It was one of my many wishes to complete a marathon after school, with life happening, had completely stopped participating in running /athletic event all together. In school, would eagerly wait for sports week to kick start. With time and other priorities, there was little to no time to workout and prepare, last year 2022, with being tested corona positive and being on rest for 4days, I thought why not register for a marathon for Pune International Marathon 2022, which was happening after corona, so made up my mind to give a challenge to myself to be back on track.
I had took the train ticket well in advance for Jalgaon to Pune, but it was RAC, and train was late by hours, had asked for my school friend to drop me at the station, had started train journey in midnight with a seating place and my luggage, slept for some hours and reached to my colleagues/friends room, freshen up and took power nap and headed for collecting BIB No and t-shirt a day before the event. Had a chat with her on her best terrace space overlooking the highway. Ate and drank chai and talked till 11pm.
Got up at 4am, had thought if I feel sleepy will not attempt to run, but I was woken up strong and affirmative. With some preparation before the event in-between work, would cycle for 15-20mins for someday, some days couldn’t, but somehow made my mind to at least attempt the run. With little water intake, started my journey by bike to reach the venue which was 15km away from my place, found good place to park, and reached 15-20 mins prior to the marathon in the morning, set my time tracker on and went for it, met a person around the age of my father, he asked me from where I am coming and whether it was my first marathon, I said I am coming from pashan and I am attempting after a decade, that just made me realize age is just a number, here everybody is considered same, but yes with category for different distances. There was Zumba for prepping and stretching/warming up before the run, started the run, I thought I won’t be able to as I was gasping for breath, and it was coz of my backpack, so emptied my water bottle to loosen some weight at the back.
The run started with little enthusiasm with music on, started from sanas ground towards P.L Deshpande garden, time tracker on, they had their own time tracker on with the BIB No. so what I did was kept the target of 3km first, as that is the distance I practiced on cycle, so with few walk breaks completed 3km run, than again aimed at 5km that would allow me to mentally prepare that same distance I will have to achieve after taking a U-Turn. Taking a sip whenever I felt the mouth has dried and less of energy, took sip of water whenever I could, I had empty stomach, just water when I started, I looked for dates to eat on the refreshment stall, I ate only when I completed half the distance, that was the reward I was giving myself for completing half the distance. Then while returning the volunteers would cheer all of us, ate one banana, sip of water, and with sun risen with bright again, reached the finish line when it was dawn. Reached the completion stall, and collected the medal, straight headed to refreshment, as I was very hungry, and time to reward myself for completing when I had thought I would be able to complete or not, went for physiotherapy stall to get ankle sprayed, had little sprain, then I was all set to eat hot puneri poha and chai, and sat on the ground and watched the prize distribution and yes took photos for accomplishing the aim of 10km as well. Many things learnt about myself as well in this 1.39hours. Many things came in my head while running about work-personal life, but at the end it is to be in present and look for what is now, completing or not completing is secondary, what one has is now and then make smaller goals to reach the aim. And that I should reward myself for smaller goals as well...ending year on good note I guess.
Note: always prepare for marathon,this worked for me, may or may not work for some people... preparation is very essential for marathon
-Saumya M
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