Running and Beyond

Author: Balaji S

  • Navagraha Ottam – Part 3

    One done; three to go. It wasn’t the distance we ran that mattered; it was more about the frequency of start-stop-start that made the run more difficult. After a good night sleep and an early morning coffee (Our crew made sure that we are served coffee every morning), we were all set to start the…

  • Navagraha Ottam – Part 2

    वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सुर्यकोटि समप्रभ निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा The first thoughts for the morning were set on having a cup of filter kaapi in davara-tumbler. Staying in a traditional Agraharam house which included two oonjals (loosely translated as Swing which I feel does not do justice for the wonderful piece of furniture), it’s nothing…

  • Navagraha Ottam – Part 1

    Saturday, September 28, 2013 – I disembarked from the train at Kumbakonam to venture into an unknown territory of long distance running – A multi-stage run into roads that I have never known before. The run was a consequence of ‘Bib’ Bala’s association with Selva ‘Sir’ and a confluence of their passions in scriptures, temples…

  • The Navagraha Ottam – Preview

    There is no better way to reflect on my Comrades experience except through a short story of RK Narayan. And the one that sums it up best would be ‘The Hero’ – where Swami attains stardom by accident and how alone knows what he did was out of luck while rest thinks that it is…

  • The Malgudi Runner

    RK Narayan once said that if he wanted to look out for a story, he would just need to peep out of his window. It was through his eight window bedroom and of course, during his long walks that he found most of the characters for his short stories and novels. It is for this…

  • Part 14 – Once More?

    Part 14 – Once More?

    In the early morning thou wouldst call me from my sleep like my own comrade and lead me running from glade to glade. As I was picking up my baggage from the international tent, a little girl volunteering there asked me if I would do run the Comrades again. My answer was ‘Never’; She responded…

  • Part 13 – Yes We Ran

    Part 13 – Yes We Ran

    They guided me all the day long to the mysteries of the country of pleasure and pain, and, at last, to what palace gate have the brought me in the evening at the end of my journey Rabindranath Tagore, Gitanjali Sometime after finishing the Comrades Marathon, a friend remarked “I never thought you would finish…

  • Part 12 – The Final Countdown

    Part 12 – The Final Countdown

    It was past 3:00 PM and the sun was going down on the west increasing the anxiety. Comrades happens during the winter time in South Africa and the days are short. It was one of those rarest days where I find myself starting to run before the sunrise and finish (hopefully the entire distance) after…

  • Part 11 – The Marathon Begins

    Part 11 – The Marathon Begins

    After running for 6 hours and completing 46 Km, the first board I see was “43 Km More.” The Kilometer marker boards in most marathons will show you the distance completed. Comrades is a bit cruel in this aspect – They show you the distance that is yet to be covered. It makes you feel…

  • Part 10 – Endaro Mahanubhavulu Andariki Vandanamu

    Part 10 – Endaro Mahanubhavulu Andariki Vandanamu

    My running plan was pretty simple – 89K in 12 hours equals to 5 hours of running at 8 kmph and 7 hours of running at 7 kmph and never to run beyond 9 kmph. Sadly, it didn’t turn out to be that easy. I also had to cover up the 10 minutes it took…