So finally the day has arrived... practice has concluded and I am going to
run my first half-marathon. Mumbai Marathon 2012 came with a big challenge and
I took it by enrolling myself in the 21K version. I have been practicing twice
in a week for last couple of months and ran 10K in any single session. As much
I was targeting to finish the race, I wanted to finish withing 2 hrs 30
minutes. In the practice session I have been taking 70-80 minutes for 10K. So I
wanted to give my best and much better than I had been giving in the practice
session.
At the same time so many things are going in personal life that have also
aggravated my breathing problem. For last one month, every day I have been feel
so vulnerable personally that its only Mumbai Marathon that is the passion
nowadays. There has been an emotional roller-coster ride in last one month and
every morning I wake up, it has been only the time I am running and working out
could make me feel little strong.
On the D-day, I wake up at 4 AM, get ready, pick up my running gear,
Redcross Cap and TCS T-shirt with SRCC logo, and go to Railway station to board
a train to the Marathon Holding Area. As I reach at Ticket Counter, I feel
overwhelmed when Ticket Issuer doesn't take money and wishes me best for my
run. It was a lovely feeling. As I get down train and moving towards the
Holding area, I see few of the TV Actors (Raghu &; Rajiv from MTV
Roadies) taking tea-sips. I walk and see the spirit of runners everywhere.
Everybody seems to be so excited as I am and doing the stretching.
At 5:40, run starts and I start the journey of my life. Today I want to achieve
something I have never done and I want to complete the race respectfully. Cold
breezes from the sea start touching our body as we reach the 'Bandra-Worli Sea
Link', such a lovely experience. When does anybody get opportunity to run here
on this link? I have completed 10 K now, feet are tired, but brains are
excited. As I reach 15 K, an uphill comes, I want to have a sip of water but I
don't want to break the momentum as long as possible. Somehow uphill passes and
I am on flat road. Now, feet are about to give up, brains are still excited,
eyes are burning, body is sweating and I am at 19K. Now I have utmost need of
rejuvenating myself, so instead of water, I pick up a 'Red bull' drink on the
way. A refreshing area with cold moist breezes comes on the way and passing
through it is so rejuvenating.
Till this time, I have no energy left; I might fall anytime if I lose
control on my brains even for a minute. I set a target that I would continue
till 20K mark and probably will walk for few seconds before finish line. As,
now I reach there, I don't want to stop I want to finish without even stopping
anywhere in complete run. But this doesn't work, my show-laces have loosened up
and I have to stop to tie them at least. Ultimately I stop at 21K Mark, ties
the laces, walks for a minute, before my desire to touch the finish line at the
earliest makes me running. I sprint now. Applauds at the side-ways are
over-whelming and wonderful. I am not able to breath, but I feel like a start
as I reach the finish line.
Now when I am at home, my body is crying out loud for sleep, but I can't. My
caves are swollen, my things are paining, my fingers and toes are burnt, but a
feeling of accomplishing this has been able to overpower everything.
