Had Julius Ceasar decided to go on a hunt – Jan 1 might be actually Jan 15. These days, new years really does not make sense in the large scheme of things – a speck going around a little brighter speck in a  random corner of the Universe.

However – it does matter in the personal progress. Am I wiser, stronger, smarter compared to last year? What am I going to accomplish this year, that I did not do last year?

It does serve as a mile stone.

In no particular order – my goals for 2016 – where I return to Bangalore for the 2nd time in my life.

Running

In 2012 December, I ran a half marathon (21.6 KM) in a little over 4 hours.
In 2015 September, I ran a half marathon in a little under 3 hours ( 2 hours, 53 minutes )

In 2016, perhaps I will run the half in under 2 hours? Or should I aim to run a full marathon ( 42.2). I have at my disposal 2 lakes at walkable  runnable distance from my home. Today I did a 5k in 32 minutes.. will see if I can extend it to 10k in 64 minutes and try to increase distance and maintain the pace. Yes.. my age is increasing…. but I am getting younger.

Biking

In 2014, I did a Bangalore to Mumbai Ride – on a Royal Enfield, Thunderbird 500 cc ( http://kvrlogs.blogspot.in/2014/06/bangalore-to-mumbai-on-thunderbird.html ) . The longest I did after that was the Gorai Beach trip, or could be Thungareshwar from our home in Kandivali.

Perhaps this year I will ride to Nilgiris. It is a crime not to let the bike run full throttle.

Reading

2015 has been a good year with books.  Crunched a cart load of them. Yet to compile the list of 2015 – to continue my annual tradition (  http://kvrlogs.blogspot.in/2015/01/2014-books-roundup.html )

In 2014 ( or could be 2013 ) – read about a guy who planned to read 365 books that year. Now at a minimum I will crunch 52 books this year. Life is too short for the number of good books that are there waiting to be read.

Cycling

The Home-office distance is 5.2 Kms one way. The days I don’t run I am planning to take the cycle. Tried it once and it was just right. Did not get too sweaty that I needed a shower. Don’t know how it will be in summer.

Dog

The idea of having a pet dog bites me every year. Last year I got serious and joined a few adoption forums of Bangalore and Mumbai. Anyone coming there looking to adopt  a pure breed get nicely scolded and they leave the forum and go buy one from a pet breeder ( or puppy mills as they call ). I keep seeing the posts in these forums – cannot bring myself to adopt an Indie ( call me a hypocrite if you want  – I see them on the road all the time and cannot imagine them running inside the home ) – and at the same time cannot bring myself to buy from a breeder – as it perpetuates this inhumane practise. So waiting for a puppy to fall into my lap – hope this year I get lucky.

Programming

I started writing a Project Management tool in angular ( I evaluated so many but none fit my simple requirements  – all had too many features). Will complete it and make it available for our team.

I got a Raspberry Pi last year. Played around with but didn’t do much. This year will improve upon Python and along side plan a few projects. I strongly believe low cost computing will be the next big thing. Perhaps I will hook it to our Generator in our Apartment  Complex – Being in Mumbai last 4 years I had forgotten how it used to be without power cuts. But here.. in Bangalore – when Generator is on – I cannot turn on the iron box or geyser – as the Circuit Breaker will trip immediately. This is an immediate problem I want to solve – a simple App that shows when the generator is on.

I enjoy coding. I enjoy working on a Mac. Want to learn Swift and write a Mac application – perhaps a todo list ( while Omnifocus is good I am not too happy with it ) or an Email App ( Mailbox was almost perfect.. and Dropbox idiots acquired and killed it ).

Travel

I am not a wanderlust. I am more than happy to be holed inside the home – with my mac, music and a fast internet connection – for days.

However, with the responsibility of bringing up a human being –  the 8 year old son – I have to maintain his curiosity levels and keep him exposed to different experiences – I have to plan more travel. Perhaps will show him the temples of South, or go to the bottommost tip of the country, or show him Snow..

