TCS 10k 2014

Where I lost myself, once again..

It all started with a ping couple of months ago. And I was just reminded of the amazing Bangalore climate. I told myself last year that I would do the 10k again in 2014. Well, I hope to do it every single year when I am in India. I went ahead and registered for the TCS10k after a tiring process of uploading photo and id etc.
Having gotten used to the usual stares from people when I told them I was travelling 300km for a 10km run, I started putting in more training miles (I count in kilometres though). Gradually the pace improved. I once did a sub 6:00 min/km 5.6km run too! The barefoot transition was working well for me. Stares and questions and “advice” from people? A lot. All set, I left for Bangalore by our dear KSRTC bus service.
Saturday. The race expo was at Kanteerava Stadium. Just across the road where I stayed for close to 6 months. Egg factory and a boring movie followed. It was fun. I was with friends. I had trained for the run to an okay extent(compared to earlier ones). Definitely not even close to my best. I recently started doing “intervals”. They are very addictive! The high I get after a kick ass run is nothing compared to all those shots of Tequila. I am glad I got a couple of them in those 2 weeks leading up to the event.

Says my dailymile log. Happy for 2014. ^_^

This was my first “official” barefoot run. On the roads of a new city. I was very apprehensive about it. Thanks to a Bangalore Barefoot runner, he assured me that the road would be fine. I just had to focus a bit to not get stomped by the heavy runners. I decided to wear a bright green T shirt to be noticeable. Well, to get some photos clicked as well!
Saturday night. Curd rice as dinner. It rained. Power cut. Hardly slept. Slight pain in my legs due to all the walking. That was a bit weird though.

May 19th. Sunday Morning! Race day! Walked to the stadium. Looong queues. Really long. At 6:10 am, I was still outside the stadium, trying to get in. And there I was. In section E. Stretching a bit. Once the gates opened, people just hurried with loud cheers. The atmosphere was very energetic! I wasn’t running with anyone in particular. I decided to pace myself and just soak in the city.

Just after 300m or so, I spotted the 75 minute pacer. We chatted quite a bit. He told me to just run with him and he would take care of my target (~70 min). He told me where to slow down a bit and kept encouraging me all throughout! Wow indeed. This was the first time someone was pacing me and I just loved the experience. I saw a couple of barefoot runners. Maybe 3-4. Some asked me questions about the absence of my shoes. The ups and downs on the route. Nothing like those flat roads on campus. Once we entered Cubbon park, I knew I was close to the finish line. I just didn’t accelerate much until I was just 200m away from the finish. I was trying to conserve my energy? I don’t know why. I could have accelerated earlier. Lesson learnt.

I felt that the run ‘ended’ very soon. I got my Personal Best. 67 minutes! It was amazing. I felt accomplished. It gave me confidence for the upcoming half marathon. I have miles to go. But this has definitely boosted my confidence. I am thankful to a lot of people for having made this possible. To my lovely host, to the pacer, my co-runner (who also got a PB), Gumps, insti (people and roads) and obviously, friends and family.

P.S- I would definitely want to pace someone, if they allow me to. Someday, I will. ☺

After the run. I love that T shirt! 

What would you change?

What one thing would you change in your life if you had to do it over again?

I believe in making peace with mistakes and learning from them, even if it takes months, at times. If not for mistakes of the past, I wouldn’t be what I am today. Every turn teaches us a lot and it depends on us how well we absorb and move on. I wouldn’t say my life is perfect. I wouldn’t want to change anything. I am here as a consequence of all my actions. Whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger- this keeps me going even in difficult times.

Why can’t you? Get there.

It hurts when people just fling dialogues. I can’t do that. I can’t do this. Why can’t you? Have you given enough thought? Did you ask those 5 whys? Did you get to the bottom?Often we realise that the things that are being a road block are quite different from the actual problem. This is where the “Why” framework comes into picture. Ask. Ask again till you get to it.
I am trying to work on this aspect and try every now and then to take up challenges. Stretch your boundaries and venture into new things.
I have realised that I have placed a lot of limitations on myself based on very random things. I have learnt not to do that again. Never ever again. We tend to overlook so many opportunities as we conveniently blinfold ourselves. Recently I saw this old lady who was driving a 2-wheeler. It made me feel so good and proud. At the same time, I was filled with regret for having this unknown fear in me. Fear to try new things at times.
It hurts to see 20 somethings say that they can’t get up and walk a mile or two. Is it laziness? Is it lack of discipline? Self doubt?
Push your limits. Always. Get as far as you can. Enjoy the kick you get out of it. Well, why not? :D

23 or 38!

After the successful Bangalore trip, I boarded a KSRTC bus. And there was this lady beside me. Well, each seat had a TV screen. The image on my tv screen was mirror imaged and the one on her screen was upside down! Just like our lives, she said. That is how the conversation began. We discussed about the culture in Bangalore and the culture in Chennai and culture in general. We spoke about the sense of belongingness. We spoke about the sky. She spoke about Colorado. I spoke about my first trip abroad. We spoke about dating guys. She told me her story. Well, I didn’t have anything much to say. We spoke about running! And pets.
We spoke about a lot of things. It felt very warm because I could connect with her. It was a great experience talking to her as I learnt quite a few new things. Her open mindedness just numbed me for a while.
She is an entrepreneur. She was bubbling with energy which made me reflect on myself. Life is a long journey. Just keep moving. Do what you want to. Pursue your passion. Have some hobbies. Above all, just keep moving. Don’t you want to be happy and excited? Would you want a dull life, ever? I think she made me realise that it is all in our hands and it totally depends on how we handle various situations. Life can get very painful. It is not fair. But it does let you take charge and be happy.
Doing new things ticks people. The kick one gets out of it is awesome. I have resolved to myself that I would never let myself stagnate in this journey. When there is so much to do, how can one say that life is boring? It is definitely not all about having a partner or having all the money, right?

