I am not Quitting Today I ran the Emidar 15 Kms monsoon Run at Bandra.Bib number 620 In excitement reached the start point much earlier, did my regular stretching, admired many other great runners that I knew. I have started running just a year back. Just last Sunday I had finished the Yeoor Hill Challenge , again a 15 Kms run, under 2 hours, 1.56 mins to be precise so, I was feeling pretty confident that this flat terrain race should be much easy. Just before the start asked my friend who ran also, what was his target time, he said 1.30 minutes. So knowing that I am 56 years young, gave myself a target of 1.45 mins. Started confidently however noticed that my legs were pretty stiff (more than usual at the start of any run). Was quiet on time till the half of the race. At 8 Kms I had a cramp on the right side of the back. I found that my body just couldnt carry itself, it wouldnt run. Remembered my coach Vijay Alva sirs words that jus because you have run before doesnt mean anything , on that the day anything can happen. By the 10 km mark it was bad and I was on the verge of quitting. Alongside there was another gentleman may be of my age, who also told me that he was also finding it difficult to run, he also advised me to take medical teams help. At that point, something within said, Rajendra come what may happen I am not quitting, forget about the timing, did this a couple of times. There was a whiff of energy that came in me from nowhere and I started running. As I ran I kept on motivating others and many of them who were walking started running alongside. This motivated me a lot and I completed the run in 2.06 min. Thank god I did not quit. Learnt a few things from this. Focus on fitness in running not the competition. Enjoy your run by motivating others and in turn motivate yourself. For a year focus on increasing stamina then come the timing part.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 16:23:18 +0000
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