Food

Its been more than 2 years since I turned Vegetarian. But still I consume Egg occasionally and Diary products. Perhaps this year I will kick off the Animal products entirely and go Vegan. Now that I am in Bangalore – I can afford to do this.

Fasting

Have never done fasting – other than the times when I was forced to skip a meal. But it has been disastrous – head splitting headaches, irritated mood levels.. have to conquer this. The Vegan fad has subsided ( it has become mainstream ) – and now the new fad is fasting.. the mentions are increasing in the podcasts I follow. Will as well try it.

Going Carbon Neutral

I heard that a guy in our Apartment Complex has made a van with solar panels – which is parked in our visitors parking lot half the time. Apparently he is doing research on this and has got grants etc. Yet to meet this guy. Planning to put up a panel on our roof and see how much juice I can generate.. and start learning on these technologies – perhaps when I retire off in a small farm somewhere someday I can live off the electrical grid entirely – or who knows – this might as well be my next startup – once I own all the Apartment Complex Rooftops 😉

So thats it – starting a new tradition with this – will revisit this post in 2017 to see how I did.

After I got busy with my marathon preparation – since June –  I stopped going Sudarshan Kriya by myself.

Tl;dr : After preparing for a Full Marathon, I complete the Half Marathon – in just under 3 hours.

This reminds me of a tweet I read “Woman completes marathon without talking about it” – and thought about myself. Here I am chronicling each week of my Marathon training![ Starting here ]

Anyway – here is a brief write up of my running the Kaveri Trial Marathon 2015.

I had booked a cheap room near MG road, one of the fancy startups of 2015 – parallel to Church Street – where all the pubs are there. Woke up at 1:00 AM, freshened up and walked to the bus pick up point near Queen Victoria Statue. This is near the Chinnaswamy stadium – and till I reached I was not sure if the bus will be there – and was wondering what will the plan B be if the bus had already left or didn’t show up.

Thankfully 2 buses were there – and a volunteer cross checked my name and let me in. I got in and immediately dozed off.

Took more than 2 hours to reach the race venue. It was still dark. They had music going on and felt energised.

Some 200 odd Full marathoners were there. Their race was to start at 6:00 AM. The race starting point was a Km away. For the 800+ Half Marathoners , the race was to start at 6:30 AM. The full marathoners started proceeding to the race start point.

I went and stood in the queue for the Portable Potty. There was a long queue and there were 5 units, but only 2 were functioning as water and toilet paper were out in others. Next time – carry a roll.

I had to rush to the race starting point – and boy oh boy – there was such a huge crowd. And the track was so narrow. I thought – there is going to be a stampede.

It was beautiful. Just perfect weather – not too cold and fresh clean air. And the excitement and enthusiasm all around crept into me.

6:30 Start.

The fast runners pulled away quickly and we laggards started slowly – the narrow road was not a problem. I was looking at how people run  and a few were stomping heavily – felt bad for their legs – it will hurt bad at the end.

I ran without a break till the turn around point came – and still kept going – passed all the aid stations and finally stopped at around 12kms. I was listening to 2011 Space odyssey. What a brilliant book.

I was munching parle biscuits and looked at the sky – and it looked so clear. My mind was calm and devoid of any thoughts. Paused the audio book and let the moment sink in.

I resumed running and continued my gentle unhurried pace. Soon I was just 5 or kms from finish line. No pain came thankfully and was enjoying the run.  It is all in the mind.

The sun was up, but clouds quickly covered and there was a gentle breeze.

Finally completed it in a new Personal Record time of 2hours and 53 minutes.

The deed was done.

The Full Marathon looks impossible now. Perhaps will give it another shot next year. Will continue my training. Have to increase the pace. This number I put up – was still slower than the veterans – 60 years and above – first place finish ( 2:45 I think ).

