Marathon

Chennai half marathon 21.09 km, sponsored by Idea - first prize for Tamilnadu category was 2 lakhs, since I was not that good at running, my aim was to complete it within 3 hours(maximum time given). Vijaykrishnan and I started early from college and reached the starting point half an hour early. We had practiced only for a week, as we had not known about the marathon till very late. First day I had practiced alone, had run 1.25 kms, second day I had run 2.5 kms while Vijay had completed 3kms, third day I had completed 5 , while Vijay 7. We were happy as the distance was increasing multiplicatively. Next day we had run 8 kms(even though vijay had completed before me) and it was the highest distance we had run before the marathon, the next day I had run 8 kms alone. As I was not a good runner, I had needed more practice than Vijay had needed. The day before the marathon, we took rest to increase our potential. 21.09 km of the marathon, was a circuit from the War Memorial(at the end of marina) to Elliot’s beach 2^nd avenue, and then again back to the War Memorial.

Before the start, sponsors were marketing their products by giving out caps, bands, etc. . . I was not interested in any of these things as my only aim was to complete the marathon fully. Participants around us were more professional, even Vijay looked professional J. I was the only one wearing three-fourths, which everyone uses at home (feel free mamu). We saw many old men around us and they were also participants. We saw a saamiyar with a one-feet kudimi with whom many were taking pictures. As no one would believe that I had run 21 kms, I got a yellow band. The compère who was instructing the participants was even worse than me in Tamil. The marathon started with vows from all, that helping others would be everyone’s first aim. I wasn’t able to run for the first 2 mins as there was a heavy traffic (of people J). I was able to see Vijay only for the first 5 mins. He disappeared after that(he was running fast).

I was running behind a group of people who seemed more professional, with six different-coloured water bottles attached to their belt. I had practiced earlier to take a break every fourth km, since I am not professional it was a great achievement by me. After the first 2 kms, I saw the same group of people opening their coloured bottles and drinking them. The so-called “professional runners” took a break there. I grabbed a cup of lime juice from volunteers at the 4^th km, drank a few sips and saw a 60 year old runner overtaking me. As I was not a professional, I felt free J. I saw a school student with slippers and costume worse than me, running beside me. When I was about to overtake him, he sped up and moved out of my sight. He was a noob J, no one would run fast in the beginning(I meant among noobs J).

While I was running my 6^th km I saw someone without shoes overtaking me and there were 4 bikes guarding the runner. I guessed runner must be from Kenya and within the next two mins a girl overtook me and then I understood that the girl who was running first was being guarded by the four bikes. After that national level and state level women marathon runners overtook me one by one(feel free mamu). On my 7^th km I had thought of taking a rest, but I saw a Kenyan crossing 13th km in front of me, he was running in marathon as if he was running a 400 m sprint. After that I saw that the national level and state level marathon runners crossing their 12^th km. I didn’t take rest till my 7^th km, but I had 2 sugar packets on my way.

I planned to take rest at the 8 km point which was at Thiru Vi Ka Bridge. From that point I was looking out for Vijay on the opposite side, as he was a good runner. At the 9 km point I again met the 60 year old runner. I ran beside him for 5 kms and I saw the respect and encouragement given to him by the volunteers. I was at my 10^th km and I was thinking that Vijay must have reached the 15 km mark as I had not seen him on the way (I was the only sad runner in the age group of 21), to my surprise I saw Vijay was at his 11^th km while I was at my 10th, I had a thought of running towards him, jumping at the end and hitting his hand, but due to pain in my legs I just waved my hands. At 10.5km mark volunteers gave a band to all, which indicates runner had crossed 10.5 mark and reached the end.(which means he ran full length) Volunteers cheered the 60 year old runner and noted down his chest number for SS music awards.

I used only one 250 ml bottle and 4 sugar packets for the first 13 kms. At the 13 th km, there was a refreshment point where they provided glucose. I had glucose and walked for a few mins. I saw the same school student who had run fast earlier, but he was really great as he had run without shoes and without proper dress. I completed 13 kms in one and half hour and I thought that I should complete the rest in another one hour. But after that I wasn’t able to run as much. I took many breaks in between, took a lot of water and juice. On my 17^th km I noticed that only 40 mins remaining for the 3 hour deadline, but I couldn’t even walk at the point, so I got a water bottle, drank fully, walked for 2 mins and then took a sprint and again got a water bottle and repeated the procedure. I completely walked my 18^th and 19^th km. While I was at my 20^th km I thought that the 3 hours were over and that I was worst at running. In order to complete sooner, I took my last sprint in which I overtook almost 200 participants and reached the end where I saw Vijaykrishnan waving his hands towards me. I asked his completion time and mine. He took 2.30 hrs while I completed just before 3 hours and I am really happy for that(run of the mill Indian).