Hi Everybody,
Finally, the MOTHER OF ALL MARATHONS for all MUMBAIKARS have
arrived and all of a sudden a Great Hype is Created amongst each and every
individual.
SCMM is no doubt the most important marathon if you consider
the number of people running in it and for most of the Marathoners it is “THE
MARATHON to run and the timings of only this particular Marathon has to be
considered in their lives over all the other marathons.
This is the 1st time my wife accompanied me to
the EXPO and she was just surprised the way we all were greeting each other…”
She simply observed and said “ YOU GUYS ARE TALKING LIKE YOU
ALL ARE GOING TO GIVE AN EXAM!!!.. WHY TAKE IT SO SERIOUSLY… IT TAKES THE FUN
OUT OF RUNNING.”
Wasn’t she correct?? But that is something you cant change..
EVEN SHE IS SCARED AND WANTING THE SUNDAY TO ARRIVE TOMORROW AND GET OVER WITH
IT J
To which I had the below thoughts in my mind….
After the customary Handshake or the hugs and kisses (
Depending on the relation & the person of course ;)) the first thing that
comes out of the mouth is
“SO……………… ALL SET !!”
Then next…
“ WHAT IS THE TIME THAT YOU ARE TARGETTING????”
And the discussion continues..
Here also there are 3 customary answers…
The 1st Type of discussion & an Answer to it
will be
If it is an established Runner… his answer will be ( after a
big pause…which means he is thinking now what his target might be…. & that
is an UTTER LIE)…. I HOPE I CAN MAKE IT A SUB 2 YAAAR….. ( if a Half) or a SUB
4( if a Full)….
But pata nahi….. all depends on that day….a lot of BLAH BLAH
BLAH,, etc etc…
At the back of the mind, the person to whom the question is
asked knows in the micro second the answer that SUB 2 or SUB 4 is badly wanted…..but
thoda sa footage khaa ke answer karna toh bantaa hai BOSS….
After all we are the ELITE 40,000 Runners from over a
million of a population who have got the ESTEEMED SCMM BIB… Correct?? ;-)
Now, the 2nd TYPE..
Timings?? IS SAAL BAS KAISE BHI KARKE COMPLETE HO JAAYE… ….(
WHICH IS AGAIN A LIE!!!) as believe it or not, ANY PERSON TRAINING has a TARGET
IN MIND….
No 1 runs a Marathon or a Half Marathon to just complete it….each
1 of us have a specific time in mind… SO why not be honest about it??
And the most Famous is the 3rd TYPE.. ( the
modest 1s)..
Typical Answer….
NOT SURE YAAAR….. HOPEFULLY WILL BE ABLE TO GET A 1.58 if
HALF or AROUND 3.58 ISH if A FULL….….
But the problem you know what??
This year the training hasn’t been too well.. Was travelling
in between, so missed a few long runs, not much mileage this year….. & So
on…( WHICH IS BULLSHIT)…. As very few runners miss mileage.. if missed, they
cover up by running more….but for SCMM, no 1 misses their scheduled MILEAGE)…..
These are the MODEST TYPES.. J
WILL ALWAYS HIDE & AFTER THE RUN IF ASKED… THEY WILL BRAG.. ARRE YAAR PATAA
NAHI KAISE… SAB SMOOTHLY JAA RAHA THA…… I DIDN’T EVEN SEE THE WATCH YAAR.. DON’T
KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED, ETC… ( Which is again a lie J )
JOKES APART…..The Gist of the above is that NO PERSON RUNS
ONLY FOR FUN…THEY RUN FOR RESULTS,PERSONAL BESTS, GLORY, SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, A FEELING OF
TARGET ACHIEVED & VARIOUS OTHER REASONS POSSIBLE….
But the Bottom line remains Every runner be it a HALF
MARATHONER OR A FULL MARATHONER RUNS WITH A SPECIFIC TIMING OR REASON IN THE
MIND…
The Most important question remains according to me is….
DOES THAT PARTICULAR RUNNER WHO HAS A SPECIFIC TIMING OR
REASON IN MIND HAVE A SPECIFIC PLAN TO RUN???