I think Week 11 Sunday I ran 26kms. I felt some weird pain in my foot so stopped. Had set a target of 32kms.

Then as the day went I found my left mid foot hurt really bad. Yaay – new pain. Started research and read all about pronation. Perhaps I was not running right. Saw a youtube video too to prove myself. Read about the correction shoes and got even more confused.

Then I read a post – saying – this is how humans run – no point correcting it. So I came back to my starting point – thanks and no thanks internet. My running is fine.

Perhaps my legs gave up after too much of running on hard surfaces.

I took the tough decision and downgraded from full to half marathon.

Waited for a couple of days, and went for a run. Stopped after 1.5kms as the pain was back. I stopped running for the next 4 days or so.

Should I just quit and live to fight another marathon or give it a shot.

While the debate was raging in my mind – I noticed the pain ease a bit. Did a few runs and even though was tempted did not exceed 5kms. The mid-foot pain was not there.

Yesterday, I ran for an hour at a very gentle pace and managed a little less than 8kms – thankfully no pain.

Will do a couple of short runs this week and be ready for Sunday morning. 21kms I have done so many times the past few weeks – and if no pain surfaces can manage it.

Whoever said Running is fun. Damn you – it has added more stress to my already stressed out life. grrbrr.

Monday I went shopping in Godrej Nature Basket. Picked up Sofit – Soymilk the plain version ( not adulterated with sugar – which is hard to get ), Tofu and Gooseberry.

Went for runs according to plan on Wednesday,Thursday and Saturday and did the knee exercises.

Sunday morning I was delayed – partly because of the rain and partly because I was lazy. I started the run at 8am.

Set 29kms as target.

My legs felt tired right from the go. I checked out the park but it was fully soggy and unrunnable. Came back to the concrete parking lot + the inside asphalt road. It is going to be a boring 29 loop run. Was debating whether next time I will go to Aarey colony road – but the slopes will kill my confidence.

Crossed 10.5k and took a recharge break. I now switched on the audio book – Wizard of Earthsea. The headphone’s right side had stopped working. This keeps getting better.

Ged gets good advise from his master. He starts chasing the shadow. The hunted becomes the hunter. They meet one more time and this time Ged tries to clutch the shadow with his hands but the shadow escapes. However now the shadow has taken the shape of Ged ( but there is no shadow when it walks ) – and is on the run. Ged follows it till he comes to a town where his old friend Welch stays. Welch joins him in the quest to put an end to the shadow.

I continue to run gently and after 17kms, I start doing my run-walk-run routine. Run till the nike App says – you have x kms to go, your current pace is y.. then I will walk for sometime  – will keep telling – ok I will walk to the lamppost and then run – and I will cross the lamppost and then will tell myself – ok the next lamppost but no cheating alright – and so on.

During my research during the week I read something very interesting.

“Learn to differentiate between pain and discomfort”

I could feel some pain come on the foot or ankle or my knees – but I told myself – this is just discomfort and it will go away after sometime. I was getting more and more tired.

Around 20.5kms I took a recharge break. Still 8.5kms to go.

Around 24km – suddenly my senses became super alert. The last time I felt something close to this was during my 4 day Art of Silence course. I could see the road very clearly – each and every micro pot hole was visible. This stayed with me throughout the day.

Reached 29km finally. Was hungry as hell. Have run 4 Hours 18 minutes. Longest ever.

Both my hands were hurting near the joint. Will have to research and increase my upper body workouts a bit. Currently I do 10 push ups and 10 dumbbell lifts. My legs were aching but thankfully none of the fancy pains were there.

Now – the doubt of completing marathon has reduced, but a new one has started increasing – you are one greedy mind – Will I be able to complete within 6 hours – else I will not get a medal. Also the aid stations will all be shut down by then – what if I badly need water or something to eat – I will be damn hungry.

