Since I took up running since the past 3 years, There was one goal in mind and one goal only. That one day I would run a marathon. it's not meant for the lighthearted and I was one back then. I ran week after week, couple of kilometers to several, couple of kilometers an hour to quite a few. As I pen this down it reminds me of the legendary Whitney Huston number "Step by Step, Brick by Brick". I must thank my good friend on this occasion Mihir Patel, who got me involved into running. I did spend the last couple of years doing five kilometer and ten kilometer runs. Since 2011 took part in two half marathons. But one fine day, early 2012 when I received a mail saying, sign up for the Dublin race series and get a discount on each race, in a heart beat I signed up. First few minutes after that, Wow! I saved 60€. Moments after that, when I looked hard at all the races I signed up for I had to take a big gulp. The last on the list was The "Dublin Marathon 2012". It was this humongous mountain that I always looked at the from the valley. Looking up to it with respect and in awe. Every time passing by it thinking one day I will get to the top. Now that I have paid in full, there is no looking back. First thing that all lame runners do is exactly what I did.Splurge some money on gadgets and expect it will make a world of a difference in your pace. Nothing is going to run for you, you run as long as your legs can carry you. These fancy Garmin gadgets help you to know how you have performed, but it does not assure you of the performance. My fancy watch (the only one that I have ever owned) did help me in getting my pace consistent but never did I push my self to take on the mountain of a challenge head on. My earlier 10 K race came well under 50 min. Legs hurt much lesser after a race nowadays and doing a 5 K under 25 minutes was a walk in the park. That gave me the confidence, but I had under estimated going up a hill and coming down is quite not the same as a hiking up and down a mountain. The race packs started tricking in one by one and few races were done with style. Then one day came the mail, "please print this letter and sign this as an acceptance letter". It felt like I am signing my own death warrant. My wife tried her best to keep me away from this one race. But to her bad luck, she was not around when it was time to race.
I must make a mention of the exceptional event management of the Dublin race series organisers. The Marathon event was the best of it all. Volunteers well informed, information well circulated, proper tips and guidance given to all. I had to collect the rack pack a day before the race at RDS which is less than a stones throw away from where I stay. There was no hassle at all in getting my pack amongst the several thousands there. Stalls to sell everything that I wanted for the race, Practioners and Long time marathoners giving up health and exercise tips. I was honored to meet one Mr.Jhon who is now the oldest Dublin Marathoner at 76. He has run every single Dublin Marathon since 1980. The best take way from the Pace pack was a book, that was a step by step guide into all aspects of the impending race. But a few points there was engraved in my mind. It most probably was because I was seeking some kind of solace in excuses.
Points like "If you want to call it a day midway, there is no shame in it. You have already succeeded by being at the start line",
"Its the pace at which you run decides if it turns out to be a miserable experience rather than the distance", "Look around and enjoy the views of Dublin, in a way that only few other can. There is no other day, where the traffic will be blocked for you and let you run in the middle of the streets".
These things meant a lot to me, and the day before I looked at myself in the mirror, and said to myself, "don't be competitive tomorrow, just finish it, just enjoy it". I guess that is pretty much how it played out. Few precautionary measures I took, paid off big time and I thank the lord for making me do that.
1.I shopped for a non soaking skull cap
2.Bought a light weight disposable rain jacket; Just in case if the worst happens,Rain.
3.On Race day , I put on two pairs of running sock.
4.Bought plenty of Energy gels.
5.Studied the course and memorized few of the water stations.
6.Took some dry clothes to wear after the race.
I had never done anything like this before any of my other races.
I had plenty of rice food the previous day as per the kind advise of Mihir. Carbs was all that I needed he kept saying.
It was Race day morning. Unlike all the other races, the start line was just 15 minute walk away from my home. Just prayed once before I stepped out after making sure I had everything I needed. It was a frigid 4 deg outside.
People had gathered in thousands. This was the largest gathering for a sporting event ever in Ireland.14,358 people from across the world, from all walks of life, at all age groups were there. I reached just 20 minutes early, and since I am not going to be a sprinter did not mind being the last few.Noticed the 5 hour pace keepers and stuck close to them. That is what I had in mind to complete the race in. There was one German who was 76, who is a cancer survivor and it was his 19th Marathon and he started only in 2000; if this did not motivate me, nothing will.
Announcements being made loud,RTE cameras all over, hundreds of volunteers and Marshals built the tension enough for me to forget that it was bitter cold. Some of them totally came to have a ball. I was running along side, one "honey monster", another "Robot" and an US air-force pilot with a big cardboard F22 strapped around his waist, another pretty girl dressed up as a fairy,with Wings and all paraphernalia.
I could barely hear the gun shot and slowly did the ocean of heads start bobbing up and down in front me. The enormous blow up arc with word "START" on it, made it sure that now I am off the diving board.
I kept to a very steady pace of 6:45 min/km which is far slower than my resonant pace of 5 min/km. The golden word from the book, kept me in check.
