Crouching Deer, Hobbling Man

As I hobbled down the road, like we Runners do when the rains play truant and the weather gets hot and humid, and yeah, when you overtrain. So here I tried my best to shake off the pull in my calves, the strain on my hams, I mean hamstrings not the edible one (although knowing where I was I could easily become one). So I hobbled down this road that I don’t often take, a deviation from my normal running route, just to add a few but important kms under my feet, and avoid taking anymore inclines, cause if I did take one then someone would have to carry me down and would definitely not be the case of Jack and Jill.

As I turned a corner there he was, as if frozen in flight, a slow runner left behind, just like me (or my situation then). He looked ahead in the direction that his companions had taken, hoping they would  wait for him to catch up with them (if he could manage that), by the time he would find a way to get out this predicament.

He was startled by the sight of me, as I was of he. Wondering who was this stranger in this part of town, a trespasser, an intruder in place he called home. But then I could claim the same for me though my claim would be way weaker than he. He stared at me with his big brown eyes not batting even a single eyelashes, as I stared back with my small ordinary looking eyes.

And so began a staring competition, with each holding their ground, not willing to give the other even a single inch. We stared and didn’t care, just stood there sizing the other, awaiting the other to make the first the move, with none actually willing to do so.

The sweat beads on my forehead glistened, in the light of the grey morning, wondering if he felt the same way, an anticipation of what was to come, not necessarily a fear. There was a crackle in the air. The tension so sharp like the edge of the knife cutting anything in the thin air.

And finally I gave in, cause let’s face it, he was deer and I was human, not a cheetah, leopard or even a panther, but a dear deer. After all this was total nautanki mind at work. So I hobbled on my way to complete my mileage while he went on his way catch up to his herd that left him behind.

Keeping up with the Pace

He started off his run after some basic stretches and a quick warm-up, as it was customary. There was a chill in the air that had been there for over week now (or was it from the week before that, but did it really matter cause it was the perfect weather), carrying forward from the weekend, the perfect running weather. He planned to do an easy 10 trying to recover from the strenuous weekend half.

So he switched on his music, started his Garmin and Nike Run Club app, and he was off. He tried to keep a steady pace, trying not to up the pace, trying hard not to give into temptation, promising himself to take it easy, hoping to keep that promise. He greeted his friends who were doing their time trial, waving as he passed by, once again trying hard not to up the pace to match them.

He completed his first lap and was almost done with his second when he spotted her from the corner of his eye. She was running at a steady pace striding with confidence and striding strongly. She easily caught up with and matched him stride for stride, even getting ahead of him.

At first his ego urged him to get ahead of her, after all how could he let her get ahead of him, how very sexist of him. But he once again reminded himself, rather sternly, that this was a recovery run that was meant to be easy. In the end he finally gave in and coming to a compromise, he decided to keep pace with her.

Now she was running quite well, although he didn’t struggle to keep up with her, it had been a while since he pushed himself to be at this pace (barring his interval training) continuously for a longer duration. So there they went down that road, at times side-by-side, at times behind each other, as the road permitted them, but always at the same pace, keeping up with each other. They didn’t utter a single word, just focused straight ahead, each serving a pacer for the other.

When they came to the end of the lap, she took a turn at the divider while he went on to the end of the road. For a moment she turned around to see where he was. He upped his pace finally catching up with her.  He gave her thumbs up and an applause continuing to enjoy the company and the challenge of keeping up with her. They encouraged each other when they felt the pace slacken, when the they needed it the most. Even then they did it with gestures without uttering a single word.

Now by the fourth lap he felt her pace slacken, though he encouraged her, urged her on, he felt that may be she had achieved her target for the day. So he carried on, keeping up the pace they had maintained, in fact he could go faster than he had gone before, faster than he had gone in a while. 

As he completed his fourth lap and turned, he saw her on the other side of the road. He smiled and waved. She smiled and waved back at him. He continued with his run, now with an added confidence, causing him to up his pace. When he finally came to end of his run, after the 10th km, he tried to see if she would be at the place where everyone cooled down, but she was no where in sight.

So once again, without uttering a single he knew he was grateful to her, who without uttering a single word helped him maintain the pace, encouraged him and in those brief moments became his pacer (hopefully the other way too), helping him keep the pace.

Running etiquette for dummies (literally)

Now that summer’s heat has given way to monsoon’s rain and humidity, a new racing season is upon us, like it was never really gone. So every weekend you have some race or another and with it you have runners, elite, amateur and hobby runners, training diligently to get better, to get their bodies in shape, for their next big race.

With every race, with every training, comes some basic running etiquette which should be imbibed in a Runners psyche. It cannot be taught, these are basic human decency (which sadly loads of runners lack) that needs to be followed.

When running on the road always run in the opposite direction of traffic (if your training) and if your racing follow directions, but always keep to your left. Stop hogging the road like you own it (which I am sure you don’t) or it has been hired out just for your (which I am sure it hasn’t). Stop blocking runners coming from the opposite direction, give way, especially if all you’re doing is walking and gossiping (if you want to gossip find another place). It’s rude to occupy the road and not give way. If you choose to walk, keep to your left. If you want to walk in a group see to it you give way when you see a running approaching either from the front or back. 

Do not litter. You don’t want to garbage lying around. If you take a bottle of water from the volunteer and need to dispose it, hold on to it till your find a dustbin or hand it over to the volunteer at the next water station, don’t throw it to the side. Water from the bottle spills on the road make it a road a slipping hazard, not to forget that the bottles themselves are hazardous and could cause accidents. The same goes for your gel sachets and sponges.