If this was the D-Day I would still have to go 13 more kms. The last km I did in 8.50 minutes. This will only get worse towards the end. If I assumed 9 minute pace  – I will need another 2 hours to complete the marathon.

That will make it 6 hours and 18 minutes. Gotto shave off 30 minutes – so I will have some buffer.

Next Week Torture plan – same as this week, but with 32Kms target for long run.

Week 9 

And Monday we had a team outing at Thungareshwar. It was a 4km climb on a gently rolling hill – for a temple and a waterfall near Vasai. I went up and back without any fuss. Patted myself on the back – couple of months back I could not have pulled this feat. The body adapts itself really well.

The next 3 runs I kept myself to less than half an hour – so I could spend more time doing the knee strengthening exercises.

Sunday morning it was raining heavily. I was worried about the park.

As expected I found the track very muddy and un-runnable. I left the park and came to my parking lot. However this time I did only 25% of a run in it. Rest I did it on the tar road.

As expected after 5 kms, behind my knee I started feeling the pain. Don’t know it was the mind playing tricks on me, or it was really hurting.

Choose to ignore and continued listening to the book – which was quite engrossing. Our hero puts a spell – in a duel with the Malfoy character – which brings out a nameless creature from the unlife.

It starts tearing him apart, and is rescued by the Dumbledore like Head Principal – who dies in the process.

I run 10kms without a break and recharge with a banana and a liter of water.

Sparrow Hawk graduates as a wizard and goes to protect a village from Dragons. He successfully does it and tries to return to his School. However the creature has become his shadow and he is not able to get near his school – since the school is protected by spells which prevents such creatures from coming near. He has to fight the creature all by himself. Oh btw – this nameless creature – is the Voldemort in HP. Oh JK – what a rip off you did?

My legs start showing signs of pain. I run 1 km, walk a bit and run again. I continue doing this – guess this is my rhythm.

At 21kms I again eat a banana and half a litre of water.

Still 5 kms to go.

Around 23kms a gentleman – who was cycling earlier – but later had given the cycle to his wife and he started running – called out to me. Way to go man – and gave a thumbs up and an expression of admiration. I said Thank you and continued.

Typically my ego is in check – always humbled by the distance and pain. But now it erupted to its fullest glory and was very pleased. However I did not do anything foolish – but kept my run a km, walk a bit routine.

I reached 26 and stopped. Wow. I think the marathon is on.

I think for next week I will continue the same plan.

Monday,Tuesday : Rest
Wednesday,Thursday : 5km with a good dose of knee exercise.
Friday : Rest
Saturday : 5kms with knee exercise
Sunday : 29kms.

Week 8

Monday,Tuesday I took rest.

On Wednesday it was raining heavily. I thought I will do skipping. Did a 100. Found I was not sweating, and did a 100 more.

Then a pain came up on my left ankle. Not good.

The next 2 days I was mentally kicking myself whenever I thought about this.

Then on Friday went for a run, and thankfully there was no pain. Saturday went for a short run in preparation for Sunday long run.

Again started my run after setting 26kms as the target.

Around 18kms I felt pain somewhere behind my right knee. Thankfully the left ankle did not hurt.  I walked for a few minutes, and again ran – and again the pain was there.

I somehow managed 23kms and quit. My mind was furiously working on Plan B. Just do a half marathon it said. You don’t have it in you – need more training. Again do you want to face the ignominy of coming last in the full marathon?

However I felt that I still had some energy in me. I was not spent like the earlier runs on Aarey Colony – where I had to run on slopes.

Afternoon I had to take P to a chess tournament. I had 4 hours to kill and I was researching all about running and the pain I was having.

Found the name : ITBS – Illotibial Band Syndrome. And found one of the remedies is not to run on concrete surface.

A light bulb went up. At 10AM they close the park and at that point I would have completed 16kms. Then I come back to the parking lot – and after running a couple of kms – around 18kms – that is when this pain starts.

