Mumbai Marathon 2011

(Photo courtesy: www.marathon-photos.com)
After a long time I completed a Marathon without dropping out. In 2010, I did not run a single Marathon except Ultra which was a disaster. I was more than determined to restart my running with Mumbai and not to drop out.
On Saturday 15th January 2011 by evening my throat was in a bad shape. I was finding it difficult to speak still continued talking. I took few strepsils to clear my throat but I think they made it worse.
16th January 2011, my throat felt better but difficulty in talking was still there. No time to drop out. 6:15am started the run with others who were not aspiring for prize and were amateurs. I was running at decided pace and not exerting myself too much in the first half. Things looked fine. By 7:30am I started cramping up. Due to lack of energy reserves in body I needed to eat something from getting cramped up. Luckily my bro Shyam, was running in front and I never lost sight of him. I went to him and took the additional nutri-bar that he had. Ate half. Kept the rest in my hand. By 8:30am, I was nearing the 21kms mark and was happy that things were going as planned. A 4.5hrs finish looked very probable at this time. I had conserved all my energy for the last 10 odd kms.
Then the inevitable happened. My throat was getting from bad to worse. Stomach was cramping up further. Finished the remaining nutri-bar. The only good thing I was doing this time was to keep drinking water at regular intervals. It did help a lot.
The stomach cramps was getting more frequent. Whoever offered biscuits I shamelessly took 4 from them. Those biscuits, continuous water intake did help. I was also afraid that if I exert too much, it could lead to coughing and maybe pull out from the run. I started walking a bit. Cooled down my body then again combined walking with running. I was at sealink by this time. It should be awesome sight to be there early in the morning or early in the evening to watch the sun go down. But not at 8:45 – 9:00am when you are fully exposed to the sun and the humidity. At that time I thought my finish would be worse this time, maybe 6.5hrs. Then by 33kms, I started running without stopping, though at a far lesser pace but better than walking. The other factor that was bothering me was the irritation on my neck. I had got bad rashes few days earlier due to mix of sweat and heat.
It was tough to overcome all these but I did not want to be mocked at on halting in another marathon half-way. The other factor is how to get back to start point if I drop mid-way? The only solution is to run & finish.

A big thanks to those who handed out Parle-G biscuits. A kid who gave me Enerzal energy drink. Those who clapped and encouraged which made me decide against walking.
While the spirit of Mumbaites is awesome. I have never seen such a spirit by residing people in other cities where I have run.
One thing I always wonder is, is there any shade in Mumbai. It seems to be a city bereft of trees. There were few instances when I was running under trees. Mumbai needs more greenery.
Congrats to fellow runners from Chennai Runners, RFL and from elsewhere on completing.

Rann of Kutch (Proposed Plan)

Its going to be hot during the day as sun breaks out. Below is the proposed

DATE SECTOR
19th March 2011 Bangalore – Thane
20th March 2011 Thane – Ahmedabad
21st March 2011 Gear Check in Ahemedabad
22nd March 2011 Ride Ahmedabad to Zainabad
23rd March 2011 Little Rann, Adesar, Rapar, Dholvira, Toran
24th March 2011 Greater Rann, BOP Mucchi, BOP Karni
25th March 2011 Hodka, Bhuj, White Desert, Sham E Sarhad
26th March 2011 India Bridge, New Sardar Post, Kala Dungar
27th March 2011 Hodka, Nanda Village, Little Rann
28th March 2011 Little Rann to Ahemedabad
29th, 30th 31st March 2011 are buffer days.
1st April 2011 Ahmedabad – Pune
2nd April 2011 Pune – Bangalore

Any interested in joining do ping me.

Lepakshi

Le pakshi was what Rama said to wounded Jatayu, which means “Fly Bird”. Jatayu’s wings were cut-off by Ravana and Sita was abducted from here. Thats the mythology. This temple was built in Vijayanagar Empire. For more on history, click here.

A day ride with 30+ Royal Knights, it was confusing as to what was the actual start time. It did not matter as it was still cold. With the sun slowly coming out, we started our engines by 6:30am. Once we crossed Devanahalli airport and another 10kms later it was misty foggy all over. The visibility was almost nothing.
This was the best view though I didnt capture it on camera. The fog settling down on my visor, rear-view mirrors, spectacles later started dripping down to dew drops. I was forced to use my finger as visor to wipe the fog from spectacles which were obstructing the view further.
A quick breakfast at Kamat’s. It was tasty also. Somehow the sambhar seemed to taste little different from Sagar restaurants. By 11:30am we were at the temple.

