Tour de Ride Series - Ride to Chikka Tirupathi !

14 December 2013

After having a bad ankle sprain during Bangalore marathon on 8th December, I was hardly running & cycling. To break this, I thought of small ride from Electronic city to Decathlon Sarjapur, which is roughly around 15kms from my room. Since my cycling mates were not available over that weekend, I decided to have this small ride. After riding for decent 10kms, I felt no pain in the leg and decided to ride further. Amit had already been to ChikkaThirupathi and he had put up mail regarding that giving more information about the route. So I decided to ride to Chikkathirupathi which was further 20kms from Decathlon Sarjapur, which makes a ride of around 35kms one way. Climate was good and I continued to ride till Chikkathirupathi. On the way I had breakfast and reached the temple around 9.30 am. I had darshan and spent some time around. I watched the local weekend market for goats. Goats and sheep were sold in an open market, costing up to 5000 rupees each. I took few pictures and left the place. Rode down at the same pace and reached Decathlon Sarjapur by 11.30 am, made few purchases and reached back to my room around 1 pm.

Route details- 

Electronic city [G.S.Pallya] -- Sarjapur road [some middle roads not through Hosa road] - Sarjapur - Chikkathirupathi [35kms]

Fuel - One idli/vada, orange juice, one laddu and a coconut water.

I suggest this route for a half day ride, when you have to spend the next half with some one important :)

Keep Cycling !!

Bangalore Ajmera Thump Marathon - My Half Marathon Misery !!

8th December 2013

With same group of running buddies we had run for Mysore Celebration Run, Amit, Samatha & Anup were looking forward for a good run in Bangalore. Amit & Samatha, the running couple were running 10k marathon, Anup & I where chasing our half Marathon run, we had new member this time, Ananth, brother of Amit running his 5k. Route for the run was NICE corridor, stretch of 10&1/2 km to and fro. 

We arrived at the venue just before the start of the run, got ready for the run with little bit of stretches. I was little bit of sceptic this time seeing the route, this stretch was concrete road and I was wearing soft training shoe from Puma, I was afraid of spraining either my knee or ankle. Started off good, I was keeping my pace with Anup, first half of the run was slow and steady, I believe we took around 1hr 4 mins at 10kms mark. It was all started at the second half, I was feeling bit of pain in my right foot, just below the foot, asked Anup to continue with his pace and I will follow up. Started with walk and run strategy, few times I kept pace with fellow runners. It was really getting hard on my foot, decided to have a long walk and see if I can further able to continue with run. This proved to be effective, after a long walk of about 100 meters or so, I started to run, marking a distance from sight and run to the point, walk a bit and continue again. Soon, I could see the finish line, gathered all my energy to finish last marathon of this year with push-ups that I been doing in all marathon this year, went with the push-ups with cheers of the crowd. I finished with timing of 2 hr 27 mins in my watch. Not bad with the pain, but not so good. Every time I feel, a little extra could have improved my timings. Anup finished good; Amit & Samatha did pretty well with their second 10k together. Amit got his personal best. Soon he will be running his next 10k in Midnight Marathon. Samatha din her best for second 10k, While Anup did a good sub 2hr 30mins for his second half marathon.

This marathon took a toll on my foot, I was limping after the marathon, it continued for next two days. I was initially worried of having a fracture in my foot but soon realised this was because of the shoe I wore & surface I ran. Shoe didn't provide the arch support, so my foot was stretched too much. With some googling and info from Runner's World, I could relate the pain I was facing. I did icing and foot massage twice a day for couple of days, pain reduced considerably. No pain after three days, but keeping a watch on my foot for some more time, hoping no serious injury. I will be resuming my run with Infosys 5k run on 19th December, hope to come back strong with no pain. 

Soon will upload my race results and pics.

Keep running !! 

Infosys Run - November !!

