My first hill run

This month run organized by Pune Running was on Sept 30 2012. It is a hill run this time.
The venue of this month run is changed from Pune University to Oxford golf club. 

I enjoyed running at Pune university. This is because, it is green, almost flat and cool because of the trees.

Pune Running organizes run of 5K, 10K, 14K, 21K and 28K at university campus.  I ran 21K in June and July 2012.

This time, the registration has maximum of 15 KM. I just picked 15K thinking I could do it easily. Well it is simple maths: 15K is less than 21K. With three half marathon under the belt I thought it was easy. I was proven wrong.

Maths does not work here. Hill run is different ball game all together. 15K is much greater than my 21K.

Oxford Golf course was a fantastic place (To see and enjoy). A Lush green patch. From the top of the hill (start point) you can see golf course which was so beautiful laid. It is just next to Crystal Honda on Pune Mumbai High way. There is a small lane next to Crystal Honda. That leads to Oxford Golf course. It is a private property.

The start point is midway from Crystal Honda and Oxford Golf course (near Helipad) at the top of the hill.

For 15K you go down the hill 2.5K towards Oxford golf course and come back to start point, completing 5K and run towards Crystal Honda again downhill for 2.5K and back to start point to complete 10 K. You do one more 5K towards the golf course you complete 15K.

This month my cousin brother S. B. Raju accompanied me. He register to the event on the spot. He is first timer. Wanted to run 5K. But the 5K was to start at 7.00 AM. He felt running early in the morning would be good, so he registerd for 10K with aim to complete only 5K. 

The race stared at 6.30 AM. I started my Runkeeper and started running down slope towards Oxford golf course. I was plugged in and listening to my favorite music. As the gradient got steep, I started tumbling down. My normal running pace is between 8 min/K to 9.5 min/K. Runkeeper announced that my pace was at 6 min per KM. This alerted me to go slow but I was not able to control. While going down the slope, I could not control pace because of my weight. I was tumbling down the hill, so my pace of running was unbelievably greater. My heart was pounding heavily. I feared that my heart would come in my hands at anytime. I was still enjoying the run. There were many twist and turns and I finally passed Oxford Golf course entrance gate. The next turn there was the man with the flag to indicate completion of 2.5K. I turn back and started climb up hill to reach the start point. 

I have a tendency to look down while running. While going uphill my back pained a lot. This reminded me of the youtube video that I saw few days back. It reminded me that I should look up and straight to keep the body posture correct. Slow the pace. But my mind and body both started giving up when I started looking up and seeing the gradient. I took a long walk break, almost crawled to reach the top of the hill. I could complete 5K.

I could see my cousin doing really good. Well ahead of me. We both reached the 5K mark almost at the same time. He completed his aim of running 5K and so he stopped at the top of the hill.

I quickly picked up the pace and started tumbling down the hill again towards Crystal Honda. It was easier this time. I turn back and started climbing up. It was hot and sun was directly over the head. Though it was hill, the breeze was missing. There was occasional breeze to keep things a bit cooler but that was not enough. I was sweating a lot.

At this point, a part of my mind which controlled all my previous runs, gave up. One part of the mind started saying enough, drop off at 10K. "Enough is Enough". The other half made me shout "Giving up is not an Option".

The route was not barefoot friendly. But there was an gentle man, above 60's and young at heart, a old timer at Pune running who was running barefoot. This inspired me.

When I reached the top hill, I quickly ran toward Oxford golf course so that I don't listen to the half that is saying stop at 10K. 

Tumbling and crawling, I finally completed my run. I was the last runner to complete the run but still I was a winner. I completed the 15K run in 2hours 31 mins at an average pace of 10min 45 sec/KM.

In another week, on Oct 7 2012, I would be running my first official hill half marathon. This hill run, though there was green patch, sun would be directly over the head. I expect no different at Satara Hill Marathon.

I definitely would have an adventure next week. Initially I wanted to complete this run sub 3 hours. But now after this gruesome session, I realize that hill run is different. It would be great to finish the run.

WHY RUN

I started running long distances recently.

In 2005 December, when one of my friend in my office proposed that we run 10KM by participating in Pune Marathon;  we first laughed; then we thought, should give him company. We planned to complete two or three KM with him and then take an auto home.

On the day of the 10K run, the enthusiasm of the runners and realization that we would not get any auto in the middle of event made us complete the run. Surprise ... Surprise... "we completed the run". It was greatest personal achievement for all four of us.

 I continued for 7 years running 10K religiously as I was happy to achieve this milestone year after year. Over years, my friend progressed from 10K to half marathon (21.5KM) to full Marathon (42.5 KM) and finally full Marathon with barefoot (without shoes). His personal achievements and achievements of my other friends at my office inspired me to take small step towards half marathon.

I was inspired to take my natural progression from 10K to Half marathon. When I took this decision people felt I am crazy, don't have better work to do. After completing the half marathon recently, I want to answer "WHY RUN".

Well Pheidippides had a reason to run from Marathon to Athens. What was the reason for me to run?

Obvious reason for running is to keep fit. To keep myself fit I joined Gym. Working out was fun but I was regularly irregular to Gym. When running long distances, I have a goal to complete it and at the finish line I have a sense of achievement. This kept me running regularly.

We Indians complain a lot. I am no different. When its time for Olympic games or any other international games we do complain about lack of gold wining athletes, better sports infrastructure and many more. We never look inward. We complain but do nothing about it.  We are not out of our bed till 7.30 AM in the morning. Neither fit to inspire nor good to motivate our own children. There is neither a culture of staying fit, nor playing games in most of Indian families. It is not so different in my family too.

To win a medal, there is lot that is involved; Dedication, hard work, motivation and inspiration. Behind a gold winning athlete there are too many people who directly and indirectly contribute. Dedication and hard work are characteristics of the athlete, but others can contribute to motivate or inspire.

Firstly, I want to stop complaining; I picked my shoes and started running so that my kids can follow one day.

I feel, first inspiration should come from within the family. Parents should create a culture of being fit. I don't expect my children to win medal immediately after I start running. But may be, it will inspire them to keep themselves fit and continue this within the family. My fit great grand children may one day win medals.

Good thing about long distance running like marathon is that every finisher is a winner.  As one of my friend said, it is a competition against oneself. It is to improve self and not get involved in another rat race of our busy life.

When I took the decision of running half marathon, first I need to over come mental block of  running 21KM. So my first run on June 24th 2012 was to remove this mental block and complete the race. I completed my first half marathon in 3 hour 37 min. The second half marathon on July 29th, I improved my timing by 15 min. I completed the race in 3 hours 20 min. Finally in Hyderabad marathon on Aug 26th 2012 my timing was 3 hours 5 min.

I improved my timing with ever run. I was competing against myself. Each time I completed the race, I was a winner. 

The joy of running, early in the morning while enjoying the music far exceeds all the reasons that I mentioned above. This cannot be explained but can only be experienced.