In preperation of the 1st Rose Half Marathon, which was to start from Nehru Park and was going to be nowhere near the Rose Garden (why is it called the 1st Rose HM once again?) I took out my running gear :
1. Running T shirt 2. Running Shorts
3. Sweat wicking microfibre Undies
4. Five finger Socks
5. Running cap
6. Running glasses
7. Running Shoes (Nike Free 3.0)
8. Band Aids for the nips
9. Anti chafing cream
10. Water Bag (similar to Camelbak)
There were about 30 people registered for the half marathon starting from Nehru Park. Maps were available to those who wanted one, water station placements were announced. We started up with a warm up session .
The run started on time. Both me and Sanjeev Chhabra were laggards trailing behind Alfredo and his friend. I was already tired at 2.5 KM (competently challenging my view that any run below a full marathon was now easy)
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| Sanjeev & Me (left) |
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| Alfredo (right) & friend |
We were in for an easy run with target to finish in 2.30 - 2.45. We ran upto India Gate and up to the presidents house.
On the way back on Rajpath we came across a huge group of abt 150 people dressed in black marching, beating drums, waving placards, and shouting some slogans in support of women and against sexual harassment. The group was eclectic. It included some cyclists (the pro kind), some bikers (thinks Harleys, Enfields, Suzukis etc.) without the bikes , some runners like us. Yes. we dropped out of the formal run and walked with them back to the President's house. wore black arm bands, shouted a few slogans, signed a petition. That was abt 14 K ( a few U turn were thrown in between).
Heres a video I took loaded on you tube :
While waiting there we run into the Doc and the Honeyman. I complained to the Doc abt his impossible made possible run (www.thehigh.in) and placed an order with the Honeyman (excellent fresh & organic Honey from Preet Dodhani - preet.singh@dancing-bees.com) some chatting later, sharing a couple of war stories, we decided to head back to Nehru Park with a mutual promise between Sanjeev and me that we will finish the Half marathon distance. So we headed back with the Doc and Preet. Doc making jokes of my recently acquired roundedness, until we had to finally send him off to run at his own pace (which was i think atleast double of ours).
To push us to finish the distance we described in excruciating details with recipes (even though I dont cook) the breakfasts we were gonna have. Me a Tomato-Cheese sandwich with diced cheese, tomatoes, green chillies, salt, pepper between two breads in a sandwich toaster made crisp, so that the crunchiness gives way to the melting better, the sour tomatoes and the spicy chillies. Sanjeev was going to make omlettes with 4 egg whites, onions, lots of garlic, cheese, salami, peppercorns, black salt OR chatmasala, every spice in the spice box).
With watering mouths we reached Nehru Park and realised that we had done only 19. Sanjeev's friend Harshad and his wife were waiting for Sanjeev (Sanjeev had Harshad's stuff in his car) and luckily for me and the kindness of Harshad's wife I got some orange slices which tasted like nectar.
Doc was waiting for us and told us to run away and finish 21 so me and sanjeev went on for 1 k and turned around to finish the 21. At this time we decided that we must climb every small hill we could on the way. I was dead tired (i was tired from 2nd KM onwards) and was aching in my calves but was happy to finish off 21 as planned.
Oh yeah - the 1st Rose marathon guys were all finished and gone before we returned so missed the stretches, refreshment & certificates. But fun was had by all.
