Good Bye 2017

Last year I missed publishing my good bye article highlighting events and learning from the past year. This year I don't want to repeat it. I don’t want to miss it because it had been an eventfull year. Like any other year, lots of learning and memories to be stored and kept. 

In January, as I was preparing for Standard chartered Mumbai marathon and since I wanted to train like a professional athlete, I decided to stay away from stuffs that would hinder my training like fast foods, alcohol, sugar, tea etc.  Though I could not keep away coffee from my life, however I had been successful in keeping away tea and sugar. Another thing I was successful at was throwing away alcohol of my life. Sober since last February. 

I completed my 2nd full marathon in 4hrs 20 mins at Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon. Though my target was to complete within 4 hours, however I ran out of fuel in the last few kms and had to slow down. In Feb, I decided to join gym and add strength training in my routine. Believe me, it was one of best decision I made this year. Joining gym and doing exercise in a proper way helped me realize the importance of having good food and respecting the body this soul resides. Our body is the greatest gift all mighty has provided to this species. One has to respect it by providing good food and exercising regularly. Its one thing that connects our soul to our mind. 

In April, I went home to attend my cousin’s marriage. 1st marriage from my mother’s family. I enjoy attending such family marriages as it brings together all our family members from different sections of the country in one place. Else there is no way one can meet all of them in one place.

In Aug end, my parents came to Mumbai. Its always a very proud moment for any son/daughter to bring their parents to your new home. I live in a small apartment with a semi living room, bed room and kitchen that hardly exists. I have been living alone for the last 2 years. Last time my parents came I was sharing house with a friend. Since he moved to Pune, I had been staying alone. Since I moved to Mumbai some 7 years back for studies and then for job, I get once or twice in a year to meet my parents. Whenever I get  a chance I try to make most of it. Your parents are the greatest gift, whenever I get time I try to make most of it.

In 1st week of Sept, I travel to Leh, Ladakh to run my 3rd full marathon in one of the most challenging environment- 11K feet above level. I came a week early so I had ample time to accamaltize and visit various places close by Ladakh. It was not the best timing I had, however considering the challenges the environment provided and the preparation I had, it was the best I could do. [More about my marathon experience can be read in my older post]

One of the most important things I learned in life over the years is to never take things for granted. One cannot take his job, health, friendship and relationship for granted. One needs to constantly work over them to maintain it. It is also important that you don’t allow others to take you for granted too. If someone does take you for granted, its time that you take action over it. 

Will like to close this year with a beautiful quote I found today in Instagram:

My experience of running Ladakh Marathon

It all started in April when I saw an notification in FB for Ladakh Marathon. I had just joined gym then and started taking strength training seriously. I had been training seriously for next year’s Mumbai marathon. I ping Rahul if he would be interested in running at Leh, Ladakh half marathon. At that time, I thought running full will be too much for my body to take at such an attitude. Rahul replied me back that he will not travel all away to Leh just for half marathon. It had to be either full or 72 km Khardung-la Challenge. The very next day I registered for Ladakh Full Marathon. Rahul was still deciding weather to go or not (Rahul would later finished Hyderabad FM at mind blowing timing of 3hrs 37 mins). A week later I booked my flights for Leh so as to ensure that I had no choice but to go to Leh. I had never been to Leh or any other part of J & K earlier. And I must say this was the best decision I had done. 

My preparation for the marathon started very good. However sustaining it was a challenge. My running numbers reduced with the monsoons and increasing office work load. Though I ensured that my strength training was never sacrificed. I ensured that I visit the gym at least 5 days a week. My running numbers reduced from +200 K/month  distance in Apr, May to close to 100 K/month in June, July. Aug was worst with just around 50kms, blame it on monsoons or my laziness. To be honest, this was not the ideal preparation for Leh Marathon. I was not sure till the race day if I could complete entire 42km. I thought my heart would just stop at 32K. 

I reached Leh a week ahead of the race day. For any runner planning to run at Leh, you need to be here at least a week earlier to get acclimatised. It stands at 11,500 ft above sea level, oxygen levels are low here. On the 1st day, one can easily get headache or breathing problem. So it's important to take proper rest on the 1st day of arrival. Reaching a week early, one gets lot of time to visit the local monasteries and nearby valleys like Nubra, Pangong lake or Khardungla and ample time to practise in the mornings. Believe me these places are mind blowing. 

The first time I ran here on one of the mornings, I was breathless in less than a kilometre. I learned after running here that you need to start slow especially if you are not a localite or some professional runner. Up incline walk, don’t run. Down decline or plan road, run. You need to ensure that you never run out of breathe in the entire race. So my strategy for the marathon was simple, stop at most of the water station for enerzel, water or some banana. I ended up stopping at all the water stations(there were 14 of those for 42k) and finishing it at 5 hrs 42 mins. 

Leh trip was an amazing journey for me. It made me appreciate nature even more. Since my return from Leh, I have been telling my friends, it is a beautiful place and one must visit this place once in his/her lifetime.  If you haven’t visited this place yet, don’t forget to add this on your list. 

Leh Trip: Part 1

Reached Leh on Sunday, 3rd of Sept. The night before I had Diamox. Diamox is a tablet that helps travellers to get acamatized faster in a high altitude places like Leh, Ladakh. As I got down from the airplane, I was just amazed by the beauty of this place. the dry hills with ice on top is a view to be seen. 

1st was I was feeling fine. The hotel people advised me just to take rest and don’t do any activity, just have food and sleep. So I listened. After taking rest for a while I got bored and decided to go for a walk to the market. After I came back, had lunch and went to sleep. After an hour of sleep, I decided to out for walk again as I was getting bored sitting inside the hotel.  I went to the market again and walked around the nearby areas. Bought couple of sports items and came back to the market. As i entered the market again, a sudden rush from nature start calling me. I needed to pee desperately. I started to find places where I could pee. I asked people where I could do so, people had no answers or I could not locate the place. Then I started to find corner areas with no people however could not locate. So i decided to enter a coffee shop. As i entered I could find no bathrooms. I ordered coffee and drank it and asked the waitress for washroom. She gave me the key to washroom. In Leh, most of the restaurants, rest rooms are not attached to the restaurant. The restrooms here remain locked so that no strangers can enter and use it. So you need to ask for a key. Point to be noted. 

In between as I drank the coffee, I could sense heaviness in my head. The coffee was very strong and the hotel guys had earlier strictly asked me not to have coffee on the 1st day. I decided to head back to the hotel. As I reached the hotel, headache was getting worse. I had my dinner at hotel and took one Diamox and hit the bed.