Shape

I distinctly remember race day in January this year...I completed the half marathon, hung around the finish area for an hour to return my chip, find out my time and then walked to VT to catch a train back to Bandra. As I walked out of Azad Maidan, the adrenaline left me like hot hair from a pricked balloon. Whoosh. Suddenly it was mid morning, blazing hot and I couldn't see or walk straight. I stumbled to VT because Churchgate was too far...clambered aboard the first train only to find I had clambered aboard the women's compartment, got into the general one and got off at Dadar. Stumbled out of the maze that is Dadar to find the nearest cab back to Pali Hill. I got to the Blah residence, showered and was dead to the world for about 4 hours after. That was after 21 Kms.

Now, after the same distance yes I feel the pain and yes I am quite useless for anything until 3 - 4 hours after but my recovery time has changed dramatically. I'm up and about by afternoon and I don't suffer from that tearing, grinding sensation where you are so fatigued you want to get up and distract yourself but the mere thought of the act defeats you, consigning you once again to confront the pain.

All that has reduced. I was hesitant earlier but I can safely say that right now, I am in the best shape of my life. I've never felt stronger or fitter or healthier. I'm about 73 Kilos but that's definitely going to slide down to the high sixties in 3 months time. I'm happy to be where I am and the road and gym have become a burning addiction like none I've ever felt.

September ends

Another Sunday and I'm happy...in a relative way. My goal was to put in half marathon distance comfortably by the end of this month and I'm there...more or less. I completed 19 - 20 kms this morning in exactly 2 hours. My shuffle packed up again 5 kms into the run but it didn't affect me at all. It helped that I hit the road by 6 AM so I got back before the traffic really started annoying me. Another positive today was I figured out a couple of shops that lie right along my route that are open early...water is an issue that finally may be solved now.

By the end of October I need to hit 30 Kms in 3 hours or less....this just doesn't seem to end does it?! But man do I feel good.

The Pain is Real II

I've been running sets of 8 kms every day with a long run on Sunday so in effect about 55 kms a week with some conditioning thrown in like cycling, tempo runs, uphill variations, rowing and so on...last night as I lay in bed, put down the Le Carré and turned off the lights, my calves, ankles, feet, and hamstrings were on fire. I just couldn't move, I couldn't writhe...nothing. I know...sounds pretty dramatic and all that sort of toss doesn't it? But I am beginning to slowly but surely comprehend how much this is going to take out of me and from me physically to accomplish. Now I'm not even thinking of a time...just that I can complete within the official time band that is set.

1159 baby

Dear Abhijeet,

Congratulations!!!,

Procam International Ltd. takes pleasure in confirming your entry to The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2009 to be held on Sunday the 18th January 2009.

Details of your confirmed entry are as under:

Race Type : Marathon
Running Number :1159
Reference Number: 8144
Birth Date : 1981-03-30
Gender : Male

Please collect your running number Bib and Goodie Bag from the area marked Registration at the Get Active Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon Expo which will be held at the Expo Centre, World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400 005 from January 14-16, 2009 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., and on January 17, 2009 between 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Check

I have about 90 days left as preparation time for the Mumbai Marathon. I am not counting any days in January because I think those days will be spent just limbering up, stretching and keeping fit. Whatever needs to be done has to be done in the next 90 days.

I had a really disappointing evening yesterday. I wanted to do a speed play last evening. I used to do a few "fartleks" during the time I trained with the badminton players all those years ago and I loved it simply because it pushed you to the limit. And left you gasping and on your knees at the end. However, my shuffle packed up. I tried slinging the bulky classic pod on that arm band only to realise its worth shit if you want to run hard. When I finally tried to concentrate on the speed play, my legs and lungs started aching way too quickly...I just couldn't understand it. I cursed, I was frustrated, I was pissed off. I tried another 3 times only to meet with the same effect. I gave up and started walking back. I learnt a valuable lesson though: speed play isn't the same as running. You can't stretch and bend and begin. You have to put in at least a couple of miles warming up before any kind of fartlek is possible. Damn it all.

I thought the world had more or less ended when I woke up for my 6 AM Sunday run this morning at 7:00. The demons in their caves started laughing and whispering: the traffic, the roads will be dangerous, get back to bed you idiot...and so on. I laced up, hit the road and did a decent 17 odd kms over 1 1/2 hours. I felt like crap at the end but I still made it. I really need to start carrying an energy bar for after the 70 minute mark. And water...I don't know a solution to that which is a big worry especially when I start putting in 2 hours plus soon.

One sensation which I haven't experienced in a while came back with a vengeance this morning...doubt. Can I really do this? Wtf were you thinking you pitiful fool. These thoughts wait for the opportunity when your legs are rubber and your mind mush to come and laugh around you as you run. I think its time to accept them as companions and keep going on.

This week the focus will be to put in 60 kms. More later.

Halfway there

Today was good. I put in about 18 kms in just under 2 hours without pushing myself too much at any point. With some water along the way I could probably have bettered my half marathon time of 2 hours 3 minutes from Mumbai. I've now hit the half way mark and the road suddenly seems to curve up up up...

The pain is real - I

Another few steps in the right direction...I've reached a stage now where I'm running an hour with relative ease...you know that feeling where you stop after 60 - 65 minutes and feel like you could have gone on for another 20 quite easily but the legs start to give, the sides start to burn and the breaths are not breaths but a wheeze after those 20? Yeah that's where it is right now.

Humbling.

Breakthrough

...of sorts actually. But a breakthrough nonetheless. I haven't run 1 hour 30 minutes since January this year. The best part was despite a slower pace in the first 30 minutes or so, I felt very strong one hour into the run. Coordination was good, feet felt light...not a hint of cramp and I was really powering through toward the last 15 minutes. I think I covered about 13 - 14 KM....though I can't be completely certain. But that was of secondary importance. I am still running against the clock and not the road. Now the mark has been set at 1 .30.00. Next weekend I will aim to at least do 1.30.00 if not 10 minutes longer...by the end of September I want to hit the half marathon mark. I'm feeling pretty good right now and the tab where things move from tough to daunting has just been raised a little higher.

A small incident...a fellow jogger who seemed in pretty great shape was putting the yards behind him and passed me a couple of times...an hour later I was still going at it when I caught his eye ...this time he was walking in the opposite direction. He gave me a smile and a big thumbs up. Felt good...respect from peers is always welcome & motivating, none more so than in sport.