The start line ... Mumbai marathon 2014

The start line .... I always wanted to run but I had no idea if I could. Much like most people in my life, I thought that I’ll take on running as a way to stay fit and then perhaps run a marathon someday. One day at work, on a film-set, I was chatting with Lisa (a contemporary at work) and she advised that if I wanted to run, I might as well do it the right way and with the right coach. Lisa gave me Brinston Miranda’s phone number. The first time I met Brinston to train was at joggers park (a small running park in the suburbs of Mumbai). He asked me to run as much as I could ... I was taken by surprise when I was out of breathe and fell flat on my face in 600 meters . (So much for professionally being known as a fit actor). He looked at me and said, "You have a long way to go" and I did not disagree. Our training started one step at a time ... Short and fast distances, medium well paced runs, long slow runs. These runs were supported with Yoga sessions with my lovely trainer Vinayak (who is excellent at what he does but often ditches me by not showing up for the sessions). The runs were further supported with Pilates sessions at Samir’s (where I would always reach late). I also added a course of strength sessions at the gym. All I told myself was that I need to take this one step at a time ... If one person can run a marathon, I could do it too. Brinston and I crossed many milestones. He is not one to appreciate his runners very much but I got my first pat on the back when I ran my first 8 Km at the Mahalaxmi racecourse. The first time he gave me a big cheer was when I ran my first double digit run, my first 10km, and post that I knew that the only time I would be good enough for a real hug from my running coach is when I cross the finish line 21.097 km at the half marathon. The Business end of the race... By now I was convinced that if I could build up from 600 meters to 10 km, as a runner, I could definitely do much more. I changed my lifestyle, I lied to friends ( I apologize ) about my evening plans cause all I wanted to do was to get into bed early so I could have an early start to my day by clocking in a beautiful long run. I also started to filter and take up work which was truly necessary so that I did not lose out on my training runs... Yes I was getting addicted... TO RUNNING ! For most people the Mumbai monsoons are a mess and create mayhem, for me it had for the first time become a reason to rejoice only because I could go out for a run in the rain. ( No I did not fall sick, or have any fears of it cause running is such a great antioxidant that your body does not store any bacteria to weigh you down with sickness) But yes, running came with its fare share of trouble... I remember this one time that I was doing an event at a fashion week in Delhi and post my fittings (which was beautiful short dress), I decided to go for a run. During the run, I ended up hurting my hamstring and showed up at work the next day with big blue and yellow kinesiology tapes strapped to my legs. I refused to have them removed and so the designer much against his wishes had to dress me in a gown. But all I did was look at the brighter side that with my taped hamstring, I managed to get into gown which was way more elegant than the short dress! The other issue I had was with shoes. The toughest days on the running track were the ones which followed my having been standing in high heels the previous day. I'm sure most women would agree. The transitions to sports shoes from high heels, and from high heels to sports shoes is quite difficult. From someone who has more shoes than clothes in her closet, I have turned into a person who is a worried each time she has to dress up in heels. But I guess you have to strike a balance between your profession and your passion... Yes by now RUNNING had become my PASSION! After endless runs with Brinston, and my strength sessions my other trainers, and my crazy work days, and my trying to strike a balance between my profession and running and my trying to spend time with family and friends and my numerous visits to physiotherapists (a state of the art rehab clinic in the city started by shyamal vallabhai)… I felt I was ready. A friend from my Sunday morning running group recommended a book called Dare to Run, by Amit Sheth ... And that further changed my attitude towards running. I finally knew what all the highs and lows meant to me... I had found my source of spirituality in running... It cleared my head out... It relaxed my body... It gave me a rush of adrenalin, a rush of positivity, a sense of achievement and confidence... I got attracted to good positive people..runners from all walks of life... Fast , slow, strong, weak, men, women, everyone ... I knew we attracted each other cause at the common and most basic level we all face the same struggles and aches and pains and highs and lows but no matter what, when we were out there running, we all gave it our own 200 percent best effort! Finally the race week arrived and with that my bib! I was invited to inaugurate the