Soon enough we started our way back to Bangalore. Brief halting here & there. Lunch again at Kamats. Best is South Indian meals, no risk, no long time, no screw-up’s during cooking.
5:00pm I was back home and this was not part of Royal Knights standard. This was a good beginning to new year and good ride.
Route: Mekhri Circle – Hebbal – Devanahalli Airport – Bagepalli – Lepakshi
Distance: 140kms

Vehicle Number Plates

India has too many languages spoken/written/read across the country. Most states have their own language. No two states would be able to understand individual dialect. While it is a common practise to have vehicle number plates in english language & numberals, there are many who write it in native language.
The reasons are many. But when the vehicle leaves the state can anyone understand? Never understand why the RTO office allows such number plates, even the cops.

Virudhagiri – Movie Review (Tamil)

Captain Vijayakanth’s movie after quite some time is fully loaded in the first half with political overtones. Movie starts with Captain helping Scotland Yard in catching terrorists planning to assassinate British Prime Minister. What a beginning & what a fight. When we are yet to come out of this shock the Scotland Yard is all praise for him. The expectation now increases.
After capturing terrorists from Kashmir to Kanyakumari within India our Captain expands horizons. (well, this is also a dialogue in the movie.
Then he returns to homeland for some sentimental time. Finally his brain works in stopping flesh trade of Aravanis (transgenders). He captures all the culprits including a cop. Then comes a master dialogue addressing Captain, “Neenga arasangathula vela seyyum bodu yelaygaluku help pannareenga, neengale arasu aana evalo pannuveenga”. (Working in Goverment you are doing so much for poor, how much will you do if you are the Goverment).

Having given the build up for Captain’s powers, comes the next part of the movie. This is the rest of the movie. If you have not watched the Hollywood movie TAKEN, dont worry its all here. The rest of the movie is taken from Taken. While in Taken it is his estranged daughter, here it is his foster daughter (though no relation directly).
Every dialogue, setting of scenes, the script is carefully directly lifted from there. Only difference is this movie is set in Australia. And song induced to give the flavour for Indian audience.

For a Captain fan this movie is not a let down. For others, you can go through this torture if with friends and having a gala time.

2010 – A year that was

2010 was a very different year. A year more concentrated on cycling in the later half. It never meant leaving any of other activities.
1. The year started in Kolkata a bike ride along Central & East Coast of India.
2. In March got back budget travel with a short trip to Madhya Pradesh. A trip that will stay in memory for long long time. Cannot forget Omkareshwar & Gunaga village.
3. The next trip was to Leh-Ladakh. The trip was curtailed due to cloud burst. Curtailed though I rode all the way back to Bangalore. Was a trip where I lost quite a lot of body weight due to illness and lack of food intake. This did not mean stopping short of completion.

2 Motorbike trip’s and one budget trip suddenly the focussed shifted post the half-way mark of the year. With interest gaining in Tour of Nilgiris, there were frequent cycling trips on weekends covering most of the nearby places in and around Bangalore, of course within cycling distance.
There is still a feeling not to have done Nandi Hills climb up on cycle. But some things have to be reserved for a sunny day.
I invested on a new cycle BSA Kruze. Read the first impressions here. And next review post Tour of Nilgiris.

4. Post purchase of Kruze, the first ride was to Anchetti-Denkanikottai.
5. This was followed by a ride from Bangalore to Chennai within a day, 21.5hrs to be precise. Could have done it in lesser time. Maiden attempt and was a very good ride.
6. Then came Tour of Nilgiris (post still to be written). A tough ride through the mountains amidst all heat, humidity & dust. Good roads, bad roads, forests, cities, towns, villages. Handshakes, waving hands, small talks. Sometimes one feels like politician when waving hands. This was a tour in which I was one of those sponsored by my company.

It was not only travel & travel & travel. I did watch quite lot of movie. Notable were thalaivars Endhiran and Kamal’s Manmadan Ambu.

2011 activities would repeat itself and maybe something new will get added on in the course of time.
Happy New Year 2011.