MARATHON


Manthan: January 2005 www.nihindia.org MARATHON : RUN, FUN AND MILES OF SMILE (A marathon experience) Running the Marine Corps Marathon was an experience of a lifetime! It was like a dream come true! Not very long ago I was one of those people who wouldn't even dream about running a couple of miles. I first started running with great enthusiasm along with two of my friends. As it happens with most people our running too became irregular and finally stopped. It is the roller coaster ride of research which brought me back to running. It used to help me to energize myself to face failures and embrace new challenges of research. There is a lot in common between research and long distance running. Both need commitment, focus and endurance. Life is also no different. After running a few short distance runs, I used to often think about trying to run a marathon. When I heard about the marathon fund raising event of Asha for Education I put my thoughts into action as it was giving me a rare chance. Chance to take up the challenge of running a marathon and at the same time raise funds for the education of under privileged children in India, to bring smiles to the faces of many needy children. I strongly believe that education is a critical requisite for socio-economic change. Together we can all make a difference by doing our bits. This kept me motivated throughout the training program. I was now facing the most important, enjoyable and grueling part of the marathon – the six month long training program. It was wonderful to be part of the training program organized by Asha. Enthusiasm is contagious and one gets that from the Asha folks in addition to the training. This was the toughest part as I was supposed to run at least four times a week. You know how hard it is to get out of the lab and go running. But one has to make time for this new commitment. One of the difficult parts of the training was getting up early on weekends for the long runs that is sacrificing the best time in bed during the weekends. It is not all that bad as one gets to run on the very beautiful trails around which I enjoyed immensely. I was amazed by the fact that so many people actually wake up so early to exercise. This used to make me feel little better as I am not the only crazy person to leave bed early on weekends. Running in a group was more enjoyable and less tiring. The coaches were inspiring and friendly. I think anyone who has the feeling that they want to run a marathon, and follows such a training program, will finish the marathon in flying colors. I must admit that I did not follow the training program totally. But it is rewarding to follow it as much as possible. The training run gets longer and longer as the big day approaches. Even the beginners who start from a couple of miles would have run 20 miles a couple of times. I had managed to run 20 miles twice. As the race day approached tension built up. I had a back pain a couple of weeks before the race, the reason for which will never be known to anybody! But I decided to run the race anyways – how can I waste all the efforts I had been putting in the last six months! I resolved, whatever happens I am running the marathon. On October 31, 2004, the race day, 18000 runners thronged the race grounds near the Marine Corps War memorial. The mood was festive with blaring music, marines in green fatigues directing and helping runners. At 8:30 a.m. a howitzer was fired to start the 29th Marine Corps Marathon. Runners were spread across different corrals that segregate some 18,000 runners into smaller groups with the fastest in front and the slower in the back. This "People's Marathon" was the first marathon attempt for many runners, including myself. I had thought about taking it easy because of my back pain and stood in a corral which was slower. It took almost ten minutes for me to reach the start line, which was not really a line, but a mat with sensors that communicate with the small chip woven in the runners' shoelaces. The mood was upbeat with so many high-energy spectators cheering the runners. There were so many runners that one could hardly find space to run. It was an electrifying moment, and I was relieved to start running the marathon leaving behind all the pre-race worries, and to finally dissipate all the tension and excitement that had built up during the last few weeks in anticipation of the marathon. I remembered the course elevation map indicated that the highest point of the marathon would be during the first few miles and in no time the hills showed up. A lot of people started walking. I kept telling myself, “it’s just the beginning and you can run this hill, it’s not that steep”. While all this was going on in my mind, I saw a man holding the banner that said,” The Highest Point” and soon the runners were rewarded by a downhill. Little by little, the distance was ticking as was the clock. I heard my name in the crowd, Asha volunteers were cheering “go Devyani”, it gave me a push as if a shot of energy and I increased my speed. A most beginner do, my mission was to complete the marathon and enjoy it at the same time. So, I adopted the strategy of not speeding up too much and being steadily at it. Soon it became remarkably hot and running was much harder than expected. The cool morning gave no indication of the hot day ahead. The fuel stations every couple of miles were a blessing in disguise. I stopped by every fuel station to take a drink of water and Gatorade. I soon found myself amongst the monuments of DC. This is truly the “Marathon of the Monuments“- one gets to take the most picturesque tour of DC through the monuments. While I was appreciating the beauty of my surrounding trying to keep my mind off all the little pains which might otherwise grip the mind, it was half marathon mark. Just then, I saw my friends among the crowd cheering me up. I kept taking a shot of energy “power gels” every hour which were truly remarkable – I felt energy slowly sipping back into me once I took them. By mile 14, I am finally in the zone! It is like the state of inertia of running – once one reaches this state, one can keep on running. We are now entering Haine's point, the fourth leg of the race. A pleasant breeze and the scent of the adjoining river water rejuvenate me. A clear blue sky crowned the runners heads and trees draped in fall colors lines both sides. I spotted a few sea gulls gliding by effortlessly. It was beautiful! Soon it was the mile twenty, that's the maximum I have run. I have heard that the last six miles is the toughest stretch of the marathon, here one “hits the wall” that is you cannot take one more stepyou are so very very tired that you want to just sleepyou have no energy to even lift your feet." Indeed, I saw so many runners were walking, stretching during these last few miles. I tried keeping my eyes off them and derived motivation from the zeal of the better runners. I kept telling myself “You can do it”, tried to enjoy the funny and beautiful Halloween costumes of the spectators. The presence of crowd shouting “Go Asha”, “You can do it” etc. keeps one going at this stage. I tried cheering a fellow Asha runner in bright yellow shirt, he ran a little with me and again started walking. Finally I saw the last 500 meters. There was a huge spectator stands here, every one of them shouting and cheering for me. I remembered the practice run here, how fast I had run to hit the finish line that day. This was the final killer hill, the only good thing about it is, and it was very short. I summoned all my energy and tried sprinting this part. Wow! I has accomplished my mission! Reached the finish line, I saw the marine waiting for me with the medal. I hit the finish line and see the clock above. I had beaten my expectations and finished in less than 4 hours 28 minutes. I feel that anyone who completed the race and hit the finish line was a winner. It is like a mission accomplished, a sense of achievement! I thank, all of you for supporting my marathon fund raising effort, funds will be utilized for the education of needy children. This was a very important part of the marathon, purpose of my running and kept me motivated till the finish line! I believe, all of us can also do it. We just have to take up the challenge, be at it and just do it. Discover what you can do! Sky is the limit for a willing heart!! Devyani Haldar haldard@mail.nih.gov

