It's not the destination, it's the journey!
How often have we heard that! Yet we wait for the destination, our steps hastening when we know we are near.
How well do we prepare for the journey?
We think about it day's in advance, look for stops on the way, maybe a detour to help ease boredom.
But the destination is what is always on our mind.
All the work goes into planning the places we would see when we reach the final destination, the things we could do, the anticipation of something new.
So it was with the 5th year of Shriram Properties Bengaluru Marathon,
After 4 years of participation in a Full marathon at the event, this year I knew my physical limits and signed up for a Half marathon on the last day of registration.
I took it to be a training run towards a full Marathon in January at Mumbai and made my training plan accordingly.
Well meaning friends tried to tell me that running was a mental game and I should sign up for a full marathon.
Running becomes a mental game only when the body is ready. You cannot punish your physical being beyond what it is trained for and expect the mind to control it.
And I like to keep it fun!
Injuries, work stress, time constraints all excuses which reflect on your performance.
I cheated on my run schedules, felt guilty about the money I had paid for the gym, tried to squeeze in a work-out once in a while, knowing fully well, without discipline and consistency even a hard's day work once in 2 weeks will reap no benefits!
Nothing comes easy, not even a Half marathon distance when you are not training for it!
Suddenly the journey was getting to be challenging and the destination was not something to look forward to.
Here, the mind does play its part.
It distracts itself, at times goes into denial. other times into acceptance. Knowing which is best for you to face a challenge is how you train your mind to run the race.
A training run. I kept telling myself the days leading towards Event day.
Normally the expo enthuses me when I meet excited runners, interact with pacers, meet friends.
This time, the expo was a far away job with just the bibs to be collected.
I knew the crowds during a Half marathon would be more than a Full and I would have to jostle for shoe space, sun would be on top of me forcing me to search for some shade, the aid stations would run out of water since half the race is already over!
Never one to be unplanned, this time I did not even have my morning transport to the venue fixed and decided last minute to go with a friend I met inside the complex.
A training run I told myself.
Walked into the stadium, did a few stretches, no familiar faces in the crowds, started, ran, stopped to help a fellow runner at the 9th KM, a Full marathoner who was cramping, slowed down at the 16th Km to help a friend, a Full marathoner, running his first Full Marathon catch his breath and keep going.
Continued on my solo journey, calm, comfortable no pressure of time and distance.
The finish point, the destination was not too far away and a sprint and a finish.
Within 5 minutes I was near an exit gate and decided to leave before I got caught in the drama and excitement which normally follows.
So, this was the journey they talk about.
The 2 hours of rush outside, still within, noise on the roads, silence in your head! Peace.
My destination then was not the finish point, but the calm, joy and satisfaction of a race well run!!
"The person who starts the race is not the same as the person who finishes the race."
2:10 for a HM at SPBM 2018.
Finishing 4th in my age category was an unexpected bonus.
http://www.bengalurumarathon.in/Results_2018.html
