The Why

Why do we run? Thousands of people around the world put on their shoes and pound their knees and collective wills to pulp on harder than rock roads...one of the eternal questions....why do we do what we do? What is the driver?

A thought struck me now as I stretch after a 1 hour jog...limbering down. As much as I'd like to deny it or admit it guardedly, inherently I have a wide spiritual streak. Maybe you're born with it...maybe it was parents, maybe Catholic schools...I don't know. But the fact remains that I tend to view my actions and critique them not just from the prism of rationality but also from the prisms of humanity and Karma. And being disappointingly human, I commit what the great sages might call a hundred offences a day...OK maybe a few less than a hundred but I still do...from one perspective at least. The books of old have everyone from Kings to the common farmers partaking in one form or the other of penance. So is driving my body over 10, 20, 30 and maybe even 40 KM my own chosen form of penance for the offenses committed, whether they are of omission or commission? My conclusion is that, endorphins aside, I feel strangely calm; at complete peace with my surroundings, my pains, my troubles, my expectations, my desires...after a long, coordinated and gliding run.

Maybe this is how the human body is meant to be used...maybe running or exercise is like much needed maintenance on the engine of life....but I think I am treading dangerously close to territory best explained by Aurelius and the likes. For now, maybe this is my penance. But J Krishnamurti & Sigur Rós never felt better together.

Pace

I clocked 5 kms in 27 minutes last night. Pretty good effort I feel. I'm dreaming of running the 42 in 4 hours and 30 mins. Now happily, it is fast becoming not so much a question of IF I will run 42 but in what time I will complete it.

I like this train of thought but all this is fluff till the half marathon mark is hit...then there is some reason to cheer.

Running for a Cause

Like I did last year, this year too I intend using my participation in the Mumbai marathon as a way to raise whatever money I can for 2 organisations. They will be the same ones whom I ran for last year. Both are headed by very inspiring people and both do some work which is really above and beyond the call of duty of even the most dedicated of people. We may all not have the guts, determination & an unexplainable drive to do the work these organisations do, so we can do the next best thing by helping them grow and reach out further.

Dream A Dream is a small but rapidly expanding NGO in Bangalore which equips hundreds of disadvantaged, vulnerable youth with critical life skills, enabling them to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives; ensuring they step out into the world as young adults ready to meet challenges in a positive way and becoming productive citizens of our society. I had the pleasure of working with Dream A Dream for a year and the experience has shaped me in a way I could would never have expected.

Atma, Mumbai was founded by an Australian and a Dutch. Their story is one of incredible guts and determination. An example for anyone who cares to listen that its posssible for us to really pursue what we believe in, no matter the odds. Atma Mumbai partners with NGO's, who are working in the field of education and children, to become sustainable and professional organizations. And therefore are able to positively change the lives of thousands underprivileged children in Mumbai.

I hope to reach out to my entire network of friends & family; and your network too. Last time around, your generous support contributed a total of Rs. 120,000 or $USD 3000 to these causes.

I hope this year will at least be the same if not more!

Another step

I'm back to hitting the 10 KM mark now...albeit in parts. I managed a morning 5 KM followed by an evening of cross training and a 5 KM run under 30 minutes again. I am on track to hit the required mileage for this week and probably start exceeding it next month onwards.

The best feeling so far, which has given me a sudden surge of confidence is that over the last few days, I've noticed that I feel significantly fresher after a rigorous run the previous evening. This morning too, despite 10 KM and cross training yesterday, I feel fairly strong, fresh and almost no pain or discomfort. This is surely a sign that the body is adapting to the regimen decently thus far at least.

But I still need to drop about 6 kilos...that is a real challenge.

Chart

Here it is...Tom Petty begins to sing in my ear..."Loooooooovvvveeeee is a long long road..."
:-)

Long runs yet to kick in but...

I ran 5 km this morning again. I feel much stronger now running in the mornings and I'm finishing 40 minute runs without pushing myself at all. I think I'm already in decent running form to finish a half marathon in reasonable time.

I am yet to begin running the long runs on Sundays...that will be the real test. To run 15 kms and come back and do another 40 kms in the rest of the week. :-) But this is an exhilarating challenge...one like I have never faced before. Because unlike any challenge before this one, this time I am not competing against anything or anyone; I am not benchmarking myself against any criteria except my own expectations. This race is, probably like life, in the end only with myself.

Morning runs

I managed to wake up at 6 AM this morning...felt good and "lucky", pulled on my shoes and ran 5 KM with ease. The concentration while running on the road is still lacking and grandstanding is easy to do. Also, maintaining the pace is something I have to re - learn but that will come with practice and training.

I want to hit 40 KM a week by the end of August.