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.