21th November 2013

These days I am mostly off-blogging, this is just framed by me, this is blogging inside your mind and not putting it actually on to site. Work has taken away bit of toll, not being able to put down some of my experiences in the recent past. Few things still to come over are my cycling series posts and few runs. This November I ran Infosys 10k called Infosys November Run, previously held in September by the slightly different name Infosys September Run. This time I got it all wrong, missed to notice the event date after registering for the run, I assumed it to be on 28th November while the actual event date was 21st November, that's my bad. With few weekend runs I was bit confident on finishing it good. 

This time crowd was fantastic, more in numbers then last year's September run. I started not so good, with little bit of heavy stomach and dizzy feeling, but soon after crossing half mark, I was confident and ran comfortably for the rest of the run. I finished in 59 mins, finish was good. Next on my list was Bangalore Marathon by Ajmera Thump.

Till then keep running, care for environment around you.

Cheers.

Mysore Marathon 2013 - Good event and run !!

Running Kaveri Trail Marathon wasn't in my cart until the last moment. Earlier I had decided to run Mysore Marathon and registered for the event. Not having ample practice during the week and missing some weekend runs, I planned to take these marathons as my substitute to long runs. Although ideally not recommended, but having not able to make out time for the run, this was my last resort. I was running KTM on 15th September and Mysore run was on 29th September and Wipro run on 22nd. My run at KTM was good except the last few kms where I struggled with cramp and could not push my self. I finished it in 2hr 34mins, although not a good timing but finished on high spirits. I couldn't register for Spirit of Wipro run, which I had planned to run 10k, but ended up cheering up my friends few of whom where running 10k.

Think I already mentioned about my few friends who are now taking up running. I could influence them to register for Mysore Marathon, few actually did. Anup, Amit and Samatha, had registered for the event in 21k, 10k and 5k respectively. So these days I am having good company of my friends at Marathon. That's something to cheer about. So on 28th we planned to go by car. We reached Mysore on 28th September evening, after witnessing the wonderful palace in lights we collected bibs at the event store. We booked a hotel near to the start of the race and called off the day after light dinner.

Up and ready by 5.30 am, we started up to the race start venue. On the way, I was suggesting Amit, Samatha to run at the pace they are comfortable with and importantly enjoy the race as it comes.I was really pumped up to have my buddies along with me on the run, its just those moments when you run together or cross your friend on the other side of the run, to cheer and a high five, pumps up energy. And to see someone at the finish line whom you know adds on more to it. 

Into the race, first half of the run was really wonderful, climate was perfect, I was easily pacing with Anup. Route was perfect with both road and off road running, few kilometre run was beside the lake which added to its beauty. At 16kms mark, Sun started show up. My weak point of not having enough run under the sun was clearly seen, I was getting tired now and getting exhausted after 200-300 meters of run. I started pushing myself to finish off in sub 2hr 10mins or may be plus 5 mins more. But what kept me away from reaching that goal, my practice runs, it was clearly visible to me now, last couple of run I was not finishing well. Last 3-4 kms were taking toll on me and I wasn't finishing the race strongly. Something I need to note for my next race. I finished race around 2hr 23 mins as my watch showed at the finish. To repeat my finishing stunt, I did 5 pushups at the finish line and could locate Amit standing at the finish line cheering for my finish. Soon I was joined by Samatha, who had run 10k instead of registered 5k with Amit. I said wow, that was good to start off.

After finish

Credits - Flashbuzz

Credits - Flashbuzz

Credits - Don't know !

My race results ..

Result

Happy Running.
Cheers..

I run, I cheer for run !

I missed registration for Spirit of Wipro run, although had chance to run without running bib, but decided to cheer the runners this time. Few of my friends had registered for the run, some never run before. It was good to see them running and I felt they needed push around the finish line. I was bit late for the start, run for 10K had already started. I met Samatha at the start line, we strolled for sometime taking pictures. Atmosphere at the event was great, lots of people and noise, which ideally created a very good feel for the run. After first three finishes for the 10K run, I walked to 100mtr mark to the finish line, began cheering the runners who were about to finish. I could see people who were walking began their last 100mtr run to the finish line. After some time, I saw Anup and Irfan running, I began the cheering for them and took few pics. They were all pumped up to finish, soon they were followed by Shetty, Shivram, then Amit and Jambya. It was great fun to see them all finishing. Also I did pacing for my friend Romel on my floaters for 50m to the finish line.