SCMM Run Expo. I witnessed the zest amongst all the runners who were coming to collect their bibs and realized that it was too close to race day and even if I wanted to back out I could not, because the show-off in me had announced it to everyone that mattered.... I started getting stressed out, I lost sleep and appetite which is not such a good idea in during the marathon week cause all one is supposed to do is get as much rest and consume as many carbohydrates as possible to take one through the marathon. In the midst of all that, Amit Sheth wrote a beautiful Blog with a lovely story about keeping my "Mind in the Boat." The Blog explained that even if my mind wandered during the race, I should try and bring it back to the race and stay focused. The finish line... And before I could realize, it was Race Day. 19.01.2014 .. The first time that I attempt to run the half marathon 21.097 kms!! I had not slept very much, I ate a bowl full of oats and showed up at 5.15 am to stretch and warm with Brinston. There were 12000 people at Bandra Reclaimation, each one ready to give it their 200 percent. The Procam team helped me to get to the front end of the start-line. There are something’s that only experience teaches you in Life. For instance if you stand at the front end of the line and you are not fast enough or careful enough, you are bound to get hurt. Yes, my run started with a big knock on my head by a runner who was way too eager to run fast and I happened to be blocking his way. I gathered myself together and started running with Royston (my running partner for the day). A km and a half later, it was still dark and a little nippy and we got onto the sea link bridge... I had not set my music in yet and simple pressed play and out of nowhere the “Gurbani”( a beautiful prayer) started playing on loop in my ears ! As I ran on the sea link, I looked up at the moon and the stars, and down at the glistening waters and with the “Gurbani” playing in my ears... Life made sense... We reached the 6 km mark, it was now bright. I was happy running at a slow to medium pace, with crowds cheering on either sides of the road and holding out fruits, water, and biscuits. The support was immense! Lots of people stood holding support Posters. I thought I would increase my pace once I hit my 10 km mark but it did not happen... I hit my wall and I had hit it way too soon. As a reaction to fatigue I got stressed and my heart started to race and a part of me felt like giving up and I thought I'd never make it to the finish line since I still had 11 km more to go! This can't be happening to me, I thought! I gathered myself and thought of everyone and everything that has led me to this day, I repeated to myself, “Mind in the boat, mind in the boat, mind in the boat.” I was zoned out for a bit and then suddenly it was 13kms .... and I was back !!! I saw the views of Haji Ali and felt the presence of the strong 42 km runners to my right and read the posters which said 'go stranger go' and 'I am an ass for not running, but You go kick ass' .. I was inspired..I knew I had got my second wind. The climb up Peddar road and Kemps Corner was very hard but I encouraged two strong runners who had stop running. I gave them each a push and they started running! In fact they started running faster than I could and when I saw them zoom past me, for some strange reason, I was very happy. A few km later disaster struck! A runner suddenly stopped in front of me and as I banged into her back, I felt my toe nail from my left foot pop out inside my shoe. I felt excruciating pain. “Ooooouuuccch”, I screamed but I did not stop. I was on marine drive and I was not going to give up and nor would Royston let me. The countdown of my last five km had begun and I was feeling strong. That is the advantage of starting slow... I had used the turtle method..Slow and steady! My target time that would make me proud was 2 hrs and 19 minutes. The energy on marine drive was immense, the song and dance and the cheer and the runners... I was 2 hrs ten minutes into the run and I had 2 more km to go, I was exhausted but not willing to stop... I accelerated ... But could not sustain the speed for more than half a km, I slowed down and sipped water and accelerated again... 500 meters to go, 300 meters to go, 200 meters to go ... My body was finished, my legs had given up but my mind had not. I pushed myself to the finish line with my hands in the air and a smile of my face... My time was 2 hrs23 mins21 seconds! I crossed the finish line and screamed so loudly that I am sure that my voice was heard all across our great city! It was the sound of Joy and Satisfaction and Pride! The beautiful feeling on crossing the finish line cannot really be explained. It can only be experienced... but all I can say is, that as I write this, I am smiling from ear to ear... I saw Brinston... I knew I had earned my long overdue hug, I hugged him and cried like a little girl... And as I stood there soaking in the excitement and my feelings and the atmosphere I had only one thought in my mind, “When and Where am I running next?”