Cheers Mumbai Marathon 2012..
Running Mumbai, however humid, heated or crowded it may be, it's something many of us in India consider as an annual running traditional event. Eventually, it's become culmination point to meet the best athletes, many virtual friends you train with throughout year apart from obviously soaking into the electrically charging atmosphere.
Though the training went on quite well last year, there's still lot to try whether in form of running styles, or pattern of trainings. With cross trainings, interval training, few long runs, I tried to jumble and experiment throughout the year.
Well, targeted for timing of 4.30 hrs prior to the
start, though reevaluating I figured that 4.40 can definitely be given a
kill for. The start went on quite well especially since I could tame the monstrous beauty - Bandra Worli Sea link early enough before brightness
could dry me off! Given last year's experience,
Bandra-Worli was indeed a monster and my crisis point. Nevertheless, I
had a reason to participate this year and that's to beat that
legendary bridge, fronting a sprawling Mumbai coastline, open to public
on foot only on marathon day! Thoroughly enjoyed by Link while taking
some shots and must say, I hands down won it over esp after my loss last year if I may say so..
Running went on quite
smooth with couple of mudane patches until 37-38th mark with the
strategy to maintain HR around 150. I had to slow down later given to cramps and sensation that it could go worse had I paced. That was one of those situations when you've loads of willingness to pace off and cash in those last few miles and use all your HR but for the risk that you may lose out all out before it ends off. Something like having a pocket full of cash yet you can't spend since currency isn't one you can spend or exchange.
And so, with a little more experience, little more practice, I still knocked it up for 4:48:56, substantial improvement. Yet, a long way to go ...
But it's those training runs that I cherish the most whether training 21k run as early as 4.30am or pumping in those intervals on ground just after back from office or trying barefoot runs to improve running posture. Or experimenting with Chi/Pose style with forefoot/mid-foot ground hit or using metronome. It's been an interesting running year with loads of experiments...whether successful or not!
No matter what I love being addicted and running is my addiction! ;-P