Hotlanta Marathon 23rd August 2015

Running always paved me a way to overcome myself, I tend to think myself as strong and jovial but life always not a bed of roses, you keep finding thrones on your way to the cozy bed. This is were running comes to rescue me and it always did. It Lets me keep off from my despair for a while. Sleepless nights, not so substantial days and add to your misery too. I tend to find time for running though, but sometime its lazy me who over power my will for running. Most of the time I am able to beat my laziness and plunge onto the road for some good run. At the end its just the satisfying feeling, realization of something gone good, sweat reminds me of something good.

After my 10k race at Peachtree Road race, I was looking for a bigger run. Read about Hotlanta Half Marathon, pretty unsure about staying back here for a while, could not register for it earlier but time I got to know I will be around here, first thing I did was to stop by Big Peach running club to register paying bit extra then the initial registration price. Marathon was on 23rd August 2015 and I did the registration on 10th August. With couple of weeks to power up my run and mileage, I continued what I was doing. Kept running over the evenings, did a long run same weekend. These days I was finding my running rhythm, longer runs where comfortable and could increase my mileage over time. Unknown source of power and music guided me over the time. 

My fitness was also steady due to the Cricket I was playing on weekends for the Atlanta Cricket League. This kind of helped me be better my quick runs and heat. On the D-day, 23rd August, I got up early, listening to my playlist and was ready to hit the road. I was talking to a running in MARTA Train and got to know about the expected rain half way through the race starts. Well, Peachtree Road Race was also a similar event which ended up running all the way in rain, and I was pretty disappointed to run in rain again, although I enjoy rain but this time I wanted to give my best. 

My run started pretty good, kept my pace and initial 10k I completed in 58 mins, but soon the rain started pouring making it hard to keep my pace, water streams were all across and day almost looked like a night with street lights on for some time. I kept whatever pace I could maintain and ran to complete the Marathon in 2hr 13 mins, best so far after the debacle run in November last year in India. I was happy. Also happy because I felt I was the only Indian running here J couldn’t see any more Indian faces around. I took some pics and also created a video to say hi to Hriday, Avni, Aru and my Appi. It was great run and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Below are some pics and my race results.

Race result:

518

Prashant Patil

927

30

M

30-34

2:13:30

2:15:04

10:11/M

Joy of seeing the Finish line

Keep running !!

Breaking the mind's shackle - Back to marathon !!

Peachtree Road Race 4th Of July Independence Day, Atlanta, Ga.

Last few months it’s been a roller coaster ride of things happening in my life. Trying to find some sort of peace and calmness along the way I am moving in. Missed to run Mumbai Marathon, which could have well be my 4^th consecutive run in SCMM, also TCS 10k run which could have been my 5^th consecutive year in a row. Albeit my running was going on, was looking up for some event where I could final break the shackle of not running a marathon in recent times.

Moved to US in May, my first trip to US. I did settle there in a week’s time. Now what, I started running whenever I could find time, whenever things where getting hard on me. These days I was not maintaining any routine but run whenever I can. I did search for marathons in Atlanta, could find one on 4^th July, Peachtree Road Race 10k. Thought this could well be my chance to run abroad and run a marathon after a long time. But to my dismay, registrations were full and I could gather some information like I may get a running number during expo. Meantime I was running now and then, really not sure about getting a running number or not on the day of expo.

Looking for Running number !!

With Jeff Galloway 

Hoping to get running number I went to expo on 2^nd July, enquired if I can get a running number or number transfer or for sale. I got some information of sale next day at the expo, was happy to hear that. I met Jeff Galloway, running legend, trainer. I was happy to meet, had been reading his articles on running and training for long. Took some pictures, he was kind enough to look for a running number for me with his friends, but there was no luck though.

I returned to expo next day and went directly to AJC booth, where running number were sold. I asked the lady if any free numbers are available. After checking, she got back to me with good news, some free numbers were available. That means I get a number for the race and its free. I thanked the lady and was back preparing myself mentally for the race next day.

With Bib Finally

Again with Jeff with Bib

All Check, All Set

 I had light dinner, arranged the stuff for the D-day. Slept hoping for a good run. I woke at right time, got ready. I was hearing to the my favorite playlist in the morning. Moment I was out, it was raining. I caught train which had thousands of runners, could barely find place to stand in train. Got down at Buckhead and then a long walk till the start point, I saw huge number of people all walking down to start line. I was in line up J and was looking to join the crowd. Did some basic stretch and I was all set to run my first marathon this year outside India, in a crowd where I could hardly see any Indian faces.

Rain intensified right at the start line, I wished couple of people whom I was having a chat, a good run and there I started. Initially slow to adjust myself to the run, but through the miles I was feeling confident, happy and run was going good. High fives, cheers all the way was good. I finished the race all smiling and happy in a 1hr 3min with 10mins wasting to secure my mobile getting wet due to rain. Only this time I carried it not to miss to take picture of my run and the event :)

Few photos of the race below..

Post-race, award ceremony was cancelled since it rained heavily and crowd of 60,000 plus people was beyond anybody’s control. I left the race and went to after race party arranged by Jeff Galloway, hoping to meet him again.  Party was cool with nice snacks and beer. I had both and left to room with some really nice memories of the race and race as a whole.

Happy running !!

Happy Running Year 2015 !!

A year has passed, some promises kept & some not, a year to look back and re-invent. so its that time of the year, you make new commitments to yourself & possibly push yourself to achieve it. Try improvise yourself to the best, be healthy, keep your family healthy & run countless miles. 

Wish you a very happy running year... !!

Keep Running.