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"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves. The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, 'You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.' The human spirit is indomitable." - Sir Roger Bannister, first man to break the four minute mile
"If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon." - Kathrine Switzer, Women's Marathoning Pioneer
I ran my first marathon on August 28 in Hyderabad. It is organized by Hyderabad Runners and Airtel is the main sponsor. For this marathon, I practiced for three weeks to get in to the shape of running 15-20 kms comfortably.
It started at 5:20 am in the necklace road. There were pace groups like 5,5:30,6 hr etc. Whoever wants to complete in their target time, they may follow their respective pace group leader. The idea of 5hr plus pace groups is Run-Walk-Run-Walk. They started stopping from the first km itself. This is the easiest way to complete for people who can't run long distances. But you won't get the marathon experience when you are stopping for every km. Since this is my first marathon, I am not concerned about my time, but I'm focused on running continuously.
It started at 5:20 am in the necklace road. There were pace groups like 5,5:30,6 hr etc. Whoever wants to complete in their target time, they may follow their respective pace group leader. The idea of 5hr plus pace groups is Run-Walk-Run-Walk. They started stopping from the first km itself. This is the easiest way to complete for people who can't run long distances. But you won't get the marathon experience when you are stopping for every km. Since this is my first marathon, I am not concerned about my time, but I'm focused on running continuously.
I completed my first 10k pretty easily in 1hr 15 min, even though there were some uphills. Continuing at the same pace, I would have completed in 5 hr. But this is not math, it is marathon. The second 10km has too many elevated roads in the area of Banjara, Jubilee Hills. I completed half marathon in 2hr 40 min and I stopped for the first time at a water point. But the water was finished at that point and I started jogging again. The fourth hour was really tough with lots of uphills around the ISB, Microsoft. The Gatorade(Blue Bolt) sports drink really saved me during that hour and there was huge encouragement from foreign girls who are volunteering. At the end of 4 hrs, I completed 29 kms and was fully hydrated. My knees were badly hurt and I completed the last 13kms continuously at a pace just less than 7 kmph. I happily sprinted the last 100m which was on the track of the Gachibowli Stadium. My father was waiting for me at the finish line and was really worried about me. The final time is 5hr 50 min and I might have walked for only 20 min during the entire race. Out of the 42kms, there were at least 15 kms of uphills. Without these, my timing would have reduced by at least 45 min. I will target the 4:30 pace in the Mumbai marathon. An 81-year old man finished the half marathon in about 3 hrs. Hats off to him and all the veterans who completed the race.Dedicated this marathon to my parents who never said no to my long distance running. These were the words by Swami Vivekananda that really inspired me to take running, when I was bit fat in my B.Tech, "To succeed, you must have tremendous perseverance, tremendous will. 'I will drink the ocean', says the persevering soul, 'at my will, mountains will crumble up.' Have that sort of energy, that sort of will; work hard, and you will reach the goal. " Thanks to IIIT Hyd, IIT Kgp for giving me long roads and lots of time to practice. Thanks to Hyderabad Runners for the great event.
"A man can change anything. His face, his home, his family, his girlfriend, his religion, his God, but there's one thing he can't change. He can't change is passion..". Mine is running, What's yours ?
Thanks for reading.
