Blog Bandh before Boston

This one is perhaps among the last few posts I will make on my blog for the next 6-7 months.

There will be 6 other posts - 1 for Bombay, 1 for Bangalore Ultra, 1 for my annual fund raising request for Parivaar and 3 book reviews which are in the pipeline.

As I have said in an earlier post, I am planning to leave for the US in Jan to prepare to qualify for Boston.

I am also trying to write a book. So I have taken the advice of someone who is mentoring me and will keep my expression limited to writing off my blog. So help me God.

Today appropriately enough, I ran 6 miles in 46:09, my fastest yet in recent memory, eclipsing 46:12 I ran last Sat and the 46:30 this week.

Minor victory was 3 miles in 22:09, 6 seconds faster than my best ever 5K.

Pray for me...

NB 740

Acche Shakun...

aka Good Omens...

On a day when Mission Boston revived, I clocked 46:30 for 6 miles, my 2nd run below 47 min in less than a week...

I think it is the excitement of the approaching menace ;)

On On, as the Hashers like to say.

Ran with my 1st ever pair of Adidas Supernova which were completely uncomfortable to get into but otherwise worked fine. They definitely can't be used for a full since they seem very narrow, but they seem to work just fine for short distances

Sunday Run, other stories

21.5 to 22 km in 1:59:22*
Ran negative splits :)

Ran the reverse leg in about 57-58 min largely due to a bout of reckless running (which continued till I reached the HSBC ATM on Pedder Road) after I saw AA around Babulnath when I was just hitting the seaface on Marine Drive.

Had reached the sea-face in about 1:01, slower than usual, mostly due to a 1 km stretch after exiting Worli Sea Face when I chilled out till I hit Haji Ali.

Slightly disappointing Sunday otherwise though since my team didn't even make the finals of the regional finals of TATA Crucible.

However, the day has ended on an awesome note since my 'adopted' cousin to whom I gave tips to, finished in 4:19 at KTM. And I had predicted her time within a 10 min range.

Further, divine intervention happened on the most depressing chore of the weekend, of doing my laundry - mysteriously some clothes were cleaner than I thought, not sure how much leaving them soaked for over 24 hours had to do with...

So all's well that ends well, especially since I finally finished the Bryson

* Haven't quite sorted out whether it is 21.4 or 22 or more!

Waltzing Matunga (Road...)*

‎46:12 for 6 miles this morn...It is the fastest I have run in recent memory and unlike most fast runs, I started steady...
1st lap of 1.2 km in 5:45#
and then I tried to maintain the deficit of 15 secs per lap

But the 7th lap completed in 5:30 or so set me up for a finish.

Actually at the end of 7th lap, I had taken 40:16 or so.
So when I started my 8th loop, all I had to do was hold an 8 min mile pace which I thankfully did.

I am taking some sensible advice from some generous souls in the US, who are awesome runners about a planned sabbatical for Boston. Right now, it looks like I may put it off for another year while I build some serious time.

For all the excitement about today's time, a 3:10 for Boston means I need to be able to do a 40 min 10K (I know you can do a 42 min 10K too, but you can't hold a 10K pace for a full marathon,atleast I can't)

So wish me luck to take off from work soon...

All my buddies running KTM, God Speed...

#that is not really so fast when you know that it usually degrades
* Matunga Road is the closest railway station to my humble home in Bombay

Tuesday Run

48:25 for 6 miles
NB740

Ganesha Chaturthi, Id weekend mileage...

Ran 15 km on Sat, some of it with the generous Jugy who ran about 8.4 km with me.
Ran 29.7 km on Sun in the company of some lovely friends from the Red Dragon gang...Upon some persuasion, ran all the way from home to Cubbon park starting at 5:25 am. Felt like I was getting up for an early flight, except I was the only one flying. All dogs on the way gave me a sympathetic look... Not one barked at me, let alone chase me.

Am happy I didn't run any kms in the week since I was so fresh. In fact I feel like I can run another 10K atleast. This is the kind of fuel in the tank we need on Nov 14th (actually we need 2 such tanks on Nov 14th) and on Jan 16th.

