The Race Day Hibby Jibbies

I’ve the run this race for the past eight editions, and seven out of the eight times I’ve successfully managed to complete it, with the last edition being the only exception. But even after participating in all these editions nerves seem to be getting to me. As race day approaches there’s this strange uneasiness that threatens to swallow me whole, a tingingly feeling that refuses to go.

I know I’ve trained well for it, maybe not as well as I hoped to, not as well as the next person, the next person being a friend who really brings it on. In this case my training falls short, feels short, leaves you wondering if you should even being doing this in the first place. They’ve been disciplined in their training which you have been not, no matter how much you try and convince yourself. Hearing their targets you wonder do you have one, should you have one? And though you tell yourself, and others that your target is to just complete, you are not thoroughly convinced. You doubt your ability of finishing what you’ve started, thanks to the events that transpired last year and the weight you’ve piled on since then.

Then the question of the notorious Mumbai weather which seem to be unable to make up its mind, like a fickle lover blowing hot sometime, blowing cold the other time. The weather through December and the beginning of January, had a nice nip in it, a chill, conducive for running, a delight to every runner. But then the weather gods always have a mind of their own. So as race day approaches, the warmth in the air sends a shiver down your spine (isn’t that ironic). So then you’re beginning to remember the cramps you felt races before, making you wonder what it would be like this time around.

And as the day draws closer so does your nerves. You pray and hope they don’t get the better, and you just run relaxed, like you want to, like you’ve been advised to, after all it’s just a race, don’t fret over things that are out of you control. Just go with the flow, let the nervous energy spur you own, and as you warm up to your run, let this energy burn up act as a fuel for your run. So as you get ready to run soak in the experience, take in the atmosphere, and know you’re lucky to get this opportunity, so make the most of it.

So fikaar not, enjoy a lot

Run befikaar, bindaas