People whom you have never met chat up, one even put his hand on my shoulder and was giving me tips and motivating me at the 10 km mark. This kind of comradery really take off much pressure. Passed the first two water stations at the 5 and 10 km mark. I did not want to loose any time there. The blue colored 5 Km flags in my visual range till the 20 km mark. The encouragement from people really helps. At one instance past the 35 Km mark, one lad just came up right beside me and jogged for a few hundred meters just to keep me motivated and pick up the pace. This does not ever happen on any other day for sure. I felt privileged. Post 20 Km mark I over took the 5hr pace keepers to get a lead, but soon I hit the "Wall" .Energy level plummeted through the floor. Exhaustion kicked in hard, Knees were like made of gello. The only thing that kept me upright and moving forward was just the momentum of the body. The sight of a turn up front was like "Ooohhh....Not another one!". Even a tiny Robin who has not been to Specs Savers if had struck me, I would be off!. Past 30 km Mark the 5 hr pace keepers gradually passed by. I tried hard to keep up, but failed. It was disheartening to see the flag shrink in view and finally disappear. I had to walk most of the last 10 kilometer.
Friendly citizens stepped outside to,clap and cheer and some offered sweets. At the 35 Km I was running right past my house and I had the keys in my hand and all the muscles in my leg was screaming, go home FOOL!! But will power alone kept going on. Just yearning to see the FINISH arc. Finally when the long green carpet, the one stretch I want to be on, Running appeared, I kicked up pace, just not to disappoint those hundreds of strangers gathered out in the cold just to say "keep going", "you are almost there". Finally there , crossed the line and I almost broke down. A paramedic came around just to ask, if I was okay, and in spite of me having experienced such pain in my legs and with no energy to lift a finger, with a tear drop rolling down my cheek said "I am fine, Thank you". Now to get the one thing that I went through all this for, the piece of Metal, that meant every thing to me.
The one thing that will be with me for the rest of my life. Mustered a smile while some one put it around my neck. Collected my race goodies and went to collect my bags to put on some dry clothes.
The next big daunting task was to get home, the 10 minute walk was now an arduous task. Tried to hitch a ride to Ballsbridge, but who would trust a brown man who unfortunately has a suspicious look, in a skull cap.
My very anxious wife and all family members back at home were waiting to hear from me. My love, being clever monitored my race progress on the site and re assured everyone that I did cross the finish line with no air of an ambulance or an air lift.
Had a quick chat with them all, showed off the stuff I brought home. I then had a super long shower like I have never had before.I must have been under the shower head for 40 minutes nursing my legs and sometimes even kissing them, saying thank you.
Now sitting back I realized that I forgot to thank this one thing that helped me since the past one year, stayed loyal to me every step of the way, and carried me to the finish line of my cherished dream."Now that you are finally clean, take a break. Lets start everything all over again,soon!"
Points like "If you want to call it a day midway, there is no shame in it. You have already succeeded by being at the start line",
These things meant a lot to me, and the day before I looked at myself in the mirror, and said to myself, "don't be competitive tomorrow, just finish it, just enjoy it". I guess that is pretty much how it played out. Few precautionary measures I took, paid off big time and I thank the lord for making me do that.
1.I shopped for a non soaking skull cap
2.Bought a light weight disposable rain jacket; Just in case if the worst happens,Rain.
3.On Race day , I put on two pairs of running sock.
4.Bought plenty of Energy gels.
5.Studied the course and memorized few of the water stations.
6.Took some dry clothes to wear after the race.
I had never done anything like this before any of my other races.
I had plenty of rice food the previous day as per the kind advise of Mihir. Carbs was all that I needed he kept saying.
It was Race day morning. Unlike all the other races, the start line was just 15 minute walk away from my home. Just prayed once before I stepped out after making sure I had everything I needed. It was a frigid 4 deg outside.
Announcements being made loud,RTE cameras all over, hundreds of volunteers and Marshals built the tension enough for me to forget that it was bitter cold. Some of them totally came to have a ball. I was running along side, one "honey monster", another "Robot" and an US air-force pilot with a big cardboard F22 strapped around his waist, another pretty girl dressed up as a fairy,with Wings and all paraphernalia.
I could barely hear the gun shot and slowly did the ocean of heads start bobbing up and down in front me. The enormous blow up arc with word "START" on it, made it sure that now I am off the diving board.
I kept to a very steady pace of 6:45 min/km which is far slower than my resonant pace of 5 min/km. The golden word from the book, kept me in check.
The next big daunting task was to get home, the 10 minute walk was now an arduous task. Tried to hitch a ride to Ballsbridge, but who would trust a brown man who unfortunately has a suspicious look, in a skull cap.
My very anxious wife and all family members back at home were waiting to hear from me. My love, being clever monitored my race progress on the site and re assured everyone that I did cross the finish line with no air of an ambulance or an air lift.
Had a quick chat with them all, showed off the stuff I brought home. I then had a super long shower like I have never had before.I must have been under the shower head for 40 minutes nursing my legs and sometimes even kissing them, saying thank you.
