Sunfeast WORLD 10k Bangalore - My first Marathon

I still vividly remember the last time when I participated in a running event.. tht was way back in my school days, 8th or 9th std.. after that never did I.. in fact only after coming here to b'lore I came to know that marathons are also conducted for non-professional runners.. after hearing to few of my frends and others who took part in such events, I really wanted to give it a try.. sme time back last year few of my frends wnt for a midnight marathon, but I cud'nt join them as I was out of station..and finally it happened on 18th May 2008, at Sunfeast 10k Bangalore, 'Run Maadi Run' Event.. it was only on the day b4 that I came to know that few of my frends were planning to participate.. initially I was a bit hesitant as that time of that day was already marked in my calender.. but thn I thought few things can be postponed but few opportunities rarely come your way nd u hve to grab it.. so I wnt ahead with the thought of participating in 10k open category ..and on 18th morning, we 4 of us reached the venue, kanteerava stadium at around 8:15, only to get excited at the sight of participants who have thronged the place.. few of thm were busy with their warm up sessions nd most of thm were socialising.. after smetime everyone's eyes moved in the direction of two women in the professional women category who were running with full energy towards the finish line...looking at them I was wondering if I will be able to run with such a potential even towards the end..(yeah I can listen to u guys murmering, 'the question arises only if u reach the end!!!', I agree as even I thougth the same:)).. thn at around 8:57, the gates were opened for us to reach the start line.. and after reaching the start line, all eyes were on the digital clock for it to click 9:00.. I could hear to each organ of my body jumping with excitement...nd we were surprised at the energy levels of the participants.. few of thm who were in their 50s were talking of time limits of 45-50min.. my hatsoff for them.. as soon as the clock showed 9:00, I started with my first marathon:).. hardly I would hve run for 150-200 m when my heart started pounding nd I had to stop looking at my pitiable stamina.. two of the guys of my grp wnt ahead, and my frend was running with me.. he stopped whn ever I stopped.. the first 1km was very tough as till thn I never gave a thought as how tough it would be.. in the first 1 km I thought 'N' number of times to quit and go back.. but there was a lingering wish down the heart to try harder.. and only after my frend screamed "hey.. look we reached 1km mark" after looking at the 1km board, did I start feeling, 'ohh 10 such distances will take me to finish line' and I started off with full energy asking him to carryon and not to stop for me.. it was clear that I wnt to reach the finish line.. but also I knew that I dont hve the potential to run throughout.. so I started running less n walking more, for it was clear in my mind that I wnt to reach the finish line but not the medical camp:D... so it was more of a walkathon than a marathon for me.. I just wnted to feel n njoy the experience.. I was walking/running at my own pace..walking most of the time nd running whnever my mind wakes up to the thought that its marathon not a walkaton baby:).. but it was a great platform to meet ppl, who r very enthusiastic irrespective of age, all trying to break the monotonous lifestyle.. few ppl, by participating and few by cheering the runners.. I felt that I shd try harder to run, atleast for the second category of people, who as a whole family, came out of their homes, irrespective of it being a sunday, just to cheer n encourage the runners.. a big appaluse shd be given to them.. nd I could hear to one middle aged lady who while running was telling her kid on the phone, "beta mein teek hoon, papa aage nikal chuke hain aur mera unse baat hue"... my heartful appreciation wnt for the lady and her whole family, obviously without whom she could'nt hve done it.. while I was running/walking looking at all these interesting things, I never knew when time and distance flew.. I crossed 2km, 3km,4km..........9km and finally 10km mark:) in 1hr 38min 04sec.. my frend who had already reached the finish line was waiting for me with a thought 'if this girl is still running or is at sme medical camp'.. my happiness knew no bounds on reaching the finish line.. after tht we met 2 of the other guys who came with us.. had the bun n biscuits provided by the organisers nd thn came back home....