Also I found a good site on knee exercises. Decided to incorporate them after every run.

This one : http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/knee-exercises.aspx

Oh – and I started a new book : A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K.Le Guin. Harry Potter is a straight copy  of this book. HP is all about the boy who will do no wrong etc. In this story – our hero who goes by the nickname – Sparrow Hawk – has skills, but also has the follies of a normal human being. It is way darker and our hero keeps making one wrong decision to another falling deeper and deeper into trouble.

And similarities – walking through walls, a school where they teach wizardry, illusion tricks, a Malfoy like character. JK Rowling.. disappointed with you.

Since I was shifting my long run from Monday to Sunday – it was a short week. Only 3 runs in total.

I was bringing 7 years in Tibet to a close. The interactions between the young Dalai Llama and Heinrich is beautiful. China invades Tibet in 1951 and the book ends on a very sad note – with an appeal for help to keep Tibet free.

This time for the long run I did not go to Aarey colony. Was back in the park behind my apartment complex.

I set 26km as goal and started running. It was drizzling and the rain clouds went away.

Did a 9km non stop run, before getting back to my Apartment Complex security where I had kept 2 water bottles and 2 bananas. After downing a liter and a banana, continued on the 2nd round.

At 18kms, I again got back to my pitstop and downed the 2nd water bottle and another banana. My legs were quite heavy and tired by now. Sat for quite some time, and pulled myself up and started running gingerly

I saw a long brownish black snake swiftly go into a few rocks near the running track -was quite scary – I continued running, and did not dare look back.

Around 10:00 AM, the park security shooed me out. I went back to running in the concrete parking lot – and it broke my running rhythm. Also the Tibetan book ended on a sad note, and I pulled up a podcast which was a bore. Should have prepared something earlier to distract myself.

Beyond 20kms I started feeling pain at 2 places.. somewhere above the left ankle and  behind my right knee – I think this is the lactic acid building up. I walked for sometime so the pain went away, and started running again but the pain kept coming back – after 5 minutes.

At 22.5 kms I stopped. I don’t know if this is where my limit is.

Since I did not run on the slopes I was able to stretch my legs properly and even though the legs hurt – it was not as bad like the last 2 times.

I started researching how else I can improve my running. If today was Marathon day, I still would have 20 kms to run 🙁  There are still 8 more weeks to go. Have to hack my body.

1. I have to start doing Fartleks – run fast and slow alternatively. Every material I read keeps harping on this.

2. I have to start adding more protein to my diet. Did a math – I should take 60gms of protein. Right now I am having an egg a day and some legumes as evening snack. Since I eat red rice for lunch, I am covered on Carbs. But protein I am falling way short. Planning to introduce tofu for a mid-morning snack – don’t like the taste that much but I don’t have a choice now.

The meat eaters in the family are tempting me – just a few bites of chicken and your daily protein requirement is met they tempt me.. grr.. not falling for it.

I am this close to hitting the panic button, will wait for the coming weeks run and attempt the 26kms one more time and then decide to panic or not.

God give me strength.

Torture plan for next week

Monday,Tuesday : Rest

Wednesday : 8kms
Thursday : 11kms – Fartlek

Friday : Rest

Saturday : 8kms
Sunday : 26kms.

The euphoria of running a half marathon died down rather quickly.

I actually cheated last week. My goal was 23kms, but I stopped after crossing the half marathon mark. Not meeting the long run target was a mistake.

The week was uneventful – it did not rain much and I clocked a few runs according to my plan.

Last week my long run was on Sunday. This time I pushed the long run to Monday – being an off-day ( Team ADDA works Tuesday thru Saturday – no Monday morning blues for us ).

I reached my running spot at Aarey colony and found it devoid of runners or walkers.  Today is a working day and all the poor unlucky folks are at their desk I thought.

