Running and Beyond

Category: Comrades Marathon

  • Come out to Cheer….

    On the eve of my attempt to run the 89 Km Comrades Marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, I met an elderly gentleman, who had completed the event more than twenty times. Our discussion was largely centred on the event and he was helping me to ease my anxieties. He gave me one important piece of…

  • A Comrade from Coimbatore

    A Comrade from Coimbatore

    Shosholoza, Kulezo ntaba, Stimela siphume South Africa, Kulezo ntaba, Stimela siphume South Africa, Wen’ uyabaleka, Kulezo ntaba, Stimela siphume South Africa  (Translation: Go forward Go forward, from those mountains; on this train from South Africa; Go forward, Go forward; You are running away; You are running away; from those mountains; on this train from South…

  • The Servarayan Hills Ultra

    In the middle of the night, Aravind wakes up and yells, ‘Praveen…. It’s 3:30 and no one has got up.’ Checked my phone and the time read 11:59. Praveen jumps out of his bed to confirm the same. Aravind quickly realises that it is the second time of the dual time on his phone screen.…

  • 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…

  • Part 9 – The Courage to Start

    Part 9 – The Courage to Start

    One of the most often quoted words of John Bingham, a popular writer amidst runners is “The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” More than my courage, it was indeed a miracle to see myself at start. It has been a long journey to the start…

  • Part 8 – Cutting it too Close

    Part 8 – Cutting it too Close

    Not everyone who likes to be an Indian would prefer to hold an Indian passport. Apart from the hassles that one gets involved in procuring it, the real reason has been in the poor consular relations established by Ministry of External Affairs all over the world. Many countries improved their diplomatic relations to secure on-arrival…