the only thing which is not at all appreciable in the whole event was the littering of water bottles... its really good that organisers have arranged for water throughout the path .. but instead of bottles thy could have provided in paper cups which r disposable.. for thy know the attitude of Indians whn it comes to littering.. bottles were lying throughout the path causing hindrance not only to the participants but also to the nature...its not only the organisers who r to be blamed but also the participants.. i think its still a long way to go for Indians to understand the damage they r causing to the nature...except this it was a memorable experience atleast for me:)

signing off with a hope that I will be able to build up my stamina nd try another and many more marathons..:)

hve a nice weekend:)

"Calm seas never make skillful sailors"

Life is an adventure; is'nt happiness enjoying this adventure??
smehw I could'nt go with the ending of the story published in Young World, The Hindu....
http://www.hindu.com/yw/2008/05/06/stories/2008050650010100.htm

I feel young adults should be told that,
"Calm seas never make skillful sailors" and
"A ship in a harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." - great nineteenth-century theologian, William Shedd
but the story preaches the other way..
Below is the story for ppl who could'nt access the link:
Happy wanted something more from life. She was tired of living in a pool of hippos, being happy all the time.
Happy was, well, always happy. Happy, the happy hippo, lived in a little pool with a lot of other hippos. All seemed well, until one day Happy decided that she had had enough. "Oh! My life is dull," she said. "Here I am, happy all the time with my family and friends, all telling me that it's good to have such a happy hippo around.
But, what about me? What about my life?" Bird, who always sat on Happy's back, knew that Happy was sad.
"Oh Bird, it's as if my heart is going to break. You see I am now five years old and all I have ever known is this pool and happiness. Isn't there anything else besides all this?" Bird nodded.
"I want to travel the world... to see life. I want more than a pool of hippos!" She got out of the pool and walked away with Bird on her back. She had walked a long way when she heard loud, raucous laughter. She saw monkeys swinging from tree to tree, pointing to her and laughing at her. They were even hurling insults at her. They had never before seen a hippo! Happy was upset. Bird said, "It's an experience, Happy!
A quick dip
It was hot and Happy's moist skin was getting dry and itchy. "Oh! for some water to have a quick dip," she thought. Just then, she saw a pool, invitingly cool. As she was about to take a plunge she heard a growl. "And who may you be?"
She saw a bright orange face. "This is a private pool, I'll have you know," said Orangeface. "It is mine. You need my permission."
"May I use your pool, dear Orangeface?"
"Don't be cheeky. No! You cannot use my pool," said Orangeface angrily. Shocked at such rudeness, Happy walked away.
She waddled off and came across a nice pond. She was just about to jump in when she heard a whiny voice. "Not so fast, fatty. Not unless you want to end up in my mouth!"
Happy looked to find a long, ugly creature with big, bally eyes and a wide, big mouth and sharp teeth. "This is my pond, so keep moving. Keep moving, I say."
Happy moved on. On and on she went, growing more and more unhappy with each step. Bird wanted to remind her about `wanting new experiences and seeing life'! Then unexpectedly the trees disappeared and they saw fields and fields of cultivated crop. They trudged on.
And then they saw it. It was the happiest moment of their lives. They found a large beautiful lake, with grass growing on the edges and trees swaying in the breeze. Happy tumbled into the water. The relief was enormous.
She giggled as she closed her eyes and felt the cool, blue waters cover her body. Suddenly, there was a scream. Happy saw a number of creatures on two legs, screaming and pointing. "What have I done now?" she thought.
Soon she had a net around her and was being dragged out of the water. She tried to tell them, that she wanted to swim but they wouldn't listen. Then the twolegged creatures hauled her into a big cage-like thing and she felt herself moving away. Bird wished he could remind Happy of the lovely home she had exchanged for her adventure.
After what seemed ages, Happy was dragged out and put into another cage. This cage however, did not move. It was rather cramped and there was a small pool in the centre. Happy went to dip herself in it and found that when she did, most of the water spilled out. But she was so tired, she fell asleep.
The next morning, Bird woke her up early because he couldn't understand what was happening. For in front of the cage were a number of two-legged creatures, all peering at Happy. "Have you had enough of new experiences? Have you seen enough of `life'?" asked Bird.
"Yes," whispered a very humble Happy. "Can I go home now?"