I got to know the reason why there were no runners at around 8:30AM. The main road connected Western Express Highway (WEH) to Powai and is full of traffic during peak hours and is jammed. The Aarey colony road is the only alternative to the world famous JVLR road. Moment there is a jam, all the cars and bikes take a detour through my running trail – #)$$*$#))# – and they kept coming on and on in an endless procession.

When one of these vehicles whizzed past precariously close to me, or I had to get down from the asphalt to let the cars go – I plotted how I can get back on these guys. I even invented a portable nail device. When my mind oscillated to the angelic self – it thought of posters that can educate these drivers. Yeah right!

This time I decided to conquer the Aarey colony slopes – so I ran up the 2.5km incline – on both loops – one step at a time. First loop I ran the entire distance of 12kms. Second loop I had to take quite a few walking breaks.

When I was 22kms I closed shop. I was done.

I was kind of down after the run. I could not reach my goal of 26kms. My legs hurt like hell. I had only one thought in my mind – how am I supposed to run 20 more kms? I still have only 2 more months to train and looks like I have hit my limit.

Later when I was running through the run ( 🙂 )  in my mind – I realised. Here I am an ordinary runner – who had struggled to finish a half marathon 3 years back – had just completed 2 back to back half marathons. And I had run up the slope and not walked. And this could be the first run in a long time when I ran without songs or audio book – and so I could not disperse the dark moods that kept clouding my mind.

I should be happy with my performance today – of completing 22kms on a hostile environment.

But men are a greedy lot and so am I. Instead of basking in my achievement – I decided to sit depressed. Later I spoke myself out of it and was at peace.

I have to either move my runs back to Sunday – so other runners can join me in pelting a car – or – find an alternate place to run. Have to do it before the next run – and this time I will reach my target of 26kms – no one can stop me.

Runs for Week 6

Plan for next week

Tuesday,Wednesday : Sweet Rest

Thursday : 8kms

Friday : Rest

Saturday : 8Kms

Sunday : 26kms.

Monday, 29th June 

Rest Day. I took my bike and reconnoitred the Aarey colony area where runners go to train. I measured 5kms one way and was quite pleased. I make 4 trips and I can touch 20kms. The landmark there is New Zealand hostel – and there were quite  a few ups and downs. It is going to be hard.

Tuesday,30th June

8KM goal.

I continued with the Tibetan book. They have got asylum, and the book has become boring. It is an observation of life in Tibet.

When I had just crossed 5,  it started raining and I got back home. My mood also was off beat – lot of things going on and couldn’t focus on running.

Wednesday,1st July

8kms.

It was sunny and a nice beautiful day. Had a good run and I did not take any walk break. Towards the middle of the run felt like stopping for a walk break, but kept going. The less I stop the timing is better. I have made a run playlist now of my favourite songs and it helped.

Thursday, Friday 

Rest days – I am following my self made torture plan. I checked the Nike Running coach – it is asking me to run all days of the week. Nuts.

I had got hold of Prefontaine movie – about an American College athlete, a very good (mercurial) runner who breaks lot of records – and who goes to run 3Mile race in Munich Olympics at the young age of 21. There he witnesses the terrorists killing all the Jew athletes right in the Olympic village. He gets disturbed. The games continue, and he is up against a good runner from Finland. He has a chance of winning silver or bronze, but loses.

Then he gets involved in politics with the American Runners Association etc. and organises a meet against their wishes. He successfully pulls it off, but while preparing for the next Olympics in Montreal – unfortunately dies in a car crash.

His coach goes on to co-found Nike.

This movie is apparently a must watch movie for runners. I did not find that inspiring.

Saturday,4th July

8kms goal.

Last Sunday when I ran 19kms, I had not run the 8kms run the day prior. I did not feel quite happy about that. I think these warm up runs before a long run are important. I made sure I will not miss this run.

Tomorrow is a big day ( Sunday, 23kms ).