As a runner do not waste water. Yes you need to hydrate well but if you are going to take a bottle and take just a few sips before disposing the bottle then that’s quite sacrilegious. Preferably hold on to the bottle till you finished all the water, better still, carry your own bottle and refill it at the water stations. At the same time you do not refuse water to a runner. Water is a basic source of hydration to a runner, so whether they are running with you or not, refusing water shows a basic lack of humanness.

Taking selfies in the middle of the race or road should be avoided. I know you want to capture this moment and experience , but can you do it at the end, or take at the side of the road? Moreover there are photographers (even for training runs) who capture your moments of the race.

Always remember to thank the volunteers, whether they have been hired for the job, or they have signed up for it. They stand for long hours at the water station to support you, so show them some gratitude, show them some love (if I can borrow this line from Sam). They are not your servants so don’t treat them like one. Don’t expect them to pick up after you.

We are mostly hobby runners, amateur runners, not racing elites, not all podium finishers. We need to cheer as much as we need cheering. Every runners could do with a small thumbs, with a smile, with a little acknowledgement. Who knows it will help you in return. So put that inflated ego aside and just go with the flow and enjoy every race and cheer all you who could do with a little cheering.

So there you have it, a few running etiquette my sleepy head could think of, and which I hope you do follow. If you do feel like you could add to it go ahead and be my guest. Let’s make running a decent and human sport, giving it and the runners the respect that they deserve.

Boy on a run: the raging mental debate

You wake each morning to the buzzing of your alarm, shaking you out of the la la land and into a raging debate with yourself. You question if you really need to put your body through the paces after all you have put it through during yesterday’s gym workout. Somehow you manage to win that debate. You brush your teeth and try to gulp down that black coffee, still a little groggy cause sleep has not totally abandoned you, just like a true friend. 

You fry the chicken and prepare the salad. You toss some lime into it and push it into the fridge. Once done, you don your running gear, grab your house keys and carry your water belt. As a routine you step outside your house and wear your shoes on the step, like you always do, either out of habit, or a superstitious running ritual. That’s when it hits you. That nagging thought that you’re forgetting something actually meant that you have forgotten something. You’ve left you earplugs at home. Too lazy to open the door and grab them you decide to forgo them for today.

So after some stretching, trying hard not  to use the adjective quick, you are off. Today’s speed intervals, 5 intervals of 4 minutes each, your mission, if you choose to accept it, yeah like you have a choice, is to do at least 800 meters in 4 minutes, trying to maintain a sub 4 pace. Doesn’t sound easy and it isn’t, and you don’t have your music to boot. So it’s just you and the sound your feet make and your thoughts.

The initial kilometre is just a warm up, getting yourself into the run. And then its off on the first interval. You try to pick a breathing rhythm that will help you maintain your pace that’s not laboured, not ragged. You look straight up and letting your chin lead you, like you have heard your app speaking to you before, which for some reasons doesn’t play any longer. 

You try to maintain your strides and your foot strikes, trying your hardest to land on your fore foot but somehow you keep striking with your heel. You play in your head all the advices that your received from the coaches and speedster, doing your best to correct your self and improve your form. Unfortunately you are the least technical person and very often what they have said has either flown over your head or just bounced off you.

Just like that your done with the first interval. You have two minutes to recover before the next four minutes of running. You try to bring your heart rate down. By now your breath is jagged and you struggle to get it normal. By now the humidity has reduced you to a puddle of sweat. Your tee makes you look like you have entered a wet tee competition, who knows you could even win it. Making you you feel like Mandakini under the waterfall.

After 2 minutes you are back to running, and just like that you are through the 2nd and 3rd intervals. You are halfway there. The heat and humidity are killing you, and you trying your best to maintain your breathing and wipe the sweat from your face. You visualise the speedsters you have been blessed to run with, to push you to inspire. The effortlessness with which they run, strides as smooth as silk, is a sight to behold and experience. You think of your fellow runner who without fail get in their runs while you struggle haul your lazy arse. You do it for yourself, to inspire you and through you, others. 

Come the 4th interval and you feel the fatigue hitting you, the heat tormenting you, sweat dripping, pouring out of every pore in your body. Is this the famous wall you’ve hit. You know your struggling and there’s a slope to come. You curse yourself under your breath. There’s no use of cursing the weather, it’s not going to change and it will not help. If only you didn’t wake up in the morning, you wouldn’t be suffering the heat and humidity, battling the elements and the fatigue that’s sleeping into your limbs. You wonder where did your speed do, if you ever had it, what has slowed you down? Was it the extra weight you have put on, the one you can’t shake off, like the Taylor Swift song, no matter how hard you try. Or is it age slowing you down, but then there are runners who are getting better with age and your trajectory is going in the opposite direction.

Finally you’re at the last interval, time to give it your all. But by this time fatigue has already set and you’re battling the elements. Your legs feel like Jell-O when you want them to feel like butter. At the same time adrenaline too kicks in, its go big or go home, anyway you’re heading home. You give your all and once dine, it’s time to cool down. 

As you still have a km to go you break into a slow jog. Reaching your garden you try to get in some core workout and stretches only to have your bacchas come around you and try to lick your sweat off. With that you have completed your run and it’s off to start a new day, albeit a bit tired from all the effort you put into your run.