X

I finished my run today with mixed feelings. I needed water at 2 hrs 20 mins but couldn't find any and decided to pull up. I feel with some Gatorade at that stage 30 + K was within reach. At any rate, this morning was my strongest ever long run though...I hit the 19 K mark in 1 hr 49 mins. Not something I've done in any training run. I finished today with about 24 K under my belt which was good but now this is becoming almost routine. The Gatorade bottle I carried with me helped at just the right stage. First half consumed at the 14 K mark and the rest around the 19 K mark. I figure I'll need to consume water every 15 mins after hitting the 25 K mark to avoid collapsing. After today's run I feel that there is something missing...something small yet huge. That X factor which clicks in at a time when there isn't any physical prop that can hold you up...I can feel it but can't yet harness it. Maybe in 4 weeks.

I was asked by Indranil (the ass) what I would do if I didn't finish the marathon. I was reminded of the times we went onto the field in a Cottonian shield finals: there really was only one option and that was to win. There was a certain sense of inevitability about that tournament both times I played it and I feel the same way about this. There really is no second option. Barring injury, there is a certain sense of inevitability here too. May the force be with me.