pretty well, you continue to run, giving them a thumbs up and cheering them on.

By and by it’s just you and the road with the sun out to keep you company. Most of the runner doing 35k have passed you by in the other side and you have managed pass a fe runners who were ahead of you. You actually don’t mind being along in the road, cause somehow it feels quite soothing having yourself for company, and your music. So you continue to chug along at pretty neat pace with no signs of soreness and tightness or even muscle pain or fatigue or discomfort. So you are definitely doing something right, in line with what coach had instructed.

You even stop to click pics of the sun from the fields and while it lights up the road ahead.

 By now you’re quite comfortable at the pace you are running at. You even marvel st the fact that you manage to tackle the inclines, without getting overwhelmed by it. You pass runner who seem to be struggling with them while you, all fresh, steadily and comfortably handle those inclines (well not entirely comfortably as you feel a slight tightness in your quads). But on the whole you are running quite comfortably, running at a steady pace.

Finally you take the final right turn and you make your way up the gradual slope and to the finish line finishing quite strongly. 

As you cross that finish line, like all good runner me you first stop your watch and all the apps you had on  and then pose for pics at the finish line.

You make your way to the physio as you start to feel the strain on your right glute, for some much needed icing.

You then patiently wait for coach and burgers and fries to finish their run, hoping nothing untoward happened along the way, especially on the inclines and the rough patches. Hoping your burgers and fries didn’t get distracted with any of the kitties on the route.

You marvel at the fact that so many runners kept running beyond the finish line (often in circles) just to ensure they complete their mileage. Something only runners will do.

You are delighted to learn that your good friend Prabha secured a podium, and so happy and excited and proud for her.

By the time you you are all happy for Prabha, coach and burgers and fries make their way to the finish line and you like a happy holder retriever puppy (I’ve been told that I’m one) rush to cheer them and capture it. 

So you Hi Five coach and hug your burgers and fries checking if she is ok and then helping her to the recovery zone for her to ice her sore ankle and body.

After they collect their medals it’s picture time. But not before you refuel yourself with the breakfast. You congratulate all the podium finishers and then it’s actually picture time.

Once it’s time to make your way back to your room to make the trip back home. Surprisingly there’s no soreness whatsoever and so you are able to navigate the stairs easily cause that darn lift stopped working.

You are actually going to return back for a two hours Rueda class.

With that it’s another race in the bag but this one with a lot of good memories and most importantly lessons to take back and work on.  It’s a weekend well spent rolling down the river, I meant lake.

The girl with the paper cup

She held on to her daddies hand as they made their way from where their car was parked to the Main Street. Her daddy seemed all excited for what they were going to see. He made it known that one day he would like to try and do the same too.

She couldn’t understand what her daddy’e excitement was all about, but then she was quite little, and at her age you just go with the flow. So her daddy was excited and so was she.

As they made their way to the Main Street she could see quite a large crowd had gathered, cheering and clapping and holding banners. She could see a bunch of people running on the road, well if you could call it running. Many were slowly trudging along, some slowly walking, others trying to muster all that was left in them and jog, but all looked quite tired. There were people of all ages (except for little ones like her), of all genders and shapes and sizes. They were all running , walking or trying to run.

She was quite fascinated by this sight. Who were these people? What were they running from? What’s with the number that they were wearing across their chest?  She was fascinated by the colourful clothes that they wore, especially their shoes. She had never seen such colourful shoes before.

All this seemed so fascinating and new to her. She looked upon these people with wide eyes and couldn’t help but get caught up in all cheering.

She asked her daddy who were these people and what were they doing? Why were they all running and looked so tired? 

He daddy explained that they all were running a marathon, a 42km race. He proudly told her that next year he would be running here too.

His excitement was contagious and it caught on to her. Now she too wanted run marathon. Well maybe not next year with her daddy, but someday soon she would run one, though she didn’t quite really understand what a marathon was other than a bunch of people running with numbers pinned to their chest.

She saw a group of children who were handing glasses filled with water to these runners, who took the glass without stopping and threw it bin. 

She watched these children with fascination. She so wanted to do what they were doing, be a part of their excitement. So she rushed to them, eagerly grabbing the paper cup filled with water, all excited to be part of the fun.

She held out the glass of water in her outstretched hand hoping that someone would take it. She was so excited that she almost spilt the water all over herself.

