Celebrating the Dusshera with a Half Marathon

I wasnt still sure when I got to the start line. There was a nagging pain on the left ankle, which even the ten minute jog to the starting point didnt help. As the rest of the pacemakers arrived, I just got on with the proceedings and forgot about the ankle. Pani Sir drilled us through the customary pre-race warm-up which got us ready for the race. As I got onto the start line, my first priority was to get as close to the front as possible.

The plan for the race was not to push. Given to understand that Brijesh, is not going to push either,  I asked him to stay with me. As the countdown ended, I raced off the start line, only to see the rest of the team lag behind by another twenty metres. So much for the adrenaline rush, I tried to slow down, looking back every once in a while, for the rest to catch up.

As I crossed the Metropole Hotel, in which I had stayed the previous night, the lace on my left shoe had come off. I knelt down to tie the laces, and saw a small group zoom by. Realizing that it is none other than pacemakers, I pulled myself together and joined them. So there we were, Brijesh, Neera, myself, Bharath leading the pack, with Coach Pani sir, following us a few seconds behind. 

As we reached the first water point, Brijesh mentioned that he's going to stop for water. I took my usual walk break with the water, only to see Brijesh zoom ahead. I quickly gulped whatever I could  and joined him back. To say that Brijesh runs like a Kenyan would be an understatement. If you want to understand how Brijesh runs, just watch an ostrich. The arm swing exactly looking like the wings of an ostrich, and with each step pushing off and landing softly. Its a treat you must watch it for yourself.

The next mile saw us run through an uphill and a downhill, on which Pankaj Rai and his mate, overtook us. When we entered the Mysore University Campus, I stopped once more for water, to see Brijesh race ahead. At this moment, I gave up the catching up game, and followed him closely. 

As we crossed the 8K mark, there was a water stop, which I skipped having just had water. I would realize later on that this would be my biggest mistake for the race. The next five kilometers saw run along the Kukkarakere lake, on a trail shared by early morning walkers. We also saw the 10K runners cross us from the opposite side. More importantly we saw the HM lead pack crossing us in the opposite direction, giving us a clear indication of how ahead the lead pack were. All through this distance, I was keeping slightly ahead of Pani Sir, Neera and Bharath setting the pace for them.

There wasn't a single water point all through this distance, and that scuttled my plans of a gel pack at half way. When I arrived at the next water point around 13K (which was the same as the one I had missed earlier), my gel pack wasn't read. So much that I decided to move on with just a pinch of salt.

Pani Sir and myself, with Bharath hiding behind me

On the Extreme left: Pankaj and Rakesh. Pacemakers group: Brijesh, Neera, myself and Bharath

Thankfully, the next water point arrived within a kilometer, and I had half a gel pack, or whatever I could have before I reached the water point. With Brijesh racing ahead and nowhere in sight, the next target to catch Pankaj, who was about 60 metres ahead of me. I tried closing the distance by changing gears a little, only to realize that I was getting tired, and would hold back.

At first, it was Chandra, (the 3:40 Hyderabad finisher), who offered me to join along. I politely declined, knowing my limits well. And next, it was Pani Sir, to whom, I told, I'll save my energy for the last 2 kms, or so, it should be. 

With my Garmin beeping for the 11th mile, I switched it to time mode (in which I had the time display, and all this time, I had been running on the pace alone). It read 1:24:40. Just then, I realized that I could break 1:40 if I cover the next 2.1 miles in 15 minutes. I kept running calculations in the back of my mind maintaining the same pace I had. At some point, when it required me to do a 6:40 mile, I gave up. 

With the 1:40 timing so close, I didnt bother to stop at the next water point and had water on the go. I kept my gaze locked in at Pani Sir, and held myself together. As we reached the finish line, I sprinted up to catch Pankaj, and we finished together.  A few seconds later, I stopped my Garmin (after realizing that I hadn't done it yet), and saw the timing. It was 1:40:28.
Update: The official timing of the race is Gun Time: 1:40:21 and Chip Time: 1:40:18. Now, I am wondering if I could have shaved off those 18 seconds.

Before the race, the idea was not to push, and I wasnt sure how my feet would respond. But once the race started, the adrenaline carried me for atleast 16 kms, and the last five was tough, if not a struggle. Had I realized a mile earlier that I was so close, I could have given it a shot. But, let me save the 1:40 for another day, and be contended with the PR.

Many thanks to coach Pani sir, who kept saying, go ahead, you are doing great from behind, and the fellow pacemakers, including Brijesh, (who stole the day with a super 1:36:30), Neera Katwal (who took home the womens winner prize), and Bharath (who keeps amazing everyone with the finish line sprint). And finally, thanks to that wonderful spirit in Pani Sir, that he keeps racing with the rest of us, and inspires us, even at his age. I came to know about his duel with Pankaj later on.

Things that worked well:
1. Salt, continues to work well. No cramps at all, though it felt edgy at the finis.
2. Running with the group, meant I had to push harder (no stops at waterpoints)
3. Weather (thankfully).

Things that didn't work well:
1. Could have seen the route beforehand, which would have equipped me for the Gel intake
2. Not tracking target time or pace (It was meant not to be).