Manifesto for Life

How many of us look at making our lives a piece of art?

How often do we challenge the status quo?

When in school, I ran to compete, to win. I loved my moment of glory.

When in college, I ran because I could.

During post-graduation days, I ran to lose weight and then continued doing so to stay fit.

Later, while living in US, I ran because staying indoors was claustrophobic.

Once I was back in India, I ran to let the steam out, relieve stress.

Later I continued running to clear my mind to overcome personal issues.

Running is my way of meditation.

It soon became a passion, an answer to all life’s problems.

Running became a religion, a  need, a cure.

But never an obsession.

I run till I feel the pain, till it’s fun.

There is always more than one way to do something.

And that is what life taught me through the ups and downs I faced alone.

And that is what I was trying out during this first marathon!

Play by your own rules.

Play fair and you will get there!

The only thought on my mind when I reached the stadium was a prayer.

Keep me strong in mind and body.

The first 5 kms is where I struggle most. It’s a warm up process and early morning the muscles take time to move smooth!

The run through the park in the dark, reminded me of one such morning running with a friend, the thoughts warming me up enough to move comfortably.

As dawn broke across the city,  the sound of feet hitting the road was soothing. Unlike running alone, this was different, the familiar roads gave confidence.

Running past the Ulsoor lake always brings in me a sense of awe, the beauty and stillness of the morning water, has a calming effect.

Normally the dogs on this stretch make me want to avoid lingering along the road, this morning was different, the dogs had shied away, making the roads runner friendly.

Smiling faces were out cheering by now, helping me move along at a comfortable pace, 10 kms, yet smiling.

The pacing group had a strategy which worked well for me.

Run 25 mins, walk 5 mins. It was time based and not distance driven. At a slow pace.

I had unconsciously been running like that on my long runs over the weekends.

Though I had trained at a 30 min run, 5 min walk.  

Reaching Indiranagar 100 ft road, made me look out for friends who had promised to wait for me.

Friends who knew the fear I had, were there to either help me home if I was struggling and needed help or run with me to help get me moving in case I was down in spirits.

This was a familiar stretch. And it was a breeze.

Little did I realize that running 20 kms would be so simple.

The pacers kept our conversation flowing, joking, answering silly questions, staying silent when the mind needed to be replenished.

My friends know I do not go to Koramangala for anything, I do not go visit friends. I ask them to come to my world.

When I realized the marathon route took us over the flyover and into the Inner ring road, I was a little worried.

Not having done any runs on elevated routes, I was not sure how bad this would be.

Crossing the flyover was easy, because it was on our 5 min walk time!!!

The next stretch of 2-3 kms was the best running stretch in  the whole 42 kms,

The army jawans had spread themselves across the length of the road cheering for all 700 odd runners that morning while they went to and returned from Koramangala.

Their spirits never dampened and their cheering never diminished!

We were at 23 kms and I was completely on  a high!

5 years ago,, when I first expressed that I wanted to do more than a 5 km run, a crazy friend took me running.

Into the army land just behind the EGL complex, were vast fields.  Amazing trails, wide open spaces, silence.

We ran there several evenings and mornings.  Some memories can bring a smile to your face even after all these years.

 We continued running into Koramangala and towards Forum mall.

I do not take my kids to Forum mall, citing distance as an excuse.

That morning, the distance did not matter, my own two feet could take me there!

And they did. I was still running comfortably. I could smile, talk and even joke!

What I did like about the day was it was not sunny. On my normal long runs, I was used to sweltering heat by the time I had touched 25 kms which would  be around 8:15 am. This day was different, it was a just right to run weather!

We reached Forum mall, turned around near Wilson garden and a treat awaited us! Our pacer told us we could take a 6 min walk!

This is where the enormity of what I had set out to do was hitting me.

I was hydrating sufficiently, eating oranges and biscuits when I felt the need.  I did not feel fatigued yet!

My pace was steady and I kept close to the pacers. Still enjoying the run.

Now the route was familiar since we were tracking our route back!

The army jawans were there again when we needed them most around the 32^nd km mark till 34^th km.

By now, the aid stations were fewer and farther apart.

This is where I made my first mistake.