Now since she was last child in line and her hands were little, even when they were outstretched, very few runners paid her any attention or tried to take the paper cup from her hand. But this didn’t deter her, this didn’t dampen her excitement. The water did, but her precious little heart was all beating with excitement as she watched the runners go by as she offered them a little respite from the arduous task they set upon themselves.

He had been running for hours by now, if not for hours, it definitely felt like that. And though he had been on his feet for a long, long time, he felt he was no close to the finish line than when he started. Or this was just his mind playing tricks on him.

Like all runners he cursed himself for putting his body through what he felt was worst than torture (again another one of his exaggeration). He promised himself never again, the last time he undertaken this Herculean mission, but yet he found himself at a start of yet another starting line putting his body through the wringer.

They say when the mind believes the body will follows, but in his case this wasn’t  true. He tried hard to will himself to move on, telling himself he didn’t come this far just to give up, but body seen respond like Christ before his crucifixion asking why had he forsaken them, what had done to him, how had they offended him for him to put them through all of us this.

Despite it all, he somehow found it in him to push on, one foot before another, one feet at a time, just to keep moving, cause there was no turning back.

His throat began to feel parched and there was no water in his bottle. This was probably the last straw that would break the camel’s back. And then he saw her, the little excited kid with this paper cup in her hand with the brightest smile. 

Other runners passed by her , failed to notice her, and took the water from other children, but this didn’t dampen her spirt. There was something precious about her.

He stopped near her and took the cup from her hand and eagerly drank the water. Her face lit up as she handed him the cup and then another and yet another. She was so excited to help.

As he gulped the water he felt a surge an energy course through his vein as if there was something in the water that revived his drooping spirit. 

She held out her hand to give him a hi five with the most biggest and brightest smile. He in turn returned the hi five and felt a renewed surge of energy.

Weariness replaced by determination to finish strongly. He was re-energised and ready to complete what he had set out to do.

He looked at her once again and smiled his brightest smile, mouthing a thank you, and off he went onwards towards the finish line.

She was all excited and happy with what had happened and ran happily to her daddy to tell him that but he already knew as he saw all what had happened. He took her in his arms and hugged her tight. He was so proud of his daughter.

That day a little paper cup not just came to a rescue of a weary soul but also filled the heart of a precious little soul with so much happiness.  There was certainly something magical in that water that the she held with love.

Blank Pages

He sat there staring at the blank page before him. The cursor flashing, beckoning to type something, to fill the page with his words. But what could he write about, he wondered. He tried to but he kept drawing a blank.

He wanted to write a classic. But most of the classics had already been written about. He didn’t want to retell something that had already been done before.

He could write about the life of others. But who would he write about? He didn’t think himself a biographer and then wouldn’t most famous people have their own biographers already?

He didn’t want to be inspired by the life of others cause where’s the creativity in that.

Plus he didn’t know anyone famous who would want him as their biographer, and as for the people he knew he would rather not be theirs. 

So there he was still staring at the blinking cursor on that blank page wondering what to write.

Was this how writers block felt like, he wondered.

Just when he thought there was no way he was coming up with something to write about, it struck him like a bolt, causing him to jump and exclaim in ecstasy.

Was this his eureka moment, or was he just having an orgasmic response to the thought that was running through his head.

No matter what it was, it was something he could do. He could fill those blank pages. He could write about himself.

No, he was as not being narcissistic, nor was his life boring, no matter what others had to say, or what he at times considered his life to be. He always believed that everyone had a story, this was his story, his story to tell.

There was so many anecdotes to share, and many more to come. A chance to fill up those blank pages with the stories he wanted to tell, to let people in, let them listen to the words that would otherwise remain unspoken. 

And he needn’t take inspiration from anyone, just live and do the things he did, and in the course filling his page with his story, not worried of what was to come. The present and past was what would written about while the future would remain unwritten.

And that would be his classic.

Heart and Soul

He sat there at the bar nursing his drink, keeping to himself, occasionally scanning the room, taking in all who were there, most of whom were the regular patron who had come there after a long day of work, trying their best to unwind over their drinks. A few had taken to the dance floor, showing off the moves they had learned.

He sat there, quietly with his drink, savouring every sip, minding his own business.

