Hi
to all my Friends….
Firstly,
would like to thank each and every 1 of you who were following all the Indians
Running at the Comrades Marathon and it was indeed a proud feeling that we were
making more highlights on FB then the IPL FINALS.. J
Thanks
to all individuals who have messaged, called, commented, Liked and also posting
my Finish Pic or infact VIDEO which I never knew was being Aired on SABC
Channel. Would request whoever has the Videos to please send me on my Whatsapp
or FB Messenger if possible… Thanks once again…
THE JOURNEY
Regarding
the Race Experience… I would simply say it was a 1 hell of a Roller Coaster
ride for me as the Need to get this pending Medal was since, 2nd
JUNE 2013 the Day of Comrades UP RUN (3 years back TODAY).
For
me, this was not a 12 hour Race. It was a Hurdle in my mind which I had to jump
and get behind me as soon as possible. Also, I took it to be as a 11 hour Race
or No MEDAL J
However,
the same has not been Easy.
As
soon as I had crossed the 2013 Finish line, I wanted the Back to Back as well
as the Bronze Medal Badly.
But
as luck would have it, I went through Hell with my Spine Giving up on Me and
hence, forget Bronze, I could not even run at the SCMM Next year.
Things
went from Bad to Worse as I was Advised Not to Run & decided to give it all
I had to Ensure I get back to my Passion then succumbing to a living a
Sedentary Lifestyle.
I
had ambitiously signed for 2015 Comrades as well. However, I could not do it as
It was against the wish of my Parents and hence I Dropped out after Registering.(
Which seemed to be a Good Decision in the END, as I guess I was not ready by
Then). To do a Recee of how my spine holds up, I also did a 12 hour Mumbai
Ultra to actually see If I am ready to
do Comrades Again or not. J
Fast-forward
a Year Later, was all Gung- ho to get a good timing in SCMM and Qualify with a
Better Seeding at Comrades.
I
was well trained, well tapered and looking forward to get my first Sub 4 at
SCMM 2016. But as luck would have it caught Fever 2 days before SCMM and I said
to myself.. is it an indication of Not going to Comrades OR is it an indication
that it is going to be a Tough Road Ahead? – Nevertheless, I somehow managed to
do a Decent 4.33 finish at SCMM and qualified under G seeding which means
atleast a 8 – 9 minutes Disadvantage at Comrades.
They
say that Running the Comrades is not difficult. It is the Training and to
remain Injury Free throughout the Training that is the most difficult Part. This also happens to be the most Beautiful
period of Comrades as you run and get along with your Comrade Buddies and I had
an awesome time with Manik Gursal, Amar Bhadange, Gurvinder Singh & above
all Dilip Patil, the Architect of our Running schedule.
With
the above lovely people, the Months of FEBRUARY, MARCH & APRIL went without
any issues and I felt Good & Confident for the BRONZE.
But,
in the month of MAY, it started with a Small Corn below my Right Toe, just
where 1 lands while running. I chose to IGNORE..
Then
somehow, I developed a Slight ITB on my left Knee and I got a bit worried. I immediately
Rushed to PHYSIO REHAB where I had recovered completely from my Spine Surgery
as well and Dr. Anjana Laungani assured me to send me as 110% at Comrades. And hence,
during the Taper month, I literally didn’t run for the last 2 weeks. My longest
run in the last 2 weeks was at the EEH during the Comrades Farewell Party and
that was the only Pain Free Run.
So
on my Flight to Durban I was all Set to Run and hoping it will be a Pain- free,
Cramp Free Run and that was the only thought in my mind. Besides that until the
Race started, there were no nervous moments, No Butterflies, no Anxiety in me.
I was absolutely Normal watching French open in the room, cracking Jokes on Whatsapp
with my Comrade Buddies on the Whatsapp Group, etc and I was talking to myself…..
IS THIS NORMAL??? Somehow I chose to ignore and preferred to sleep well rather
than worry on it.
RACE DAY…..
The
start was a disturbed start for me. Due to some reason, I got separated from
the group and landed up Starting all Alone.
I
was not in a happy frame of Mind as I got alone and lonely. I quickly called my
Wife and all she said to me was Just CALM DOWN and BREATHE EASY before I start
my Race.
Just
then the South African National Anthem started and I was like, why should I sing
this?? With All due respect to the South Africans, I started Singing JANA GANA
MANA loudly and as soon as I did, I got 2 people tapping my shoulder from
behind who were South African Indians and they gave me company.. That was
enough.. LET THE RACE BEGIN.
Just
before the race, I remembered a song by EMINEM which is called A BEAUTIFUL
PAIN.
