The realization that health is really important only struck me at the ripe old age of 29. I guess when I was younger the arrogance of youth precluded any thought of my own mortality! Anyway, I decided to get into shape...which meant changing a lifetime's worth of bad eating habits and a laziness to get off my butt that is legendary. When I was 7 years old, a driver who worked for us informed my Mom that the only way to get me to run was to let a dog loose on me! Thats a pathetic little story, but like so many pathetic tales, its also true. The only time I ever ran was when I saw a snake in Lonavala...I ran for my life. And my family makes fun of me to this day for my sprint. So yeah, snake, dog...same difference. It needed a life threatening event!
After I lost some weight, I decided a challenge was necessary to keep the motivation going. To be honest, I have no idea why I chose to run. I think it may have something to do with reading this quote by Emil Zatopek.
"Essentially, we distinguish ourselves from the rest. If you want to win something, run the 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon."
Then again, it may not. Its a little blurry now, why I chose to try running. Besides, its not that important anyway. PT Usha I am not..so who cares why I chose to run. I just did.
What I do know is this. I liked it. Initially, I couldn't even run a mile. As the weather improved and I started running in the park, my stamina improved as well. I decided to register for a half marathon..that would give me something to work towards. San Francisco was a natural choice...I love the city. I have family I'm close to there. It was a large marathon, so I wouldn't be the last to finish..there'd be a couple of arthritic 80 year olds behind me...I was sure. So, I bought myself 2 books. One to tell me how to train for a half marathon and the other just to tell me a good story about running.
I bought Born to run by Christopher McDougall after I saw him on The Daily Show. It was filled with anecdotes about legendary runners and an interesting story about a tribe of athletes. I finished it in 24 hours flat. It was inspiring to read about these ultra runners who could run a 100 miles at a sub-7 minute mile pace. So damn cool. I wanted to be at least a little (very very leetle) cool.
So after 6 months of carefully organized training, I was in SFO and ready to run. A little digression into how carefully organized I was. I used Google Calender to plan my entire training schedule based on my book and several running websites. If I'd planned my PhD this carefully, I'd be graduated by now!
The atmosphere was electric...there was just so much energy in the air. And not all of it came from people getting nervous they wouldn't be able to pee before they started running. I have never seen longer queues to use port-a-potties ever. It would've been funny if I hadn't stood in line for 20 minutes myself. As befits a newbie and a slow runner, I'd selected the final wave start in the second half marathon. (The first half of the SF marathon is beautiful as you get to run through the Golden Gate bridge. Its also full of steep uphill runs. I picked the second half..not nearly as scenic. Much easier.) I was running by myself..I didn't know a soul there. I had my iPod set to my running playlist. It was me and Dire Straits and some Rahman here and there. All I know is that I had the time of my life. People were cheering all the way along..it was uplifting. The first 6 miles were harder than I'd thought. Miles 6.5 to 8 were an absolute pleasure...all downhill runs where you could let it rip. Miles 10 through 13 were a test of willpower really. But the sense of accomplishment when I finished...priceless!
I was stiff for a full 2 days. But it hurt pretty good:)
When I was sufficiently recovered and back pretending to work in the lab, I found I had the vanity to look though thousands of pictures on Marathonfoto.com to find mine. I found 3..I'm smiling in all of them..even though I was blissfully unaware I was being photographed. I think the endorphins had kicked in pretty well. All I know is, it looks like I'm having a good time.
So, I was going to title this post "An epoch in my life" after the title of a chapter in one of my favorite girly books "Anne of Green gables". But I've decided a half-marathon doesn't qualify as an epoch. Only a full does. Watch this space for details.
