Marathon runner

“Don’t ask me why I run…Ask yourself why you don’t.”

RunnersOnTheGo.com

For long I have been intrigued with marathons. Mind you I have never participated in one that is, up until a fortnight back. I have often watched marathons on the TV and always believed it’s a test not of physical but mental endurance. Like all other physical activities/sports once you get into the groove of it, it’s pretty much addictive, I guess.

 The marathon runner in my family is Mr Raju B G my husbands’ brother in law. He is truly an inspiration for sheer perseverance and dedication. His wall of fame is amazing. Have a look at it below. I saw an amazing physical transformation in him once he started running marathon routinely. He wakes up every day at 4 in the morning to run. No wonder he had to be on my blog page.

A chance OPPORTUNITY

My tryst with marathon happened with a very sweet incident. My daughter and my nephew happened to be born only 3 days apart. So when he ran his first 5k in Houston, Texas my daughter wanted to do it too. The opportunity came late one evening when we came to know Al Ain zoo is organizing a ladies only run. I was still having second thoughts (lazy to drive all the way that too with half the marathon information) but she wouldn’t have it another way.  So there we were (me and my friend with our kids) at Al Ain zoo at 6.30 am chill morning with another 100 or so marathon enthusiast. It was the 2^nd FBMA ladies run. we registered on the spot and got our chest numbers

run with the animals

Now starts the fun. The entire run was through the zoo. What beautiful morning sights awaited us. You all know I love running through and walking through new regions as I mentioned in my previous post on al ain oasis or my maldivian experience. So this I knew would be feast for my eyes. I saw…gazelle grazing……wild cat babies sleeping (really adorable )…….flamingos bathing at the pond…..cheetah face to face….. Take a look at the pics. Animals sure are early riser. As you can see I could not stop myself from clicking away even while in a marathon. Breathing early morning fresh air, running through the neat pathways cut across the zoo, watching the wild animals rise…wow it was an unforgettable experience for the walker/runner in me.  Al Ain zoo is a amazingly impressive well maintained zoo and a must see.

little runner

 So, my little marathon runner was all fine until 3k and then it took all my positive talk to push her through the last 2 k.  The fact that I ran my very first marathon with my daughter was special for me. Physically it wasn’t tiring for me at all as I walk about 5 k regularly. So it was a bigger deal for her. Upon crossing the finish line and wearing that medal it was sheer joy for both of us. Of course a photography session followed…. Me and my daughter together with my friend and her son had a fantastic time. Mind you the kids stole the show.

Future plans

I plan to do more in future.. may be a 10k… I had read about a hikers journey to top of mt. Kilimanjaro. It had got me thinking. What makes man take up such physically challenging tasks. Isn’t a couch in front of TV with a drink/ bag of chips a better prospective? What makes scores of people across the world wake up early and go for walk? What defines them or sets them apart?

“THEY ARE ADDICTED”. They have discovered the elixir of life. They know what a difference it makes in their daily routine when they do and when they don’t do their physical routine. In several ways they are already different from their non active peer and try as they may, they fail to explain fully what pushes them. It’s a very personal experience. For morning walkers it’s a sense of accomplishment early in the morning, what better way to start then to first overcome your own mental barriers then prepare to slug it out with rest of the world through the day. No wonder regular walkers are more positive people. You can’t keep them down for long. How about asking that next time you interview someone for a job.

its ain’t over until i say its over; rocky

For anyone and everyone who feel lost at bay at a professional or personal level I suggest starting morning walks. It may sound silly but the mere fact that you put an alarm leave your cozy home and walk out on your path every day the sheer tenacity that it extracts from u somewhere changes u. Bit by bit the chips of negative thoughts fly away. One can’t breathe in toxic rooms, similarly familiar environment do not give fresh ideas or perspectives. Leaving the four walls of your house will automatically open the mind for refreshing and positive thoughts to flow in. You will notice your life changing in amazing ways.

Share your marathon stories. I do see a lot of people on facebook posing with their shining medals. Yes! It’s a great feeling.

Each of us have a marathon runner in us. The one which can fight it out for the long haul. Let us bring that person out.