He could feel the eyes that were on him, the sly glances his way. He was an attractive man, even though he never agreed to this assessment. Although he was dressed casually, he was indeed one fine, rugged looking man. He could easily be a cover model of any of those romantic novels. But still he never thought of himself that way.

He was very aware that many of those eyes were quietly undressing him, wanting to take him to bed, wondering what he would be like in bed.

Though he never liked the attention, but secretly he savoured it. It felt good to be desired and know that none of  them could have him.

And just as he was lost in his thoughts, he saw a sight that literally snapped him out of his self-adulation and back down to earth.

Who was this magnificent creature, he wondered. They certainly wasn’t one of the regular patrons, or he would have known them.

He just couldn’t take his eyes off them like many of the others who were totally enamoured by them.

And though he tried to not to make it too obvious he couldn’t help be drawn towards them. It didn’t help that they sat right opposite him at the bar, right within his line of sight.

So he kept glancing in their direction diverting his gaze when his glances was caught.

Just as he felt like he was going to keep it all together a familiar tune began to play. 

He found himself walking towards them, like a moth drawn towards a flame, wanting to  ask them for a dance but somewhere scared that his request would be rejected.

To his surprise, they placed their hands in his and followed him to dance floor. 

He just couldn’t believe his luck. He was very aware that all eyes were on them, many of those were envious. He just didn’t care. He felt like the luckiest man in the room who had this beautiful person in his arms. Others would have given anything for just a chance but it was as him they had chosen to dance with.

As they danced to the music, he felt them come close to him, and hold him tight, to the point it felt like their two bodies were one, moving in unison to the music.

He could feel their breath upon his face. He felt the warmth of their body as they pressed it against his. He could feel the beating of their heart. 

Life couldn’t get any better than this.

He felt so attracted and drawn to them. He didn’t  know what got into him, he leaned in, half expecting his advance to be rebuffed, but he couldn’t help himself, he had to give it shot and pray it happened.

To his pleasant surprise, their lips met his, halfway. And then they kissed. Not a simple a peck, but a beautiful passionate one, right there on the dance floor.

They didn’t care that others were privy to their kiss, for them the world just faded away. It just two of them on the dance floor and the others faded away to the background.

He wished this kiss would go on, but then they broke the spell he was on. They looked coyly into his eyes and placed their head on his shoulder as they continued to dance.

They then whispered in his ears, “Just wanted you to know that I am married.“

“That’s ok”, he whispered back, “so am I,” he said with a smile.

“I wonder what my husband would say if he found about our kiss,” they said with a coy smile.

“I don’t think he would mind,” he said as they continued to dance.

“I wonder what would mine say,” he asked with a sly smile.

“Well”, they said glancing into his eyes, “ I think he would say, Happy Anniversary my love.” 

As he said this he leant in and kissed him passionately once again as they continued to dance, two handsome men in each others  arms, sharing a tender moment, celebrating their union, as the music continued to play -

“Heart and soul

I fell in love with you

Heart and soul

The way a fool would do Madly Yeah

Because you held me tight

And stole a kiss there in the night 

Heart and soul

I beg to be adored

Yes, and I lost control

And tumbled overboard Gladly

That magic night we kissed

There in the moon mist 

Oh, but your lips were thrilling

Never before were mine so

Strangely willing

Darling, and now I see

What one embrace can do

Come on and look at me

You've got me loving you Madly

That little kiss you stole

All my heart and soul”

Just around the corner

It’s just around the corner. Just one more turn and you’ll be there, he kept telling himself, trying to will himself to continue to move on.

But the corner passed and he was no closer to the end than he was an hour and a half ago when he told himself the same thing.

His feet complained. He’d been on them for far too long. They were now aching and protesting l.

He would feel the soreness of every inch of his being, even his soul. He could feel them complain threatening to just to give up on him.

By now he was all by himself. The ones who started with him had long gone ahead and he was left behind. In fact, he could see them on the other side of the route waving at him cheering on.

He felt disheartened and drained.

Even his mind began to play tricks on him, to question his sanity to undertake this arduous undertaking. Making him wonder what had gotten into him to even think he could do this. Making him wonder if he was going round in circles. Making wonder when would it all come to an end. Whether he should just give up.

