My tryst with Pune Running

I was running alone for the last 6 months and I was quite happy with this new found activity. I had very simple goals, target 5 km at the start and then move on towards completing 10k and then maybe a half marathon. I was able to run 5 km easily after a few days of practice but I was not able to push myself harder after a few months. I stayed in my comfort zone.

And then the dip started.

The days I used to run, I felt really good and the days I did not run, I knew there was something amiss. But still when the alarm bell rang, I would find imaginary excuses to keep me in bed. This was the end of my running journey I thought. How could I motivate myself to wake up at 6. 

This was impossible. The End. I thought.

Then one fine morning, when I managed to wake up by divine intervention, I went running. My path crossed with the Pune Running team. Utpal already knew me as I had covered one of the Pune Running events as a photographer. He might have been shocked to see me so early. Instead with a big smile he asked me to follow them. Instinctively I took a u turn and here I was running with a group.

The game changer. The inflexion point.

The leaders of the group were running at a high pace and slowly I got tired playing catch up. I still had 2 km to go before the end and I was wondering why I woke up that morning 😛 I started to walk and to my surprise, Akash who was running just in front of me slowed his pace and asked me to keep going. I told him to continue but he didn’t listen. He knew that I was new and was ready to give up if not for his support. Till the end of the course, he kept pushing me. I had run that day after a week I guess .. And I covered around 6 km.

Out of breath. But much wiser.

We then went to Aditi Garden and did some stretching exercises. My body felt much more relaxed. I knew that I had to join the group. After 2 or 3 days I went on another run with them and this time I clocked 7.8 km and the next day we had a session specifically on strengthening our body. Then the next day I ran 6.4 km. Some days I have a pain in my leg while running but I know that it will go away after the wonderful stretching session. My pace is a little slow and I am normally the last one reaching the end point but I am happy that I am crossing my limits on a daily basis. Right now I am focused on increasing my running mileage rather than pace and I confess that running in a group has done wonders.

 

 

I am meeting new people who love running and who help me to keep going. Abhishek, my namesake, helps me to wake up in the morning if I ignore my alarm. These days I am the one waking him up but it is always better to have a partner in crime 😛 The group also organizes longer runs(> 10 km ) on Sundays. which will help test my mettle further.

 

After reading all of this, you might me thinking that you do not have the time for this, there are a zillion other things to do but let me tell you that it is very important that you must take out some time of the day or the week to play or to exercise. This then becomes a firm commitment towards your health and gives you a guilt free break from your work too. I do not want you to join Pune Running specifically but if you promise to spend 1 hour a day towards your physical fitness, I will consider that the purpose of writing these 734 words was served 🙂

 

“Winning has nothing to do with racing. Most days don’t have races anyway. Winning is about struggle and effort and optimism, and never, ever, ever giving up.”

For more inspiration subscribe to RW Quote of the Day and for help in execution join a group like Pune Running.