Of course, free breakfast from the evergreen and getting younger Commander...Unbelievably after a loaded dosa and dip-idlis and a coffee to top my morning consitutional, ... I am now hungry! (It's not even 2 hrs since I ate all that)...

Living the Dream

This weekend, I finally got to wear the jersey of the Albiceleste and play football - a lifelong dream. Pic as soon as I get it.

A frantic message and several calls from colleagues woke me up from some really comfortable sleep, as I had planned to take it easy and run later in the day, mostly due to some weird ankle pain. That was not to be. We got as far as the semis of an intra-office tournament.

Ended up not running at all on Sat.

Ran 21 km in 2:02:40. Not bad. Not very good either. But am still a little sore due to the football y'day.

NB 740

Govinda a la re run

But I am anything but happy with the people. One truck full of abusive kids hurling m* and other profanities at passers-by around Shivaji Park, other trucks full of more such people blocking the road, making running next to impossible...

However, I did run - 6 miles in 48:05
1st lap of 1.2 km in 5:03 (you read that right!)

The plan was to break 47:28 but the trucks wouldn't let me. The constant getting on, getting off footpath and several stoppages to let people and even some dogs pass on footpath, etc cut atleast 15-20 seconds of my time.

NB 740.

Still I tried. I was in 42:07 until the penultimate lap and thought I will break it. But side stitches had other ideas. Another day, I will break it...

Thanks to Saint Ralph for the inspiration (see the next post)

Alibaug Mileage Log

12 km on Sat
21 km on Sun

Several interruptions on the treadmill due to powercuts at the hotel, esp on Sat. On Sun, due to me, they connected the gym directly to the DG-set.

Ran with an even older NB 767...

Been a while since I ran consecutive days on a treadmill...

Was raining like crazy at Alibaug (no pun intended) and hence decided to run indoors.

Angry Middle Aged Man ;)

Anger makes me go stronger. 6 miles in 47:28. Go ahead, piss me off on Jan 15th. Will see what I can do to beat my PB ;)

NB 740

Anger is the best floss

Nothing motivates me like anger does.

Ran 30 km in 2:58:47. No breakfast again. But this time I didn't forget. Had kheer last night. So I thought that was heavy enough. I was wrong but not by much. Ran out of fuel only when I reached Siddhi Vinayak (3 km before finish). Had a Perk with Glucose in it. (Cadbury guys, if you need an endorser, I am available ;)) Since I ran alone, had to buy water at Babulnath from that Farsaan shop. Lost about 45 sec for the chocolate purchase and about 30 sec for the water. I guess I can clip another 2-3 min by virtue of not having to carry water during races.

Saw Nitin Paranjpe and his wife, first on the entry to Worli Sea Face and then on the way back. When I smiled at him, he gave me a bewildered smile back!

And Anil bhai and I saw each other yet again... He did some fantastic sprinting with some 2 of his chums to close his run on Marine Drive.

Crossed Savio also (who was training someone) twice, once when I crossed Anil.

Dan gave a booster shout near Worli and that helped clip about a min on this run. Thanks Dan..

I am beginning to like the way I look now. Must be down atleast a kilo and my 30 inch trousers are loose...

Chennai - Weekend Mileage

~10K on Sat - from Thiruvanmiyur to Besant Nagar beach and back
~10K on Sun - from Thiruvanmiyur to Besant Nagar beach and back

Was surprised to discover Kalakshetra was so close to where I stayed with a pal.

Was even more suprised with Chennai being much cooler than Bombay

Thursday Run

6 miles. 48:30 or so...
First lap: 6:22
Fastest lap: 5:43

Last 2 laps in the rain

Used NB740, which are awesome....

Was too worried on last 2 laps since phone got wet... Gave lots of heartburn before performing finally. So far, fingers crossed...

Upcoming weekend in Chennai. Wish me luck.