Manthan: January 2005 www.nihindia.org

MARATHON : RUN, FUN AND MILES OF SMILE (A marathon experience)

Running the Marine Corps Marathon was an experience of a lifetime! It was like a dream come true!

Not very long ago I was one of those people who wouldn't even dream about running a couple of miles. I first started running with great enthusiasm along with two of my friends. As it happens with most people our running too became irregular and finally stopped. It is the roller coaster ride of research which brought me back to running. It used to help me to energize myself to face failures and embrace new challenges of research. There is a lot in common between research and long distance running. Both need commitment, focus and endurance. Life is also no different. After running a few short distance runs, I used to often think about trying to run a marathon. When I heard about the marathon fund raising event of Asha for Education I put my thoughts into action as it was giving me a rare chance. Chance to take up the challenge of running a marathon and at the same time raise funds for the education of under privileged children in India, to bring smiles to the faces of many needy children. I strongly believe that education is a critical requisite for socio-economic change. Together we can all make a difference by doing our bits. This kept me motivated throughout the training program.

I was now facing the most important, enjoyable and grueling part of the marathon – the six month long training program. It was wonderful to be part of the training program organized by Asha. Enthusiasm is contagious and one gets that from the Asha folks in addition to the training. This was the toughest part as I was supposed to run at least four times a week. You know how hard it is to get out of the lab and go running. But one has to make time for this new commitment. One of the difficult parts of the training was getting up early on weekends for the long runs that is sacrificing the best time in bed during the weekends. It is not all that bad as one gets to run on the very beautiful trails around which I enjoyed immensely. I was amazed by the fact that so many people actually wake up so early to exercise. This used to make me feel little better as I am not the only crazy person to leave bed early on weekends. Running in a group was more enjoyable and less tiring. The coaches were inspiring and friendly. I think anyone who has the feeling that they want to run a marathon, and follows such a training program, will finish the marathon in flying colors.

I must admit that I did not follow the training program totally. But it is rewarding to follow it as much as possible. The training run gets longer and longer as the big day approaches. Even the beginners who start from a couple of miles would have run 20 miles a couple of times. I had managed to run 20 miles twice. As the race day approached tension built up. I had a back pain a couple of weeks before the race, the reason for which will never be known to anybody! But I decided to run the race anyways – how can I waste all the efforts I had been putting in the last six months! I resolved, whatever happens I am running the marathon.

