Run!

Have been jogging for almost 3 months now. When I started in Oct it followed a long held whim that one day i'd be able to complete a marathon. Very uncharacteristically, three months down the line i feel i have done some justice to that initiative. Twice a week i manage to put in 10 kms and my first target of the half marathon by 20'th Jan seem's to be striking distance away. Or well, it at least is not a complete lost cause!

But the reason why I'm writing about running is the the complete feeling of freedom and power a long distance run gives you. The in between emotions also manage to cover quite a spectrum; one starts off with old joint creaks screaming, not again!, and self doubt about the distance one has mentally chalked out raises a cold sweat till euphoria and energy quickly flow in. The initial adrenalin stir makes you feel you're on top of the world and you want to start challenging chronological milestones set. Managing and utilizing this rush, I feel, is make or break for a long distance runner. While pace variations by putting in fartlings (small sprints) are essential to build capability, knowing limits becomes very essential. Nothing can sap your energy faster than a chemical burst induced pace run.

This is followed by a stage where the euphoria slowly starts diminishing and the first steady pulses of pain hit. Where does it hurt? Not at the obvious places surprisingly. For me, weirdly, it begins in my biceps. One reasoning can be because by now i am already half an hour into the jog and the constant arm movement without support is bound to hurt. Next the pain gathers strength and spreads to my back and torso muscles. This is when it starts getting unbearable and the masochism of a runners ego takes hold. You grit your teeth and go on. What works for me particularly well in this stage is the Chariots of Fire theme on my earphones. I can keep listening to it on and on. In fact my play list these days contains nothing but inspirational numbers. Next is the most interesting phase, the phase where the freedom of being a runner comes to the forefront. Ask any long distance runner, and they will tell u this phase is why they run in the first place.

Its difficult to describe the joy, but the basic emotion is that of conquering our physical limitations. Its the complete victory of mind over body. You realize at that moment that your body has no other purpose of existence other than to fulfill your wishes of your will. The nose, mouth, and lungs turn into air pumping machines, your heart is nothing more than an oxygen supplier which makes too much noise for comfort. And your legs, you ask? Well, they melted 15 mins ago and you realize they are still there only if you look down!

Can barely wait for 20'th Jan!