I close my eyes for a moment…
Take a deep breathe… My toes and fingers grip hard on the ground … I turn deaf
for all the noise around but could hear my heart thumping loud… My eyes stare
at a distance but stopped seeing everything… brain concentrates to the maximum it
can and listen only to the ears… Gun Makes Sound and I Fire !!!
I never experienced that thrill
again in my life. I can’t explain in words - how thrilling it was being at
starting line of state level high school sprint track. I can very easily go
into that moment even now and feel high about it. After so many years, slowly I
am understanding - what it means to me.
It all started with… Running from
school to home and who will reach home first! It was my regular game with my
schoolmates who were my neighbours as well. From the school which was almost a
mile away from my home; I played this game for at least five years till my 8th
standard. While zipping through my home-town main street, all of us possessed an
amazing skill of not crashing with anybody in crowded market.
I started running for my school when
I was in 9th standard. We practised bare footed at least two hours
in a day. Our sports teacher and one of
my friends who was self-appointed coach made us run every day on hard surfaces
with small pebbles, on the tar roads, on the beach sand, on the rocky mountains… with one goal of 'Finishing First'. Probably those were my first
lessons to focus and determination.
I represented my school for two
years in sprint section at Town, District and State levels. Every time when I
was at starting line… I learnt how to handle pressure and keeping me cool. Every
time I set off… I learnt importance of speed and how important it is to give my
100%. Being starter of our 4X100 relay team, which also made it to State level…
I learnt handling the responsibility of handing over the batten first. Every
time I won a race… it boosted my self-confidence. Every time I lost... it taught me how to accept
failures. Every day training sessions brought so much of discipline into life. Volleyball
was my another passion around the same time I was sprinting, which taught me
being a true team player.
My 10th standard academic
scores were not very impressive after so much of hard work on the grounds. When
I stepped into Pre University, priorities were different and I left sprinting
forever. Engineering was all about coping up with new world. Except few amateur Volleyball sessions, irregular jogging and few trekking adventures; it was coma
period for my body.
When I started working in Mindtree,
I started running again. This time I picked up long run and my lead was pushing
me to run Bangalore 10K that year. It was very easy for me to getting back to run... It is in my soul ! I managed to finish 10K that year and got
addicted to long runs. Long running increases temperament of mind and sense of
achievement for every extra mile covered. If I am bored/stressed I get out for
a run, Long run is a very good stress buster. Sweat drips from body… Joy fills
within!
Around last year this time, I realized
I was completing 5 years since I started long runs; but there were no traces of
improvement in my timings because of the lack of disciplined schedule. I came
up with one year plan which was not just about running, but improving overall
fitness. I am satisfied with what I have done in last one year and feel fit
than I was ever before. Group Cycling, Boot Camps, Boxing Circuits @ ‘Nuffield
Health’ dramatically improved my overall fitness. I ran 6 km in 25 mins last
week and finished a 20 km run recently after long time. In last one year I am
getting addicted to Badminton as well. After every Badminton session I
desperately wait for the next one. My Badminton game is improving as well. This Blog is part of my Celebration of successfully completing one year fitness plan
!
Rule to be regular is very
simple. Getting into sports shoes is first priority in daily task list; all
other activities are planned after it!
When I was sprinting during
school days, it was all barefoot. During State level meet is when I borrowed a
pair of torn out spikes from one of my friends’ brother and patched it with
rubber of cycle tube pieces. It was
heavy like hell when I was running because of my patch work. In the same meet, one of the long runners
from Bangalore we met was wearing a pair of Asics shoes. He told us - his uncle
brought it from US for him and shoe is not available in India. He was generous
enough to allow us to try those imported shoes. I remember, we were talking
about those shoes for months. I never even dreamt of owning those shoes in my
life. Price he told was way beyond my imagination. What I remember is - it was
costlier than bicycle I was dreaming to buy!
 |
| Photo Curtsey - Jagan |
Today I am running @ canal side
with Asics shoes on… Lush green around, spreading calmness… Cool breeze, filling
me with pleasure … Rising Sun with a generous painting of red and yellow shades, bringing boundary less joy … I close my eyes and Thank God for blessing
me to be so privileged. Sense of ‘having everything in life’ liberates !!!
Cheers!
Kiran