But despite it all, in a little corner of his mind there was hope, trying to fan that small spark within him that kept spurring him on.

A little voice deep within telling him that he got this despite all his aches and pains and fatigue. Telling him, as cliched as it may sound, he didn’t come so far to just give up. He didn’t put all this effort just to quit before the finish.

He had come so far, he just couldn’t give up.

So he willed him to just keeping moving. And like Dory he sang to himself,

“Just keep running, running, what do we do we keep running!”

And lo and behold, when he turned that final corner the finish line came insight.

He spotted his friends and well wishers standing at the finish line cheering him on.

And so with one final push, he gave it all he could, and dashed across the line much to the delight of those gathered there.

He raised his arms in ecstasy, fell to his knees with tears streaming down his cheek glad that he didn’t give up when he felt like giving up, for believing that his destination was just around the corner, even when it was not.

The Hope Necessitation

If there’s nothing else in this world

There will always be hope

Hope is what makes the world go around 

Without making a single sound

Hope is that what we have in our heart

When we wake up every morning

When we go to bed at night

Hoping that today will be a better day

Hoping tomorrow will be a better one 

Hope is what gets out of the door 

Especially on days when we struggle the most

Always pushing through

Always nudging us to take just another step

Hoping that step by step we will find our way

Hope is what gets us through the day 

And then through the night

Hoping tomorrow will be a better than today

Hoping tomorrow we find a better way

To cope with life and all it challenges

Hope is that little flame

That lights up our way

Sometimes burning passionately  bright 

Sometimes just a feeble , flickering  light

But always lighting the way

When you’re lost and alone 

Hoping somewhere, somehow you’ll find your way home

Hope is that bolt energy that keeps us moving 

Encouraging us to put foot ahead of foot

One step at a time

Always  moving 

Never stopping 

Hoping to find a way out of the mess we find ourselves  in

Hope to get out of the quagmire we find ourselves stuck in

When all else fails there’s always hope

Never letting us down 

Never letting us go

Like a stubborn child

Refusing to leave our side 

No matter how much the world tries to wash it away

Hope will always be there

In the darkest of nights

In the most terrible of days 

Always finding a way to keep moving

To keep us breathing 

To keep us alive 

Hope will never let you go

Hope will never let you down

Hope is what the world is built on

As long as there’s hope

There’ll always be a way to survive

There’ll always be a solution 

There’ll always be a light at the end of the tunnel 

There’ll always be sunrise after a bleak dark night

Hope is what will keep us going 

Hope is what keeps alive

As long as there’s hope

No one can put you down

The world could do with a little hope

We all could do a great big hit of hope

Cause that’s what will help us to make it through!!!

A Peaceful Place

I have never been the religious kind. Although there was time when everyone thought I would join the priesthood, and truth be told I almost thought so too, but then thankfully I didn’t cause I don’t think I’m cut out for it. But I admit I have been a bit religious at some point in my life. However, over the years I’ve become more humanitarian than religious. It’s not that I stopped believing in religion (I still do) it’s just that I look at life more from a human aspect than a religious one.

Somehow I have always had this notion that religion tends to narrow one’s thinking and their outlook of life. However, this isn’t true. It’s in fact people who use religion as an excuse for their narrow mindedness and justify their hypocrisy.

That said, what I mean is I am not a very religious person. But somehow I find myself drawn to this place, and I am sure that religion has nothing to do with it.

You just sit there and close your eyes and have this silent conversation. You don’t even need to mutter a word or say a prayer. You just have this honest conversation. 

You can pour your heart out without the fear of being judged. You know for sure you’re going to find an empathetic and sympathetic ear in yourself.

Somehow, sitting there in silence fills you with this peace, brings a comforting feeling, calming you down, telling you that no matter how bad things may seem you’ll make it through.

You get this soothing feeling slowly trying to calm you down and bringing down your anxiety levels, talking yourself off any ledge that you may find yourself on.

In those few moments helps to bring you a sense of peace, putting you at ease.

Your situation may not have changed from what it was before, but you now have a more calmer perspective to the way you see things and approach it.

You know that somehow, somewhere, you’ll make it out that what troubles you. There’s a way out of your misery. There’s a soothing balm for your pain. You needn’t do anything drastic.

That’s the magic of spending time in quiet silence in this wonderful place. You come way with a sense of peace.