"Damn I didn't realise my legs have become so stiff," I told this to my companion while climbing down the Mumbai CST station's subway stairs.
The day -- Jan 17, 2010, big day of Mumbai Marathon, I woke up at around the same time that the half and full Marathon runners of began their tryst towards reaching the CST station enclosure; where the run ended. I got ready and was thinking whether I should carry Glucose water or Relispray or some bandages when I got reminded that I was running a measly 6 km and not a 21 km or a 42 km, so my carrying all of these aids would be unnecessary.
So with my mind clear of any confusion, a camera, my wallet and my friend -- newspaper in my hand, I headed out for an experience that I yearned for, for so long.
When I saw the sea of crowd at Azad Maidan, I was happy that so many other people also share the same passion of running on a Sunday despite being very well aware that this walk/run would lead to at least two days of body-ache. Anywho!! I began my walk with few of my office colleagues and after sometime of just walking got bored and split to make a dash and a run a while. I didn’t define 'run a while' even to myself, very well aware that I hadn’t ran for at least 2 years (except of course to catch a train or a bus but I am sure that doesn’t qualify as a run). So when I finally began to find my way through hordes of people walking, I found a friend of mine by chance. After exchanging pleasantries, we found our way through the crowds to run, sometimes on the extreme left of the street, sometimes on the streets and sometimes behind the very crowds, which had come down to cheer us through.
People on the streets cheered on while we made our way through and it felt as though our running and reaching the end made a difference to the society. With this in mind I strode ahead. On my way I saw a few people returning and bumming out of the race. And let me add, they were not the oldies but some middle aged aunties. The oldies in this gang of runners were the most energetic. While the old folks passed by, they hooted, cheered and even gave out a kind of war cry to the runners. In a line I would say that the atmosphere amongst these energetic people was electric. So I went ahead smiling and panting.
After a 2.5 km exhausting run, 3.5 km walk and many people past, we reached the end. I thought of going back to the Kayanis for a heavy non-vegetarian breakfast but only to be stopped by the thought of losing some weight. So, I continued to the refreshment area where I fell in absolute love with Horlicks Nutri bar, I had two of those. After all the water that I gulped down with fruits and snack bars, I headed back home. While I walked, I didn't feel much of a pain but the stairs at the CST subway made me think otherwise.
As I sat in the train and started, my encounter with the pain cropped up from all the thinkable parts of my body. This continued all the way, even as I slept almost the entire day till the next morning. Today is the day after and as I sit writing this my tail bone hurts and I can't put my finger on what could cause my evolutionary evidence to ache so much but all I know is -- I can't even run for the trains, which I must say I am or rather was good at. Enough cribbing!!
And now time for some long-shot promise to self.
I don't mean to make you laugh out mocking me when you read the next line but I think I am going to run the 21 km Half Mumbai Marathon next year on January 9, 2011. What the heck I'll choose better shoes for next time ;)
