“Don’t worry, we will make you  into a Marathoner”  were the words  uttered  by Dan, somewhere in  early 2010, when I had tentatively enquired whether I could attempt to run the Full Marathon.  After finishing the  Mumbai Marathon 2012, those words came back to me and though a bit late, I am sure Dan is pleased.

I was always awed by the long distance runners and athletes in general, and always wished  I could run as gracefully as they do and also wished I had the endurance to last those gruelling miles. However I was never confident of doing the same , and therefore never really   made any efforts to attempt,  till on a rainy and wet evening on 27^th July, 2005, I waded through the flood waters  and walked  22 kms in a little over four hours from my office in Prabhadevi to my home in Chandivali.  A thought crossed my mind “ surely if I run and walk, I can complete the Half Marathon?”.  Thus commenced a journey  which has  enriched me in more ways than only running.

That year I started training in right earnest after the monsoons, and moved from a 6k weekend run to   four day  a week runs gradually upping the long run mileage to 20k. As luck would have it, pulled a hamstring a fortnight before the 2006 race  with the result, I had to walk / limber the last few kms  and finished in not so impressive timing of 2:35  Once the pain subsided, I searched the net and downloaded a variety of information on training and then trained accordingly. This resulted in a 2:03 finish at the SCMM 2007.  Some more training and logging miles saw my timings  improve to 1:58 at the 2008 edition of SCMM aided of course by a benevolent weather.  After that,  I kind of plateaued  and could not achieve the same   timings.  

In early 2009 I started training, and sometime in April, I thought I had again pulled a hamstring. But a visit to the doctor revealed that something more was wrong. There was a disc bulge in the lower back which was irritating the sciatic nerve as well as the piriformis muscle.  I was told to lay off running till the doctor could assess and give a green signal. I continued the physiotherapy sessions and for most part of the year could not resume training.   Finally did resume training and managed to complete the SCMM 10 in 2:10

Sometime in February, 2010 my friend Sourabh called me and mentioned that there was going to be a group run at Borivali National Park on a Sunday, and would I be interested? I said yes, and that was to become one of the most important  decisions that I had ever taken. The group run got me introduced to Giles, who pioneered the Borivali  runs and a spawned off a whole flurry of  running activities at the park of which the half marathon is till date a favourite with the running community. Mostly it also gave me a whole new family who are such a joy to be with.  This also opened up the RFL site to me and through which I came to know another bunch of die hard runners  from Aarey, whom for obvious reasons I chose to call “ the bullets”.   Amongst them I was pleasantly surprised to find Dan, who I recollect used to train alone, at times I used to run at Aarey  on random weekends.  At that time I was told by a friend that Dan  was a full marathoner, and  immediately for me he was from another planet. This was when I cautiously asked him whether I could possibly attempt the full marathon which was  to me a  formidable challenge.

Slowly Dan introduced me to the real world of long distance running , and the discipline required to be a part of this mad, insane world. Once again I started training afresh  in right earnest. Suddenly lots of things happened, and If I were to be asked  about any decisive  year for me in running, it was no doubt 2010. This was when Ram, who always leads from the front for all the initiatives in the forum, mentioned to me that we should travel outside Mumbai to participate in races. I liked the idea and enrolled for the Sunfeast 10K. It turned out to be an uneventful race, apart from the “ Wink and you miss”  speed of the Kenyans, and  some hilarious escapades of a wannabe  champion (which will make for some interesting reading in a separate book).Did not enjoy the race as much as the run, and vowed  never to repeat that race.

The next on line was the IIT  10K which was a fun run and in a  fantastic environment led by the enthusiastic Madhur Kotaray. Sadly the race has lost its charm of late with a change in the organisers.  I clocked 56:25 and it was fantastic to run with all my running buddies in the pristine environs of the premier knowledge bank of India. The interesting matrix for performance in this race enables oldies like me to have a respectable rank. I do  not recollect my rank, but it was in single digits.

The next on the list was the Kaveri Trail Half in September, 2010. This was something out of the ordinary as we do not have any opportunity to train on trails here.  I was determined to enjoy the outing. We were a bunch of people from Mumbai and it resembled a college picnic.  We had great fun with Kavin’s jokes and Bhasker’s antics  (was lucky not to be clobbered by some victims!).  Dan had given a target of 2:08 and probably because of the weather and the great arrangements, I clocked 2:01  I was extremely satisfied with this race, as the terrain was uneven and I was recovering from a nasty ankle sprain. To top it I managed to twist the ankle on the trail somewhere in the 15^th km.

