Marathon Magic
On Sunday 18th January, I had been to the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. I participated in the 21 km race. I have been to a few huge gatherings, but the marathon was a class apart. There was something magical about it.
I reached Azad maidan, where the marathon was supposed to start, at 6:40 a.m. (That in itself being a big feat for me). Soon, I met my friends and started the run at about 6:50-6:55.
Not much after the race started, I witnessed 'magic'. I had been practising for the marathon for around one week. Every single day that I paractised, my shins would ache after running for about 15-20 minutes. I was quite worried that I would have to walk most of the distance in the marathon. However, things turned out completely different than how I had anticipated. My shins did not hurt at all throughout the run! Not a single bit!
When I had completed around 5-6 kms, I saw a car with a huge LCD panel displaying the time, coming from the opposite direction. The leader of the half marathon was coming from the opposite direction. He had completed around 15 kms when I had barely completed 5 kms. Moreover, when I had completed around 9 kms, a fellow L&Tite told me, "Run fast! The Kenyans are here!". The Kenyans were running the full marathon and had started from the same location as ours an hour after we had started. I knew that the race leaders ran fast. These two events made me realize what running fast really meant.
There was no energy drink - Electral - in the first half of the race, only Cadbury's Bournville chocolate posters teasing me. I was completely exhausted. That's when someone, recognizing my bright yellow LnT T-Shirt, came up to me and said, "Hey, I've been trying to catch up with you since quite some time. Even I am from LnT". After having a little chat, he offered me Cadbury Fruit n Nut. Bliss.........
The enthusiasm shown by people was overwhelming. People had come down from their homes and were offering Neembu Paani and Parle-G biscuits to the runners. One hotel owner had gone as far as offering samosas and monginis slice cakes! Some people were there just to motivate us. It did help. Just after I had finished half the race, I was walking when someone from the audience shouted, "Come on LnT! Run!". I had to run.
With the help of people's motivation, Cadbury Fruit n Nut, Parle-G biscuits and Electral, I finished the race in around 2 hours and 55 mins. It left me with a sense of great accomplishment. I wasn't even sure of completing the race and I ended up finishing it in 3 hours.
Then came the toughest part. We had to cross Azad maidan to get the refreshments - 2 bananas, one orange and one packet of chocolate chip biscuits. These 200-300 metres were tougher than the 21 kms. But the walk was worth it. Bananas had never tasted better.
I completed the race and it helped me realize a few things.
I reached Azad maidan, where the marathon was supposed to start, at 6:40 a.m. (That in itself being a big feat for me). Soon, I met my friends and started the run at about 6:50-6:55.
Not much after the race started, I witnessed 'magic'. I had been practising for the marathon for around one week. Every single day that I paractised, my shins would ache after running for about 15-20 minutes. I was quite worried that I would have to walk most of the distance in the marathon. However, things turned out completely different than how I had anticipated. My shins did not hurt at all throughout the run! Not a single bit!
When I had completed around 5-6 kms, I saw a car with a huge LCD panel displaying the time, coming from the opposite direction. The leader of the half marathon was coming from the opposite direction. He had completed around 15 kms when I had barely completed 5 kms. Moreover, when I had completed around 9 kms, a fellow L&Tite told me, "Run fast! The Kenyans are here!". The Kenyans were running the full marathon and had started from the same location as ours an hour after we had started. I knew that the race leaders ran fast. These two events made me realize what running fast really meant.
There was no energy drink - Electral - in the first half of the race, only Cadbury's Bournville chocolate posters teasing me. I was completely exhausted. That's when someone, recognizing my bright yellow LnT T-Shirt, came up to me and said, "Hey, I've been trying to catch up with you since quite some time. Even I am from LnT". After having a little chat, he offered me Cadbury Fruit n Nut. Bliss.........
The enthusiasm shown by people was overwhelming. People had come down from their homes and were offering Neembu Paani and Parle-G biscuits to the runners. One hotel owner had gone as far as offering samosas and monginis slice cakes! Some people were there just to motivate us. It did help. Just after I had finished half the race, I was walking when someone from the audience shouted, "Come on LnT! Run!". I had to run.
With the help of people's motivation, Cadbury Fruit n Nut, Parle-G biscuits and Electral, I finished the race in around 2 hours and 55 mins. It left me with a sense of great accomplishment. I wasn't even sure of completing the race and I ended up finishing it in 3 hours.
Then came the toughest part. We had to cross Azad maidan to get the refreshments - 2 bananas, one orange and one packet of chocolate chip biscuits. These 200-300 metres were tougher than the 21 kms. But the walk was worth it. Bananas had never tasted better.
I completed the race and it helped me realize a few things.
- People can run fast, really fast.
- You cannot refuse water from a cute little three year old even if you are not thirsty.
- Even strangers can motivate one to push himself further.
- To truly appreciate something, earn it. Parle-G biscuits and bananas have never tasted better.
posted by SagYer at
12:34 am
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6 comments