It was a good run – it was not raining. A strong runner was in the park today and man he runs fast. Typically only walkers are there, and even the few runners are there I over take them. Today I was shown the place in Kandivali Running circuit.

Sunday,5th July

7:30 AM I was at Aarey Colony. There were a few bikes at the beginning of the trail and I parked it there.

I carried 3 water bottles, a 10Rs little hearts biscuit packet, 200Rs cash and my license. The goal today is 23kms.

It was flat for a km and then I hit the slope – all the way to New Zealand Hostel – a gentle but steady 2km incline. I ran the entire stretch.

I was remembering the first and only half marathon I did in December 2011. I had never run in a slope before – the lake I used to run was flat – and on the marathon day it was the first time I encountered a slope – and it messed me up really bad.

I was quite happy when I saw New Zealand Hostel – and did not stop – continued running. After a while I checked the distance – 5.7kms. There was lot of traffic – bikes, cars, lorries – had to be on the lookout all the time – as the roads were quite narrow.

I retraced the way back, and this time I started walking on the upward slopes. Moment I hit a flat land, or a downward slope I will run.

Had covered 12kms. I got back to the bike, sat down and chugged 1Litre water in one go. Managed to take a photo of the bike and my legs while I was resting. No one had touched my bag – Mumbai is a honest city.

I took a half a litre bottle I had brought with me and started my 2nd iteration. This time I walked the entire 2.5km slope. Running with a water bottle in hand is a first, but it was not that bad.

I was in the last 3km stretch – and it was a downhill slope. I gently ran and found a new way to run in the slope – small steps and I could keep the speed in control.

21.3 kms. In 3 Hours and 8 minutes. A Half marathon done.

My legs were very tired by now. Sat down and chugged half a litre. I was quite hungry now and had the Little Hearts. Next time I will bring Parle biscuit. I tried stretching but my legs were hurting. Quickly got on my bike and got back home. All along the leg muscles were feeling very tight. Regretted not having stretched them. I have to do some minimal stretching no matter what.

After reaching home dipped them in warm water and felt better.

My body was tired. Tried sleeping but my mind was very alert. It was weird. I was recollecting my last half marathon – where I finished last and was in pain when I finished it – and had to limp for the next few days. And not to mention the drama I did before the marathon – eating curd rice for lunch and dinner in the name of carb loading. Also I was a meat eater that time.  This time I did not do any fuss and continued the regular vegetarian diet.

Some photos from this beautiful hidden lung space – 200ms from the congested Western Express Highway near Goregaon.

A few places they had laid good roads – also vehicles come very fast in these stretches

This is the treacherous slope – doesn’t look much in photo – bikes,cars switch to 2nd gear..

Here is my plan for the next week.

Monday,Tuesday July 6th,7th – Rest.

Wednesday, July 8th – 8kms
Thursday, July 9th – 11kms

Friday,July 10th – Rest.

Saturday, July 11th – 8kms
Sunday,July 12th – 26kms.

Monday June 22

6.46KM. It was a laboured run. Rain was pouring heavily and had to stick to the parking lots.

Our hero and his friend decide to take a treacherous route populated by nomads and campa ( thieves )  – as there are no district officials in that route. The district officials would have stopped their progress as they do not have permit to go to Lhasa.

The 2 fugitives move from one nomad camp to another and are well taken care of. Here they find polyandry common – a woman living with 2 or 3 husbands. As they get deeper and deeper, they find the nomads becoming more and more hostile. They were entering the campa territory. Campa are the thieves who plunder from nomads and caravans.

They unknowingly go near a tent, assuming it is that of a nomad. Soon they find out it is that of a Campa – as they do not have any sheep or do not look anything like that simple nomads. They have a fitful sleep if they will be murdered that night.

The next day morning they quickly start. The campas let them go, but soon 2 sturdy looking campas start accompany thing them prodding them to go to a nearby hill where a smoke was emanating. Our heroes quickly decide it is a bad idea, and soon retrace their way back to the campa tent giving some excuse, and then they follow the route they came – as they knew it already and it was not campa infested.

