The frequent readers would have been aware by now that the author is in love with the activity of running inspite of being a literal load on mother Earth. After running in way too many geographies like ring road of IIM L, the vastly populated and polluted Juhu beach, the Tata stadium at Jamshedpur, Grater Kailash community park in Delhi, Cubbon Park in Bangalore, Bhawanipur in Calcutta, Babrala, Pune and Chennai, the author felt confident enough to put up an attempt for the Mumbai half marathon spanning 21 kms.
So there i was in the huge crowd of about 7000 people mostly from the 40 plus age category on a chilly morning in Azad maidan Mumbai. It is a sublime experience running with such a huge mass of people, its inspiring in a way that is not expressible sufficiently. Now the thing with running at marathons is that the first 25 minutes are a breeze but then every gasp of breath, every stride, every second is an effort. And amid this, if you see a 65 year old man (not kidding at all) panting for his life but running past you with ease, it makes you feel like a cute little girl with pony tails.
So there i was in the huge crowd of about 7000 people mostly from the 40 plus age category on a chilly morning in Azad maidan Mumbai. It is a sublime experience running with such a huge mass of people, its inspiring in a way that is not expressible sufficiently. Now the thing with running at marathons is that the first 25 minutes are a breeze but then every gasp of breath, every stride, every second is an effort. And amid this, if you see a 65 year old man (not kidding at all) panting for his life but running past you with ease, it makes you feel like a cute little girl with pony tails.
But then the perspective changes as you trudge along.
Slowly time stops, every metre is an eternity and you know that you are running on some store of energy that was hitherto unknown. You are on auto pilot and unable to stop. You also realise that all this is possible because you are running only for the sheer pleasure of it.
Slowly time stops, every metre is an eternity and you know that you are running on some store of energy that was hitherto unknown. You are on auto pilot and unable to stop. You also realise that all this is possible because you are running only for the sheer pleasure of it.
It is not for a prize, any position or even for a social cause. You also realise that how futile is our race for most things in life. The absolute rat race for marks, ranks, right jobs, climbing up the corporate ladder, more money. You shudder to think at things you so easily sacrifice to attain these. The price of which you will realise only much later in life.
Also, how simple it is to find out the things that you really love and do them. It only takes a little courage to go away from well laid ruts and try to explore!
In the spirit of new exploring, a few lines from Jerusalem!
Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!!
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