Then came the icing on the cake,  the Airtel Delhi Half in November 2010.  The training was adequate and the weather absolutely cut out for a fantastic run. The arrangements were superb, with adequate water and Gatorade support, and  cracker of a course flat as a pancake. This was the best race of my life. I ran comfortably and clocked 1:52 a personal best by 6 minutes over my 2008  timing!  I was on cloud nine!

Well, what goes up must come down eventually. After the euphoria of the PB, and one week into the training, the ugly sciatic pain reared its head again. I did a comfortable 28 k run in nice easy pace, and two days later, the glutes and sciatic nerve pain got me badly. Initially I tried to dismiss this as a bad dream, as I was one and a half months away from my first crack at the full distance. However the pain did not go away, and I then consulted a doctor in order to identify the specific pain spot and work on it. As usual got the MRI done and visited the doctor.   I did not like what I heard him say. “Continue with physiotherapy, but if you want to continue running, you will have to undergo a surgery.” The words cut like a knife through me and I was staring at a future without running. Swimming and Cycling came to my mind.  What would life be like without the company of my buddies, running with whom meant so much to me?

I was scared to answer the questions. But I continued with physiotherapy with Qi Spine Care Clinic. Dr. Garima was very supportive. She assured me that we should take a second opinion and that sometimes MRI should not be taken too seriously.  The following weeks I continue to be depressed and would not  speak much.  Dan was a source of immense strength during these trying times. He told me  that he himself had gone through a DNF, and hence  in worst case that is something that I should accept.  But somehow Dan seemed to have more confidence in me, and said ” Don’t worry I think you will finish.”  Dr. Garima was rightly horrified when I mentioned to her that I was planning to run the race.  I assured her that I will be starting the race and from then on would be taking 5k at a time. I mentioned that the moment I  felt discomfort or pain, I would quit.

I lined up at the start of the race, on a chilly morning of 16^th January, 2011 facing the unknown, but amidst all known faces, friends who have been with me in this unforgettable journey. It gave me a lot of strength and courage. I started tentatively, an before long I was slowly but comfortably running. The pain was shut out and was hoping it remained shut throughout the next five hours. At the halfway mark the watch showed 2:17 and I decided to walk a bit to conserve energy. I had been out of training for over a month with no running whatsoever. At km 30 the watch showed 3:27, and I was feeling fine. There was still 12 kms to go and I was feeling my legs cramping a little. I started to walk run and when I reached marine drive the legs were stiff and could barely move. 5 more kms to go and I took a break for refilling my bottle. Here Dr. Garima appeared like an angel, and put me through stretches for a while. This was a lifeline for me. I run walked hobbled  to the finish wincing with pain to clock a not so impressive timing of 5:11  A sense of déjà vu enveloped me as it was similar to my first  half marathon in 2006. I was shaken to senses by a warm voice. Madhu, ever smiling was waiting at the finish selflessly for welcoming friends. Cant really express in words what that gesture meant to me as we both have gone through the frustrations, trials and tribulations of injuries. Madhu, you rock!

Then came the most difficult part, a six month layoff from running, and repairing the  defective body. On Dr. Garima’s  advise I met Dr. Abhay Nene, who is also a runner and runs the half marathons. His words were a bit more comforting. He instructed me to work at my core and strengthen it. He also said in passing “do not rule out surgery as an option”. Once again doubts started creeping in my mind. However I started rehab, initially with Qi Spine care and later  prolonged sessions of acupuncture with Dr. Ajit Mistry.  All the while I kept my fitness rolling with cycling, swimming and  walking.  Dr. Mistry is also a great advocate of Pilates with the gym ball, and actually gave me a DVD of the set of exercises. Throughout this six month rehab, Dan has been a continuous source of support, and was instrumental in guiding me on the right exercises for strengthening. It was not until mid June 2011, that I commenced my running tentatively and slowly. However all the exercises and the layoff  held good and I was  able to ramp up pretty quickly to decent mileages  keeping a careful eye on my body and with Dan keeping an equally careful eye on the advise that he gave me from time to time, depending on my progress. I tested  the distance by logging 28k at the Amby Valley Run in early August and by August end had logged an easy 32k.

