I first heard about the Delhi Half Marathon from the newspapers last year, didn't pay too much heed to it. My weight, my body and my enthusiasm, none seemed to be right for a marathon or even half or quarter of it. Then sometime in July beginning, my cousin Meera Aggarwal told me over dinner that she was training for the half marathon. Doesn't it start somewhere in the winters I asked her? Yes, first Sunday of November, she told me. Then, why the hell are you training right now....she just laughed.
As the night went on, I got an insight into the Half Marathon and realised it is more than just a run. This Great Delhi run starts and ends outside Central Civil Services Cultural & Sports Board ground. This is near Nehru Park and the shoot off time is 7:30 Am. that early? on a Sunday? I almost tried to convince her to quit training. Who the hell wants to spoil a nice Sunday morning waking up so early.
It extends to 21.097 kilometers to be precise which is the exact distance from my residence in Punjabi Bagh to Mohit's office near Andheria More. I tried to picture running from house to office everyday and shuddered. It takes him an hour on horse power, how long would it take an average human being to cover it on human power? 3 Hours, she told me. Which means you need to run 7 kilometers in an hour. Even during my best gyming days, I have never run more than 2.5 kilometers at a stretch, another no - no for me.
Then she told me of the prize cap: You get a certificate proclaiming you finished the race. Now that sounded like an achievement because all this while I was wondering why would anyone just run. Wake up early in the morning, wear your shorts and shoes and start running? For nothing? nope, you do get a certificate...As we finished dinner, i decided that I will give the race a shot. If Meera didi was already running 7 kilometres today then i could also make it and run 21 at a stretch by November. After all, this was only July.
Well, natures call told me the very first day of my motivated self that I wasn't the marathon types. Another spurt of energy followed in September and Mohit and I started running in the club park. Well, that still carries on but I am nowhere near running the half marathon. Not even the seven kilometer sprint. Miserable, I must say! Well, it seems I have accepted that I am not cut out to be a marathon runner and with just a day left to the marathon would sit on the sidelines and watch. Rather, sit in front of the TV and watch DD's poor telecast of the same and cheer Meera Didi. I think I might be able to watch her finish. Who the hell will wake up early on a Sunday morning?
Who, I say? The motivated ones!!!!
Bravo to all who run!!!!
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