First of all, thanks to Sandip Borle for introducing me to the Asha Program and to Tilak for pushing me to register for full marathon when I was having second thoughts on participating in it.
When I joined the program in April, I had no confidence in completing a full marathon, so I registered for SF Half. The SF half went pretty smooth for me because of the training. After SF half I got confidence to go for the full Marathon.
While training for full marathon I had injuries starting with the Shin, Ankle and finally the KNEE. I used to feel bad after each long run especially the 18, 20 and 22 milers as I was not able to complete a single long run as per schedule because of injuries.
Finally the race day came up. I had doubts in my mind, “can I finish?”, “Will my knee give up again? Is it good idea to push hard to complete more miles before my knee gives up..?” Before I started the race I told Sandip & Tilak: “I am not sure what I’m going to do and what the result will be, my goal is to finish”. They motivated me and Tilak said we can both run together all the way.
I started with Tilak. After 10 minutes of running, I started getting shin pains. I thought I was running fast, and so I reduced my pace. In a few minutes, Tilak was much ahead of me. Around mile 1, Rahul coming behind me cheered me up saying “swamy 25 more to go”. Around mile 2, I started running with Durgesh and Sathish, We were doing 7+1. As my shin pain went off, I felt happy seeing myself in a good shape. Mile 3,4….11 went pretty smooth around a pace of 13 mins a mile.
Around mile 12, Durgesh moved ahead of me. I was with Sathish and he was running slowly that time. I told him: “my knee pain is showing up so I want to run as much as I can before my knee gives up”. I was able to run and moved ahead of Sathish. Around mile 14 my knee pain starting hurting me badly. I think it was mile 15, Asha Waterstop, when I saw many Asha people. Char asked me “how are you feeling” I told him “little pain, but I can manage”. After few miles I saw all the Asha runners whom I crossed in the initial few miles crossing me and going ahead of me. I remembered all my long run days at that moment and felt that I might not be completing the Marathon. After a few more miles I saw Char and Pooja. Char once again checked whether I was doing fine.
After few miles I was thirsty, no water in my fuel belt. I was not sure that I would get water as on my way I saw all water stops getting closed. I remembered that there were few fountain water places in Campbell park. Once I entered the Campbell Park, I saw fountain water and filled my fuel belt.
I was walking slowly on the Campbell trail. My right leg was also getting hurt. My pace became really slow. I saw people walking with their pets on the trail. They were walking faster than me. I felt really bad when everybody started asking me “Are you OK? Do you need any help?” Once I came out of Campbell Park I was alone on the trail, with no one around. It’s about 6 hours since I started. All my thoughts are negative.
I called up Chakri. I was not able to tell him which mile I was on as there were no mile markers. At the same time, Raman called me to check where exactly I was at. Sometime later, a San Jose fitness volunteer came in a Car and informed me that there were no waterstops, and checked whether I need any help. After a mile Chakri, Mouli and Raman met me. I felt they were god sent for me to complete the race. I was thinking of dropping off as I was not able to walk properly. With their company, the last 3 miles became smooth. They gave me nice company talking about post Marathon Celebrations and Next week Party time and other stuff.
In the last few miles Satya called and checked whether we have enough water and gatorade.
When I was about to reach the finish line Raman asked me to run for few yards but I was not able to. Coach Martina tried to egg me on by using a Samosa as “Carrot to a Donkey”, to make me run, but I was not able to.
Thanks to everyone in Team Asha,.
I can say that more than me completing the SVM, it was TeamAsha, Asha People who inspired, motivated and supported me to in completing it.
Thanks to TeamAsha....
When I joined the program in April, I had no confidence in completing a full marathon, so I registered for SF Half. The SF half went pretty smooth for me because of the training. After SF half I got confidence to go for the full Marathon.
While training for full marathon I had injuries starting with the Shin, Ankle and finally the KNEE. I used to feel bad after each long run especially the 18, 20 and 22 milers as I was not able to complete a single long run as per schedule because of injuries.
Finally the race day came up. I had doubts in my mind, “can I finish?”, “Will my knee give up again? Is it good idea to push hard to complete more miles before my knee gives up..?” Before I started the race I told Sandip & Tilak: “I am not sure what I’m going to do and what the result will be, my goal is to finish”. They motivated me and Tilak said we can both run together all the way.
I started with Tilak. After 10 minutes of running, I started getting shin pains. I thought I was running fast, and so I reduced my pace. In a few minutes, Tilak was much ahead of me. Around mile 1, Rahul coming behind me cheered me up saying “swamy 25 more to go”. Around mile 2, I started running with Durgesh and Sathish, We were doing 7+1. As my shin pain went off, I felt happy seeing myself in a good shape. Mile 3,4….11 went pretty smooth around a pace of 13 mins a mile.
Around mile 12, Durgesh moved ahead of me. I was with Sathish and he was running slowly that time. I told him: “my knee pain is showing up so I want to run as much as I can before my knee gives up”. I was able to run and moved ahead of Sathish. Around mile 14 my knee pain starting hurting me badly. I think it was mile 15, Asha Waterstop, when I saw many Asha people. Char asked me “how are you feeling” I told him “little pain, but I can manage”. After few miles I saw all the Asha runners whom I crossed in the initial few miles crossing me and going ahead of me. I remembered all my long run days at that moment and felt that I might not be completing the Marathon. After a few more miles I saw Char and Pooja. Char once again checked whether I was doing fine.
After few miles I was thirsty, no water in my fuel belt. I was not sure that I would get water as on my way I saw all water stops getting closed. I remembered that there were few fountain water places in Campbell park. Once I entered the Campbell Park, I saw fountain water and filled my fuel belt.
I was walking slowly on the Campbell trail. My right leg was also getting hurt. My pace became really slow. I saw people walking with their pets on the trail. They were walking faster than me. I felt really bad when everybody started asking me “Are you OK? Do you need any help?” Once I came out of Campbell Park I was alone on the trail, with no one around. It’s about 6 hours since I started. All my thoughts are negative.
I called up Chakri. I was not able to tell him which mile I was on as there were no mile markers. At the same time, Raman called me to check where exactly I was at. Sometime later, a San Jose fitness volunteer came in a Car and informed me that there were no waterstops, and checked whether I need any help. After a mile Chakri, Mouli and Raman met me. I felt they were god sent for me to complete the race. I was thinking of dropping off as I was not able to walk properly. With their company, the last 3 miles became smooth. They gave me nice company talking about post Marathon Celebrations and Next week Party time and other stuff.
In the last few miles Satya called and checked whether we have enough water and gatorade.
When I was about to reach the finish line Raman asked me to run for few yards but I was not able to. Coach Martina tried to egg me on by using a Samosa as “Carrot to a Donkey”, to make me run, but I was not able to.
Thanks to everyone in Team Asha,.
I can say that more than me completing the SVM, it was TeamAsha, Asha People who inspired, motivated and supported me to in completing it.
Thanks to TeamAsha....
