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.

Rider's Guide to the roads of Mumbai: The Creatures you find on the Road

When you've been riding/driving for a long time, or at least as long as I have (which is not much), you tend to recognise certain breeds of creatures that prowl the roads of Mumbai. So based on encounters will try and describe these creatures to the best of my ability.

The Royals: No not the British ones, or the ones that Lorde sang about. These are the ones who drive their high-end cars and feel that they own the roads. They drive their Mercs, Beemers, Audis, Jags, and the odd Ferrari, and expect the roads to be good and they have the right of way. God forbid, you should cross their path, you bound to get the coldest stare.

Bade Carewale: These creatures drives big cars and SUVs like the Innova, Ertiga, Suma, Scorpio and their lot. They not only take up so much road, but chance you should get stuck behind one, you are bound to be there for a while, especially when they are turning. 

Rule Breakers: These two and four wheelers who believe that rules were not meant for them. You find them helmetless or their helmets perched on their fuel tanks or handles (as if those need to be protected). They are prone to breaking signals, often either speeding or sneaking across it. And when there's a jam you see them on the opposite side of the road, against the traffic. One more thing, you will often find them three on a bike meant for two.

The Speedsters: These are three wheelers and two wheelers who missed their true calling. They needed to be in the F1 or MotorGP circuit. They fancy themselves as the next Schumacher or Rossi. Speed is their way of life. When you travel them God is really happy, cause they take you closer to him with all the prayers you keep saying. Ensure that you insured and you have not eaten anything, what's in will not remain in for a long time. At the same time you need to be aware of them, their sharp turns and lane cuts will surely take you by surprise and panic.

The Horny: No these are not sex addicts, they just feel that the sound of their horn is more sweeter than any sound in this world. That's why you find them constantly honking their horn. Honking gives them orgasmic pleasure that nothing in this world can give them. They honk for no apparent reason, often causing the poor unsuspecting riders to have a total nervous breakdown and just give them way.

The Balancer: These are mostly two wheelers. You normally see them with more than just two people and that poor vehicles of theirs. Sometimes even balancing a whole family on it, which humanely is impossible and dangerous, but hey they still do that. You can actually feel the pain of the poor vehicles that bears the brunt of their weight.

The Pathfinders: No these are not explorers, but riders who's somehow find a way even in the dense traffic. They constantly weave in and out trying to find space for themselves; a little space is all they need. They are like the camel, you give them an inch, they'll take a yard. They even use the pavements to make their way.

The Latecomers: These are perpetually in a hurry, always speeding, always honking, always glaring. They expect the way to be clear but will never think of leaving for their destination on time or even early.

The Directionless: These creatures totally lack a sense of direction. Either they give the wrong directions or don't give directions at all and expect you to telepathically understand which direction they are going to take.

Lady Drivers: These fair creatures look beautiful behind the wheel, but then you've got to be aware about their driving skills. They have concentration on other things than the roads and lack proper sense of judgement. If you ever happen to be behind give her space. But hey know some really good lady drivers.

The Monsters: These are the Garbage trucks, the BEST bus drivers, the private buses, the trucks and the State Transport buses. These strike fear in the heart of even the best of drivers. Constantly speeding, rash driver. If you ever cross their path, just get out of the way.

The Nervous Drivers: These are the novice first time riders, or riders like me, who perpetually nervous. They lack confidence and are scared of everything on the road. They are easily distracted  and the slightest honk can scare them to death. Be careful around them cause they themselves need to be careful.

So there you have it, my guide to the creatures you find on the roads. Not truly exhaustive, you can always add on it cause a new breed is discovered every second. So if you know some just add to this guid.

The High School Experience

Been binge watch 13 Reasons Why since morning, so I guess this write up has something to do with it, inspired by it.

Being sick means you have some good time to yourself, to ponder and reflect on the direction your life is taking. Watching 13 Reasons Why kind of made me rewind back to school days.

High school can be a real bitch sometimes. You want to conform to a set of made up rules, be seen with and as the cool kids at school. It's all a popularity contest. Anything unique and you'll be seen as an outcast. 

Kids can be real cruel. They'll make fun at your imperfections, call you names and tease and poke fun at you. They can be unforgiving and relentless. Sometimes you eventually let these things get to you. You just want to run away from this bullying and teasing. Don't want to run into them. 

Thus you start wearing a mask, putting up a front to shield yourself from the things they throw at you. You don't want them to see the real you. You want to be seen as cool and popular, thus loosing sight of yourself. In order to be accepted you become somebody. You know one slight mistake will not be forgotten. 

You try and hang out with the cool kids, or at least hang around with them, so that you can seem to fit in. Do the things they do, no matter how wrong it may seem. Your every actions and every decisions is influenced by your friends, what would they do, what do they do and why you can't do the same? This is not peer pressure but conforming to a set type often going along with pranks that may not seem right. Thus loosing your identity and uniqueness.

And this doesn't stop here. It continues to follow us in college and our career. We butt kiss, suck up, hang around, socialise, all in the name of climbing up the social and career ladder. Once again loosing ourself, keeping our true self hidden. We are sure that if they get to know an aspect of us, people will never understand, cause that aspect doesn't conform to set principles. 

We turn our backs on people who really care about us, genuine friends and lovers, who love us for who we truly are and not what we put up. We just ignore them or turn them away, because we don't want to accept ourselves, to be ourselves, and we have difficulty in accepting them cause we do not accept ourselves and our lives. Thus making our lives empty and superficial.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, is all about our need to be loved and accepted. To be admired by one and all. We put our lives out there for people to like, love and judge. For people to stalk and jerk off. It's our lives in the open. Again another way of trying to conform.

I am not too sure if things will ever change or if we could live our lives as who we truly are, open, proud and free. Not conforming to any standards and rules, not being bracketed in life. I really hope it comes soon.

P.S. 13 Reasons Why continues to show how bad our and backward Hindi shoes are.e