Freed um?

I feel free. I don’t know why. Maybe because I know I will be staying in this heavenly place a bit longer. Maybe because of the songs playing in these tiny earphones. Maybe because I ate chocolate. Maybe because of people and room cleaning and clothes washing and what not. Maybe because I got high on the awesome smell of Oregano. Maybe because of YOLO and “carpe diem” (sophisticated according to some). Maybe because of sitting in this big room all by myself. Maybe because I can browse through my past and not feel bad. Maybe because my stay here is nearing an end. Maybe because I made this post about me inspite of a couple (or many more) of friends giving me all sorts of tags. ☺

Not in the zone

I don’t know what is going on with me. But I don’t think I am in the zone. A bit unsettling it feels. It has been ages since I even paid attention to my feelings and emotions. Or did I decide to not care as much? I don’t know.

I went for a run today. I pushed my pace but it was humid!

Well, I was here (in my “lab”) all day. Maybe it was because a crappy piece of writing that I produced. My first ever cover letter. I knew it sucked and I couldn’t do much about it. I am not the kind of person who writes and then rewrites and reads. You get it I suppose. No flow. No sync.

All I need is some work to happen. Some progress to make sure there is a glint in my eye. And writing helps. Always. ☺

While on the go at Stanford

Before things would evaporate from my head(Mind you, it is pretty hot and humid here in Chennai), I have been bullied by a friend to pen down my experiences.

It was a very common sight to see people of all sizes and shapes(mostly fit) running, cycling, skateboarding, playing! Well you get it? They are into fitness. I saw a group of guys who were running super fast and they were conversing at that pace! A lot of girls were in those nice cute Nike shorts and I got 2 of those for myself too. I wish I to soon wear them here as well!

I ran there on the campus. A proper 60 minute run. It was cold(for me at least). Started at 8 pm. The terrain was fun with mild ups and downs all through. I started by taking right at every major turn till I was on the main road. My first stop was GSB! People in formals and black dresses everywhere. Typical I say. And then I came across the lake(which is dry now) road. Also saw the various engineering buildings etc where we used to go in the day for various sessions.

I gradually started drifting from the parts of the campus that I was familiar with and ventured into unknown territories. I reached a road which didn’t have lights though it was a main road! My cell phone flash light was on. The cyclists there need to have flash lights for their bicycles. I followed suit, though I was on my feet. I mostly used the bicycle lane as the footpath(where most of the runners were running and cruising!) was not suitable for running barefoot.

I saw the stem cell research lab(I think) and several other buildings. The sky looked like this huge dome with stars spilled everywhere. It was such a wonderful sight and I felt free. There I was! Running on some continent. Thousands of miles away from home. Thinking of all people at home(here, India). I was very inspired by a lot of things and thought about how we could make our place reach global standards.

Suddenly, a lady pulled her car aside and asked me if I was okay. I was startled. I thought she would shout at me or something. She was super sweet and asked if I was okay as I was running without my shoes! She also offered to drop me at GSB(I asked for directions). But then I didn’t want to stop running. I finally found the Hoover tower which meant I was close to my destination.☺

It was a bit weird to see cars stopping as soon as they saw pedestrians. Very very few 2-wheelers. Lot of people using their feet.

The fun run ended where I started. 57 minutes it was. So I just went elsewhere and came back in 3 minutes. Fine, it felt good to sprint in the end and complete it on a high note!

A wonderful sandwich was waiting for me. Also, I had to walk some 1 mile to reach the place where my team was working. Yes, it was super cold and I almost froze. Something else was also in store for me. Friends who wanted to hear about my trip. This post is dedicated to one such friend ☺

Hostile is the word

So as my Facebook wall and twitter posts say, I was at Stanford for a summit. Yes, one full week!

And needless to say, it has changed me. Made its mark in my otherwise normal (I doubt though) life. I will blog about various experiences in some days, I hope.

The most remarkable difference when I landed here was that I didn't feel about insti like I felt before. It didn't feel home. The people seemed a bit far. Something was amiss. It was very difficult to accept this whole change in scenario because insti was my second home. Home away from home.

I was generally telling my experience to people and in every conversation, I found myself telling others(and to myself) that I found the atmosphere over there very friendly. Smiling is such a small thing and the impact it has! :)
Be it the lady who helped me at the train station to get a ticket or the random guy who tried talking to me in Hindi(Oh yes, he was cute!). It felt very warm.

As I was confessing these to a friend, he uttered the word- Hostile. Hostile is the word. People tend to get worked up and express their frustration by being hostile.

If I could say something, it would be to smile and let it go! :) Being cheerful and active always helps and I just conducted an experiment to validate this claim. Challenge me if you wish to.

P.S- I am not generalizing. I am no one to judge. These are just my opinions. All said and done, I love my insti for what it has made me. For the friends and foes, for the memories, for the opportunities, for showing me what reality is.