I was still cheering for others, someone patted me on my back, said thanks for the cheer. I felt the purpose is now met. We gathered after the run for the snacks and then waited for the Raghu Dixit Project to perform. Next stop was Raghu Dixit stage performance, I was all pumped up and started enjoying the good music, jumping and singing along. What a show it was, thoroughly enjoyed the music.

Will always look for cheering when I am not running. People do it, feels good. !!

Happy Running. Cheers.

Kaveri Trail Marathon 2013 - Doesn't meet the hype !!!

First thing, I was just able to register for this event through my friend and got the confirmation week before the marathon day and could hardly manage to run couple of practice runs. With almost no practice, I was facing the half marathon running challenge. Only confidence I could put together was from the Hyderabad Marathon, which I had run on 25th August finishing it with descent time.

My friends Anup and Shireesh had registered for 10k run which was on 14th August and Half Marathon which I was running was on next day. So we couldn't plan out well about our stay and also some visiting the places around.

I left to Shrirangapatna on 14th by train, which landed me to my destination by 1.30 pm. Out in Shrirangapatna station, I was feeling it was kind of set for 'Chennai Express' movie, I could just feel that's not the real train station, it was pleasant and kind of picture perfect for the shoot. I took a rick and went to bib collection venue which was a resort on the Mysore-Bangaluru highway called Young Islands. I collected the bib and now what ? I called couple of my friends in Mysore then spoke to Anup about their run, by now they were on their way back to Bangaluru. I thought staying in Mysore would take a toll to commute early in the morning for the run, I decided to stay around race start which was Ranganatittu Bird Sanctuary. I got a decent room in a resort and settled there for the rest of the day.

I woke up with the race day bugaboo. Got ready and was there at the pick point by 5.30 am. I was dropping my bag at the baggage counter, a guy came to me and told we met in Mumbai. I could then realise he was Debu, friend of Radhe [my Pune friend]. I stayed at his place in Mumbai last year, when I was running my first half marathon. Oh, its such a good feeling to meet someone on your run at some unknown place. We exchanged some talk and its now race start time. Race start point was just after the entrance to Ranganatittu Bird Sanctuary. Weather was good, place was very green and route seemed less challenging though organisers claimed it to be toughest among the marathons in India. With no presumptions, I started the race, first half of the race was pretty much smooth with distance 10k covered around 1hr 2mins I guess. But soon sun was out and could feel the difference, I had hardly practised my runs under sun and this was bit draining me out. Till 16th Km, I was about time of 1.40 hr but could not maintain the pace and bad cramp pulled me to the walking lane. I pushed myself to the finish line and gathered my strength to do five push ups !! That's this years race ending fun.

Below my pic and my race results.

Overall Rank	Bib	Category / Gender	Category Rank	Gender Rank	Split@10.55	Net Time
395	3200	OPEN / Male	327	372	01:10:09	02:35:38

Although the race was not that tough but a little more practice was enough for me to complete the run around the 2hr mark. Hoping to reach that magic figure soon. As far as race is concerned, it the most scenic route for the marathon to run and enjoy. My next in the cart is Mysore Marathon on 29th September 2013. Hope to see you at Mysore, lets start Dasara together and Running !! 

Save Envrionment !!

Keep Running !!

Hyderabad Marathon 2013 - As hard as it gets !!

Yeah, did it again. Hyderabad Marathon 2013 done with a bang. Happy about how the run went through, finished with a time of 2hr 34mins, I would have cracked sub 2hr 30mins but that's not the whole point to me. Thoroughly enjoyed the route, the atmosphere and my push ups at the finish line. 

After finish

Finisher Certificate

Some moments captured by Velocscope.

Cheers !!