What followed was a strict regimen of controlled training and shutting out the temptation to enter into all the fantastic races including the Kaveri, Delhi and Goa marathons, missing out on all the fun and focussing on that one big objective, the SCMM 2012. Yes, I had some unfinished business! All through the training apart from Dan, I was egged on by Bhasker, Ram, Raj, Srini, Rohit , Varun and Amit, who have accompanied me in most of the runs. I am truly blessed and thank each one of them for the encouragement and the inspiration  that they have provided. I would be failing in my duty if I do not mention the amazing guys at Navi Mumbai who facilitated two of the long runs at Parsik and Kharghar. It was at Kharghar flats after logging 40k, that I really achieved the confidence to successfully complete the ultimate distance ( Srivats and Surya, I owe you for this).  I had fixed a target of clocking 4:30, but as training culminated and the race day neared, I was becoming aware that I could really do close to 4:20.

On the day previous to the race we met at NRC,  Kandivali for the final piece of advice from Dan and Melwyn. After going through the paces, I mentioned my target to Dan, who replied that I was targeting correctly.  Come race day, Rohit, Amit, Rahul and myself set out to a cool morning to finally face the judgement day. After meeting all the familiar   faces and wishing each other, we started to the start line.  The race started on time and before I realised, I was well into the third km,  and was sweating.  A silent prayer went up to the weather gods, not now please! At the 4k mark I looked at my watch- 23:48 I was doing fine.  At the 8k mark, I overtook Bruce Hargreaves 4:30 bus the time 46:56 The going was good and  at the half way mark my watch showed 2:02. This was well ahead of my target times. Was I going too fast? I tried to slow down. But the weather was comfortable and I was running easy. I met Surya on the way, who was running nicely. At 30 k mark I was at 3:02 , the going was still ok. Somewhere at 31k I again came across Surya who appeared to have  cramps and was struggling. I paused momentarily to enquire, and was shooed off sportingly by Surya to continue.

Kilometre 32, and things started to take a turn. I was searching for Gatorade and there was none in the near horizon. The calves started mildly cramping, I looked for aid, none was visible. I remembered  Venkat mentioning that there was a medical tent under the Love Grove Flyover. I desperately ran till the flyover and went into the medical enclosure asking for Relispray. The volunteers were clueless, till one girl from the far side of the enclosure ( Bless her !) came with the spray. I sprayed it all over the calves and then prodded on. I was slowing down and also due to frequent walk breaks the rhythm was being broken.  Slowly the dreaded Pedder  Road heartbreak hill appeared, and with it those amazing people, families and kids offering bananas, biscuits and water also appeared.  The next 5 k was a bit painful and I had Ashok Poojary from TCS for company. We both kept prodding each other  till we reached the turn from marine drive to flora fountain. I stopped looking at the watch,  as Bruce’s 4:30 bus caught up with me and overtook me. Dismayed, I thought, Oh God! There goes my timing!  Then something snapped me awake, I started to increase my pace, and  once again for the second and last time I overtook Bruce. Now I was at the Flora Fountain turn. This place always gives wings to my feet. I picked up pace and started sprinting and did not stop till I crossed the finish line. A look at my watch showed 4:23: 48, I held back my tears. It could wait, I had finished the unfinished business and it was all that mattered.

 A familiar voice called out “Ashok!” And there was Madhu with her patented smile, once again though not running a marathon for the second year in succession, present to receive us at the finish line. Can there be any reward greater than having such a bunch of awesome friends?   Madhu, cant thank you enough, and await for the day when we all  can wait with hundreds of smiling faces to receive you at the finish line.

The business over, it is now time to retrospect. Can I improve? What are the plans for the next running season? What new things are in store for us? All exciting questions, the answers to which will be unravelled mysteriously  as another  year goes by.  Dan, this one is for you. Yes, you did make me into a marathoner and we are all blessed to have you with us.  A huge thanks to Giles for taking the initiative to form such wonderful groups and initiating me into this amazing world.  A huge thanks to Ram as well for keeping all the groups together and working so hard for the community. Lastly  being with such a wonderful bunch of runners has been a privilege and a pleasure.