“If you want to win something, run the 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon.”
I read it somewhere, when I was training for the marathon, but realized only after completing my first marathon. In June ’08, when Keith announced formation of marathon running club to prepare for Mumbai marathon, I promptly joined it, for fun. Competing in marathon was nowhere, even in wildest of my dreams.
I can go on and on, in describing my experiences with marathon. Starting out for the first marathon is an experience of the life time. You will make new friends, explore new places, overcome challenges and learn something about yourself. Running the marathon gave me inner strength that changed my life. Believe me. Miracle was not that I completed the marathon, but that I started it. This is what marathon taught me. First step is the toughest step. Before marathon, I had never woken up on Sundays at 3:45 am, had never run more than 1-1.5 km in my life earlier. But, as I kept on practicing, under watchful eyes of our coach, Keith, and with my fellow club members, I started exploring my running potential and came to believe that it is not impossible to complete marathon. It is then, when I made a resolve to participate in marathon. Training for marathon gives you a challenge to come up in terms with your fears, your strengths and yourself. It pushes you to the limits. In this process, you get a deeper knowledge of yourself.
Well after 5 months of training, sores, aches, sacrificed early morning sleeps, graduation day arrived. I reached Bombay on 17th January evening. Marathon was to start from Azad Maidan at 6:45am on 18th. Like many of first time runners, I was nervous, anxious and excited at the start. Marathon was like the carnival at the start - bands performing, troupes dancing, beating drums and thousand and thousands of people cheering. I started very well and bumped into Keith and Ganesh (my colleagues) at 6-7 km and later into Sanjay Bhan (my HR director). Initially, I was running quiet fast. Till 20-22km, it was fun, but then it started getting hotter and humid. Around 31-32 km, I had cramp in my legs. I twice took medical aid from the medical stalls, but it didn’t help. I had run out of my energy. Most of the last 10km, I completed by walking and limping. Sometimes, I thought of giving up, but whenever I used to slow down or stop, crowd would cheer me up (calling me by my bib number) and motivate me to go on. So many kids came to shake hand with me, while I was running. On that day, cheering of crowd made me feel like a hero. Finally I passed the finishing line of my first marathon. It was like ending one life and starting another, Now, I was a marathoner. Feeling of completing the marathon is something you have to earn. You can’t buy it. Trust me, first marathon is an emotional experience.
Marathon helped me in many ways. Firstly, it taught me that you don’t know what you can do, until and unless you give it a try. It makes you aware of the idea in yourself that the possibilities are endless. It’s not the question of if, but of how or when. Secondly, I found long distance running to be a path to the healthier, energetic and less stressful way of life. Running is now my hobby and passion. Last but not the least, I was able to raise Rs. 25000, for a NGO, working for street children, with the help of my colleagues and friends.
I have learnt my lessons from this marathon and I will definitely do better next time.
PS: When today, i am publishing my article, i am bed ridden. I suffered my left ankle ligament rupture and i'm on complete bed rest. This forced rest has thrown all my plans haywire.Doctor says, it will take another 1.5-2 months before i am able to walk properly. I am praying hard to get it over as soon as possible.
