"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be."
Patanjali - Indian Philospher
28th of Sept 2008: Berlin, near Reichstag
Everytime a marathon runner gets on to the track, there are a lot of limitations the mind transcends. But then running a Berlin Marathon, one of the world's major marathon, in itself is one of the most divine experience. This is the biggest any stage can be. A participation of 40,000 people, 35 countries. A track which has created history a lot many times. It was just enough to inspire me to run a 5hr 18mts marathon, improvising my last marathon time (Mumbai) by 40 minutes and my best time (Singapore) by 11 minutes. It is the flattest of the tracks, with excellent history associated around each turn. Some of the fastest timings have been set on this course. This is year was no different. Haile Gabrselassie, from Ethiopia become the first man to run a marathon under 2hr 4 minutes.
Being used to run in the 25-20 degree temperature, a 10 degree temperature was a real treat to start with. My enthusiasm was too apparent, with runners moving around in full tracks, while I was roaming in my singlet and shorts. The temperature reached 14 degrees till the finish. As I was doing some warms up, a bunch of African runners crossed by. I knew I was watching the world champions/Olympic medal winners in action. The race was to start from Reichstag, a location which most of us recall in photographs of Hitler, while saluting his mighty army.
As the race started at 9:00 am. Some of the Norwegian runners had told me that its too early for them !! The enthusiasm was everywhere. First 10km are always a smooth sail. You enjoy the scenic beauty and enjoy being a part of the event. The city is very picturesque, having 30% of its area covered with trees, and a population of mere 34 lacs. Doing an overseas run is very different. A lot of things including health part needs to fall in place and finally being able to make it to the starting point is itself very satisfying. After this its just your mental and physical preparation. I finished the first 10k in exactly 1 hour.
My speed was good and I felt that I could do a good time. This is a very normal feeling at around 15 km. There was no reason for me to get carried away cause I knew it will be different once I cross the 25km mark. The atmosphere was vibrant, with families laying down make shift tables with their breakfast spreadout. There were rock bands playing saxophones and guitars. One samaritan went out of the way to offer beer to the runners. This is the first time I had beer while running a marathon. Not sure about others, but it did wonders for me. Meanwhile I crossed the famous TV tower "Fernsehturm" some 350 mts high, built by the East Berlin regime to prove their might. I finished the second 10km stretch in 1 hour 10 mts.
Its was a strange feeling running across from erstwhile East Berlin to West Berlin and why not. Some two decades before if I would have tried, I would be shot dead. There are a lot of stories attached to this place. As I was running in the 20km to 30km stretch, I started having cramps in the thigh muscle. This was a awkward situation. Technically thigh muscle is our walking muscle and hamstring is our running muscle. If I walked, then I would have damaged my thigh muscle all the more. I just hung on. Such situations attract lot of negative thought instantly. My mind was full with doubts and after travelling 7000km, I didn't want a DNC (Did not complete) put against my name. Minds starts to play very fast. I attracting negative thoughts which had no relation to marathon at all. But I guess the trick lay in hanging on to the last twig. As luck would have it, at around the 30km mark, cramps disappeared. I took some 1 hour and 25 minutes to complete this stretch of 20k to 30k.
After the 30k mark, I really started enjoying the run. One most remarkable thing about the run was that I did not see a single patch in entire 42km, where there were no people to cheer. Entire course was adorned with people enjoying the run. Once I crossed the 35km mark, I knew its a matter of time that I will reach the finish. This stretch took me across some beautiful Gothic structures. The pleasure of running on flat wide roads, covered with trees, autumn fall changing the color of maple leaves, historic monuments around, was immense. Berlin marathon is a dream run for a marathoners. I had to be blessed to have been able to be a part of this event. The 30k to 40 took some 1 hour 20 mts, which was faster then the 20k-30k stretch.
Then came the most romantic stretch, the last 2 km. This really gives a runners high. Its as if you have received a shot in the arm. The body runs in on its own, purely on its own momentum. Mind is numb and only thing it can think is of finishing. As I came on the last bit of the race, the feeling was awesome. The sight of Brandegurger gate towering ahead was one sight probably I shall never forget. As I successfully finished my third Full marathon, I felt that more than a platform to prove my physical endurance, this had become more of mental challenge; crossing of the finishing line. I know that with a mere 1 hour a day practice, I will be always be in the category of slow runners. But the challenge lies in stealing that 1 hour, despite the time pressure of multiple roles one has to play in life. So as they say..... Next is what.!!
