THE RACE IS MINE!!!

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, 2^nd 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 )

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 4^th HOUR that I still have 50k to go.

My topic of worry at the 4^th 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!!!!