If you want to keep a secret, you must also hide it from yourself. You must know all the while that it is there, but until it is needed you must never let it emerge into your consciousness in any shape that can be given a name.
― George Orwell, 1984
What’s secrets got to do with a marathon? Just one thing. It is usually very hard not to talk about participating in one 😃
Allow me to lead you to it.
I have a very hazy memory of when exactly my mind and hand coordinated to sign up for my first full marathon @AirtelHyderabadMarathon
The longest distance that I had run up until then was 30k (18.6 miles), back in 2017. And, I distinctly remember what an epic struggle it was.
To add, for someone who is an epitome of a recreational runner and is extremely conservative with putting in the hard yards at workouts and at practice runs, it took several weeks for the seriousness of the marathon distance and all the associated training to sink in.
There is an unwritten and unspoken code between my wife and me that we had agreed upon when I took up recreational running a few years ago. And, that code is that I will never attempt a distance that would take the joy out of running and result in pain and misery. The half marathon was the latest unspoken boundary that I wasn’t supposed to cross. Anything beyond that is not really a source of joy and encouragement at home.
For many weeks and months after signing up for the full marathon, I hadn’t volunteered any information about the event or distance. Or so, I thought. Closer to the event, subtle hints were dropped and white lies spoken. Like a deft cricketer ducking or swaying out of the line of a bouncer, questions and probes about the event and distance were avoided and side-stepped. However, nothing misses the eagle-eye of the missus and I am pretty sure she just played along and I can only imagine (and apologise) for the misery and anxiety I heaped upon the family in the weeks and months of training for the event. In hindsight, I think it’s best to involve the partner and take them in confidence while attempting something that is out of the ordinary.
For this lapse in judgement and trust, I truly apologise.
All things having been accounted for, once the enormity of the distance and task hit me, I had to find someone whose experience I could learn from. Someone in whom I could confide my deepest fears, anxiety and trepidation of running a full marathon. Luckily, apart from the running team that I am a part of (Raramuri Runners in Bengaluru who are hugely helpful) I have access to a very large and talented group of runners from the alumni of school (Sainik School, Bijapur) to lean on and I zeroed-in on Susheel Chand and Manoj Roy in tandem. Both have been enormously helpful but a special shout out to Manoj for taking me under his wings and guiding me every step of the way. Be it the articles that Manoj shared, or the training plan, or going out of the way to source a Garmin watch and running socks and for the invaluable information about nutrition and hydration, without Manoj’s constant presence and encouragement I wouldn’t have crossed the finish line. And, not to forget Manoj’s insistence that I subject myself to some heavy-duty sports massages. The magic hands and elbows and knuckles of Guru (Gurushrunga) had a huge part in getting me marathon-ready.
The tortuous Wednesday trainings and the long runs on Saturdays with the Raramuri Runners and the camaraderie of the running group is something I cannot thank enough.
So, what are my learnings from my maiden full marathon experience?
- Respect the distance.
- Be true to your training and exercise schedule.
- Break-up the distance into manageable chunks. Easier to think of running a 5k than the whole 42.2k at a time.
- Do not underestimate the importance of pre, during and post hydration and nutrition.
- Spare a thought and express gratitude to all those who have helped in the journey.
- Recreational runners like me are just that. Recreational. Let that be the guiding light. Leave the pressures of competition and timing to the pros.
- Do not over strategise. Even the best laid out plans have a way of selecting the wrong day, time and place to go out of whack.
- Dream about race day, the course, the finish line, the euphoria and soaking in the absolute joy of finishing what you started.
- Lean on the support of friends, family and fellow runners and draw from their experiences.
- Be thankful to the force that you believe in – for letting you train for the event and for allowing you to show up and finish the distance that you signed up for.
So, is 42.2k the new unspeakable threshold?
Maybe it’s a secret that’s already unravelled itself. Stay tuned.
About Airtel Hyderabad Marathon
This is the flagship event of Hyderabad Runners Society and a signature event of Hyderabad City. It is held on the last Sunday of August every year. Started in 2011 with an aim to spread awareness about running, active lifestyle and to bring the city together for one cause.
The race starts from the heart of the city, at Peoples Plaza, and takes the runners through the prime areas of Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, the IT corridor and terminates at the Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Gachibowli.
