The Second Wind: An unexpected twist

For people who know me well, it is hard to believe, but the fact is, yes I am a marathoner.

Being a very active guy during my school days, I used to play almost every game.

April 2007, I met with a brutal accident in which I lost a good amount of skin, muscle & a bone in left foot. I was hospitalized where I was told to undergo a skin graft surgery and was said that the bone loss was permanent. Post plastic surgery both my legs weakened and bed rest for 3 months made the matter worse. Learning to walk all over again was an important part of the recovery. Having gone through all these, choosing an extreme sport like endurance running was something I myself could have never imagined.

3-4 times I started running, but because of pain in injured foot, I was forced to stop after few runs.

In July 2015, I registered for my first high altitude Himalayan expedition[Tapovan Expedition]. I started running as a preparation for this Expedition. I never used to track those runs, but on an average I ran 3 KM and walked 1.5 KM, 5 days a week. Post expedition, I continued the short runs for few more months. In Feb 2016, I ran my first 10 KM. I was exhausted but was feeling better. Then on I used to run 10 KM every weekend. On 7th May 2016, I ran my first 16K.

In Tangoe office I heard people talking about registration for SPBM16 in October.

I had made up my mind register for half. When I spoke to Shivaprasad Kamath(who had run a Half then), he said he will go for Marathon. I held back my registration till weekend and on 28th May 2016 I ran my first Half Marathon and finished it strongly. Since there were 5 more months for the event, I went ahead and registered for full marathon.

Since I used to run without hydration, I was unable to increase mileage in coming weeks. Plus I had a mental barrier and I used to stop after 21.1

On Aug 6th I planned to run 35K at KTPO Whitefield. After running 21, I started getting pain in left knee. I somehow finished 28K but I was suffering from IT band injury.

I had no idea of that injury then. Coming weekends I tried to run but the pain would resurface after 4-5KM so I couldn't do much. With the event nearing I was becoming more and more tensed.

Because of pain, I took a few weeks rest & then I joined Babu sir & Navneeth for a run on Sep 24th.. We did an easy 25KM.

Next weekend(1st Oct) was the last long run.. I felt like I had just started the long run & the last long run was already there. We did a 35k in almost 4 hours. Though it was a slow run, it was one which was very much required for my confidence.

Then in the taper week we did a 21k at a bit faster pace.

With just days to go for the event, Navneeth stated some calculations using our 10K timings and concluded that we are good to finish in sub 4 hours, whereas our training was no way adequate for a sub 4hr run.

As the race day approached, I had no much expectations from myself, but deep inside I knew it would be better if I finish since I had a Himalayan Expedition[Goecha la expedition] coming up within a weeks time and I did not want to go to an expedition with disappointment.

On 16-Oct-16, I was standing at the start line of a Full Marathon which was just my second event!

I and Navneeth started together with plan to stick with the 4hour bus.. As we ran through Cubbon park we were enjoying the beauty of full moon. Later on Cubbon road we were joined by a runner from Mumbai and we started running with him. As we ran through 100ft road Indiranagar we saw a few residents coming out and supporting us. They were also providing some hydration and food. When we reached Domlur bridge(22nd KM) I said Navneeth that we will walk. Navneeth was going good and said no will run slowly. Since I wasn't really exhausted, I continued running. After EGL as we passed through army area, we were greeted by a large number of army guys continuously clapping and encouraging the runners, this was the best part of the run because we were being applauded by a group of people who understand what hard work is needed for this. After we took the U turn in Kormangala(26th KM), I met my collage mate Siddarth who was surprised to see me running Marathon instead of half-marathon. After 26K Navneeth started feeling tired. I was sticking with him but at 29th KM he couldn't run and he asked me to continue. By then 4.15 bus had crossed us. I proceeded with a mix of running and walking. When I crossed Trinity I found one elderly runner and started running with him. But in the final elevation of MG road, I was unable to continue and resorted to walking. Then the same running and walking continued in the Cubbon as well. As I crosses 41K mark, I found the same elderly runner again and we ran the final KM racing each other. Surprisingly my final KM was the fastest after 26th.

With Navneeth @ Domlur - 22nd KM

MG Road - around 35th KM

As I crossed the finish line in 04 hrs 21 mins 37 secs, I had no much emotions but certainly there was a sense of relief because of all the expectations I had on myself which I should admit did create a lot of anxiety as the race day fast approached. However it did take some time to sink in that I had just completed a Marathon.

It would be unfair if I don't thank Navneeth for adding me to #RunMachinesofSutra and Babu sir for him calm and patient guidance. Last but not the least, the running group #TangoeTigers of my company for their support.