On October 31, 2004, the race day, 18000 runners thronged the race grounds near the Marine Corps War memorial. The mood was festive with blaring music, marines in green fatigues directing and helping runners. At 8:30 a.m. a howitzer was fired to start the 29th Marine Corps Marathon. Runners were spread across different corrals that segregate some 18,000 runners into smaller groups with the fastest in front and the slower in the back. This "People's Marathon" was the first marathon attempt for many runners, including myself. I had thought about taking it easy because of my back pain and stood in a corral which was slower. It took almost ten minutes for me to reach the start line, which was not really a line, but a mat with sensors that communicate with the small chip woven in the runners' shoelaces. The mood was upbeat with so many high-energy spectators cheering the runners. There were so many runners that one could hardly find space to run. It was an electrifying moment, and I was relieved to start running the marathon leaving behind all the pre-race worries, and to finally dissipate all the tension and excitement that had built up during the last few weeks in anticipation of the marathon. I remembered the course elevation map indicated that the highest point of the marathon would be during the first few miles and in no time the hills showed up. A lot of people started walking. I kept telling myself, “it’s just the beginning and you can run this hill, it’s not that steep”. While all this was going on in my mind, I saw a man holding the banner that said,” The Highest Point” and soon the runners were rewarded by a downhill.

Little by little, the distance was ticking as was the clock. I heard my name in the crowd, Asha volunteers were cheering “go Devyani”, it gave me a push as if a shot of energy and I increased my speed. A most beginner do, my mission was to complete the marathon and enjoy it at the same time. So, I adopted the strategy of not speeding up too much and being steadily at it. Soon it became remarkably hot and running was much harder than expected. The cool morning gave no indication of the hot day ahead. The fuel stations every couple of miles were a blessing in disguise. I stopped by every fuel station to take a drink of water and Gatorade. I soon found myself amongst the monuments of DC. This is truly the “Marathon of the Monuments“- one gets to take the most picturesque tour of DC through the monuments. While I was appreciating the beauty of my surrounding trying to keep my mind off all the little pains which might otherwise grip the mind, it was half marathon mark. Just then, I saw my friends among the crowd cheering me up. I kept taking a shot of energy “power gels” every hour which were truly remarkable – I felt energy slowly sipping back into me once I took them. By mile 14, I am finally in the zone! It is like the state of inertia of running – once one reaches this state, one can keep on running. We are now entering Haine's point, the fourth leg of the race. A pleasant breeze and the scent of the adjoining river water rejuvenate me. A clear blue sky crowned the runners heads and trees draped in fall colors lines both sides. I spotted a few sea gulls gliding by effortlessly. It was beautiful! Soon it was the mile twenty, that's the maximum I have run. I have heard that the last six miles is the toughest stretch of the marathon, here one “hits the wall” that is you cannot take one more step*you are so very very tired that you want to just sleep*you have no energy to even lift your feet." Indeed, I saw so many runners were walking, stretching during these last few miles. I tried keeping my eyes off them and derived motivation from the zeal of the better runners. I kept telling myself “You can do it”, tried to enjoy the funny and beautiful Halloween costumes of the spectators. The presence of crowd shouting “Go Asha”, “You can do it” etc. keeps one going at this stage. I tried cheering a fellow Asha runner in bright yellow shirt, he ran a little with me and again started walking.

Finally I saw the last 500 meters. There was a huge spectator stands here, every one of them shouting and cheering for me. I remembered the practice run here, how fast I had run to hit the finish line that day. This was the final killer hill, the only good thing about it is, and it was very short. I summoned all my energy and tried sprinting this part. Wow! I has accomplished my mission! Reached the finish line, I saw the marine waiting for me with the medal. I hit the finish line and see the clock above. I had beaten my expectations and finished in less than 4 hours 28 minutes. I feel that anyone who completed the race and hit the finish line was a winner. It is like a mission accomplished, a sense of achievement!

I thank, all of you for supporting my marathon fund raising effort, funds will be utilized for the education of needy children. This was a very important part of the marathon, purpose of my running and kept me motivated till the finish line! I believe, all of us can also do it. We just have to take up the challenge, be at it and just do it. Discover what you can do! Sky is the limit for a willing heart!!

Devyani Haldar

haldard@mail.nih.gov