Somehow they dodge the pursuers, and now take a different route suggested by the nomads – which is  even more treacherous but no humans inhabit this hostile territory.

Tuesday June 23

Target was 11kms. I decided to get out on the road. It was a very bad idea. There were poodles of water and it was raining heavily. I mis stepped multiple times and I knew it was not good for my legs.

After 6.8kms gave up as I had developed a familiar pain on my right legs – Shin splints.

I used to have it in my left leg a long time ago. It usually comes when I run a lot or I run bad. This time it could be the combination of both.

I was worried a bit as does this mean my marathon conquest is going to end? I decided to give a rest to the training program.

Wednesday thru Saturday

Rest. I was constantly researching where to go run. Ruled out Sanjay Gandhi park as they have laid it in concrete the entire stretch to Kanneri caves and I can only go after 7:30AM. Have zeroed in on Aarey colony – have to go check out.

On Friday I did manage a few steps and there was no pain. I was at Isha foundation at Coimbatore and was trying to reach the 5:45PM Nada abhishegam. We reached at 5:45PM and had to run to the Dyanalinga. It was beautiful the meditation and the scene – it was cloudy and drizzling, at the foothills of Vellingiri mountains where we spotted 5 water falls.. and a beautiful calm ashram. Could have stayed forever.

Sunday June 28th

According to the training plan I have to run 19kms on Saturday ( yesterday). I decided to do the long run today.

Thankfully the rains had spared Mumbai the last 2 days and the roads and park were dry. There was a brief shower in the morning but it was not heavy.

I ran for 8kms at a stretch. No pain. Phoo. The marathon is on. Took a short walk break and continued running for another 2kms. I went back to the apartment security guy where I had kept the water bottle and drank it all. My legs were already tired and sat down for sometime. Screw time.

P was doing his cycle rounds and spotted me. The chatter box will not leave me alone. I was starting on the next 9kms with a doubtful heart. And this guy asks,

“Naana why you are not running?”

I said, “boss my legs are tired. I am giving them a rest. Will have to think of something strong and then run”

“What strong things – like metal?”

I thought for a moment and said – “like Love and Joy.”

P wanted to come with me on his cycle – I had to force him to cycle within the apartment complex. On a shorter run perhaps I will take him with me. Today I have a tough run ahead.

I walked for another km, and then entered the park. This time decided to finish the remaining 8kms in the park itself. I ran a mapping run – to see how long the trail was – had to put on the headphones for this and switched on the audio book. The trail was a perfect 1km. What a blessing this place is.

Our heroes now enter Lhasa. They use their wit and lie at couple of places that a bigger entourage is following and they have to go and prepare lodging for their bosses and race through the checkpoints.

They are received well, and the Tibetans take good care of them. Even the Dalai Llama’s parents meet him. They were simple peasants in a village in China before their son was identified as the Buddha reincarnate.

They were then brought to Tibet where they were treated as a King and Queen.

The heroes now are more or less saved. Their first night was funny – after spending days in the cold in their make shift tent, they get a nice warm heater and a soft bed – and they find it hard to sleep.

I switch to my running songs and complete the run with more walks towards the end – after a marathon 2hours and 45 minutes. 19kms conquered.

P was waiting for me near the gate of the apartment complex and we both go and drink Tender Coconut.

My legs are super worn out. Shin splints did not appear.

I will be making few changes to my run – I think I get the drift of this marathon preparation.

Here is going to be my new torture plan for the next week. Deviating from what Nike run coach is suggesting ( i am cutting off one run )

Monday : Sweet Rest

Tuesday : 8kms
Wednesday : 11kms

Thursday,Friday : Rest

Saturday : 8kms
Sunday : 23kms

Will use tomorrow to explore my new route at Aarey colony.

Here is what I did on Week 5.