Sunday afternoon run

After staying up till after 4 am working again after a night out the previous night, you don't notice when the alarms go off... (Atleast I am not superhuman... I wish I could lie and say my body can take that but it can't and I can't)

Some kid woke me up to apologize for missing y'day's run and was wondering if I am running today!

I even made breakfast for myself (toast only in case you wanted to know) to prepare for a 30 km. And it was already 10 am...

So I pushed it to later in the eve.

And then guilt took over. So ran 23 km in about 2:20 or more, primarily due to the oppressive humidity in the company of the kid who cycled along...

Not bad for this week. I have finally crossed 40 km for the week... How will I get to 75 in a day? :(

Jaage se der...

The song couldn't have been more apt. Yet another night out on a Sat.
And this time I haven't slept yet.

Just came back from a 6 mile run in 51:23.
Couldn't have been better timed

1st lap in 6:33

Ran with the NB763 since it has been raining. Now the monsoon is on its way out. So the rain while more forceful is far more pleasant...

Blood, Sweat and Tears

9.6 km in 47:57. best so far in 2010.
2 nipple bursts to show for it. was worth it, i guess

new shoes, New Balance 740. Fits like a glove. Only hitch is due to some goof on RRS, got a D width. So can't use for full marathons.

Ran the 1st lap of 1.2 in 5:32 (fast, run is screwed)
Ran the 2nd lap of 1.2 in 5:33 (way too fast, run is now mothered)
Had run 4 laps in 22:30 (not my best yet, but good enough considering i didn't know how fast i was going in the first lap)

Had no water also, although that might improve my time by only about 15 sec. Still need to find another 45 sec first.

Might race in 2 weeks at some race in Borivili.

Lets see.

I think listening to 3 different stars sing Endalo Mahanubhavulu in the afternoon drove up my inspiration levels to achieve this.

45 min 10K, here I come

Night-Out Run

I am singing in the rain...(Not the Malcolm McDowell one, the Fred Astaire one)

After what seems like a long time, I did a pure night out - no sleep yet since y'day. Of course, it was for work.

Will sleep soon.

13 km in 1:06 or so, all of it in the rain. In fact the return stretch on Worli Sea-face (WSF) offered tail-wind for the first time in my entire running in Bombay. I always get head-wind but usually get cheated when I run back. But then today is my day. And I ran my pants off. Surely I ran a negative split for my return leg mostly because I had this guy in my sights. And I ran about 300-400 m up WSF and back.

Exorcised one major regular humiliation by this guy who usually races me up Pedder Road faster than I can get down. Today is my day. No one beats me today. I ran down 2 pairs of guys, most of whom are usually faster than I am down Worli Sea-face and raced home in order to have my breakfast and go to sleep.

Feel like a million bucks. Actually I am forcing myself to sleep now. Zzz...

Today is my day. Sunday bloody Sunday.

As the quote goes, Today is the beginning of the rest of my life.

Saturday Run

I am not as waterproof as I want to be.

Ran 12 km at around noon with 5 dry laps and 5 wet laps and unlike Schumi, my wet laps weren't as impressive.

Took 61 min and 14/100ths of a second to complete this after a 1st lap in 5:58 ( too fast). Had done 8 laps in 49:10.

Looks like the monsoon took offence to my previous blog posts and washed out most of the day.

Running Balance

Ran 9.6 km in 49:01

1st lap of 1.2 in 6:56
2nd lap of 1.2 in 5:35
.
.
.
8th lap of 1.2 in 5:56

Started deliberately slow to try and do the run in 48:00

Will do it soon.

This was for last week's missed run...

Waterproof will to run

Dear Monsoon,
You ruined my Sat by raining down incessantly for the entire day. I missed my only other running day in the week.

You can sully my bedroom by leaking thru the roof,
You can make it muggy in the house
You can cloud out the sun
Not my waterproof will to run

31 km in 3:15. Not impressive. I know. But you didn't make it easy by raining on me and adding headwind.

Thanks to A for his company. He came along till Babulnath.