I started getting overconfident and started moving  slightly ahead of the pack, turning every now and then to check if there was a call to walk.

The second mistake was not checking if Oral rehydrating salts would be available on the go.

Being used to having some inbetween, I missed them.

Normally runners hit the wall somewhere around here.

I did not face any such issues, I was still comfortable, maybe the 5:30 target was a good idea for the first marathon completion.

At the 37^th km, along Old Airport road, I started getting frustrated by the constant whizz and honking of traffic.

I did not carry my music player and could not dull out the noises from  the road, but had to depend on my mind to keep it calm.

I wanted the stretch to get over soon and get to Trinity Circle because I knew there were familiar faces waiting for me there.

Along with much needed water.

I recall when I did the trail walker in January, there was one such stretch almost at the fag end of the walk, where we had to walk on newly laid tar roads at 11:00 am under the hot sun, with no tree or green cover.

Construction work was causing the dry sand to fly into our eyes and parched mouths,  noise from the bull dozers, driving us crazy, we were delusional and had no water!

This felt the same, parched, traffic, pollution, and knowing its just 5 kms away.

Trinity circle felt like home! Familiar, smiling faces, water being handed out, it was not an aid station, they had water, wish I had called them earlier and asked them to bring me my ORS.

Crossing Trinity Circle has always been a nightmare for me. I stand there at the junction, waiting for a break in traffic to dart across, fearful.

This morning was no different, worse actually.

No one wanted to stop. No one cared we had a bib, no one worried we may get run over!

Finally my co runner and I – ladies, stuck our hands out and forced the vehicles to stop so few of us could cross over to the Ulsoor side.

It felt good to get onto Ulsoor road and find some quiet time and water.

Meeting a friend on Cubbon road and hearing that I still looked good, made me sure of myself.

But little did I expect cramps to strike at that point. So bad, I almost called my friend back to take me home!

I was so close and I had come so far. It did not make sense to go back now!

When in need and in pain I reach out for help. I have realized I have my limitations and having a friend helps make the pain go away faster.

So I told my pacer to help me! And they did!! They got a bottle of water from a passing runner, got me a salt pill and made me walk.

One of them stayed back to help me!!

And he helped me stretch, ease the pain and walked slowly with me, getting me into a trot after a few minutes.

After 500 m, the cramps hit again, harder! I screamed in pain! 

My faith in humanity gets restored every time I run these organized runs!

Strangers, on the road, stop to help!

I told my pacer to continue and I would see him at the finish line!

I trusted a stranger on the road to help me.

He handed me water, he told me to sit! I refused! I was scared, what if I could not get up again!

I knew I was still not over with  my periods and sitting and getting up could cause more accidents than what I wanted to face right then.

I asked him to help me get off the road and onto the footpath.

I worked on my legs till the cramps eased out.

He helped me sit and promised to help me get up when I wanted to.

He said he would stay there till I was okay.

I asked him if he was waiting for someone, he said, No his friend had already passed by!!

I put my trust in him and sat.

Just then, passed one of the race volunteers on a KTM Duke.

He saw me seated there in pain and agreed to take me back to the stadium.

The initial reaction was how would I ever lift my leg to sit astride a Duke!!

If I could do that I could run!!!

I told him I would not and I wanted to complete, but he could do something to help the pain go away.

He asked me if I had taken a salt pill, I said yes, he said would come back with another and to wait there!!
I told him I would keep moving and he should meet me on the road.

He agreed! And I knew he would keep his word!

I thanked my Good Samaritan, and slowly walked down.

At around the 40^th km mark I came across a water stand and a friend. A feeling of happiness and calmness  washed over me just seeing him there.

He handed a salt pill which was the only thing I needed right then and continued.

My biker came back, saw me running and left to help those who needed it more!!

I was still doing a slow walk, when a passing by runner, told me he would run with me and keep me company! I was grateful for that.

He was  a super veteran and I knew we were helping each other. We talked and I was pleasantly surprised I could still talk and was not out of breath or in pain!  

Be provocative, Be bold!

Live your favorite life!

The last km was the easiest. I ran the whole distance, even encouraging those struggling near the gates.

I finished smiling!

It felt like I had run a marathon!!!

 

Happiness!!