I'm standing in the flames……(Thinking
about the last 3 years)
It's a beautiful kind of pain….. (which we will experience today J)
Setting fire to yesterday……… (Once the medal is around my neck, the Spine issue is to ashes..)
Find the light, find the light…… (NIRVANA…. J )
It's a beautiful kind of pain….. (which we will experience today J)
Setting fire to yesterday……… (Once the medal is around my neck, the Spine issue is to ashes..)
Find the light, find the light…… (NIRVANA…. J )
Then
comes the GUN SHOT and I only Followed the plan provided to me by my MENTOR,
DILIP PATIL who simply broke the entire race into 11 hours.
I
was told to just cover a particular distance Every Hour and that is what I Did.
I did not worry at the 4th HOUR that I still have 50k to go.
My
topic of worry at the 4th hour was that I am supposed to Cover 8.5
Km in that particular Hour and that I how I managed the entire Race.
Also,
another plan to be followed was not during any duration of the race to cross a
pace below Sub 5.45 mins per km. even on down slopes, I used to run for 2-3 kms
& take a short 100 – 200 metres walk break.
If
I ran any faster, I am sure I could have managed a 10.20 0r 10.30 finish. But if
in that process slightest Cramp, would take the Bronze away from ME…and I was
in No Mood to let the Bronze Go.
Also
another simple strategy that I took was to have a SALT CAP at every hour and a
GEL at every 10kms. Which worked brilliantly for me.
I
said to myself during the Race,
THE
ROAD IS MINE THE WEATHER IS FINE….
THE
WAY THINGS ARE GOING, IT SEEMS THE TIME IS MINE…
LETS
JUST PUT 1 STEP AHEAD OF ANOTHER… AS THIS TIME, THE RACE IS MINE!!!!!!
A Few Thank yous…..
I
Could not have done this without Chandani Desai who was more anxious, nervous
and stressed then I was during the last few days before I left for Durban. She
has literally lived the entire journey with me and has helped me like an angel
allowing me to Rest when I needed the most, to be alone when I wanted to be
Zoned out and at times handling me when I was at my irritational best.
Also
Suchita Varadkar who helped me Maintain my Self Confidence when I needed the
most. When I was told that I Cannot Run, it was She who handed over to me a
Book to read of NADAL as how many times he has got himself badly injured and
got up and competed. Why Should I be Any different?
And
But Obviously Chitra Nadkarni who I happen to know only after I Resumed Running
after the Glitch and since then she has always been Ever Inspiring. Although I have
bored her a Lot with My 2013 Comrades Stories. I will avoid doing the same when
I Run with her Next J
This
Medal is special and I totally dedicate this Medal Chandani & my MOM who
supported me inspite of the fact that she doesn’t like me doing such Crazy
things J. Which mother would want her Son to do such
things after what all has happened to me J . So she is Right in her
own ways as well…. And as per my usual Tradition, As soon as I come home, the
MEDAL is IMMEDIATELY TAKEN BY RIVAAN as he loves to wear it and roam around the
house. But this time, he didn’t wear the Medal….which was surprising.. MAYBE HE
WOULD HAVE THOUGHT, that DAD DESERVES IT MORE.. & I WILL EARN MINE MYSELF ;-)
Whether
that happens or not, TIME WILL TELL as it will be HIS Decision.
But
for ME, this is the END OF ULTRAMARATHONS…. They Say NEVER SAY NEVER.. But
Frankly speaking; I will not be doing Comrades or Any other Ultra Marathons for
Some years to come or maybe NEVER.. as it takes a toll on your Body, your Family,
your mind and at times due to the pressures involved, it takes the Fun out of
Running.
We
all started Running to have FUN RIGHT? Then why get Stressed. Moreover, RUNNING
TO ME IS MY PASSION & I WOULD LIKE RUNNING TO REMAIN AS MY PASSION ONLY
& NOT BECOME INTO AN ADDICTION OR OBSESSION.
Hence,
will keep it simple to running Marathons only for now… J
SEE
YOU ON THE ROAD…….. SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Would
like to End with something Motivational that I Read somewhere and applies to me
and every person that has gone through an INJURY..which reads as below.
YOU
MIGHT NEVER FAIL THE SAME WAY THAT I DID
BUT
SOME FAILURE IN LIFE IS INEVITABLE
IT
IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE WITHOUT FAILING AT SOMETHING
UNLESS
YOU LIVE SO CAUTIOUSLY….
THAT
YOU MIGHT HAVE NOT LIVED AT ALL,
IN
WHICH CASE YOU FAIL BY DEFAULT!!!!