Patanjali - Indian Philospher
28th of Sept 2008: Berlin, near Reichstag
Everytime a marathon runner gets on to the track, there are a lot of limitations the mind transcends. But then running a Berlin Marathon, one of the world's major marathon, in itself is one of the most divine experience. This is the biggest any stage can be. A participation of 40,000 people, 35 countries. A track which has created history a lot many times. It was just enough to inspire me to run a 5hr 18mts marathon, improvising my last marathon time (Mumbai) by 40 minutes and my best time (Singapore) by 11 minutes. It is the flattest of the tracks, with excellent history associated around each turn. Some of the fastest timings have been set on this course. This is year was no different. Haile Gabrselassie, from Ethiopia become the first man to run a marathon under 2hr 4 minutes.
Being used to run in the 25-20 degree temperature, a 10 degree temperature was a real treat to start with. My enthusiasm was too apparent, with runners moving around in full tracks, while I was roaming in my singlet and shorts. The temperature reached 14 degrees till the finish. As I was doing some warms up, a bunch of African runners crossed by. I knew I was watching the world champions/Olympic medal winners in action. The race was to start from Reichstag, a location which most of us recall in photographs of Hitler, while saluting his mighty army.
As the race started at 9:00 am. Some of the Norwegian runners had told me that its too early for them !! The enthusiasm was everywhere. First 10km are always a smooth sail. You enjoy the scenic beauty and enjoy being a part of the event. The city is very picturesque, having 30% of its area covered with trees, and a population of mere 34 lacs. Doing an overseas run is very different. A lot of things including health part needs to fall in place and finally being able to make it to the starting point is itself very satisfying. After this its just your mental and physical preparation. I finished the first 10k in exactly 1 hour.
My speed was good and I felt that I could do a good time. This is a very normal feeling at around 15 km. There was no reason for me to get carried away cause I knew it will be different once I cross the 25km mark. The atmosphere was vibrant, with families laying down make shift tables with their breakfast spreadout. There were rock bands playing saxophones and guitars. One samaritan went out of the way to offer beer to the runners. This is the first time I had beer while running a marathon. Not sure about others, but it did wonders for me. Meanwhile I crossed the famous TV tower "Fernsehturm" some 350 mts high, built by the East Berlin regime to prove their might. I finished the second 10km stretch in 1 hour 10 mts.
Its was a strange feeling running across from erstwhile East Berlin to West Berlin and why not. Some two decades before if I would have tried, I would be shot dead. There are a lot of stories attached to this place. As I was running in the 20km to 30km stretch, I started having cramps in the thigh muscle. This was a awkward situation. Technically thigh muscle is our walking muscle and hamstring is our running muscle. If I walked, then I would have damaged my thigh muscle all the more. I just hung on. Such situations attract lot of negative thought instantly. My mind was full with doubts and after travelling 7000km, I didn't want a DNC (Did not complete) put against my name. Minds starts to play very fast. I attracting negative thoughts which had no relation to marathon at all. But I guess the trick lay in hanging on to the last twig. As luck would have it, at around the 30km mark, cramps disappeared. I took some 1 hour and 25 minutes to complete this stretch of 20k to 30k.
After the 30k mark, I really started enjoying the run. One most remarkable thing about the run was that I did not see a single patch in entire 42km, where there were no people to cheer. Entire course was adorned with people enjoying the run. Once I crossed the 35km mark, I knew its a matter of time that I will reach the finish. This stretch took me across some beautiful Gothic structures. The pleasure of running on flat wide roads, covered with trees, autumn fall changing the color of maple leaves, historic monuments around, was immense. Berlin marathon is a dream run for a marathoners. I had to be blessed to have been able to be a part of this event. The 30k to 40 took some 1 hour 20 mts, which was faster then the 20k-30k stretch.
Then came the most romantic stretch, the last 2 km. This really gives a runners high. Its as if you have received a shot in the arm. The body runs in on its own, purely on its own momentum. Mind is numb and only thing it can think is of finishing. As I came on the last bit of the race, the feeling was awesome. The sight of Brandegurger gate towering ahead was one sight probably I shall never forget. As I successfully finished my third Full marathon, I felt that more than a platform to prove my physical endurance, this had become more of mental challenge; crossing of the finishing line. I know that with a mere 1 hour a day practice, I will be always be in the category of slow runners. But the challenge lies in stealing that 1 hour, despite the time pressure of multiple roles one has to play in life. So as they say..... Next is what.!!
