What’s winning?

I would say the problem with me is in “Beginning”. Did you read that sentence as “From the beginning the problem is with you Arun”, welcome to the club. Anyway to put it right, it’s not just “beginning” rather “Right beginning” and keeping up the same tempo as started. Almost after 2 months, I am back to this blog’o’sphere and I really wonder where/what to begin with. Looking back at those odd 60 days, everyday has got so many things interesting and everything is worth penning down. For a change I decided not to complicate myself by trying to write a comprehensive post of all of those things. So let me take it one by one, as and when.

2 months and 25 days back, my buddy Vivek was telling me about his friend Sriram who completed the New York half marathon. Sriram had trained himself for around 4 months and on the marathon day he completed the race in 2 hours and 22 minutes. Vivek googled and came to know there is this Helsinki City Marathon on August 16^th 2008. For the next 3 days I saw him getting on to his shoes and going for jogging, running, walking. I dint had anything in my mind till July 30^th.

But then on July 31^st I just decided to go for the marathon. I pinged Vivek and asked whether he has registered for the marathon? He said “no” and after a little conversation I registered for both of us. I am crazy about adventure stuff, be it be skydiving, bungee, rock climbing, etc. Always my reply for questions related to speed and G-force stuff. “Yes. I am in” But this marathon stuff is something very new to me. To be frank only after registering, I wiki-ed and came to know that marathon is not just some run for random Kms rather its specific 42.195kms.

For the first four days, starting August 1^st I was rather cycling 20kms around the Helsinki city while my buddy was busy jogging, running. Vivek asked why you are cycling when you know what you have to do on marathon. The question made sense but then read the first para again. For me the right beginning is something to begin with what I like. I always liked cycling and when I was kid I have to beg/borrow/cheat my dad for that 1 rupee so that I can hire that small cycle to roam around triplicane. It was/is fun for me.

The point is, before I get into something very new, which is really going to be tough, challenging both physically as well as mentally, I would like to do things what I really love to do. It gives me the kick start and high feel. This is the reason I started with cycling even though I know in marathon what I have to do is something different. After 4 days of cycling I decided to get on to my shoes. I went for combined jogging with Vivek. Alas, the fact is I couldn’t keep up to his pace, as I am old you see. So from next day onwards it was me and my iPod.

And then the fun began. When I told my friends that I am participating in marathon almost all were making fun and I am definitely not complaining about that either. The fun making session went so serious and some of my friends dint even had the slightest hope/belief on me that I would complete the marathon alive. Some said I am going to end up and wind up with 5 or 6 kms and then take a taxi to return back.

As I said it’s not just about the right beginning but also to keep up the same tempo till things get done. On 7^th day I started jogging like as usual around this nice jogging track near the lake. It’s a 2kms track. Usually I do 4 rounds (approx 8kms) and then will wind up. That day I decided to push myself to see how far I can go. 4rounds done, then the fifth, then the sixth, then the seventh, then finally when I completed 11^th round I got an idea what they call as “Runner wall”. Saw my watch and it read total time as 2 hours and 33 minutes odd seconds.

Runners’ wall: “Carbohydrates that a person eats are converted by the liver and muscles into glycogen for storage. Glycogen burns quickly to provide quick energy. Runners can store about 8 MJ or 2,000 kcal worth of glycogen in their bodies, enough for about 30 km/18-20 miles of running. Many runners report that running becomes noticeably more difficult at that point. When glycogen runs low, the body must then burn stored fat for energy, which does not burn as readily. When this happens, the runner will experience dramatic fatigue and is said to “hit the wall”. The aim of training for the marathon, according to many coaches, is to maximize the limited glycogen available so that the fatigue of the “wall” is not as dramatic. This is in part accomplished by utilizing a higher percentage of energy from burned fat even during the early phase of the race, thus conserving glycogen.”

I felt so great but that was just a momentary feel you know. I was also wondering as I was gasping for breath in between, what’s all these feel of achievement? Was this an achievement? Is completing 22kms a real achievement? If not what is real achievement? I know I did something. I also felt so strong that I can complete 42kms because if I can go half way then it doesn’t make any sense if I have to pull back from completing the 42kms for any reason. Am I trying to prove someone something? The completion of 22kms rather left me so confusing. One more reason I felt so great was, on that day I was badly pissed off due to some reason/ some person. I was so angry and I really don’t know what to do. But after the run I was completely exhausted so was my little vengeance.

I called up my buddy and told “Hey I completed 22kms in 2hours 30 min”. He said “Oh great”. As I walked down to my apartment I thought I should pull back from marathon as I see no reason. I know I can do it. That feel is more than sufficient for me. It will be just another incident as this pulling back is not something new to me. People may make fun of it as and when. But that’s ok.

Even before I registered for marathon I told my buddy to go for it because he was in much more confusion. I considered all the following things as winning.

I participate, come first or second or may be third place. I win.

I participate, set a 4 hour target and achieve it. I win.

I participate, complete the 42kms in given 6hours. I win.

I participate, forget completing but still I win just because I tried what I haven’t tried before and that’s not a failure…

But after completing 22kms I was thinking I don’t even have to participate because I felt I have already won.

Winning is just another option. You may or may not choose. Choice is yours. Choose it wise.

I got a call in the midnight before the marathon; the voice asked “Are you going to run?” I said “No”. “Come on Arun. If it’s your way of pulling back at the last moment just because you know you can do it, then for a change why can’t you just go out tomo and complete the run?” It made sense. I said “Lets see” and went to bed.

Next morning was as usual. But when I peeped into this kid’s blog and I saw this painting.

I know I can do it but just because of it I don’t want to let down those who believe in me by not even participating. Even if I have to fail i decided to go there participate and fail. So I went to the venue which is the Olympic stadium. BANG. The race started and there I was, jogging, walking without single thought I was running a marathon. I would say music could be the best companion forever. I met Vivek after finishing half marathon mark and then we were running together for another km together. Then he was on his way, so do i. We again met 2kms before the finish line. We decided to take it slow. We completed the 42.195kms in 4hours and 50min odd seconds.

The funniest thing was, I told my friends to come to the finishing point rather than the starting point to take some snaps. And when we completed there was none. I called up the guys and asked where they are. They said “Hey we are in pub and we thought you will be back in 30min”

Anyway the entire post is not really about the marathon stuff but it’s about those who stood by me. I know wordy thanks or any other deed won’t suffice the gratitude but still I wanna say this. “Hey thanks for being there”

Winning is “Having people around you who believe in you as much you believe in yourself”