AND IF A SPECIFIC PLAN IS READY….. HAS THE RUNNER PRACTISED
THOSE PLANS IN THE LONG RUNS AND CHECKED THE FEASIBILITY OF THE PLANS? HAS THE
EXECUTION BEEN PRACTISED OR ITS JUST A PLAN TO BE EXPERIMENTED ON THE RACE
DAY??
Well, if the plan is not practiced, then its MISSION
IMPOSSIBLE TO BE TELLING YOURSELF MISSION ACCOMPLISHED at the Finish Line….
Therefore, according to me, PLANNING IS VERY IMPORTANT….
Each & Every Run teaches you something.. and this will
happen if you focus and listen to your body while you run instead of listening
to Music…J
--- 1 of the biggest mistakes most of the runners do ( Even I have don’t it) while
Running…..
No doubt it charges you up.. but at times, it can also
overcharge you and no1 needs to be told the outcome of an OVERCHARGED BATTERY…..
I was asked this question yesterday as to What time I am targeting
to which I simply said, that I would love to achieve a SUB 4( yes yes.. again a
CLICHED ANSWER)… to which the next question, what Strategy…
For this I do not have any specific answer…as my only
Strategy is to PUT INTO PRACTISE ALL OF WHAT I HAVE LEARNT & EXPERIENCED
DURING MY SIMULATED LONG RUNS TILL NOW…. J
I am a big Fan of FORMULA 1 and just to let you know, for a
F1 Car to just even Start, thousands of Small components need to work in
perfect SYNC to even get to the Ignition level…
Leave aside the Meticulous planning required to make it run
at its Optimum speed….which involves besides the engine other factors such as
the Aerodynamic features, Air pressure of Tyres, the Wing Bendability, Weight
of the Driver & So on….
Similarly, for 1 to come minutely close to the Race day
Expectation, A runner has to plan various things.. like the Clothes that make
him comfortable, the shoes, the Socks, the Energy Drink, Gel packs, etc..
Just imagine how much accessories we run with….
-
A Fancy Cap or a Bandana to protect us from Sun
-
Sun Glasses
-
T-shirt ( again a choice between Sleeve,
sleeveless, Dry-fit Material, Rice Knit Material, Which Brand is more
comfortable, etc, etc.)
-
Vaseline to apply at all the possible places to
prevent Chaffing
-
Shoes & Socks of course
-
Compression Socks…. The new FAD J( YES IT HELPS ME
ATLEAST)
-
GELS
-
Music Player & Head phones in case of runner
listening to music
-
Water in case of runners wanting to run with 1
-
Heart Rate monitors
-
& SO ON…..
Hence, the question Remains does a Runner keep in mind all
of the above factor in the Practice Long runs or it is only the RACE DAY that
we need to dress up and carry stuff like we going on a picnic?
The discussion on planning to achieve the results can be
endless..but my point is that for RACE DAY, please be PRACTICAL and give it a
thought in a more sensible manner…
DO NOT DO ANYTHING SILLY OR STUPID IN THIS WEEK… BECAUSE OF
YOU CONSIDER THE COMING SUNDAY AS 1 OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SUNDAYS OF YOUR
RUNNING SEASON, THEN THE CURRENT WEEK IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT.
No point in telling the Dos & Donts before the Marathon
as that is a well-known fact to all of the runners reading this post..
But I thought it was important to highlight 1 fact that hope
every Run realizes that HE OR SHE NEEDS TO RUN SIMILAR TO THE WAY THE TRAINING
HAS BEEN DONE IN THE ENTIRE SEASON & THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IS
SIMPLY SIMULATING THE LONG RUNS & THEN PUSHING FOR THE DISTANCE WHICH WAS
NOT COVERED IN THE LONG RUNS…..THE TAPER MAKES THAT HAPPENS AS THE LEGS &
THE BODY IS FRESH…
THE LUNGS & KIDNEYS ARE FRESH AS WELL BECAUSE THE
HYDRATION THIS WEEK INVOLVES ONLY WATER UNLIKE AFTER THE FINISH LINE….
HERE IS WISHING ALL MY RUNNING FRATERNITY A SAFE AND A SUCCESSFUL RACE DAY @ SCMM……
TAPER WELL & SEE YOU AT THE FINISH LINE J
TAPER WELL & SEE YOU AT THE FINISH LINE J
Regards
Pratik Desai
